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


the Battle.
The publication in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
Of the original draft Of the report of MAJ. Gen.
II. q. Wright Of the operations OF the Sixth
Corps at Cedar Creek, Oct I9 1864, and the
operations Of the Army Of the Shenandoah to
the time Of the arrival Of Gen Phil Sheridan
on the field about noon, has created widespread
interest among the veterans of the Union. and
particularly with those who participated in the
events of that day.
This has brought to the Editor a number Of
extended communications. some Of them taking
issue with Gen. Wright; but all are interest
ing, and many present new features that are
valuable IN explaining points that have here
toiore been pulling to students Of military
history.
TIRE STORY OF THE EIGHTH CORPS.
BY far the most interesting communication
that has reached this Office relating TO the
events Of that historic day at Cedar Greek is the
story in detail Of COmrade Thomas J. Oar, of
R0ucys Point, WA, who was a private Co D.
18th W. Va, and was clerk at headquarters
OF the First Division, Eighth Corps. who ex-
plains many things that have not before been
understood. he saws:
That the Eighth Corps was surprised
and routed on the 18th of October 1854 at
Cedar Creek, I believe has never been called
IN question, and that the Sixth Corps stood
the bTunt Of the battle on that occasion is also
matter OF history. But We think it unjust 10
speak IN such dsparaging terms Of the other
Corps whose yal0T was tested on many a hard
fought field. The question occurs Would the
sixth Corps have done any better than the
ton?
The situation Of the respective corps has
been SO often explained that it is needless to
repeat It here; suffice il TO say that the Eighth
Corps was on the left and front Of our line and
the Sixth Corps on the right and rear the
Nl9eseellh Corps occupying the center IN rear
and to the right OF the Eighth Corps
On the evening OF the 18th of October Col
1ho5nrn, commanding First Division, Eighth
corps, received orders from corps headquarters
directing him TO detail a brigade from his d.
VISION 10 make a reconnaissance beyond Stras-
burg Tor the purpose Of discovering If possible
The Whereabouts of the enemy For this dutv
the Third Brigade commanded bv Col. II NJ
harris, brave and efficient officer, was select
e. lie lett camp early on the morning of the
1sth, and returned late on the evening Of that
Gay. lie reported that he had proceeded to a
point between Edenburg and Mount Jackson
and that he failed 20 discover any signs of the
enemy on our front lie made the report 10
division headquarters as soon as he arrived in
camp which report was Immediately transmit
ted 70 Zen. Crooks headquarters. Unfortu-
nately those reports, along with all other papers
belonging 10 division headquarters. were lost
on the morning Of the 18th. Gen Wright is in
manaer who conducted the reconnaissance was
klileo the next day. Gen. T. N. Harris is vet
nYIng at Harrisyille, W. Va: Col Tboburn
who commanded the First Division, Eighth
corps was MORALLY wounded early in the fight
aha dled from has wounds during the day
On the evening of the 18th it was known
among the men In camp that Col Harris had
returned 10 camp and reported no enemy In
slgnI ms gave the troops a feeling of secu-
Thy, which, perhaps, had much TO do with
their complete surprise the next morning.
Many OF the men on lying down had re-
moved their outer clothing and taken of their
shoes-sOmething they had not done for many
weeks. When the assault was made at ) o'clock
on the morning Of the 18th, the men were
sleeping Ia their tents and so sudden and i'm
peJuous was the assault Of the enemy that the
hrst lntimaHon our men had Of is was a demand
70 surrender, and many We're killed or wounded
Hhiie asleep was cerking at division head
quarters at the time and saw scores of men
falling back from the front without any cloth
ing on except drawers and shirt. carving eun
and acc0aterments IN one hand and shoes in
the other. Is it 10 be wondered at that trooDs
@ouia become demoralized under such circun-
stances! Would the Sixth CORPS have been
better under similar circumstances?
When Gen. Wright speaks Of the enemy
oashlng INTO the first line OF the Eighth Corps
and sweeping it back through the second he
certainly does not understand the situation
there never was line formed except that
formed by the First Division sIeeuing in their
tenss' and as they fell back on the Second Di-
vision they were without organization. Here
ahe tnere might be seen little squad Of men
under command Of q Captain or Lieutenant.
out brigade or rcgimental organization was not
10 be seen.
met Col Thoburn a few minutes berora
he was wounded. He inquired if l had seen
Gen. Crook. I replied in the negative. when
ne passed on into piece Of timber. where he
received the wound from which he died the
same evening. No truer or drawer man died
Oh that eventful day than Col Jos. W. Tboburn
conmandeToi the First Division, Eighth Corus.
notwithstanding the rough handling the
ElgAtn Corps had received early in the dav.
they were rallied and did good service in the
afternoon when Early army WAS. sent a fvine
mob across Cedar Creek All honor ia ne
brave men who sDstched victory from defeat
Greek.
1t has always been a matter Of wonder n
me where Gen. Early's army was on the 18th
when Gen Harris was making the reconpofs
sance. Perhaps some one Of your readers VIM
belonged TO Gen. Eariy's command could tiiroyy
some light on the subject. Gen Harris was
avs a careful and conscientious officer, who
was InoTougn IN the performance of duty.
and without doubt reported the situation as he
saw it."
A CAvALRYMAN's STORY.
One writer, A. ;. Otis, Maiden Rock, Wis
who was Sergeant in the Harris Light cav
airy, sends most interesting sketch. He does
not wholly agree, lie thinks, with Ger. WrigIt's
report as 10 Tie events Of the early morning of
that day. his brigade was camped on our
Egnt about three quarters Of a mile from the
ford az the old grist-mill About o'clock that
morning there was heavy firing at the ford. and
al the brigade but his regiment saddled upand
went down 10 aid the picket soon driving me
rebels on According TO his recollection the
firing on the left began about half an hour
later.
Serg,t Otis misunderstood the wording Of
Gen. hrights report, where he saws "our
plckets did not fire q shot, and the first indica-
non Of the enemy's presence was a volIev fired
into the main line while part Of the men were
waiting roll-call, without arms" to apDlv to the
cavalry. Gen. Wright clearly referred ia me
leit Of the infantry line, for he speaks of the
attack there and the attendant results. after
having stated that / hesitated a few moments
and then decided that the real point of artscl-
was on the left and mounting rode in that al
rcction."
SeTg't Otis tells graphically how his command
was formed waiting for orders to mount and
move and the wonder Of officers and men at
thedelay, and then gives the following descrin-
lion o. what he saw that day:
amer waiting for hours the orders came: