Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-01-03
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
THE WINCHESTER RIDE.
Some Interesting Extracts From General
Sheridan's Autobiography.

Some Interesting Extracts From General
Sheridan's Autobiography.
For short distance / travelled on
the road, but soon found it so blocked
with wagons and wounded men
that my progress was impeded,
and / was forced to take to the
adjoining fields to make haste When
most of the wagons and wounded were
past returned to the road, which was
thickly lined with unhurt men, who,
having got far enough to the rear to be
out of danger, had halted, without any
organization, and begun cooking coffee;
but when they saw me they abandoned
their coffee, threw up their hats, shout
dered their muskets. and as l passed
along turned to follow, with enthusiasm
and cheers. To acknowledge this ex-
hibition of feeling, took off my hat,
and with Forsyth and O'Keefe rode
some distance in advance Of my escort,
while every mounted officer who saw me
galloped out on either side of the pike
to tell the men at distance that ] had
come back. In this way the news was
spread to the stragglers off the road,
when they, too, turned their faces to
the front and marched toward the
enemy, changing in moment from the
depths of depression to the extreme of
enthusiasm. already knew that even
in the ordinary condition of mind en-
thusiasm is potent element with SOL
diers, but what saw that day con-
WINGED me that if it can be excited
from state of dependency its power
is almost irresistible. / said nothing,
except to remark, as / rode among
those on the road: eff l had been with
you this morning this disaster would
not have happened. We must face the
other way; we will go back and recover
our camp"
My first halt was made just north of
Newtown, where l met chaplain dig
ging his heels into the sides of his
jaded horse, and making for the rear
with all possible speed. drew up for
an instant, and inquired of him how
matters were going on at the front. He
replied: Every thing is lost; but all
will be right when you ge. there;" yet,
Notwithstanding this expression of con-
fidence in me, the parson at once re-
sumed his breathless pace to the rear.
At Newtown was obliged to make a
circuit to the left, to get round the vii
lage. / could not pass through it, the
streets were so crowded, but meeting
on this detour Major Mckinley, of
Crooks staff, he spread the news of my
return through the motley throng
there.
General Torbert was the first officer
to meet me. saying as he rode up, MY
God! I'm glad you've come" Getty's
division, when l found it, was about
mile north of Middletown, posted on
the reverse slope of some slightly ris-
ing ground, holding a barricade with
fence-rails, and skirmishing slightly
with the enemy's pickets. Jumping
my horse over the line of rails, rode
to the crest of the elevation, and there
taking off my hat, the men rose up
from behind their barricade with cheers
of recognition. An officer of the Yer
mont brigade, Colonel A. S. Tracy,
rode out to the front, and joining me.
informed me that General Louis A.
Grant was in command there, the reg
ular division commander, General Get
ty, having taken charge of the Sixth |
Corps in place of Ricketts,, wounded
early in the action while temporarily |
commanding the corps. l then turned
back to the rear of Getty's division, and |
as | came behind it a line of regimental |
flags rose up out of the ground, as it |
seemed, to welcome me. They were
mostly the colors of Crooks troops,
who had been stampeded and scattered |
in the surprise of the morning. The |
having withstood the |
panic, had formed behind the troops of |
Getty. The line with the colors was
largely composed of officers, among
whom l recognized Colonel r. B. |
Hayes, since President of the United
States, one of the brigade command
ers. At the close Of this incident / |
crossed the little narrow valley, or de-
preston, in rear of Getty's line, and
dismounting on the opposite crest, es-
tablished that point as my headquar-
ters.-Shcridan's autobiography.