The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-06

gave way and fell back toward us, bring
ing on q general retreat Of the whole
line to escape the converging lines
threatening them. Another halt was made,
again our TANKS were turned and another
retrograde movement was made by this time
the retreat was general, the line was threat
ened with entire capture, aud large bod les
OF cavalry could be seen breaking off TO our
rear and riding toward the captured camps.
The men acting by a kind of instinct broke
tEeir line formation and, deploying as Skin
mishers. managed to cover the whole front
OF the enemy's advance, thus checking their
cavalry, but without power any longer to
stop the infantry advance. So the huge
line OF skirmishers fell back rapidly fighting
as they went, every man.for himself. By this
time every officer was in bis place
trying TO retrieve the lost honors of the day,
but too late. All organization was gone,
and the men, marching aud fighting for
eighteen hours continuously, were utterly
exhausted and incapable of further effort,
and we're rapidly falling back to the Shenan-
doah river, to cross which meant safety
from further pursuit. During the retreat
many instances Of bravery and herolsm
occurred, perhaps never TO be re-
corded. One, however, deser YES rescue from
oblivion, aud may interest veterans here
particularly those who belonged to the
cavalry arm Of the service. My adjutant,
whose gallautry | have already recorded,
was painfully wounded In the left knee and,
during the retreat was hobbling along sup
porting himself with his sword. he was a
splendid swordsman and always kept his
sword sharp as a razor. Being crippled,
no was soon overtaken by O
squad Of pursuing cavalry, one of
whom, mounted on a swifter horse, got to
him frat and called to him TO throw down
his sword and surrender, My brother was
sore, angry and mad at tho sudden turn OF
the events of the day and would not aus7ger.
This enraged the cavalry men, who yelled:
''D-n you, surrender, or l will cut you
down" "Cut away" said the adjutant,
cooly looking back at hin over his shoulder.
The soldier rode right at him, making q
slashing st. George cut at him as he passed.
The adjutant waited until the flashing
sword blade was right over him, then, turn
ing suddenly parried the blow, aud, with a
heavy commensurate, struck the unfortu-
nate soldier on the back Of the neck as he
passed, nearly hewlng the head off the body
As he fell Off the horse the adintant seized
it ana tried to mount and escape; but, his
wounded knee preventing him from mount
Ing, he was oyertaken ana captured by bal.
ancs of the squad. The whole Incident vas
seen by them, and they dsmounted and
looked wonderingly at the terrible swordcut
that deprived their comrade Of life.
Turning their attention TO their prisoner
they soon nscertained he was an old British
30 der, and offered every inducement to
join their ranks. need scarcely say he
promptly rejected their overtures, and was
finally immured in the easements Of Fort
Delaware, from which he emerged phys
ical wreck at the vars close.
The battle Of Cedar Creek was won aud
lost, and the beautiful Virginia valley for
seven miles in our front was strewn with
our gallant dead, and the results Of the
most dashing and brilliant attack of the
war were lost by the overconfdence OF our
leaders in tine enemys Generalization, and
by their unwlse haste TO secure the fruits OF
that mornings victory. Severely wounded
myself toward evening, know little o I
what happened afterward, but leave it TO
history to decide which was the greatest