The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-20
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
A THRILLING ACCOUNT.


a T the battle of Cedar Creek. Va, Oct
~ 10 1864 about 4 o'clock in the morn.
ing. / awoke from dream that
clearly convinced me that the enemy
was nearing in force. About 50 of the 18th VT ID.
A. we're picketiGg on a wooded ridge nearly
four miles west of cur main camp. our re-
serves were camping on the east side along
nearly half way down, some six or eight rods
from the ton. 1t was my lot to be there that
night Our whole camp seemed tranquil, not
suspecting any danger; as at sunaown we were
Informed, or il was reported 10 rae. Gen. Early
was 20 miles away and that Gen. Sheridan
had gone TO Washington. ID. {. (Bnt 1t proved
that he had got back as far as Winchester that
night)
Our Sixth Corps had recently made two
days march in that direction 10 the Shenan-
doRh. toward Harper's Ferry. and back, as it
was deemed unfordable as 1 was with the en-
gineers aud officers and knew what was said.
So the rehs theag ht we had gone. and we had
no orders TO get Up so early. | awakened those
near mo with a will that seemed TO inspire
others to do so. We packed mp. went under a
steep Geclivi.y, and stacked our guns along
where Others had campcd. | climbed over and
built large bonfire of brush and wood belong
ing to our cavalry. that extended over to the
mountain to a mill. Very saoa our reserves
came up there 10 warm. l hurried them round,
that they might all get chance at the fire;
then told them we had better 20 down back
under the cliff which We did, in the lowest
place Instantly the whole top OF the ridge
seemed in one vast blaze of firearms that rang
out with loud report from huadreds of guns;
and up went that burning bTCshheap with
great brilliancy, scattering the firebrands and
sending the sparks high into the tons of the
trees while the missiles were Tipping over our
heads. We grasped cur guns, and were deploy-
ing into line. when some said "GuerTilias.
N, H.. 7 III ham, IN
cure themselves and take them when they
came, when instantly another volley from
the top of the ridge told full well; and again
up went that burning brushheap and glowing
Goals more brilliant than before. dazzling all
before us.
In the midst OF all this we got our blankets
and went down out of sight into the clearing.
j, however. kept under the Cliff and along the
ridge further 10 the north, to see them dash for
their booty. and to play another ruse. They
took two prisoners of Co. q, who having slept
over from being out late to procure honey, of
which we ail had share. One was wounded
in the head though not dangerously, ana
brought in next day. When came out OF the
woods the boys were all out of sight. and
quickly turned down the valley 10 some bushes
on low, marshy ground, and watched for them
as cat would mouse. Very soon they came
out of the woods north of me and went towards
3 little ridge running north to high ground
connecting with the wooded ridge. heard
their cavalry coming round north of the wooded
ridge, and went east on that high ground TO
sweep around our pickets. i Hurried on and in
about 40 rods came up with our men IN lire
looking for the rebs in the way came. This put
them in donbt which way to look. thought
them very brave 10 think of whipping more
then 20 TO ono when only few minutes before
they had taken such a peiting, rather the
brushheap did. i was then laboring under
serious injuries received at tie front and else
where, and they supposed me to DO left. The
little moon had then disappeared in the west,
and it was quite dark in the valley. We all
stood in silence few minutes when on getting
o little rest ! told them / was going to look
sem up" They said / would get into their
lines. said "no," and got man to go with
me TO insure them my safety. My man felt
very squirmish about going, and trembied for
fear, but told him would not have him GO
where there was any danger. We then went
north quarter of a mile about from whence
had come. some thirty or forty rods; then /
directed him east By north 10 look after the
rebel cavalry, while / climbed the little ridge.
/ soon discovered the rebel cavalry peering
down FROM that high ground, looking for US. /
beekoned him to 90 back, as previously agreed
upon. which he did most gladly. On nearing
the top where il was quite steep. / saw man
about one half in sight not far from five rods
away. bearing his gun down on Inc. j dropped
Instantly. The ball struck stone near my
head and glanced off by my ear. / put my
hand mp 10 see If it there, and went on.
When rose The rebel dropped. thus giving the
alarm. | WAS quickly at the top 10 carry out
the ruse. winch brought me in eight OF the
whole force. aud nearly parallel betwixt their
two forces, in juxtaposition. / thus had
them, for if they fired they would hit each
other. could sec some coming from the woods
heavily loaded with equipments; others fixing
their guns. and there was a great cOmmotion
among them.
They sent up signal for their cavalry TO re-
turn IN hot haste which they did. ] bore my
gun down on the FIRST rank and lay low. just
shaded by The grass. The commander shouted,
"Prepare fos CHARGE" His voice trembled,
90 that his last word was hardly audible In
this perilous condition j went into deep sleep.
viewing the whole Of my past life in the most
vivid manner with the celebrity of lightning,
taking in all my military career like land
scape view at sight, aud more complete than
when / formerly drilled and mustered in the
old artillery OF Calais. known as the Lafay-
cite Guards. This drilling, think was the
saving of me in maturing plans and carrying
them out. When i awoke from my dream it
had seemed for hours. but was really less than
half minute. for those cavalry 10 the east of
me on that high ground had only traversed
some 80 rods in full speed, were just then pass
ing me north Of the little ridge and soon went
down out Of sight to reinforce that large body
OF infantry on tue other side.
Having got them together / pushed myself
along with my load over the ridge, looking
well for spies. and escaped without their notice
till / reached nearly to large oak tree, some
so rods away, aud went round under the pro-
lection OF that high ground. Thus i had held
them some 10 minutes. found the boys few
yards south of the oak where L left them, told
them lpointing) refs were over that ridge.
Just then yolley came tearing through that
tree; some shots came round me near the boys
jumped behind the oak, and in an instant
more j WAS tanned bullet-proof; the oak bark
few all around. and limbs fell over my head.
The bark proved boon TO my lungs, as the
smell OF il gave me great yigor. so much so
that after few moments rest from exhaustion
] was able to go on, j having gone then 100 rods
extra in my strategica moves more than my
comrades. On seeing the rebel hordes within
90 rods coming pell-mell TO seek whom they
might deyour, ] passed out under the shade of
the trees east over rise OF ground down TO a
board fence then. noticing the toys a few
rods beyond in line of battle. cravled under
the fence 10 the other side and Law low. Just
then a volley Of shot Game over my head from
the febs, but went SO high as 10 hit no one
The boys returned the fire. hitting Gil around
me, mostly over my head, through the fence,
one shot rakiag the ground along my side. On
seeing my danger j gave shake and a kick,
70 bring myself TO their notice, when Com
mauder Wheeler (who is now q preacher Of the