The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-07
SHERIDANS FAMOUS RIDE.


A Graphic Description of the Memorable
scene at Cedar Creek.
An admirable little yoIHmeol Hon. \.
+. Walker, OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission, being the history OF the
Vermont brigade in which he served
during the campaign in the valley, con-
tains many character sketches OF Sheri-
dan, which reveal him to the reader as
was in his very practical everyday field
life, A paragraph in the account Of
Fishers Hill shows how Sheridan joined
with and encouraged his troops: 1.-THE
Vermont brigade, ut the commencement
of its advance, met a shallow mill pond
that had not been noticed in the forest,
in some way houndered through,
rushed up the hill to the rebel
works, then turned to the left, and
in confused, delirious mass hurried on
rs best it might after the scattered enc
my. Guns were fired wildly into the
nil. and reloaded MS the soldiers ran !;
captured cannon were wheeled about
and discharged ut the panic.strickcn foe
in mad salute for our victory. Gen.
Sheridan, with long black streamers
waving from his hat, joined our own di-
vision, cxclaiming, Run, boys, run;
don't wait to form; don't let'em stop;
and when some one answered,
we can't run, we're tired out his re-
ply was perhaps unmilitary, but certain
", under the circumstances, judiclous,
III you can't run, then holler,' and thus
the wild pursuit was continued until we
reached the turnpike, where it crosses
the very summit OF Fishers Hill"
Writing OF the crisis OF the surprise ut
Cedar Greek, and the arrival OF Sheridan,
Mr.. Walker says:
g., "While thus waiting for the complete
reformation Of the army, sulkily and, it
is feared, proianely growing over the
defeat in detail which we had expert
enCed, though not in the least disposed
TO admit that our division had been
whipped-in fact, little proud OF what
we had already done-and expecting the
rebel charge, which we grew more and
more confident we should repulse, we
heard cheers behind us on the pike.
We were astounded. There we stood,
driven four miles already, quietly wait
ING for what might be further and imme-
diate disaster, while far in the rear we
heard the stragglers and hospital bum
mers, and the gunless artillerymen actu.
ally cheering us though victory had
been won. We couidhardty believe our
ears.
"The explanation soon came, in the
apparition which Buchanan Reads rs
vet embryonic, but now well known
poem has made familiar. AS the sturdy,
fiery Sheridan, on his sturdy, fiery steed.
flecked with foam from his two hours
mad galloping, wheeled from the pike
and dashed down the line, our division
also broke forth into the most tumultu-
Gus applause. Ardent General Custer
first stopped the wonderful inspirer and
kissed him before his men. His next
halt was before our own brigade. Such
a scene as bis presence produced and
such emotions us 1t NV oke cannot be
realized once in century. All outward
were as enthusiastic as
men are capable OF exhibiting; cheers
seemed to come from thTOats OF brass,
and caps were thrown to the tops OF the
scattering oaks; but beneath and yet
superior 10 these noisy demonstrations
there was in every heart revulsion OF
Telling and pressure OF emotion be-
yond description. No more doubt or
chance for doubt existed; We were safe,
and Internationally safe, and
every man knew ii. !"
Later, in the same account, IS this:
Our formation was entirely lost, but we
had the organization and enthusiasm OF
success; every man telt that
It would not do to allow the enemy to
rally on this side of the stream. The
front was presently occupied by flags
alone, as more heavily-loaded troops be-
same unable to keep uR with the
energetic color sergeants; the strong
cavalry force on our distant right were
seen charging down the field; the rebels