The National tribune., 1886-04-29
" BOOTS AND SADDLES >
lEnnfinuad from lst rareN


lieved," replied Newhall
Well, Colonel" replied Sheridan, am
satisfied too"
The transfer Of the First and Third Di-
visions of cavalry, under Torbert and Wilson,
was accomplished with all speed, and by the
10th of August we were at Harper's Ferry,
having been reinforced by the Sixth Corps,
under Gen. FL. G. Wright. We did not re-
main long at Harper's Ferry, but were soon
moving up the Valley pike to Harrisonburg
and beyond, but without much resistance
from the rebels, and, consequently, no fight
ing Gen. Sheridan was
MUCH ANNOYED BY M0sBY
and his men during the march, and lost q
young officer of his staff named Meigs who
was virtually assassinated while in per-
formance of his duty as Engineer officer of
the army. After moving up the valley so
far the army began its return march, Gen.
Sheridan being determined thereto by in
formation received from Gen. Grant. We
fell back to Halltown, small place about
four and q half miles south of Harpers
Ferry. We were further reinforced by two
divisions of the Nineteenth Corps, under
Gen. Emory.
After this we again commenced to move
up the valley and reached a stream called
the Opequan. All movements in the army
were made with great caution at this time.
A disaster would have been almost ruinous to
the Union cause, as the Presidential election
was approaching and the Democratic party
was croaking over the loss of life and the
vast expenditure of money; but Sheridan
was just the man for that command, upon
which 30 much depended. His caution and
care were fully justified in the great victory
obtained by his army over Early at Opequan
Greek, near the town of Winchester, on Sept.
Is, 1854. The cavalry did good service on
this day. The Third Division, under Wilson,
being On the left, and the First Division, un-
der Merritt, with the West Virginia cavalry,
under Averell, on the right. The rebel cav
airy, under Fitz Lee, was on the left of
Early's army, somewhat north of the town
of Winchester, and consequently in front of
the gallant First Division Of our cavalry.
In the afternoon of that day, so glorious
upon the rebel cavalry, captured two guns
and broke their line, and they in turn fall
ing back to their infantry line at full gal
lop, broke up that line, and soon Early's
whole army, horse, foot and dragon, "was
whirlipg up the Valley" pike. The panic
was greatly increased by the Third Division
of cavalry. The rebel army was hotly pur-
sued to Fishers Hill, where it attempted to
make stand, but our gallant fellows rushed
right over it and took what guns it had
remaining. The pursuit of the rebel army
was continued to Edipburg and beyond,
and then the Army of the Middle Military
Division fell back down the Valley to get
nearer our base. In the meantime a new
commander for the rebel cavalry had az
rived in the Valley. As the rebels said, he
had come to be "the savior of the Valley"
and his name was Thomas L. Rosser."
Gen. Sheridans army had encamped near
Toms Brook, a tributary of the Shenandoah.
On the 9Th of October, upon our arrival in
camp, Gen. Emory reported that his rear had
been annoyed by the rebel cavalry. This did
not please Gen. Sheridan. and so on the
morning of Oct. 9 Gen. Torbert, with the two
divisions of Merritt and Custer, was sent to
look after them. We made an early march
Merritt on the Valley pike with the First
Division, and Custer with the Third Divis-
ion on what was called the Back road, at the
foot of the North Mountain, and which runs
parallel with the pike. Our advance
SOON ENCOUNTERED THE ENEMY,
and, after short but sharp fight, we started
them in retreat on both roads, and contin-
ued chasing them at full run TO Mount
Jackson and beyond. They never again
made stand, and we returned to camp with
two complete. batteries as captures and many
prisoners. 1t was the most complete defeat
of the rebel cavalry, and was ever after re-
ferred to by us as the Mount Jackson races.
After this we moved slowly back to Cedar
Creek, and went into camp on that stream,
the First Division Of cavalry, under Merritt,
on the left, and the Third, under Custer, on
the right. Between the two divisions of
cavalry was the infantry of the army, con-
sisting of Crooks Corps, the Sixth Corps
under Gen. Wright, and two divisions of the
Nineteenth Corps, under Gen. Emory.
The army was encamped here for some
Sheridan went to Washington to have the
Front Royal Railroad from that city to the
Valley rebuilt, as it would save miles of
wagon transportation for the supply of the
army At daylight on the 10Th of October,
1864. the rebel division of Gordon, having
ferded the Shenandoah during the night,
suddenly broke through the low underbrush
that fringed the banks of the stream, and
completely surprised the Eighth Corps,
under Gen. Crook, and sent it in full
flight to the rear. It's example and flight
produced its effect upon the Nineteenth
Corps, and part of the Sixth Corps, except
the division of Gen. Getty, which coolly re-
tanned its organization, as did both the di-
visions of cavalry. These commands had.
formed line of battle, and were maintaining
their ground when Gen. Sheridan arrived in
hot haste from Winchester, accompanied by
Sandy Forsyth and Capt. O'Keefe. He had
returned that far to rejoin the army, and was
in Winchester when he heard the sound
of the cannon that told him battle was
in progress. His ride has been made
never-dying memory by the pen of Buchanan
Read. As he advanced up the pike he met
the demoralized and panic-stricken men of
the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps, but his
inspiriting action and speech soon restored
them to their senses, and, facing to the front,
they went as fast toward the enemy as they
had been going away from him, and aided
materially in securing the victory that
finally crowned the arms of the Union army
that day.
1 must now say good-by to the gallant
Cavalry Corps, as after this battle L was
called by orders to another field of duty, and
cannot from personal observation write of
the brilliant deeds of the corps in the last
days of the Confederacy-FiveF Forks, Sail
ors' Geek, and Appom attox Courthouse.
To be continued
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