The National tribune., 1890-05-08

Nineteenth Corps been swung bacl1-was re-
markshle. This movement was the proper
tactics 10 stem the tide OF Kershaw's advance,
aud had it been adopted would have unwitting-
ly but effcctually anticipated Gordon's ON
slaught The second fact which Gen. Wright
should have been familiar with was that the
front of the Nineteenth Corps was absolutely
/ Impregnahie to an infantry attack. Just one
paramount duty rested upon the commander OF
that army on that morning,-fnr long after tho
Eighth Corps was annihilated the Nineteenth
Corps was intact,-and that duty was TO change
the front of the Nineteenth Corps. That this
could have been dOne everyone on that field
knows. The Second Division was under arms
and in line three hours before Gordon crossed
the pike. This division was ready for instant
fight before Crook was touched During most
of this time the Nineteenth Corps got no orders
from Gen. Wright. | do not ignore the claim
that Gen. Wright did put some troops in to
meet the enemy at the pike, hut whatever he
did he did not use troops of the Nineteenth
Corps rs he might have used them aud he did
not use them at all at the time when they
might have proved
EQUAL TO THE EMERGENCY.
There was no necessity for his leaving battal-
ion in the intrenchments of the Nineteenth
Corps. Early migls have got his final setback
south of Belle Grove Mansion.
Col. Porter further says: At every favorable
position we rallied and fought the enemy till
they would move around Orr left TO our rear.
when we had TO fal back And all this while
no order from anybody except Gen. Birgc who
stuck right 10 his command. But the devil of
it was the army had no head. Wright was
'pottcring around with his corps, and never
seemed 10 know that there was any other part
OF the army except that. Gen. Emory had no
order from Gen. Wright, and could give none
TO his corps"
After O'Clock the Nineteenth Corps had no
part in the battle of Cedar Greek until Sheri
dan formed his lines at noon. Gen. Emory
told me, and il is n well known fact, that he
got orders from Gen. Wright 10 move the
Nineteenth Corps 10 the rear. and when Sheridan
arrived on the field he found this corps a mile
10 the rear Of Getty's line, position which
il occupied by the direct orders of Gen. Wright.
After the Nineteenth Corps was driven across
Meadow Run, and had formed and fought
lis northern bluff until outHanked by Gordon, it
was never driven a rod, and only retreated by
orders
50 much for the manner in which the Nine
teenth Corps was handled by the commander
OF the army.
! now propose to show what the Nineteenth
Corps actually did at Cedar Creek before the
enemy had reached the position of the Sixth
Corps. ! have 10 fortiiy my position. personal
interviews with leading officers OF both the
N1i'oh anu lGifti dtAlleh sBai4 AlSb alabtt a
saiHciency OF printed testimony, some of which
as a loyal Sixth Corps man Cannoneer" must
defer 10. l shall quote several times from Col
a. f. Walkers Vermont Brigade in the Shen-
andOah Valley" Col Walker Is inyidious in
has partsanshlp FOR the Sixth Corps, so that what
be furnishes 10 my use is of peculiar weight in
this discussion. Speaking of the first surprise
IN the morning, Col Walker says: The Nine
tecuth Corps. across the pike, had sprung to
arms at the FIRST sound or the conflict, the men
for the most part leaving their tents and extra
clothing they stood, and
FORMING THEIR LINES LIKE SOLDIERS"
That there was tho most stubborn fighting of
the day south Of the pike before Gordon gained
IL Is fact Of which many Sixth Corps histo-
rians appear TO be ignorant ii there WAS
any rock 4" at Cedar Creek ii was the brigade
commanded by Col. Thomas (McMillan'sl.
which stopped the advance of the enemy until
ii was crumbled into dust This heroic spot is
now commcmoated by the admirable granite
memorial recently erected by Col. Herbert L.
Hill. Referring 10 the cfiuTt 10 check Ker-
shaw's advance, writer in HGJpe5's Mdgasino
says:
. il seems that McMillan's Brigade had nj
ready been pushed out in the direction OF the
enemy, and TO cradle the West Virginian army
10 rally. 80 During the day the brigade
lost more than one-ihird Of It's lighting men,
the greater part Of them on this horrible hill
Of sacrifice, where il offered itself up for the
salvation OF the army"
OF the fighting By the Nineteenth Corps IN
the early morning Of Cedar Creek, Col. Jed
Hotchkiss, one Of the most piished officers
IN the Army OF Northern Virginia, serving at
the time on Gen. Ea-,ys siaG, says:
Few, if auy, troops ~yun tic best Of voter-
ans, could resist being deIBoalized by the in.
undatiOn g such lJass Of excited ingitives
and Gen. Tbounas's command must have been
under most admirable discipline to have been
able 10 rally aud form, under such circum- 4
stances. and for a time successfully oppose the
onward rush of heavy masses Of Confederate
troops flushed with the excitement of hitherto.
unopposed success. such display OF heroic 4
iortitudc by the men and by the leader OF 1
hat command IS worthy Of tie highest praise +
and admiration. Their stay WAS long enough 4
70 enable the SIKH Corps 70 form and swing /
into position on the ridge beyond Meadow !
Run"
But ] viii 90 20 the Sixth Corps for further
testimony. Col. Walker says OF this brigade
and It's conduct:
1t plunged AZ once across the pike into the
woods, stemming r0ut and facing the enemy
The Eighth Corps refused 10 rally. /
ard IN few moments Thomass brigade was (
swept back, OVcTpOwcred. retiring Eullenly and
leaving IN the forest the largest proportionate
loss suffered by any brigade during the day"
Oi the rebel movement after Crooks Tcut
Col. Walker says:
The attacking column having now reached
the pike, Early al once crossed The creek with
keTsbaw's Division aud assumed command in
person. He attacked tho Nineteenth Corps I
without delay. That organization was drawn
up in its works, some Of the troops being actu-
ally formed on the reverse side of their in !
tTenchmenis. Bat Gord0ns powerful right
extended far 10 EmOry's rear and the Nine
tcenth Corps, ia turn haDked aud cuiladcd,
although IL offered an organized and energetic
resistance, was soon crushed by piecemeai and
brigade after brigade. FIRST losing heavily, fed
in disorder" There is 10 evidence here Of
corps being overwhelmed by panic"
THK HISTORY or THE IlTH n. II.
contains one of the most painslaking and re-
liable accounts Of the Cedar Creek battle which
has 50 iar appeared. The author says:
The Nineteenth Corps fought fof AN hour "a
stern, hopeless battle against the crnEhing odds
That were opposing it, till the dead aud wound
I'D were, In some regiments, as numerous as
the living; retiring only when IL became evil
dent that further defense OF that line was use.
lees. As the regiments yielded the hills and
crossed the run the rebel advance Was within
speaking distance"
Capt Fit!s, Of tho IIith n. Y, has written
an excellent story Of the battle Describing
the conduct Of the First Division Of the Nine
iecAtb Corps, when Gordon was dashing for the
pike Capt. Fits says:
There WAS fierce struggle oyer the crest
Of that HILL prolonged until the enemy's adj
vance actually made prisoners from our left