The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-27
FLANKING LITTLE PHIL"
THE MAN WHO CAME NEAR SPOIL
ING SHERlDAN'S RIDE

Tells the Confederate Side OF the Famou.
Double Battlefield OF Cedar Creck-Gen
John u. Gordon Throws New Light on
the subject.
From the following statement il appears
that had the battle been carried on according
10 Gen Gordons plan, even Sheridan himself
could not have saved the day though "he
rode from Winchester, twenty miles away. -
Gen. Gordon has stall the look OF a warrior
who could prove an ugly enemy on the bat
tleheld though this chat with him in the
Gettysburg hotel demonstrated his afrability
and winning qualities when recounting 10 a
former foe the strange chain Of events Of that
wonderful day on the sinuous hanks % Cedar
creek The old rebel leader was seated az
tab's between Gen. Daniel + Sic,les and
Gen Hunt the well known chief Of artillery
oil tie Army Of the Potomac. Responding 20
tie salutatioa Of The Herald representative.
Gen. Gordon opened the way az once for con-
vsr,a.i1l.
General, ! am told that tAe splendid biz
of strategy by which we were surprised on
tie morning Of the l9th o. Octc5sr is 70 be
wholly credited 20 youT
"Yes. the plan was mine wholly, and 50
was the conduct Of the iigAt up % q certain
point
"For tncfime being we won0 ue ~ the great
victories of the war Every deal Of the
movement was carefully planned, AMI for
twelve hours 10 was supremacy Successful.
had gone the day before, Oct Is, 20 tie top
OF what is called Alasaautten mountain,
where we had signal corps Stationed and
had taken obaei.ations through the field
glasses There was magnificent birds eve
view. The Shcnandoqh was the silver bar
between u.s. On the opposite side Of the river
could distinctly see the red cuffs Of the
artillerists Why. had so good view that
could see the sore spots ON the horses backs
in sour camp In front Of the Belle Grove
mansion could see members Of Sheridons
staff coming aud going could NOT imagine
a better opportunity for making ont an enc
my's position and strength | could even
count tho men who were there Tho camp
was spleud.ily exposed 10 me. l marked the
position Of the guns and the pic5rts walking
- and iro. and observed where the cavalry
vas placed
1T flashed upon me instantly that the ex-
pectation Of Gen Sheridan was that We
would attack him on his right, which was
the only place supposed possible Tor the adj I
vance Of any army. His left was protected /
by the Shenandoah; at this point the noun /
tain was very psecipit0us, and tna river ran /
around it, Therc'was no road OK al, and the .
point was guarded only 10y a mare cavalry 4
picket. | saw our opportunity in an instant, .
and / told the officers present that If Gen. /
Early would permit me 70 move my corps II /
was then commanding Ewell's corps down TO +
this poiat / could get around The mountain.
Both sides believed this was impossible, but +
ielt sure that il could be done Ny plan was
to dismouut our cavalry, attack SherIdan's
'avalry when dismounted, and keep them
rom moving | knew that if we could do
his we w.ulI gain a great vic,ory.n
GEN. GORDoN's PIAs.
"What were the details of your planw
There was back road running from our
position ON Fishers bill to the Federal right,
where the cavalry was posted. Ie7pected to
ie-eise the Felorals by LomaS's attack. 1t
you'd be dark still, and they could not dis
inguish our dismounted cavalry from in
aatry, and would believe that our main
ttlck was there Oh their right This would
cave us free to operate around their left"
"i-ow did Gen. Early receive your pro-
losalF
"Ihe plan was submitted, talked over, and
naliy substantially agreed rpon took
ny command, having ordered them 10 leave
QUILL make q noise behind. knew that our
n.y dependence was IN absolute secrecy aud
. q complete surprise After Inspecting
llacs wi'h 10y s.af l found could get my
zen around the mountain by putting them
} single i.e I discovered Sill another
lace where TIE horses could be led, although
be- yeatGre wouii be exceedingly dangerous.
tiil, the expedition was essentially ono II
rcat peril, and more or less danger was Of
tile consequence"
How is 30 that the Union scouts had never
Iscoyerod tais possibility Of turning the let
. Cedar crecs|
well sharp mon often leave a loophole in
ar, and. besides Sheridan did not depend
D shutting up this possible path, suppose
piled Gen. Gordon.
y on mus, rem .mAor, general, that Sheri-
IN hal aeI orders which, had they been ..
)eyed by tie officer commanding in his alb
nee, would have rendered your surprise i'm
jsible' ;
But taking things as they were, the sur
rise was not only possible bat actual, and
q did wha. none OF your people for a mo-
ent dreamed OF as possible Early in the
sht began % move niy nel around the
ountain My object was u have them 7,
ready Tor an attack before daylight
the morning. Tho movement took all
ght. All through the hours Of dark
es the silent figures movel to their i
'sitioa rear the sleeping enemy. An entire !
'igale ca cavalry was moved in this way, =
ID reached the point IN about one and half !
lurs ia advance OF the men. l instructed .
e cavalry tba, as soon as | got ready 10 !,
ove ttey We're to proceed Ia my front, rush
ross the river, open on the cavalry pickets, = !,
Id captarc them. if possible Ii they could
1t do this, they were to put their horses to
Il speed, ride right through the federal
mp firing their pistols 70 the right and to
c left as tEey passed through, and maks .
rectiy for Sheridans headquarters and cap y
re him. AT that time did not know that
leridan was absent and Wright in COM .