The National tribune., 1890-05-08

in command Of the army. Now, Gen. Wright
was an important part of the Sixth Corps
in fact. its head.
Col stephen Thomas, Of the sth VT. and at
that time In command of McMillan's Brigade,
was corps officer OF the day on the night before
the battle lie discovered unusual movements
Of the enemy closely accommodating oHr posi-
tiOn. Gen. Thomas has stated to me that lie
believed something was wrong; that be called
the attention of Gen. Emory 10 what he had
observed, and made known his suspicious.
Gen. Emory appeared TO consider the matter
of sufficient gravity TO be reported at head
quarters and asked him as a personal favor TO
call on Gen. Wright and repeat the story 10
him. But Gen. Wright did not think thero
was occasion for any undue anxiety Can
nOueer,' in his reading of all Cedar Creek ut
erature. must have found this statement in the
excellent history of the Sth VT. IL appears on
evidence that Gen. Wright rested in undue
confidence But the
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DISASTER
may be fixed with precision. Gen. Sheridan
himself in his official report. clinches the mat
ter beyond all mootiug. On the 10th he started
for Washington, accompanied by Gen Torbcrt
with all the cavalry. which was 10 leave him
at Front Royal. bound upon a reconnaissance.
Gen. Sheridan says;
" Upon my arrival with The cavalry at Front
Royal on the night Of the 10th ] received the
following dispatch from Gen. Wright, who was
left al Cedar Creek in command of the army:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
OCTOBER l6. 1864. !
GENERAL: inciosc you dispatch which explains
itseiT: see copy folIowiugI
Ifthc enemy shoRld he strongly reinforced in
cavalry, hc might by turning right, give us
great deal of trouble shall hold on here until
fhe cUenly's movements are developed, and shall
only fear attack my right. which / shall
make every preparation FOR guarding against and
Resisting.
Very respectfully, your oledient servant,
Najor-General Commanding.
MAJ Gen. p. H. SHERIDAN Commanding Middle
Military Division
To Iieut. Gen EARLY: Re ready to move ms soon
rs my forces JOIN YOU, and we will crash sheridan
LoNGsTREFT,
Lieutenant General
This message was taken of the rebel signal
flag on ThTcet0p Mountain. Ny first thought
was that il was a ruse, but, on reelection, deemed
il best 10 abandon the cavalry raid, ana give
70 Gen Wright the entire strength Of the army.
therefore ordered the cavalry 10 return and
report 10 him. and addressed the following
note on the subject:
HEADQr ALTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
FEoST ROYAL, OCTOBER 10, lo6a
GESEIAL= The ecavairy Is all ordered back 10 you
make your position strong IL longsireei's
dispatch istruc he i under he impression that
have largely detached. viii 20 over 10 AuguT,
and may get additional news.
Close if Col. Powell. who viii be at this point.
II the enemy should make advance know YOU
VIII defeat him. Look well TO your ground and he
well prepared. Get up everything that can he
spared. J viii bring up ali can and viii be up
Pm. SHERIDAN.
Majur-Gcneral.
Mai.-Gen- II. G. WRIGHT. Commanding sixth
Corps"
The reader should note carefully this last
order ot Gen Sheridan 10 Gen. Wright. 1t will
be also well 10 note that Gen Wright SAWS i'm
II TEGraT
right" The actual disaster showed that Gen.
Nriga; was entirely wrong in his forecast. But
the worst phase ofthe case Is shown in the fol-
lowing further extract from Gen. Sheridan's
report:
During NY absence the enemy had gathered
al his strength. and in the night of the 18th
and early Oh the 18th moved silently from
Fishers Hill, through Strasburg,
PUSHED a HEAVY TURNING COLUMN
acT0=s ihe Shenandoah oB the road from Stras-
buFg 10 FfDHt Royal. and again recrossed the /
river at Bowman's Ford. striking Crook. who
helo the left Of Our line in nauk and rear 50
unexpectedly and forcib.y as 10 drive in has
0utposi@ invade las camp, and turn bis position.
