The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-18


gave were to have the Nineteenth Corps and
the two divisions of the Sixth Corps brought
10 the front" And then on page So: after
reaTranging the line aud preparing to attack, /
returned again TO observe the Confederates
who shortly began to advance on u.s. The at
lacking column did not cover my entire front,
and il appeared that the onset would be mainly
directed against the Nineteenth Corps; so,
fearing that they might be too strong for
Emory, on account Of his depleted condition
many OF his men not having had time to get
up from the rear, and Getty's Division being
free from assault, / transferred a part of it
from the extreme left TO the support of the
Nineteenth Corps. The assault was quickly
repulsed by Emory, however, and as the enemy
fell back Geity's troops were returned to their
original place"
Is this not proof that the Nineteenth Corps
were ready to perform their part and that they
did perform it well?
Continuing, Gen. Sheridan says, page SO /:
When ] reached the Valley pike Crook had
recognized his men, and as | desired that
they shonid take part i'm the fight for they
were the same troops that had turned EarIy's
flank at the Opequon and at Fishers Hill,
ordered them TO be pushed forward; and the
alacrity and CELEBRITY with which they moved
on Middletown demonstrated that their ILL
fortune of the morning had not sprung from
lack of yalor."
NOW, as GrU0k com manded the Elghth CORPS,
and as Comrade Bleakley quotes from Sheri-
dams Memoirs to show that the Sixth Corps
did the fighting, he certainly must acknowl-
edge that he was unfair when he says: 81
have searched through different works to find
some record Of the deeds of the Eighth Corps
on Oct. l9, but have failed to find q single
item 10 their credit"
The scenes of that early morning are as
wildly impressed upon my mind as they are
upon the mind of my comrade. Once again
am sleeping with that little band of comrades
known rs Thoburns First Division of the
Eighth Corps, in that far-advanced position on
the left Of Sheridan's army, in the Shenandoah
Valley, dreaming of no danger, when COM
rade shakes me and says, Get up; there is fir
ing on the skirmish- line" A few scattering
shots and al is quiet. The brigade on our right
had not been disturbed, and we settled back
beside our fires and INDUCED in abuse Of every
| body and everything that had disturbed our
slumbeFs.
Suddenly, like lightning from a clear sky
a blaze OF light flashes along the line of rail
works just 20 our right and the rattle Of
small-arms reverberates on the still air as
kershaw's Division (who had caused all this
nose1 poured over our works. But very few
regiments OF our division had been called out
aud many Of our men were taken prisoners as
they slept in their tents. A short. stubborn re-
sistance. and the orders came, "Get ont as best
you CAM" At the same time the Confederate d.
visions OF Gordon, Ramseur, and Pegram had
found some unguarded place on our right, and
had marched in column far to our rear, and
also TO the rear OF the Nineteenth Corps. As
the fog lifted found myself with few of my
comrades between two skirnish-lines in an