The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-19
CEDAR CREEK.

Today is the anniversary of the victory
in the splendid military plume Of Phillip
II. Sheridan. In the gray Of the morning
of the 10Th OF October, 1864, the Union
army of Gen. Sheridan, but commanded
in his absence by Gen. II. g. Wright, was
surprised by the Confederates under Gen.
Early, routed and, with the exception of
the Sixth corps. apparently hopelessly
disorganized. The story of the rest of this
battle. how the Sixth corps retreated,
stubbornly contesting every foot of
ground. until reaching a favorable posi-
ton Gen. Getty fixed his claws In the
earth and setting up his back like a porcu-
pine. whose dangerous quill, were an
unyie!ding line of bayonets. bid de-
fance to the enemy TO push him
from his place; how at this
moment, when the hitherto fur.ously in
cessant attack Of the Confederates became
an ebbiug tide of war receding from the
base Of that rock in the food of defeat
on which it had dashed only to retire in
broken waves, Gen. Sheridan rode up and
decided with Dcsaix at Marengo that
when q battle is lost a great general can
always find time to win another; how the
fugitives began running back to the lines
as fast as they had recently fed from
them; how the growing ranks were speed
lily formed; how the Wild charge va,
made: how the enemy, demoralized by
their success and unprepared for so fierce
an onset from an army they had believed
beaten. rode and ran away; how
''Behind them our long battle,
Came rolling on the foe,
Ensigus dancing wild above,
Blades all eloft below;
TIL Ayers and pursuers
Were mingled in . mass,
And far away the battle
Went rosring through the pass"
in brief how splendidy this serious dis
astcr was turned by man Of military
genius into great victory every pa
triotic American citizen has read time
and again with wonder and admiration.
1t was the glory OF the Sixth corps OF the
Army Of the Potomac TO he the last in the
terrible retreat OF the morning. If Gen.
Thomas, for covering Rosecrans' great de-
| feat. WAS fairly entitled to the name Of
| the Rock Of Chickamaugs." then was
| the Second division Of the xth CORPS en-
titled to be called the rock Of Cedar Creek,
| for II was the shoulder and breas. on
/ which the rest OF our army leaned az :
| reeled TO and fro. struggling to catch and
| stay its yielding feet.
/ Cedar Greek Is the brghtest rose in the
chap.e: Of Sheridan. Winchester, Fish
! er's Hill and especially Five Forks are
! splendid testimony - Sheridan's skill a. =
| scientific and artfui soldier. tut Cedar
! Greek was sublime test of that creates,
Of ali military gifts. imprecnable moral
! courage y hch keeps a great commander
/ from becoming '-rattiet" by Disaster
We must go back 70 nesaix q, Marenro
| 80 find the equal of Sheridan at Celia.
Greek. There is nothing in our war on
either side equal TO It. John Logan. re.
storing the broken lines Of the Army OF
the Tennessee in the battle Of Atlanta
/ jay -, ls64. came the nearest 10 Sheridan
81 Cedar Greek. LOANS promptnes.
and personal daring saved sher.
! mans army from defeat, and
| John Logan st Cedar Creek would
! probably have dared - Try and do al
! Sheridan did at Cedar Creek. but Johr
| Logan lacked Shc-idan's scientific SKI
and his cautions PREPARATION before b,
struck. Grant would have tried IT, to- b,
showed the same quality st Fort Done,so,
when he ordered {. + Smiths victoriog,
charge. bu; Grant coa.d not ~ his suade-
presence on the held have p-o1ucei such
magnetic et'sc. upon TIE living so,aie-v
Sss-.is2 "A Logan Vere both intensely
mA-ue;.c r.ea n bat..e 8 quality tha
they oEel - iaci7 r-sslyRa;e.y hero.
Irish blood.
Hancock w,s the eQuA. Of Sheridan /,
pusoso.ty a7i moral courage: he vou
have tired - do " at Sheridan ia 8
Cedar Creek, H.; &c aa> TO, As q4.cA :.
aCg.on nor So cal,.aus IN preparation a
Sheridan; be Delivered Tremendous ?. ..
st-sieh; t-om tie s.sa.Glr. bu. lie DID ri
keep his troops - Ne. IN hand IS S4er.
dan: 50 .oac as '';-.css we're coming hi
way" Hsncotk ass - good - Sao-ta ~,
aui he co@.d -. Ao.4 - t.2oqs - AA1,