The National tribune., 1890-04-10
"TBE CANNONEER"
Comrades Mingle Praise and Criticism
of the Gunner.

Mt Vernon Barracks, Ala, late Assistant Adj
jutanf- General First Division, Nineteenth
Corps writes 20 the editor of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, saying:
The Story Of a Caunoneer is a most interest
ing recital OF the wide and varied experience
Of its author. His narration OF the events of
the extraordinary battle of Cedar Creek is very
graphic but his assertion that the Nineteenth
Corps was routed y and overwhelmed by
panic" should not be permitted TO pass un-
questioned. In the early morning of the
eventful 18th Of October, 1864. after daybreak,
and before sunrise, the enemy, under cover Of
the dense Fog that screened his movements,
assailed the left Of the army in front and in
flank, and at the same time made an attack IN
force on the Nineteenth Corps, which held the
center The left Of this Corps rested on the
Valley Pike, its right touching the left bank OF
Meadow Brook. The Sixth Corps was camPed
en- echcl0n 10 the right aud rear. On the left
of the pike and extending soatheasterly toward
Cedar Greeks confluence with the Shenandoah,
was the Eighth Corps This line was irregular,
and necessarily SO because of the sinuositics of
the creek, which flowed in front of it, With
the exception Of a small force OF cavalry which
watched The ford beyond the lett the main
body Of this arm was in camp 10 the right aud
rear of the infantry line. The troops onsthe
left, surprised by the presence of an enemy IN
their very midst, crumbed away. What else
could they have done? Men just aroused from
masses. Ii was a standing order in the Nine
teenth Corps that the troops should turn out
under arms at daybTeak every morning. And
on this particular morning the Second Division,
under Gen. Grover. had been ordered TO make
a reconnaissance in force 10 the front COuse-
euently, the Nineteenth Corps was not sur
prlsed, aud the euemy's attack WAS repulsed.
Orders now came from the Commanding Gen
eral TO occupy the position from which the
Corps she left had been driven, and in obe-
dience 10 this portion Of the Second Division
promptly moved over and confronted the
enemy. At the same time the Second Division
was ordered 10 take up position on Growers
left and nearly parallel TO the pike, OF peTpen-
dicular TO the original line This brigade thus
found itself IN a deep rayine. where IL was at
once assalled by Gordon, with overwhelming
force, in front, flank aud rear. On some por-
tIOns Of the line while the front rank WAS
gagged with the Zoe ia front, the rear rank and
file closers had faced about 10 contend with him
IN their rear. IL was here, and here only, that
any portion Of the Nineteenth Corps was
driven. To have remained longer than they
cid would have resulted IN capture, nearly
Rll Of Earlyls force was coming up on this part
of the field The Sixth Corps was already en-
route from its aimO>t-impreEna position on
the right, nearly milo away, where il became
apparent 20 the Commanding General that the
original line could not be held, aud orders were
sent 10 the Sixth Corps 10 tail back 10 a teaable
position IA the rear; aud TO the Nineteenth
that as its left had been turned il should retire
and take position on the right Of the Sixth.
Up 10 TINS time all of the Eighth Corps and
portions of the two divisions Of the Nineteenth
Corps bad suffered heavily.
As IL had been directed 10 do, the Nineteenth
Corps, consisting Of but two divisions, formed
line Of battle on the rght Of the Sixth Corps
line. Its manner Of executing this WAS moi
that Of a routed or panic-slricken command. but
IA the words Of the corps commander. would
have done honor 20 the best Regular troops IN
the world" The successive movements 10 the
rear which eventuated in placing the Nine
tecnth Corps for a short time ia rear OF the
right OF the Sixth Corps were made in obedi-
eDce 10 orders. and were executed with military
precision. The corps was then drawn in toward
tie woods, or nearer 10 the pike, and massed
N. clOst column, with regular intervals in the
manner prescribed by the tactics. And this
was the situation Of affairs when the corps COM
mander was Informed OF the arrival Of Gen.
Sheridan, who directed that the corps be closed
IN and formed in line Of battle on the right of
the Sixth Corps, then farther 20 the left and
within the woods. The intelligence OF Gen.
Sberidau's presence created immense enthusi-
asIn, and an attack soon afterwaTd made by
the enemy or the Nineteenth Corps was easily
repuised- The newspaper carriers now came up
and distributed their wares aud the singular
spectacle was presented Of soldiers, ia the pause
OF battle, sitting or lying on the ground reading
their fayOrite journals aud talking politics with
one another. Ia - or 30 minutes after this
cane Gen. Sheridan s orders 20 advance against
the enemy. The First Division, consisting Of
but two small brigades, was depioyed TO the
right % The second aud the charge commenced.
Tie lTst Of the eBemy's force 10 give way was
Gen. GOrdOn's Division, which held the left Of
his line. Again the First Division forged ahead
30 rapidly That projectiles from q battery Of the
-. & 4. a - -
came necessary iOT the commander Of the Nine
tenth u send an Aid % the rear 10 arrest the
IRE q this battery. which had been directed
against supposed enemy-in reality the troops
OF lhe First Division.
The First Division was the first Of the infan-
try 70 regain the works which had been ab4n-
dOned in the morning and with Schenck's Bri-
gade, Of the Second, was the only infantry sent
IN support Of the cavalry stili farther 10 the
front that night. The number Of electives in
the First Division On tie night before the bat
tle was few over Z. 200. It's list Of killed and
wounded embraced the names Of $40 officers
and men. The Second Division also suffered
severely, and Us commander the gallant Grover
who Jed The bayOHet charge at GrOyeton was
wounded during the advance Of the afternoon
With the exception Of the almost total de-
EtTuctiOu Of its Second Brigade ia the fatal
Tayiue on the east Of the pike, everything here
treated Of regarding the First Division Of the
A4uetccAbA 1yrffs TOOK place under the eye Of
the writer. IL he reirains from specifying in
cidents relating 10 other commands IL is because
his knOaledge u their occurrence arises from
general information and not Of personal OBJ
6erVatiOn.
Comra5e C. T. Stevens, Captain, 18th n. Y.
writes 20 IHE AkTIoSAL TBIBUEE, saying:
] am very much interested IN the Story Of
GaHnpneer," aud think he tells II well and is
bound 10 give his battery the praise that Is its
due. but is also willing 10 iastef credit on
other troops who won IL. / notice that he has
mentioned UptoHs Brigade two or three times
a. making the charge ~ SpOttsylVania and
Grants NermOnteTs at the Angle. ! would
like u call he attention 10 tie statement he
made ia his sketch that he saw Upton's Bri-
gade ieapthe works May IL, 1864 alone aud nm
supported. That charge was led By Col Upton.
but IL consisted Of twelve regiments selected
from the Sixth Corps and was in three lines.
ia the first line was the I2Ist y. Y, 5th Ne
Goth and ll5th Pa; the second line was the
77th aud 43d y. Y, 5th Wis, 9th Me., 4glh
Pa, and 30, %, 9Th aud 9th Vt 1t was a
splendid charge and failed for want Of support.
Our regiment lost one Captain killed, one
Lieutenant killed one Captain lost an eye. We
also lost large number Of men. We crossed the
Rapidan with over 600 men, aud after that
charge could not muster one hundred The
column captured almost as many men as there
were IA the charging column, for most Of the
repi rgpnfE had ke4u fearfuIf,y h,pgI.a Ia, 80,