This surprise was owing. probably 10 not clos
ing ln Powell, or that the cavalry divisions of
Merit; aad Custer were placed the right OF 4
our line. a. here If had always occurred TO me
there s.as but little danger If attack"
Hcle j. developed the astounding fact that 4
Gen. enel dan 5 explicit order 10 Gen. Wright \
WAS not CbeEed Through this mild wording 4
Of TIE Commanding General there runs a ter
rb.e ceHsurc. and this careful Thrasing cliuches 4
WIKI uBz-lstakaiie certainty the responsibility 4
lOT TIE surprise a. Cedar Creek upon the com
man1er oi tse Sixth Corps The iual triumph 4
alone aF,Tted the emphasizing OF III RESPONSE (
bility. Gen Sheridan also indicates another 4
error o. Gen. Wright ia placing the whole cav
airy iosce on las right. To anyone familiar 4
with tue topography % that field it becomes /
certainiy iIat had Powell Seen closed in. as
Sheridan ordered, f5on. Gordon the rebel genius "
o. t5c surprise. could never have made his .
faInons march nor got Ia the rear Of our po-
siiioi- - much for the responsibility Of the (
crest sar.aise
j. W.i. ac observed that tie above does not
accoun f"File surprise 0f Crook by Kershaw. +
for tbs Ben. Wright cang0t be held response /
bic. Yet somebody WIS more thau culpab!e 4
Crook 8rla tEe extreme left of the Union posi- \
ton, p lich on It's front was very strong.
GrOsks position was advanced nearly a mile 4
en echeIYH. Kersaaw crezzed Cedar Creek
square aH Crooks front and lay there for ibree 4
hours waiting Tor Gordon 70 gain cur rear Ii +.
% true 'aai had Gordon failed 10 turn the .
Jnlon Tear, kershaw's initial attack would 4
hafe enfceeaca. But, without Gordon's CO.
ofeTalGa 8aicI. kpTshaW even reinforced lv i
wharton, could never have crossed the pike 4
1nto iiie position u the Nineteenth Corps pro- /
Fided a!"ays that tAis corps had been de- I
Gently banded. II is beyond all dispute that
GoEaols rear attack vas essential 10 the Union T.
disaster ~ Cedar Creek It splain enough. 1
also. iAal there was grave neglect Oh Crooks |
front
Daw roEa 10 q feature of the battle which
has regD iFeatcd very PinReTly when it has been 4
treaicd a. iill. J mean the management Of the 4
battle aE1 tie handling of the army In the
early morning hours. 4 consideration OF this
que toE 81 essential 70 tie present discussion.
lhe aiIeieenih Corps has never made any
claim ai auPcIl0rity over other organizations
joined "l;H D. in SheFidan's splendid army:
but assoclate forces have made claims which ju-
VOWED iaeir undue pre-eminence, and have
lmpiie.iy aud directly Huderegtimated the
heiNica1 aiG dispaIagsG the conduct Of Gen
EmofF's nDmmano. ] take issue With many Of
tannDleer statements and observations but
De tfIica. eITgT-aH error Characteristic Of
HiEtt CORPS commentators on Cedar Cfeck-ie
seen in se ioiigwng sentence: Bot do not
tbiuE ibai q can be shown that any pant Of the
Sizth Corps Was affected IN tie slightest de-
gEec BE- thc
gaEIC WHICH OVERWHELMED
the troops n the Eighth aud Nincteeutb Cor,s
1n the morning, and ara Of the opinion fbat
TIE e9ei1y bad struck tue limit Of his general
adFais.n on cur part II lie line al Tic time
Sheridan reached the fedn
ltf1ag W Hoted 10 passing that "Cannoneer %
AthSEg dsc!aimIBg aBiy resort 10 - ,,crsa,,sI
n.