The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-12-06
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.

The 9Th Corps al Cedar Greek.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
When, mt 2 O'Clock in the morning of the
10th of October, we heard rapid firing where
Custer, with his horsemen, held the right. and
on the left where Averelfs cavalry was posted,
we turned over in cur blankets and said 8 the
cavalry is having brush, and went to sleep
again And then, at a later hour, st o'clock
in the morning, when We Of the 9th corps
heard brisk picket firing ia front of the Sth
and 10Th Corps, we were scarcely aroused from
our slnmbers, for we thought it to be mere
picket skirfnish, in which none but those di-
rectly engaged had any particular interest
But when the firing became general along the
whole line of these two corps, and we saw hun
dreds Of men going with hasty steps and
lengthy strides TO the rear, we were at length
aroused to the truth that battle was really in
progress.
From 9th corps point Of view, the scene
was ut first extremely luaicr0us. We did not
know, and could not have believed at the time
that the flank Of our army was turned, and
that the enemy was actually in possession of
the camps OF one whole corps: and when we
saw stragglers filing the fields taking rapid
strides towards the rear, scarce any two of
them going together, some without hats, others
destitute Of coats or boots, few with guns,
manv wearing the shoulder straps OF officers,
never stopping 10 answer question or explain
what was going on at the front. the spectacle
was TO Us Of the 9th Corps one of infinite
amusement None of these hundreds and
thousands OF stragglers were so undignifed as
to run, but snch walking was never seen be-
fore. At length the truth flashed upon us.
More than half Of our army was already beaten
and routed. while the remainder had been in
ignorance of the fact that anything serious
was transpirinE. Now the rebels were pour
ing down towards the Winchester and Stras-
burg turnpike. sending a perfect shower OF
bullets whistiing abogt the vicinity of the
headquarters Of the army, into the 6th Corps
hospital camp and into the trains which were
by this tine joining IN the stampede. Staff
officers nov came riding furionsly through the
camps of the 9th Corps. with orders TO fall in
at once and proceed az donble-quick 70 the left.
~ TEE FOG.
A dense fog enveloped the whole surround
ing country. and so thick was it that no man
could see an object a few feet from him. Under
the cover Of this fog the rebels succeeded in
quietly capturing a large part OF the picket
force and nothing now lnteTposeC between the
rebels ard General Crooks camps. Toward
these they hastened, and SO complete was the
surprise that the men Of the eth corps were,
Tor the most part, quietly sleeping in their
tents. The rebels seized the Union batteries
along that part Of the line and turned them
upon the camps Of the 18th corps, and at the
same time 2 rebel line Of battle advanced
against the corps from the front. The con-
fusion became every moment greater. Day
light was just merging from night the thick
mist hung ike an impenetrable veil over the
field, and the men Of the 18th corps were IN
able to tell whence come all shis storm Of mis-
sizes: bet training their guns in the direction
from which the shells seemed 10 come, the gun
neTs worked their pieces at random A gen
eral stampede was commenced. The officers
were. with shouts aud wild gesticulations
striving TO collect their disordered commands
with but little success Riderless horses were
gallOping here and there; cows, with which
the army WAS wei supplied were believing |;
mules We're hTaying bullets whistling and shells
bowling The eth corps having left the way
clear, the rebels came down upon the 18th,
which gave way and was doubled upon the 9th
corps; bur. although thrown into confusion, it
was not IN the panic with which the 6th corps
yielded the ground. Ii was at this critical
moment that the warning was given TO the 9Th
corps General Wright being IN command of
the army. the corps was in command of Gen
ersl Ricketts,. he at once faced the corps to
the left and moved il OTer the plain in face of
the advancing hosts OF the enemy. The ID
division held the left Of the new line, the LIST
the center, and the Sd the right.
We now awaited the onset Of the victorious
columns which were driving the shattered and
disOrganized fragments OF the 9Th and 18th
corps beaten and discouraged, through our
weli-fornCd ranks to the rear. The hope of
the Nation How rested with those heroes Of
many bloody fields. That peerless band OF
veterans, the TcareTs Of the Greek cross,
whose fame was already among the chosen
treasures OF American history, was to show 10
the country and the world an exhibition OF Vaior
which should tower above All the grand achieve
mcnts Of tho war. The corps, numbering less
than twelve thousand men, now confronted
EaFiyis whole army, which. flushed with vic
tory. rushed nfon cur lines with those wild,
exuitaut yeils the terror Of which can never be
conceived b. these who have not heard them
on the field
THE REEEL ATTACK
With fearless impetaosity the rebel army
moved up the gentle rise Of ground IN front
Of the eta corps. AID tae attack from one end
OF the line TO the other was simultaneous. Ii
was ike the clash Of steel 70 steel The aston
islsea columns were checked. They had found
az iInuOrAJie obstacle TO their march 80 vic
tory
The "a division. on the left nearest the pike
bad recsi red the most severe shock OF the at
tack. while Bidwels BRIGADE, which held the
extreme left lad Sustained TIE attack of tie
W'l.a'lC 81 hcr laws rebel division, which came
~ ~ canlpaei oT0er 70 within very close range
J DC gallant brigade received the onset with
fDli volIevs. which caused the right Of the rebel
line 10 siaggeT back, and the whole line was
almost al the same moment repuIsea by the
corps. The cavalry On oar falkland never
Drawer men fhan the cavalry OF our little army
mounted sadcles-were o0iag their best 70 pro-
fect the pike leading 10 Winchester The reb-
els checked. General Bidweu ordered his bri-
gade 10 charge Rising from their places the
brigade inehed forward, the rebels breaking
aBu running "a confusion. Bot the rebel artil.
Jerry sent oEr men back 10 their places to The
shelter Of the roll Of ground. The charge cost
Us dearly. lany valuable lives were lost, but
the most severe blow 70 the brigade and the
corps was the loss OF our gallant General Bid.
well, who fell. While brayely directing the
charge. VITA a ir'ehtful shell wound
again the relels came on with cheers and
yeliS They We're as bravely met as before
and again were they sent back IN disorder.
leaving the ground covered with their dead
and w0nadod. 4 third time Early's forces
came on--tiis time with less spirit. His men
now knew the troops they bad 20 contend with
They had beer informed that the 9Th corps had
been sent 20 Washington on its way to Peters
bErg. Now they discovered their mistake
and al OF Esrly's authority was insufficient td
bring them up 10 spirited charge. We had
repuised them three times with terrible dam.
age 10 their ranlzs, as well AZ sad loss to our
own. We we're but 1900. they were 10000
ard their line Ear Overiapped ours. When
Early could not drive as, he went round rs
And nnw TWAS necessary g. take another posi-.
lion, wtscn should protect the road 10 Win
chester. AID General AFfalt Efro.sed (.o,n-.l