Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-06-15
AT CEDAR CREEK.
The Revulsion of Feeling Caused by Gen.
eral Shcridan's Arrival.

The Revulsion of Feeling Caused by Gen.
eral Shcridans Arrival.
An admirable little volume of the
Hon. A. F. Walker, of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, being the his
tory of the Vermont brigade in which
he served during the campaign in the
valley, contains many character
sketches of Sheridan, which reveal him
TO the reader as he was in his very
practical every day field life. A para
graph in the account of Fishers Hill
shows how Sheridan joined with and
encouraged his troops: 1.-The Vermont
brigade, at the commencement of its
advance, met n shallow mill pond that
had not been noticed in the forest in
some way iloundered through, rushed
up the hill to the rebel works, then
turned to the left, and in n confused,
delirious mass hurried on as best it
might after the scattering enemy.
Guns were fired wildly into the air, and
reloaded as the soldiers ran; captured
charged at the panic-stricken foe in
mad salute for our victory. General
Sheridan, with long black streamers
waving from his hat, joined our own
division, exclaiming; Run, boys, run;
don't wait to form; don't let EN- stop;'
and when some one answered, We cant
run, we're tired out his reply was
perhaps unmilitary, but certainly, un-
der the circumstances, judicious. If
you can't run, then hollcr,' 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
at Cedar Creek, and the arrival of Sher-
idan. Mr.. Walker says:
while thus waiting for the COM
plete reformation of the army, sulkily
and, it is to be feared, profanely growl-
ing 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, a little proud of
what we had already done-and ex-
pecting the charge which we grew
more and more confident we should re-
pulse, we heard cheers behind us on
tho pike. We were astounded. There
we stood, driven four miles already,
quietly waiting for what might be fur
ther and immediate disaster, while far
in the rea' we heard the stragglers
and hospital bummcrs, and the gunless
artillery mon actually cheering as
though victory had been Won We
could hardly believe our ears.
The explanation soon came, in the
apparition which Buchanan Read as
yet 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 tho
most tumultuous applause. Ardent
General Custer first stopped the Won
derful inspirer and kissed him before
his men. His next halt was before our
own brigade. Such scene as his
presence produced and such emotions
as il awoke can not be realized once in
century. All outward manifestations
were as enthusiastic as men are capable
of exhibiting; cheers seemed to come
from throats 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 rcvulsion of feeling
and pressure of emotion beyond de-
scription. No more doubt or chance
for doubt existed; we were safe, per-
fectly and unconditionally safe and
every man knew ii.
Later, in the same account, is this:
"Our formation was entirely lost, but
we had the organization and enthusi-
asm of recognized r. success; every man
felt that it would not do to allow tho
enemy to rally on this side of the
stream. The front was presently oc-
cupied by flags alone. rs more heavily
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 uncomfortable dismay toward
the turnpike and tho bridge; final at
tempt was made to organize last re-
sistance on the hills that crowned the
creek. but after feeble volley the line
melted away;a last battery faced us
with round of canister but in vain;
we SAW the flag thatfollowed Sheridan.
q white star On the red above a red