The National tribune., 1881-12-03
ATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON, D. O., DECEMBER 1881

me I will take you back to your old camp ground
before dark Several times his painting steed
stood so close | could have put my hand on his
side, and then in a moment he was gone, only to
appear i'll another regiment or brigade with his
ringing appeals. II was a sight witnessed once
III lifetime, and never to be forgotten. The
moment Sheridan disappeared a strange feeling
came over me. | said to myself impossible!
Go back to our old camp ground before dark ?
Our defeated, shattered army drive back the vic
torous rebel army? Never" And I really
thought it wicked in Sheridan to deceive the
troops with any such statements. My fears were
for a moment only; for like flash the thought
came across my mind: sheridan says we can go
back to our camps if we will only follow him. If
Sheridan can 90 | can; / will follow him )" and
from that moment 1 never doubted but that we
should conquer in some mysterious way. sup
pose the same feeling of faith took possession of
the whole army.
Sheridan gave his orders in person to the dl-
vision and corps commanders, not daring to trust.
them to others. 1t took but short time to form
a new line. The men were ordered to throw up
breastworks of stones and dirt. Bayonets and
works, behind which our troops waited until a
second line was formed in our rear from the great
crowd Of stragglers. In the meantime the rebel
army had plundered the Union camps, reformed
their lines, and with cOlors flying, moved out in
magnificent order to sweep from the Shenandoah
Valley the last of Sheridan's army. The roar of
cannon shook the hills, while the Union troops
waited in silence for the charge Sheridan Or
dered the commander OF the Nineteenth Corps to
stop the advance at all hazards. tie did so after
a short and severe struggle, III which Gen. Grover
was wounded and General Bidweu killed. Early,
the rebel commander, was astOunded He had
no doubt heard the wild shouts of the Union
troops, and, from his position, might have seen
Sheridan dashing up and down in front Of the
Union lines, but he never dreamed of being held
at bay, much less defeated. The rebel advance
b. ing been temporarily checked, the rebel line
halted behind stone-wall which stretched across
the open fields, evidently convinced that re-en-
forcements to the Union army had arrived and
that bloody work was in store for them. But
Sheridan had no idea of waiting till his enemy
had strongly entrenched himself or his own troops
had lost their enthusiasm. His sacred pledge had
been given to his trusting men and must be full
filled. Right then and there he determined to
wipe out the stigma of this disgraceful defeat,
and make the same dispatch that carried the
news of the overthrow of his army carry the also
thrilling tidings of its glorious victory.
1t was half past three o'clock. Sheridan had
two firm lines formed across the valley. Massa-
chusetts men stood in Vermont regiments, and
Vermont men stood in Western regiments, but
all under one fag-the Stars and Stripes. The
shock of the morning had brought about strange
associations, but it was life or death now, and
men forgot everything but the impending strife