Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-21
FLAMING LITTLE PHIL
THE MAN WHO CAME NEAR SPOIL
ING SHERiDAN'S RIDE

ING SHERiDANS RIDE
Tells the Confederate Side of the Famous
Double Battlefield of Cedar Creek-Gen.
John b. Gordon Throws New Light ON
the Subject.
From the following statement it appears
that had the battle been carried on according
TO Gen Gordons plan, even Sheridan himself |
could not have saved the day, though The
rode from Winchester, twenty miles away
Gen Gordon has still the look of a warrior |
who could prove an ugly enemy on the bat
tlefield though this chat with him in the !
Gettysburg hotel demonstrated his affabihty |
and winning qualities when recounting to |
former foe the strange chain of events of that
wonderful day on the sinuous banks of Cedar |
creek. The old rebel leader was seated at
table between Gen Daniel f. Sickles and |
Gen Hunt, the well known chief of artillery |
of the Army of the Potomac. Responding to |
the salutation of The Herald representative, |
Gen. Gordon opened the way at once for con-
versaton.
General, | am told that the splendid bit
of strategy BY which We were surprised on
the morning of the 10Th of October is to be
wholly credited to you"
''Yes, the plan was mine wholly, and so
was the conduct Of the fight up to certain
point
uFor lifetime being we wono ne of the great
victories Of the war. Every detail Of the
movauant WAS carefully planned, and for
t,relva bnurs it was supremeIy successful.
had gone the day before, Oct. Is, to the top
Of what is called Alassanutten mountain,
where We had A signal corps stationed, and
had taken observations through the field
glasses There was a magnificent birds eye
view The Shenandoah was the silver bar
hatn,oe,, Ms On tte opposite side of the river
could distinctly ,es the red cuffs of the
ar+,lleris5s VIII. had 50 good view that
corld SOC the sore spots on the horses backs
in y1ur camp In front Of the Belle Grove
mansion | could see members of Sheridans
staff coming and going. l could not imagine
a better opportunity for making out an enc
my's position and strength could even
count the men who were there Inc camp
was splendidly exposed 10 me. marked the
position Of the guns ana Tue pickels waking
to and fro, and observed where the cavalry
was placed
at flashed upon NE instantly that the ex-
pectation Of Gen, Sheridan was that we
would attack INN on ais r'ght' winch was
the only place supposed possible Tor the ad,
vance OF any army ms lelt was projected
by the Shenandoah at lulS point the noun
tain was very lrecipItons' ana tne rlFer ran
around 1t. Ihere'NaS no ROAD at AL ana the
point was guarded only oy mere cavalry
picket. saw our opportunity IN an instant
and told the otilcers present thaI II ven.
Early would permit me 70 move my corps IL
was then cohhahdlhS E"ell corps uo"h 10
this point could Ge' around the mountain.
Both sides oelieVeu thls was lihpoSslole' out
felt sure that II c"uId I've cone. my pan was
To dlsinount our cavalry a''acA 0herilians
cavalry "heh qI,ii''uii',H anu AeeP tueih
from Ilio'i ~ - ,, c''iA oo
tnis We "ouiH gam -'e'' 'ic'oiH'
GEN, GoRDois PLAN.
"What were the details Of your planr
There was back road running from our
position on Fishers hill 10 the Federal right,
where the cavalry was posted. expected to
deceive the Fedarals By Lomax'S attack. 1t
would be dark still, and they could not dis
.thguish our dismounted cavalry from in
fantry, and would believe that our main
attack was there on their right. This would
leave us free to operate around their left"
How did Gen, Early receive your pro
posalT
1.-The plan was submitted, talked over, and
finally substantially agreed upon. | took
my command, having ordered them to leave
their canteens, sahers and everything that
could make a noise behind. knew that our
only dependence was in absolute secrecy and
In a complete surprise. After inspecting
things with nv staff found could get nv
men around the mountain by putting them
in single file. | discovered stin another
place where the horses could be led, although
the venture would he exceedingly dangerous.
Still, the expedition was essentially one Of
great peril. and more or less danger was OF
little consequence
How is it that the Union scouts had never
discovered this possibility Of turning the left
at Cedar creek"
well. sharp men often leave a Ionphole in
war. and, besides, Sheridan did not depend
on shutting up this possible path, | suppose, :
replied Gen Gordon.
'tYou must remember. general. that Sheri
dan had issued orders which had tba, baay
obeyed by the officer commanding in his sh
sence, would have rendered your surprise i'm
possible
But taking things as they were, the sur
prise was not only possible but actual, ant
we did what none Of your people for a mo
ment dreamed OF as possible Early in tn
night began to move my men around tn
mountain. Ny object was to have then
all ready for an attack before dayligh
in the morning. The movement took a
night. All through the hours of darE
ness the silent figures moved to thei
position near the sleeping enemy An entir
brigade of cavalry was moved in this way
and reached the point in about one and n bal
hours in advance Of the meu | instructe
the cavalry that as soon as I got ready
move they were ~ proceed in nv front. rus
across the river. open on the cavalry picket
and capture them, it possible. If they coul
not do this, they were to put their horses
full speed. ride right through the feder
camp, firing their pistols to the right and
the left as they passed through, and NAL
directly for Sherldan's Headquarters and ca
ture him. AT that time did not know tn
Sheridan was absent and Wright in col
mand had selected his house from the fla
which floated from it, and the couriers W
were constantly going III and out.
THROUGH THE FEDERAL CAMP
"Mv orders were, On RIGHT through I
Federal camp with your command befC
daylight and right to Gen ShAridan,s hos
quarters. Capture bImr told them not
he