The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-28

checked and formed in line, our cavalry moved
on across the pike and formed in battalion
front, as ! supposed, for our grand charge. And
what position we were in! 1t seemed to me
that the rebels were playing all their artillery
and ours too on us. About this time our
Colonel came to the head of the company and
said: Capt. Houston, take "a men from your
company and go up on that hill to watch for
flank movements l was included in that "a,
and what a relief it was. From that hill l
witnessed one of the grandest charges that
ever was made. Clusters old brigade Of Michi-
gan boys made it, and it was well done, too.
The brigade staid there and held possession OF
the key TO the rebel position, and they could
not, OF did not, drive them out. From the hill
we could see perhaps two miles along our line,
and that OF tue rebels, too, except where grove
cut of the view
When Sheridan arrived on the field it is a
fact that cur men cheered till their Threats
were raw. This was about y o'clock, and for
an hour previous there had been but little
firing on either side. At two o'clock our line
moved forward as che man. Then commenced
terrific booming of artillery and musketry,
and in a very short time the smoke hid the
scene from our view. This lasted for at least
an hour. We could tell that our line was ad-
vancing by the sound of the firing. That hill
was the best place l was ever in during fight
1t was like having boil on another fellow
After the first grand assault Capt. Houston
was ordered to rejOin the command, and when
we came in sight of our old camp we found 1t
in possession of the rebels. We would much
rather have taken position On the hill again,
but could not, and when the final charge was
made we went in and helped clean the rebels
out
"When they escaped across the ford and got
their artillery in position on the hillside be-
yond, it was our turn TO get back out of range.
Then darkness came, and the great battle was
fought and won"
SURE LITTLE PHIL" DID IT.
Serg't George w. Toms, 9th N. Y. Cav, was
disappointed at the report and thinks that il
Gen. Wright and the Sixth Corps was not sur
prised. the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps were.
lie [Gen. Wright may have thought that
Gen. Jubal Early was too near for comfort, and
may have been anticipating an attack; but il
such was the ease, why did he not strengthen
his picket-lines and see that his troops were
prepared for q sudden attack?" He says
that the cavalry knew that the rebels were in
our front in force, for two nights before they
captured a squadron of the LIST Conn. Cav. He
thinks that if the enemy had come on for q
second attack, We might have held our own,
butnothing more lie fatty objects to the idea
that the result would have been the same had
Gen. Sheridan not been there, and concludes
do not wish to take any of the well-won
laurels from Gen. Wright but l firmly believe
that the victory at Cedar Creek Oct 10, 1864
was due to the presence of Gen. Sheridan, COM
ing as he did. Gen. Wright was wel-liked by
his troops but they did not have the confidence
in him that they had in Little Phil"
PICKET-FIRING THE NIGHT BEFORE.
Charles A. Darn, formerly of Getty's Division
Sixth Corps. says that Gen. Wright's report is
correct and he was not surprised. The writer
with others of his company, heard picket-fring
part of the night of Oct. Is and the morning OF
the 18th, and so knew that the enemy was in the
front and active. There was one movement
that he has never seen mentioned, regarding
which he would like some information. The
Sixth Corps was marched TO Ashby's Tor Front
Royal Gap on the morning of Oct. Is, aud, af-
ter waiting there an hour or more, was march
ed back to its old camp. Neither Gen. Wright
nor Gen. Sheridan mention this in their re-
ports
The men Of the corps thought they were go
ing to Washington, and the writer argues:
Now, the attack being made the morning after
our return, and the picket-friug that took
place during the night seems TO show that Gen
Early thought the Sixth Corps was gone. If il
was the intention to send the Sixth Corps to
Washington, Gen. Wright must have thought
or believed that he could defend his position
without it." He wants some of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE readers to explain this matter, if pos
sibe