Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-16
The MODERN MURAT.
AN INCIDENT IN GEN. SHERIDAN'S
BRILLIANT CAREER.
calls tbe Dashing Campaign in
Shenandoah Valley.

shenandoah Valley.
Austin Sexton furnishes the followin
graphic narrative Of the Cedar Creek cam
paign: On the 15th day of July, 1864, tn
Sixth Corps and ore division of the Nine
tenth Corps arrived at Washington Jus
in time to repulse Early and save our Ma
tlonal Capital from the invasion of Con
federate army and many of our high off
Gals from becoming prisoners of war. We
drove back the invading army over The
Potomac out through Loudoun county
Virginia, over the Blue Ridge, through
Smokers Gap, over the Shenandoah river
into the valley. Then came a series OF
marches and counter marches, back to
Washington, out to Harpers Ferry, down
to Frederick, then up the valley, and then
back again to Harper's Ferry, ever fl, ing.
now north, now south, now east, now west
ON wild-goose chase after Mosby's gueril-
las, who were always somewhere else than
at the place we expected to find them.
Our soldiers became demoralized bv
these terrible marches in the July sun
over the burning sands on bruised and
bleeding feet IN pursuit of a will -o'-the-
| wisp. The generalship was certainly bad,
the comfort of the men was not considered
In order to secure water on the march a
man would drop out of his company with
several canteens run On ahead until he
found brook or spring, and by the time
he had filled his vessels his command
would be far in the advance, and he would
have hard chase with his heavy load. And
thus everything seemed rigidly forced.
The commanding officer seemed to have
entirely forgotten that the men needed
rest, rations and water. Hundreds of our
brave boys daily fell out by the wayside
with exhaustion and slnstroke until a
bitter spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION was rank
ling in the hearts of the entire army.
| think it was the 9th of August that
relief came by the arrival of the cavalry.
and the cheering announcement that Gen
eral Phil Sheridan had come to take COM
mand of the army of the Shenandoah.
The following morning, as usual, we were
on the march, but early in the day we
halted in sight of unfailing springs of
water, with which the valley abounds.
The halt was hardly made before there
was general stampede for water but
great was the surprise of our men to find
an officer stationed at the spring who said
to them: Boys, take it cool, this army
is not going to move until every mans
canteen is filled" Then and there the
army of the Shenandoah was transformed
and rejuvenated. On every hand | heard
remarks like these, "Boys, somebody has
got hold of this machine that knows how
to run it." "Three cheers fer little Phil !"
God bless Phil Sheridan :" In less than
six hours after taking active command of
our army he had won the undying love
and devotion of every soldiers heart, and
that love and devotion grew deeper and
more fervent each succeeding day.
Sheridans first concern was she care and
welfare of his men. He anticipated their
needs and provided for them every possible
comfort. Under his command campaign
ing was bright and joyous, the army went
singing on the march and cheering into
the fight, for he had the implicit conf
dence of every soldier. They knew that
with Sheridan for leader they would
have no useless marching or reckless fight
ing. He always compi ehended the situa-
ton, knew what ought to be done, what
could be done, and how to do it and he
did it without taking :" all summer to fight
it out on this line" The sequel to his
great success was not in his dash and
bravery, but in his perfect GOODNESS, COM
prehensiveness, far-seeing sagacity and
promptness of thought and execution.
While other Generals waited for opportu-
mites and events to develop, he developed
them. What other General ever did. or |
ever would have conceived the possibility |
of turning such disastrous defeat as that |
of Cedar creek into glorious victory?
/ shall never forget the peerless General |
as | saw him that day Never was an |
army more terribly surprised, more COM |
pleteily surrounded, or more hopelessly de-
moralized than was the Army of the She |
nandoah on that memorable day of Octo- !
Der 10, 1864. Only one month before. at |
Winchester, we had won glorious victory |
that was to immortalize our army and its |
gallant leader, but now our fame was !
eclipsed by terrible defeat. We we're in |
full retreat, leaving large portion of our |
army killed or wounded on the field. or |
prisoners in the hands of Jubal Early. ex-
pecting in hot haste to get out of the val !
ley, when suddenly brilliant orb arose on |
the midnight of our DESPAIR, sending light |
and hope to every heart. 1t WAS the ar
rival of our own glorious, immortal Phil. |
Sheridan, borne on a noble charger, ga |
steed as black as the steeds of night" He |
met our retreating and demoralized frag-
ment of an army. "What was done-what !
to do-a glance told him both" With |
confidence in his voice he said to us:
Boys, | was not here this morning, but |
am here now. We can whip those John
MES and we are going TO do it. We are
going back on the old ground to camp to-
night. We will get the highest grip on |
those devils before shutdown you ever
saw"
And, striking his spurs. with terrible oath.
He dashed down the line, mid u storm of |
hurrahs.
And the wave of retreat checked its course |
there. becauSe
The sight of the mastercompslled it to pause" |
The remnant Of the shattered army was |
soon in line, faces to the foe. Ny own |
regiment went into the fight in the morn |
ing with 200 men. Only nineteen were
now with the colors. Many regiments
were not even represented. Before the |
setting of the sun the whole aspect of |
affairs were reversed. Under the guidance
of our glorious leader our lost laurels were
rewon, the goddess of victory smiled on
us, and we chanted the peans of triumph |
over the field of our late disastrous defeat. |
Never was an army more jubilant and
happy. Every shot and shout was song
of triumph, every couatenance was radb-
ant with gladness, every heart bounded |
with rapture. Even the wounded and
DIVING seemed euwrapned in n halo of ole,r,y
and gladness. Hundreds of dying men all |
over the battle field raised themselves on
their elbows and joined their hoarse voices
in the glad shout of victory. 1t was glDri-
Gus dying that afternoon amid such scenes
of brilliant heroism, and with the "dear
old flag" waving in triumph. 1t was the
presence and inspiration of one peerless
man, onr ideal, General Phil Sheridan,
that transformed that demorallzed. army
into victorious heroes and won the I'M
Ill. 60 L