The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-06-17

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Torbert mounted and saluting Sheri-
dan rode off at full speed to the front.
In few moments the bands We're play
ing, the guns were opening, the bugles
were sounding the charge and soon away
went Rosser and ''his gallant band -
whirling up the Valley. Our cavalry
chased the enemy through Woodstock
and Edinburg. capturing a dozen pieces
of artillery Gall Rosser had) and many
of his men.
WITHIN THE ENEMY's Inns.
On the day before the battle of Cedar
Creek, Torbert sent me over into Loudon
county to see if a plan could not be hit
upon to capture Mosby, who was giving
us considerable trouble at the time.
learned at Front Royal that all fur
lough's and leaves had been stopped in
Early's army and that all men absent
from their commands were ordered to re
port for duty at once. This indicated a
quick move, so concluded with this in
formation to gallop to headquarters.
thinking it important. | had gotten
nearly to our lines when ! was halted.
In answer to the demand, "Who goes
there?' replied, as usually did when
challenged and in doubt as to the char
acter of the troops challenging - Jack
Carter, of Mosbys command" If the
troops proved to be Confederates, ! was
on scouting duty for Major Mosby. II
officer in command by my passes and the
countersign, which | always knew. ]
was ordered to dismount and lead my
horse forward and soon found myself III
a large force of Confederates. | was
questioned very closely by an officer who
spoke with tone Of authority, but |
felt perfectly safe and answered his ques
tions with the greatest sang froid. !
said was from Maryland, giving my real
residence, for | knew every man from
my township in both armies and knew
where they were. | soon satisfied him
that l was true "grayback," and it
ended in his writing dispatch which
was to carry to Mosby. l begged hard
for fresh horse, but without obtaining
it. expressed my fears that my horse
would not hold out to reach Mosby if
ridden fast, so the General gave me
note to wealthy citizen who lived near
Berryville, requesting him to lend me
horse for the good of the cause. l sub
sequently used it. AS soon as l got away
l struck for headquarters as fast as |
could 60. had to move considerably
out of my course to flank the enemy and
came very near being fired on by our
picket post on the pike near Middletown.
1t was some time before l could satisfy
the officer in charge of the picket post of
my identity.
TOO LATE.
At last l got away from him. Preached
General Torbert's just at the dawn OF
day. 1t took me some time to get him
awake. In fact, all morning, as they
had what Captain Brown called ga walk
around " the night before. | succeeded
in getting the General awake and told
him my news. He read the dispatch to
Mosby, which was from General Gordon,
l think, and urged Mosby to join Early's
command at once with all the men he
could muster. The letter added that
Early would attack with his whole force
at daybreak Just then the alarm wa
given and in few moments the staff
officers were riding in all directions with
orders. AS the headquarters tents were
struck, heavy firing was heard down on
the right where the Eighth Corps were
in camp, and by the time the wagon
were loaded and ready to move, the
enemy could be seen on the pike about
three hundred yards OF, driving the i'll
fantry before them. The headquarters
wagons were ordered to the rear and
the Durham COW, which provided milk
for the officers coffee and which was tied
to one of the wagons, was killed by
stray bullet and dragged about mile be
fore the driver had time to cut the rope
that fastened her. The cavalry and Sixth
Corps and a portion of the Nineteenth
Corps fell back in pretty fair order, how
ever, and by the time Sheridan reached
the army, after his famous twenty-ml!e
ride. the enemy had been checked.
With his usual good lack, Sheridan was
on hand just in the nick of time to take
advantage of the situation, but | Away
thought General Torbert deserved much
more credit than he got for the success
of the battle. lie had skiltully gotten
his cavalry and artillery ont of the tan
ole without loss and had the army III
good shape for fighting. lie had ais"
sent some of his command to stop the in
fantry stragglers who were breaking to
the rear, and his suggestions and advice
to Generals Wright and Emory, with re-
gard to the disposition of their forces,
scanned to be acted on, from what | could
see and learn. and | was with HIM all
day. Of course, as soon as Sheridan ar
rived and took command he was III the
lead, and probably the great victory W.
gained that day was owing mainly t"
him. Very little change was made by
Sheridan in the disposition Of the troops
after he got on the field, and when tie
army attacked the enemy in turn it was
not a very hard fight, and our casualties
were not heavy considering the complete
success of the day.
After this the Confederate cavalry were
so completely played out and forage was
so scarce in the Valley that most Of them
were sent to Lees army. Our forces
went into winter quarters at Winchester
in January, 1860. General Torbert made
his headquarters in large storehouse i'll
Winchester. The staff officers gave sew
eral parties during the winter, and dane
ing, sleighing, counting, herse-racing,
poker-playing and walk-arounds' were
in order, and not much else was done.
General ToYherts health began to fail
about this time and he did not feel able
to endure the hardships of an active cam
paign and was transferred to some other
post where the duties were not SO taxing.
! never saw or heard anything more OF
General Torbert until | read with sin.
cere sorrow of his untmely fate on TIA
Florida coast.
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