Mohave County miner., 1889-01-12
FLANKING LITTLE PHIL
THE MAN WHO CAME NEAR SPOIL
ING sHERloAN'S RIDE
Tells the Confederate Side Of tie Famous
4 Double Battlefield Of Cedar Greek Gsn.
John B. Gordon Throws New Light On
tho Subject.

y
: John B. Gordon Throws New Light On
tho Subject.
From the following statement II appears
Shat had the battle been carried on according
10 Gen Gorion's plan, even Sheridan himself
could not have saved the day, though "he
rode from Winchester, twenty miles away
Gen. Gordon has still the look OF warrior
who could prove an ugly enemy on the bat
tleneld, though this chat with him in the
Gettysburg hotel demonstrated his nffability
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 r. 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-
versation.
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 your
YES, the plan was mine wholly, and 30
was the conduct of the fight up TO certain
point.
"For the time being we wono ne OF the great
victories of the war. Every detail of the
movement was carefully planned, and for
twelve hours IL was supremely successful. I
had gone the day before, Oct IS, to the top
" what Is called Massanutten mountain,
where we had a signal corps stationed, and
bad taken observations through tho field
glasses There was magnificent birds eye
siew. The Shenandoah was the silver bar
between US. On the opposite side Of the river
I could distinctly see the red cuffs OF the
irtillerists Why, had so good view that
could see the sore spots on the horses backs
IN your camp. In front Of the Belle Grove
mansion ! could SEQ members OF Sheridan's
,taff coming and going. could not imagine
. better opportunity for making out an ene-
ny's position and strength. l could even
sount the men who were there. The camp
was splendidly exposed TO me. marked the
position of the guns and the pickets walking
20 and fro, and observed where the cavalry
was placed. ..
sit flashed upon me instantly that the ex-
,ectation of Cen Sheridan was that we
would attack him on his right, which was
;he only place supposed possible for the ad-
sance Of any army. His left was protected
ain was very precipitous, and the river ran
around it, There'was no road at all, and the
point was guarded only by mere cavalry
picket. saw our opportunity in an instant,
md told the officers present that IL Gen.
Early would permit me TO move my corps q
vas then commanding Ewell's corps down to
This point could getaround the mountain.
Both sides believed this was impossible, but
taIt ,t,,s ks ~
% dismount our cavalry, attack Sheridans
:avnlry when disnounted, aud keep them
rom moving. knew that IL we could do
his we would gain great victory.n
GEN. GoRDoN's PLAN
"What were the details Of your planr'
tThere was back road running from our
position ON Fishers hill to the Federal right,
where the cavalry was posted. expected to
deceive the Federals by Lomax's attack. Is
sould be dark still, and they could not dis
inguish our dismounted cavalry from in.
santry, and would believe that our main
attack was there on their right. This would
cave us free 10 operate around their leftn
"IIow did Gen. Early receive your pro-
,osal"
"fhe plan was submitted, talked over, and
inalIy substantially agreed upon. took
ny command, having ordered them TO leave
heir canteens, sabers and everything that
could make noise behind. knew that our
,nly dependence was in absolute secrecy and
n complete surprise. After inspecting
things with my staff found could get my
men around the mountain by putting them
n single file. discovered still another
place where the horses could be led, although
she venture would be exceedingly dangerous.
Still, the expedition was essentially one Of
great peril, and more or less danger was OF
little consequence"
SHOW IL il that the Union scouts had never
discovered this possibility Of turning the left
1t Cedar creekf'
"Well, sharp men often leave a loophole in
var, and, besides Sherida did not depend
IN shutting up this possible path, I suppose
replied Gen. Gordon.
"You must remember, general, that Sheri.
Ian had issued orders which, had they been
sbeyed by the officer commanding In his alb
ence, would have rendered your surprise i'm
possible"
"But taking things as they were, the sur
prise was not only possible but actual, and
we did what none OF your people for mo-
nent dreamed of as possible. Early in the
aight began TO move my men around the
mountain. My object was to have them
ali ready for an attack before daylight
N the morning. The movement took all
,ight. All through the hours OF dark
hess the silent figures moved 20 their
position near the sleeping enemy. An entire
brigade Of cavalry was moved in this way,
md reached the point in about one and half
hours in advance Of the men. instructed
.he cavalry that as soon as got ready to
move they were TO proceed in my front, rush
across the river, open on the cavalry pickets,
md capture them, il possible III they could
not do this, they were 10 put their horses to
full speed, ride right through the federal
camp, firing their pistols 10 the right and to
The left as they passed through, and make
directly for Sheridan's headquarters and cap
.ure him. At that time did not know that
Sheridan was absent aud Wright In COM
mand. had selected bis hoase from the fiau
which Aoated from 1t, and tie coariers who
we're constantly going in and out.
THROUGH THE FEDERAL CAMP
"My orders were: Go right through the
Federal camp with your command before
daylight aud right TO Gen. Sheridans head
quarters. Capture himr told them not 70
try TO take any prisoners, not TO mind any
thing, but every mounted man was 20 press
straight toward Belle Grove. We, with the
infantry, would take care of what was be-
hind KNEW very well that the little fight
ing or capturing they could do would be Of
little account compared with the prize they
were expected to get"
"Was there not danger Of q premature
onset at some pointp
"Before the movement began we had CON-
pared watches 50 that the attack might bs
simutaneousn b.