Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-01-25
NO. 4.


A fullpage portrait of Gen. Sheridan is one
Of the attractions Of the February Century.
1t accompanies an admirable sketch Of his ca
reer by Gen. Bsdeau, who compares Sheridan
with Hannibal. A thrilling account is given
Of the turning point in the battle Of winches-
ter:
Sheridan, however, had so devastated the
valley that ii could furnish him no supplies
and he was fifty miles from base. He ac-
cordingly continued his retrograde movement
as far as Cedar Creek. From this point, on
the 18th Of October, be was summoned by
the government to Washington for consulta.
ton and during his absence Early determin-
ed once more to attack the national army. The
plan was we'll conceived. The enemy advanc.
cd in the night, and before dawn surprised
and attacked the national forces still in camp
The army was driven back portions of it In
great disorder, six or seven miles. Eighteen
guns were captured and nearly a thousand
prisoners, large part of the infantry not pre-
serving even a company organization.
Sheridan had left Washington on the 18th,
aud slept at Winchester, twenty miles from
his command. Artillery firing was reported
early on the 18th, but it was supposed to pro-
ceed from reconnaissance, and at nine O'Clock
Sheridan lode out of Winchester, all uncon-
scious of the danger to his army Soon, how
ever, the sound of heavy battle was unmis-
taxable, and half a mile from the town the
fugitives came in sight with appalling rapidity.
He at once ordered the trains halted and park
ed, and stretched brigade of his troops at
Winchester across the country to stop the
stragglers. Then, with an escort Of 20 men,
he pushed to the front. The effect of his
presence was electrical. He rode hot haste,
swinging his hat and shouting as he passed,
Face the other way, boys! face the other
way And hundreds of the men turned at
once aud followed him with cheers.
after reaching the army he gave some
hurried directions, and returned TO collect the
! fugitves. He was in major. generals uniform,
mounted on a magnificent horse, man and
beast covered with dust and foam and as he
rose in his stirrups, waving his hat and his
sword by turns he cried again and again II
had been here this never would have hap
| pened We are going back. Face the other
way, boys! face the other way The scat
tered soldiers recognized their general, and
took up the cry: Face the other way! It
passed along from one to another, rising and
falling like wave of the sea, and the men
returned in crowds, falling into ranks as they
came. They followed him to the front, and
many who had fled, painting and panic stricken
| in the morning, under Sheridan's lead had
covered themselves with the glory of heroes
long before night. Such q reinforcement
may one man be to an army.
"a few dispositions, and the battle began
afresh. But now all was changed. The enc
my advanced, it is true, but were at once re-
| PEELED, and the national line, in its turn, be-
came the assailant. Sheridan led brigade in
person, and the enemy everywhere gave way.
Their officers found it impossible to rally them;
a terror of the national cavalry had seized
them. The captured guns we're all retaken,
and "a pieces of artillery besides. Sixteen
| hundred prisoners we're brought in, and Early
reported 1900 killed and wounded. Two
thousand escaped to the mountains, and for
| miles the line of retreat was strewn with the
debris of beaten army. Early himself es-
! capped under cover of darkness to Newmarket.
sheridan was made major general in the
regular army, as he was informed in Lincoln's
own words, for the personal gallantry, mill
tary skill, aud Just confidence in the courage
and gallantry of your troops displayed by you
on the 10Th day OF October, at Cedar Run,
whereby. under the blessing of Providence,
your routed army was reorganized a great
national disaster averted, and brilliant vic
tory achieved over the rebels for the third
time in pitched battle within 80 days
1T was just eleven weeks since Sheridan
had assumed command in the Valley. In that
time he had taken 13 600 prisoners, 40 battle
flags and 60 guns, besides recapturing IS can
non at Cedar Creek. He must besides have
| killed and wounded at least 9, 900 men, so that
he destroyed for the enemy %, 900 soldiers.
Turning what bid fair to be disaster into glo-
rious victory stamps Sheridan, said Grant
what have always thought him-one of the
ablest OF generals. "