St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-03

/ otOhS lIOiia bhC CoSCO Ou tilG CItSb.
Spurs projected from the face of the
ridge at intervals, serving for natural
bastions, ufrom which field artillery
swept the intervening curtains of the
! slope with an enfiiading fire. But moth
ing less than the palisades of Lookout
could have stopped that army of the
Cumberland, though Bragg and his
| thousands above still deemed their posi-
ton impregnable. All heights were
frlnged with spectators of that wonder
full assault. The guns in the Union
vance were necessarily silent. The sun
shOne clear on the slopes, and the adj
vancing flags and glittering bayonets
marked the rush of the swift ascent.
Under the fire of sharpshooters
| color-bearers fell at every point
| of the line, only 10 be relieved
by other hands eagerly bearing the
| cOlors forward. This deadly fire grad
ually drew each regiment toward it
flags, and soon, far as the eye could
reach along the slope. the line was
transformed into countless wedge
shaped masses, with flag at the point
OF each, cleaying their way upward, fol-
lowing the headlong push of the guards
bearing the cOlorS. The rebels that had
been hurled back from the lower line
were soon driven out of the second par
ailel, and thence pursued so closely to
the summit that retreating ConfederateS
and the Union flags poured over the
whole extended line of works together.
There was sharp hand to hand fighting
at points, after the crest was gained,
and battle Of much spirit on the left,
where columns OF the enemy, hurrving
from Sherman's front, undertook, but
without success, to drive Baird back.
Bragg and Breckenridge in person
barely escaped Sheridan's troops when
they crowned the summit.
Forty guns and several thousand pris-
| onerS we taken in the works. From the
first 1T had been an advance almost
wholly without firing. Each successive
line of works and the summit were car
ried with the bayonet. In an hour
from the sounding Of the signal guns,
Bragg had been swept from these dom
mating positions of great natural fort
ress, strengthened by every engineering
art, and the sun, which, at its rising,
lighted up that one flag at Lookout,
rested, at its setting, on the countless
banners which storming army had
| planted along the crest of Missionary
Ridge.
throughout this movement Sheridan
was conspicuous, followed by his staff.
AS ever, he was Splendidly mounted.
and could be easily followed by all eyes
as he dashed across the plaiu and rode
with his lines to and over the crest, and
without halt hurled forward upon the
retreating enemy.
Writing of the crisis of the surprise
at Cedar Creek, and the arrival of Sher-
ldan, Mr.. Walker says.
wv lille thus waiting for the complete
| reformation of the army, .ulkily and,
it is to be feared, profanely growing
over the defeat in detail, which we had
| experienced, 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 expect
ing the rebel charge, which we grew
| more and more confident we should re-
pulse, we heard cheers behind us on the
| pike. We were aSt0unded. There we
stood, driven four miles already, quietly
waiting for what might be further and
| immediate disaster, while far in the
rear we heard the stragglers and hos
| pltal bummerS, and the gunleSS artil-
lerymen actually cheering as though
| victory had been won. We could hardly
! believe our ears.
The explanation soon came. in the as
partition which Buchanan Reads as yet
embryonic, but now well-known poem
has made familiar. AS the sturdy, fiery
| Sheridan, on his sturdy, fiery steed
f1ecked with foam from his two hours
mad gallOping, wheeled from the pike
and dashed down the lane, our division
also broke forth into the most tumultu-
Gus applause. Ardent Gen. Custer first
stopped the wonderful inspirer and
kissed him before his men. His next
halt was before our own brigade. Such
a scene as his presence produced
and such emotions as it awoke
can not be realized once in a CEN
fury. All outward manifestations were
as enthusiastic as men are capable of
exhibiting: cheers seemed to come from
Threats of brass, and caps were thrown
to the tops OF the scattering oaks; but
beneath and yet superior to these noisy
demonstrations there was in every heart
a revulSiOn of feeling and a pressure of
emotion beyond description. No more
doubt or chance for doubt existed; we
were safe, perfectly and Internationally
safe, and every man knew it,"
Later III the same account is this:
"0ur formation was entirely lost, but
we had the organization and enthusi-
asm of recognized success; every man
felt that it would not do to let the ell
envy to rally on this side of the stream.
The front was presently occupied By
flags alone. as more heayily-loaded
troops became unable to keep up with
the energetic color-SergeantS: the
strong cavalry force on our distant right
was seen charging down the field; the
rebels obliQued confuSedly and in I'M
comfortable dismay toward tbs turnpike
and the bridge; final attempt was
made to organize a last resistance on the
hills that crowned the creek, but after
feeble volley the line melted away;
last battery faced us with round of
canister, but no; we saw a flag that fol-
lowed Sheridan, white star on the red
above a red star on the white. flashing
in the front and center of the army, lit
orally leading it to victory; the regi-
mental acknowledgements We'd with each
other i'll an eager strife to be first in the
works OF the morning, every brigade in
the army afterwards claiming the dis
tinction, our own brigade certainly not
with the least ground of any; and so, at
last, we manned the intrenchments of
the Nineteenth corps, while the foe
tOiled up the other bank of Cedar creek
and hastily formed battle line outside
our musket range. Artillery came UP
on the gallOp and opened vigorously.
Generals exchanged congratulations
with each other and their troops. Sheri-
dams promise was fulfilled again, for we
had our camps as the evening fell"
-
These are touches which reveal the
scene and the man. The beautiful val
ley from the Potomac to the James will
ever be alive to thoughtful travellers
with memories of Sheridan. Every
town and croSs-road, every stream and
wood, the bloSsoming clover fields, the
stretches of waving grain, aud the long.
blue ranges which rise on either hand
to complete the gigantic amphitheater
upon which his play of war was enacted,
each and all speak of him and the brave