Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-13

much like o disaster from where We
saw them swarming out of the woods
to the rear. 1t was this disaster your
regiment and others retrieved, no doubt,
and it was very fortunate that the
whole Confederate line did not attack
in force at that time. Dwight's Divis-
ion was practically intact; but the
Eighth Corps was not in position.- and
the confusion in the Second Division of
| the Nineteenth Corps was very great.
"There were very warm times about
this part of the battle. between Gen
erals Grover and Dwight, much con-
troversy, and quarrel. / saw the
decentralization have described, at
any rate, and almost Immediately saw
Dwight's division ready foraction, and
in order. / was very glad to see it,
and no doubt General Sheridan was
greatly relieved ut the sight. He con-
versed with Dwight. and, fancy, told
him to hold on until General Crook,
with the Eighth Corps, got into posi-
ton on the enemy's left flank and our
cavalry got into their rear. When
these movements were made they
caused Early to change his line, and
while doing it he was attacked all
along the line and was routed at all
points.
Winchester, Fishers Hill, and Cedar
Creek-the three great battles Of the
Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1864
were alike in this: that Sheridan
made and developed his plans on the
field, from personal observation, and
that the final attack was fierce, sud-
den, and overpoweringly successful.
Il have always fancied that the orig
inal plans for the battle of Winchester,
on the Union side, We're thwarted by
the slow crossing Of Opequan Greek by
the troops, and the consequent tardi-
ness in forming the line Of battle. for
the attack. The defle was very mar
row beyond the creek, and the move
ment Of the troops was much delayed
by nature. If all three corps had been
earlier in line, moving directly on the
enemy, Early would probably have
been annihilated.s
Crossing q stream, even as shallow
as was the Opequan in September, is
serious business for an army. There
should be officers to march the troops
across without delay, and in the widest
formation-possibly by company front.
II happened to go back once to con-
vey an order while the troops were
crossing and was astonished at the
hardness. I called the attention of
officers to it, and hope I hurried the
crossing somewhat.
Il think that if commanded corps
crossing stream to make an attack 1
would stay at the crossing until I was
needed at the front, unless 1 could feel
that I had somebody very efficient
| there all the time the crossing was 60
ing on.
Little matters like this are often the
hinges on which great events turn"
NOTE BY THE AUTHOR: To the above
interesting account wish to add few
words as to the composition Of Sheri-
dams Army of the Shenandoah. The
people who have been in the habit of
thinking that this great campaign,
which in its results had so much to do
with ending the war, was fought exclu-
sively by Eastern soldiers, will be as
tonished to learn of the great part
that the West had in it.
In the cavalry of that army Michigan
had four regiments, West Virginia
four, Ohio two, Indiana one.
The Sixth Corps had three Ohio in
fantry regiments, and one Wisconsin
battalion.
The Eighth Corps was almost en-
tirely composed of regiments from
Ohio and West Virginia, having of the
former six and of the latter ten. It had
also one Illinois regiment.
The Nineteenth Corps had three In
diana and three Iowa regiments. II
also had an Indiana battery of light
artillery.
Exclusive Of this, the large force al
Harper's Ferry, the Kanawha Valley,
and Sleepy Greek We're half made ul
of Western regiments. The West is
indeed entitled to great part of the
renown Of Sheridan's Valley victories
*1he situation referred to was where M,
brigade fought. 1.-The fire at the fence" was
caused by the ignition of the long, dry meadow
grass by burning cartridge-paper. J.F,F
4 General William Dwight was in command o
the First Division. j. FF
For the reason that Sheridan had made hi
dispositions so that the Eighth Corps should
attack extreme right, as they success
fully did later in the day. JF T.