The National tribune., 1889-07-25
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What 0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
CEDAR CREEK.
The Part Taken by the Nineteenth Corps.


hOBors belong on so many bloody fields OF bat
tie / have refTained from adding my trsti-
monv MANY times for right and justice, Tor the
reason did not wish 10 bring on more coniTo-
versy than already filled too much space IN
the columns of a paper so valuable 10 the sol
der But when Gomrade Griffin called IN
question the bravery, rallantry and fighting
qualities of the old Nineteenth Corps 1T
touched me, and silence ceased TO he virtue.
Ii my comrades will bear with me little l
will give my experience IN the battle oil Cedar
Creek, not relying upon memaTy alone. whlch
after lapse OF > years, may become somewhat
dull and Obtuse, hut will Intervene history
with my memory, and perhaps may win back
some Of the honors that Comrade Griiiin wonid
pluck from the Nineteenth Corps.
] will speak more particularly Of the First
Bricsde First Division, Nineteenth Corps.
Necessarily the three corps were placed in line
IN what is termed eehelOn. On the lett. where
Cedar Creek empties into the Shenandoah, was
the Eighth Corps, their line extending from
the base OF the mountain along the bank OF the
creek 10 the Valley turnpike. In the center
was the Nineteenth Corps, by necessity IN the
rear and 10 the right OF the Eighth Corps, rs
the line followed the creek. Still further 10
the right and rear came the Sixth Corps. Upon
the extreme right was the cavalry to protect
that flank while the left flank was presumed
10 be securely shielded by the Massanutten
Mountain.
Before ] proceed further with the battle of
Cedar Creek let me repeat little history in
regard TO the battle of Winchester. Comrade
Griffin SAYS the Confederates broke through
the Nineteenth Corps. which was at once gal
lantly retaken and the gap closed by brigade
OF the Sixth Corps. Remember that the whole
Of our army must pass through narrow gorge
nearly mile IN length. The Sixth Corps
passed through first and formed line Of battle,
their right resting opposite 20, aud about 100
yards ia advance OF, the gorge; Growers DIvis
ion Nineteenth Corps, came next, with their
left connecting with the right of the Sixth
CORPS The First Division was placed in posi-
ton 10 support them, with each brigade IN close
column by regiments The point held by
Growers Division aud the right division OF the
Sixth Corps was the vital point, covering as IL
did the gorge. Here Early made sn immedi-
Rfe and fnrious attack. which came near being
Euccessful. Firing one yOlley the rebels dashed
across the open field. and before our men had
time 20 look they were upon them. Bravely
they resisted the OverpOweTing numbers, but
were forced 10 give way. All this happened
in very short space Of time. aud now the First
Division. Nineteenth Corps, was deplOyed into
line Of battle 10 meet the oncoming c6uquerors,
aud with them dispute the coveted gorge. The
leading regiment Of the First Brigade, First
Division. Nineteenth Corps was the gallant
lIsth ~ ", and while the SD aud 10th n.
Y laced 10 the right and moved their length
beyond il, il ttbe lI4th) was subjected 10 the
most awful fire that ever a regiment received.
Molly did they maintain their position, losing
In killed and wounded lSS men, two-thirds OF
their number. BY this time Gen. Growers Di-
vision was rallied, and. forming on our left,
We presented once more a continuous line OF
battle TO the enemy Does that look as if the
Nineteenth Corps lacked courage and lighting
Qualitiesf ] trOw not
have before described the position of the
different corps at Ceder Creek. Elaborate
earihworks were planned and constructed 30
that the position was considered impregnable,
and the army quietly settled down TO camp
life Gen. Sheridan improved this season OF
suiet IN making flying trip 70 Washington,
leaving Gen. Wright, Of the Sixth Corps, in com
naDd.
Oct. 10 we occupied first this line at Cedar
Creek, and AZ 4 O'Clock on the morning Of the
18th We were suddenly aroused by the roar Of
uHskctry on The LETT u the line. The long roll y
soon called the 10th into line, but not a shot
came from orr front All the musketTy seemed
90 come from tlIe rear. This, with the confusion
Of the stat officers, made Us pretty sure that
the Eighth Corps was both surprised and
6anked, not q regiment being able 10 form
being attacked in front and rear while asleep
IN their Shelters and many were bayoneted be
fore they could rise from their tents. The
position Of the IIGth n. Y. was very crit.
ca. that the Eighth Corps was hors du
combat. The bullets began 10 reach the 10th
been sheer madness to remain where we
were. By order OF our brigade commander
we moved by the right flank. crossed littlt
run. and took positions with the remainder o
the brigade On the opposite bank, 70 try and
hold the rebels in check. But we were soon
forced 70 abandon this position, aud fell bach
across an open field. About half way across
this field we made another stand in al
orchard, hgtly c0ntesting the ground We Wer,
Hl0Wly leaving.
When Gen. Wright became aware Of the rou
Of the Eighth Corps and the necessity of ID,
Nineteenth Corps 70 fall back. he caused th,
Sixth Corps (which was 20 far in the rear As q
be intact 70 change front 70 rear and thu
hold the rebels until the Nineteenth CorIr
could get IN position on its right which w
were enabled % do IN this orchard; but ~,
were still unable 70 bold the rebels, and re
treated % piece Of woods further 70 the rear
Here we formed breastw0Tks Of an old raj
fence, which we were able 10 hold for SONS
time. and might have held il indefinitely hat
VIC not been ordered 20 retreat. By order O
Gen Wright We commenced well-ordeTed bu
humiliating retreat.
The Sixth Corps remained ia line Of battle
while the Nineteenth Corps IN column Of bri
ssde moved half mile TO the rear What
nOurnful day for us, but jBbiant day 70
cur enemies
For four miles we continued our retrca.
wishing that Little Phil was with Us, whei
from the pike we heard genuine Yankee cheer
ing, which betGkeued good news. At the sam
time an AID Informed our brigade commando
that Gen. Sheridan bad arrived, and directei
him 20 face about and return 30 the line he ha
Just left. The order was Obeyed at once an
forming on the right Of the Sixth Corps, tb
Nineteenth Corps threw Up a rude fortiGcstio
81 old rails, sent skirmi6bers 10 the front, an
got our dinner, which was very acceptable a
we had had nothing 20 eat since the nigh
before.
While thus RECALLING our appetites, "LittI
Phi" rode along cur line on his coal -blac
horse, which wac reeking with foam, whil
cheer after cheer rent the air. Boys" sal
be, this WOULD nat have happened III had bee
here; but We are going back 70 our CAMP
sleep 70 night. ! tell you. we will lick ther
out Of their boots before night If you will onl
eight"
At o'clock the order was received for tli
whole line 10 advance. Only too anxious
wipe out the stain Of the mornings defeat W
moved forward, emerging from the woods bs
hind which We formed line into an open felt
some 20 rods across. On the outer edge benin
stone wall, was the rebel line, FROM whic
they poured q whitening FIRE into our rank
ODr only safety was 10 charge the rebel lin
which we did handsomely, driving them
confusion 10 the rear. Presently Clusters ca,
airy charged up hill 10 oEr right. and III
right Of our division swung round, and "a
whole division wheeled 20 the left, bringing 1
Ht right angles 20 the rebel line, which we WEI
sure u striking On the faux when We charge
sgaln. Then came the race for Cedar Creel