The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-04-04
sHERIDAN's FAMOUS RIDE.


SHERIDAN'S FAMOUS RIDE.
A full page portrait of General Sheridan is
one of the attractions of the February Century.
It accompanies an admirable sketch of his
career by General Badeau, who compares
Sheridan with Hannibal A thrilling account
is given of the turning point in the battle of
Winchester: "Sheridan, however, had SO
devastated the valley that it could furnish
him no supplies, and he was fifty miles from
a base. He therefore continued his retro
grade movement as far as Cedar Creek.
From this point, on the 18th OF October, he
was summoned by the government to Wash
ington for consultation, and during his alb
sence Early determined once more to attack
the national army. The plan was well con-
ceiyed The enemy advanced 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 thousand prisoners,
large lot of infantry not preserving even a
company organization.
SHERIDAN had left Washington on the 18th,
and slept at Winchester, twenty miles from
his command. Artillery firing was reported
early on the 10Th, but it was supposed to pro-
coed from reconnaissance, and at nine
O'Clock Sheridan rode out of Winchester, all
unconscious of the danger of his army. Soon,
however, the sound of heavy battle was un-
mistakable, and half mile from the town
the fugitives came in sight with appalling
rapidly He at once ordered the trains
halted and parked, and stretched a brigade
of his troops at Winchester across the country
to stop the stragglers. Then with an escort
of twenty 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 wayn and hundreds of the men
turned at once and followed him with cheers.
"After reaching the army he gave some
hurried directions, and returned to collect the
fugitives He was in major-general's uni
form, mounted on 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:
If l had been here, this never would have
happened. We are going back Face the
other way boys. face the other way y The
scattered soldiers recognized their general,
and took up the cry Face the other way
1t passed along from one to another, rising
and falling like the 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 rein
forcement may one man be to an army.
"a few dispositions, and the battle began
afresh. But now all was changed. The en-
envy advanced, it is true, but were at once
repealed, and the national line, in its turn,
became the assailant. Sheridan led brigade
in person, and the enemy everywhere gave
way. Their officers found it impossible to
rally them; terror of the national cavalry
had seized them. The captured guns were
all retaken and twenty four pieces of artillery
besides. Sixteen hundred prisoners were
brought in, and Early reported eighteen
hundred killed and wounded Two thousand
made their way to the mountains, and for
miles the line of retreat was strewn with the
debris of a 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 gal
lantry, military skill, and just confidence in
the courage and gallantry of your troops, dis
played by you on the 10Th day of October, at
Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of
Providence, your routed army was reorgan-
ized great national disaster averted, and
brilliant victory achieved over the rebels for
the third time in pitched battle within thirty
days
!" 1t was just eleven weeks since Sheridan
had assumed command in the valley. In that
time he had taken thirteen thousand prison
ers, forty-nine battle flags, and sixty guns,
besides recapturing eighteen cannon at Cedar
Creek. He must besides have killed and
wounded at least nine thousand men, SO that
he destroyed for the enemy TWENTY-FIVE thOs-