The National tribune., 1892-01-21

rank and file OF the army OF the Shenandoah
! i don't claim 20 be Omnipotent, therefore don'i
know what other commands were doing in othel
! parts of the field. What state will be facts
as seen by myself or facts from history. Many
4 old eX-sOldiers out here have not become recon
ciled enough YET TO believe Southern history
written from a Southern standpoint is good
enough 20 refer members Of the Eighth OF
Nineteenth Corps 10 TO prove that they ran al
! Cedar Creek on the 18th Of October, 1864.
i think some of our boys must have beer
better " observer" than lighters and shopld
| have been in the Signal Corps instead Of tho
Sixth, by the way they talk.
How wonderfully cool they must have been
on that memorable morning, when we had
rebels nearly all around us-scaTcely daylight
IA fOuT-milc provision train with six mules ia
each wagon, aud all on q stampede-mOre dam
ger Of being run over and killed than shot IA
death. Still, we have comrades that pretend
they can give us all the details of what other
regiments, brigades, yes, and even corps, were
doing, and command a company at the same
time. indOrse every word Comrade Fits says
In regard 20 comrades giving their views in re.
spect TO different engagements they were active
in. Iattempt 10 say. with the approval Of all old
soldiers who served in the ranks that no man
can pen what was happening any place else,
save in front Of bis own regiment or brigade,
unless they were not actively engaged, or their
duty required them in other parts Of the field.
Twenty years has obliterated many things
from our memory. it is hard for me 10 recol-
lect names Of many dear comrades, but at the
same time we don't want 10 acknowledge that
we have forgotten or may be mistaken.
Referring back 10 Capt. Lockhart's criticisms
of the Nineteenth and Eighth Corps in the
Valley, ] want TO ask him what corps it was
that sustained the Sixth Corps good name at
Opequan on the 18TH Of September, 1864? have
not one word 10 say against the fighting quail
ties Of the Sixth. As far as ] know they always
did their duty, but think il unjust for its mem
beers TO slang other corps equally as good as
they as fighters aud their superiors as march
ers.
Now, IN regard to the Opequan battle our
corps did not get on TO the battlefield until
sometime in tho afternoon. We were held in
reserve 10 watch the movements OF large bod Y
Of the enemy near Martinsburg or Bunker Hill,
but we could distinctly hear the cannon. Soon
We received orders 10 double-quicI, aud To-.
wards Winchester we went, and arrived on
our right just in time TO save the Sixth aud
Nineteenth Corps from utter defeat $50 history
says, aud especially save the good name OF that
glorious old Sixth Corps, that was never routed,
according 70 Comrade Grifin's story. As soon
as we swung into line we had orders 10 charge,
and away we went down the hill towards the
stone fence, charged them from behind their
walls and sent them flying towards Winchester
Then the grandest cavalry charge took place
ever saw in my life Ihediyisions under COM
mand Of Gems Torbert, Merritt and Custer were
in line. As the Eighth Corps drove back the left
wing Of Early army they charged, one division
after the other and, oh what q grand but
dreadful sight. The cavalry under those
Generals Is entitled TO great deal more credit
than they get. They are entitled 10 the credit
OF capturing all Of the rebel cannon aud many
stands Of colOTs, and thousands Of prisoners, on
this day, and the same cavalry are entitled 10
the same credit at Cedar Creek.
Certainly, il the infantry had not been
able to drive the enemy back, why, the cavalry
could not have accomplished much. Comrades
Lockhart and Griffin may take exceptions 10
this comment at Cedar Creek, for they say we
(the Sixth Corps did il. Was there a man or
any part Of the Sixth that rushed across that
small bottom between Cedar Creek and Fishers
Hill and caused the rctreating rebel army 10
stampede and rush onto that only bridge Cross
ing the creek and going up on Fishers Hill SO
fast that they completely blocked it2 Every
thing was captured hcre-all we lost IN the
morning and al the enemy had. ] say give
the cavalry the credit for this.
How many old comrades Of the Eighth Corps
recollect the pa Of September, ls642 How
We were ordered 10 sling our luggage in pile
IN TACT dlpcst ourselves Of everything save can
teen and gun, and how we skipped up that
mountain on our right until we got over the
crest then skirind along until we were past
the encmy's left flank. How surprised Mr.
Johnny was when We came down on them, and
how they skipped up the Valley. ! don't sup
pose Comrades Lockhart and Griffin think
this was much Of Q maHuYcT; bat let me ask
them, in all cand0r how long do they suppose
il would have taken the Sixth Corps to accom-
pllsh such teaty dare say az Fall. Then
talk about Outmsrch!ng the Nineteenth Cnrps.
Great Cesar! IL the Nineteenth was any
slower on q march then the Sixth, ] wonder
we ever drove Early out OF the Valley.
BY reason Of the services Of the Eighth
Corps IN the West Virginia Mountains so long,
aud being accustomed 10 rapid marches over
mountains aud through dales aud streams We
were always called upon to make all flank
movements, and by reason Of having many
virginia men in our brigade, we were perfectly
cOnFcTsant with the country. Therefore, IL
Gen. Sheridan wanted a quick movement
made, he never went 20 the Sixth COrps for
bis men. That was the way we got our name,
Flying" Eighth Corps.
In regard 10 that memorable battle Of Cedar
Creek, Jet me state 4 few facts ar TO the po-
sition, etc, OF the Eighth Corps. We were on
the left, on the east side Of the pike: In fact.
as understand it, our right rested on the pike.
lhe Nineteenth Corps was on our n ght and by
reason oil bend ia the creek we were slightly
IN 'front.' Therefore, were the first assaulted
The sixth Corps was on the right Of the Nine
teenth, aud quite Always In the rear Directly
IA our rear lay large provision train Kit
chings) and some New York regiment. /
think some Of the boys will rccolect this regi.
ment as the Colonel was a German witt an i'm.
mense voice, for we could hear him on this
morning, when his men became panic stricken.
yelling az them 20 rally"
About Ia the morning we were aroused by
Vouey 81 musketTy on our left aud in front.
Very suddenly there was a yolley away on the
night Then came a double line Of battle out
Of the i0g. and TO say that the boys were not
surprised would be putting II too tame ID was
complete surprise 10 us, for we did not know
there was a rebel army nearer TO us than
stauhton. ln fact the afternoon before, when
some Of our boys came in aud said that the reb-
eis were on Fishers Hin, in fact were crossing
CEDAR Creek above Us, and word was sent 60
hsh MHEhtG headquarters Of the fact. lie said
we were mistaken no rebel army was near US,
only some OF our men coming In of Of a scout
30 that settled IL. We felt secure. But how
badly Cen. Wright aud the army under his
care were mistaken, thousands Of old veterans
Can testify.
Yes, we were surprised and doubled back on
the pike like lack-knife. Fifteen Of our
cannon were captured end turned on us. Our
lot was nanked; our rear was Ia charge OF
guerrilla Mosby; our four-mile provision
tfaln was on q stampede. You were in more
ohhger IN the rear than In front To sec six
mules coming with one Of those Government
wagons, and MOsby's men IN hot pursuit. was an
animated scene. Did we run. did Won ASK
Oh, no; we just took our time and walked ont
OF that trad lust liza tba Giwtb rc,.,s d., .