Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-12-10
The Ct1a1gest Battle Ofthe Waz.
NJ. Quad in Detroit Free Press.

burg to delight the tourist. The
blue topped hills look down upon it
from every side, and the highways
wind over the ridges and through the
valleys amid the most romantic
scenry. Sixteen years have worked
but little change. Nc Name Creek
has a new bridge in the town, and
here and there are new buildings,
but in the main it is the same quiet
village which was aroused n Oc-
tober morning by the shouts and
yells of n of the most singular bat
ties of the war.
FISHERS HILL.
Early had been pushed out of
Winchester to Fishers Hill, defeat
ed there and driven to the noun
tains, and then Sheridan's whole
army moved up to within two miles
of Strausburg and rested. Early
received reinforcements and return
ed to Fishers Hill, and his pickets
covered the Middletown pike beyond
the town. Never did two armies
hold better defensive positions. An
attack by either was almost certain
of defeat. Sheridan held three ridges
beginning where Cedar Creek empt-
les into the North Fork of the Shen-
andoah, and ending five miles dag
onally across the country. Breast
works were thrown up to defend
every available point, and he who
rides among them will wonder how
troops were ever driven out. Early
had less Notifications, but stronger
natural positions, and the dogs of
war looked across the neutral ground
and growled at and dared each 9TH
er to strike the first blow.
BY THE FLANK.
The defeat at Winchester wrank-
led and stung. The defeat at Fish
er's Hill had nerved Early to des-
peration. He wanted to strike Sher-
idan a blow in revenge, but he dare
not do it in front, vel had their
numbers been equal. Ten thous-
and men in either position could
] have beaten back an attack by three
times that number. The Massanut-
ton Mountain, beginning properly
at Fishers Hill, or continuing from
that, sweeps around to the sonth
and southeast of the town, and the
termination was at the left of
Sheridan's first line. It's sides are
Jungle and forest and rock and ra-
vine. At it's base flows Cedar
Creek. History says a blind and
forgotten road follows the winding
of the Creek. Let historians travel
it and correct their error. Some of
Earley's staff officers and signal
corps made a ride of ten miles one
day to look down on Sheridan's en-
campment. From their eyrie in
the clouds they could see every tent
and cannon and army wagon. If
an army could move down the base
of the mountain and strike the I'm
ion lines on the flank something
must happen. 1t was a daring pro-
ject. Armies may seek the shelter
of woods and ravines, but they
march by highways and through
open fields. Early's army was to
march through a pine jungle, with
out even daylight to guide them.
INTO LINE.
AT sunset 10000 infantry was call
ed into line at Fishers Hill and d.
rected to prepare for the march. 1t
did dot take them long. They had
no %overcoats to take off. Few had
knapsacks to leave behind them.
Canteens were taken off, cartridge
boxes filled to the brim, and as the
darkness settled down, they turned
nto the jungle and the march had
begun.
ON THE TRAIL.
| turned my horse into the trail at
O'Clock in the morning. There
vas only a blind path made by the
ows and hogs winding around large
oulders, crossing and r~e-crossing
le creek, and losing itself in the
ines after running "a mile. 1 can
hrdly credit that from 5000 to TO-
20 infantry crept along this noun