The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-20
IN THE HISTORIC rs j
SHENANDOAH.
- -ar
At Cedar Creek-Belle Grove Farm
House-Sheridan's Headquarters.
Winchester-17A Ride Over the 0pe-
quOn Battlefield with Redmon Nc
Coy.
1t Cedar Creek Belle Grove Farm
BY B., BOSTON.


Early should have availed himself of the triple
| advantages presented in his intimate knowledge
| of the country, its large opportunity for con-
cealed movement, and the unguarded security
of the Union army to make his preparations to
| fall upon them like whirlwind ON early morn.
ing of the 10Th of October.
| And here we are Oh the field My GUIDE
points out to the best Of his knowledge the
direction of the rebel approach, but has no
| knowledge of the movements of the Union
| forces. white monument attracts my atten-
| ton on a hill-crest not far from the road.
| Leaving the carriage aud seeking a closer ln-
| terview find it to be rough marble bowlder
marking the ground where the old 9Th W.,
| commanded by Col Thomas, lost very heavily.
| Across the rolling country. at the left OF the
| pike, looms up lordly. looking mansion appar-
emily dominating socially every other house in
| the section. 1t is Belle Grove Farmhouse
with antccedents historically which fairly en-
| title it TO prominence surprising that OF any
| other house in the neighborhood.
closer view reduces its pretentiousness in
some measure. Yet here is a house with a
history as what one in this war-scarred section
has not? In this house President James
Madison is said TO have sojonrned for some
weeks after the destruction of the White House
| in the War of 1872. Here tradition locates the
headquarters of Banks and Stonewall Jackson,
how correctly others may say better than your
| correspondent. But here, beyond all per-
adventure, Phil Sheridan had his headquarters
for some time. and for this distinction the house
seems likely to be remembered longer than for
| all Others united
The present proprietor of the place is Mr.. J..
| w. Smelie, an English gentleman, who came
| into possession Of the farm just after the war;
| As drove up to the gate found him minister
| ing as a veterinary to the needs of herd of
| Shetland ponies of which he seemed very
| proud. / accepted his invitation to enter the
house, and was shown through it by the host
| and in every way used most cOurteOusly. he
| evidently harborcd resentment against some of
| our Northern veterans who had visited his
premises, and had grossly violated the pro-
prieties of guesthood some time in the past
| He ridiculed the idea Of Sheridan being 20
miles away at the time the battle began, alleg-
| ing that it was no more than 12 outside meas
urement On learning that l was bound for
| Winchester, he asked me to be sure and See his
friend Col. Joe Milton, Clerk of the Court in
| forming him who sent me, who would tell me
| what to sec and how to see it,
This pleased me, as had no acquaintance in
| Winchester to rely on, and bidding mine host
of Belle Grove Farmhouse adieu | am driven
| down to Cedar Creek Station, where | take
| leave of my guide, Robert Lee Keller, and am
soon whired away to Winchester Once there
| am not long in finding Col. Milton, who re-
ceives me graciously and presents me with
cane cut near where his regiment received the
onset of the 9Th vt. in the battle of Winchester
| and was dashed in pieces before it. AS the
Colonel was very busy j left him. after pleas
ant social chat, aud went out to see the town
and get dinner.
Winchester was one Of the towns which
changed hands many times during the war.
Like Warrenton and Culpeper, it was patrolled
now by Union and now by rebel cavalry, and
its chief street, which seems quite cityfed,
bordered continuously as it is both sides with
buildings, has resounded over and over again
with the catter of hoofs and the clanking of
sabers as one or the other party to the war
dashed madly up down the street. In times
of tumult its merchants would closely shutter
their stores and await the succeeding calm.
The courthouse is one of the conspicuous land.
marks. 1t was used for various purposes
during the war. 1t was hospital at one
time Nearly opposite is building with
pilared front, almost as conspicuous as the
courthouse To-day it is called Hotel Michigan,
but Valley campaigners know it better as
Taylor's HOTEL which name it bore during the
war. 1t was the hotel of the town, and it is
safe to say that few officers of either army
went past this hostelry, except under duress,
without dismounting.
Judged by its merits of to-day its wartime
popularity must have been largely due to the
scarcity of such abiding places. But perhaps it
has deteriorated. registered for dinner; it was
tardily announced tardly served, and scantily
dished up. Two or three would be. diners left in
disgust without completing the meal; but it
was only 50-cent dinner, and as the boys used
to say. you can't get all the virtues for $13 q
month.
Dinner hour past, ! am out for trip over
the battlefield of the Opequan. Acting on the
advice of Col. Milton, seek the stable of Red
mon Mccoy to get team, and Mccoy also, if
possible, as guide. Mccoy was comrade of
Millions in the 10th Va, and was in the fight.
He is not in, and while awaiting his COM
ing another ex-Johnny, Of the 10th Va, en-
cages me in conversation and labors assdu-
ousy to convince ME that Sheridan would have
got fearful walloping if he had only been
kind enough to have come along two years be-
fore, when the Johnnies had their lighting
clothes on and old "Jack " to lead them Soon
he grew more confiding, and as IAN old COM
rade" wanted me to give him 10 cents to get
glass Of whisky As declined to fire him up
with this sort of fuel he offered to compromise
on plate of beans.
Soon Redmon Mccoy appears and off we go.
He was thoroughly acquainted with the field.
He pointed out the long ravine occupied by
the Johnnies and the spot at or near which
the gallant David A. Russell was killed. Open.
ing gate we drive through large farm,
which includes portion OF the battlefield, and
when fence impedes the way he gets out OF
the buggy and removes enough OF 1t to let the
carriage through. So we drove across the great
rolling plain over which the Union lines swept
forward to victory. We pass near another mar
BILE monument as we ride which, on inspec-
tion i find also belongsstO the Sth VT, and
marks the spot where Col Thomas ordered his
men to fix bayonets aud charge doublequick,
movement which wass taken up along the
line and resulted in sweeping the enemy from
the field. The brick base of the monument is
crumbing away and the comrades of that