The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-07-19

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: l have en-
joyed reading the answer from Comrade E. b.
LufkiG. Of the Nineteenth Corps, TO friend l..
T. Griffin, of the Sixth Corps, who, / think,
has oyerdone the thing in his glorious account
Of heroic deeds at the battle of Cedar Creek,
and my opinion is that if theSixth or any other
corps had been where the Eighth Corps was
that morning, and not better prepared, they
would have had to get out of the way in hur-
ry. All the credit the Sixth Corps can claim
is mostly due to their position on that day, for
they had time to get ready. We had that same
luck ourselves and should we, then, blow about
being Drawer than the left of the Nineteenth
Corps, of which We were part?
Our regiment the 18th Conn, belonging to
Molineuxs Brigade of Growers Division, was
up long before daylight that morning, having
received orders the evening before to go out
accommodating that very day, and we were
AZ the time ia line ready to march out when
thar terrible yOley Of musketry was heard Tar
to our left where the Eighth Corps was encamp-
ed that Of course changed our program for the
Gay, and our officers only said: We will stay
here now, for there is no use hunting rebels;
We will have enough ofthem after awhile about
here; and there we stood, somewhat down the
slope of hill, facing outward, and could not
see what was going on IN our rear. Shots were
coming from that direction over our heads
when our Colonel found out that masses of gray
before we left our works, over which we went,
and had to cross Cedar Creek to outilank the
rebel troops, as we were completely cut OF from
themain body. As soon as We could clear their
flank We faced the enemy again, and the thought
OF running away never entered our minds. We
had seen worse firing than that, and know that
all day we had clear ground between us and
the Johnnies; in fact, l have always said that
it wss the best square fight we ever had, as we
could see each other fairly, and we blazed away
into their advancing columns to our hearts
content. We did not retreat all the time, nel-
Their. Gen. Moineux, our brigade command
or, (now living in Brooklyn, \. Y, Think
! received orders to hold the rebels in check un-
til such time as Sheridan could form his lines
and take the offensive. So we staid where we
were, and right at this point she'll came very
near depriviDg us of our General. Moiineux
had been Colonel of the I5Jth n. Y, and that
regiment was next TO us on our left so when
we had lain there for some time, it was but
natural for him TO come and chat with some
of his old officers but he and his staH being on
horseback, drew the rebel artiilery-ire at once
and didn't that shell make the rails fly? Our
company and the right company of the l59th
remember it, If any of our old friends Of that
regiment will read this they will remember
the incident and how the rebels handled their
artillery always mp TO the front of their lines,
firing most of their shots over our heads. The
Nlneg6enb0 corps, unueF the circumstances,
did its duty, and we are proud 10 count Cedar
Creek on our flags. Growers Division did not
need any other Corps help to drive the rebels
from behind the stone fence on the hill in its
front, when the orders TO charge were finally
| given Comrades, let US all thank Phil Sheri-
dan, cur brave commander, for bringing order
out of confusion. The leftof our army had been
completely surprised, and none but good men
could have faced about as they did aud whip a
body of as good troops as Early had on that field.
| For any particular corps to claim any more
credit for bravery than another on that day is
all humbug. The battle OF Winchester before
and the battle of Fishers Hill afterwards,
proved well enough the fighting qualities of
each corps. / will always credit the Sixth
! Corps as being mp to the mark, but they should
| be willing to acknowledge that in this action
they were lucky, and but for their position
may be their bravery might not have been SO
much boosted about.
| This is my view of it. If others think they
| gained tire battle Of Cedar Creek alone, must
| say that / cannot see it in that light, for i re-
| plenished my supply of cartridges for Sharp's
/ rifle three times during the fight, aud every
shot went among the rebels in plain sight,
until late IN the afternoon, when / was nit
myself, and l felt perfectly satisfied 10 take
my dose, rs ! had had observation-disclosures
| GESTIEU, Co. B, 18th Conn, Du Points Powder
! Works, Del.