The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-04-26

Whil lOf wv W get feNuys
Speaking Of getting ready puts me in
mind Of nm incident that took place In
ChennnRo County N. Y, near where re-.
side, during the war. Allow me TO digtess
moment from the line of thought I have
In mind ~ relate the incident. Two neigh.
bOrs, both Of whom we q natives Of the
Emerald Isle land II wns said were not par.
ticularly In sympathy with 'hc Union
cause), were IN the habit of meeting after a
battle had been fought and talking over the
result rejoicing or feeling pnd. according as
90 what u had been. At the time OF which
speak there had been n sl,nnl victory
gained by the Union forces and as usual,
one of the good old ncighbors called on the
other and, after the usual salutatioi. rnid
well. Mr. --. another battle has been
fought and the Confederate army has been
badly beaten; but, "snid he. there was moth
ins fair about II. for the Yankees attacked
them before they got their brcnstwork,
done"
Now, my object in writing this Is not ~
much TO give description of that terrible
days fight. for that has been done by the
historian long ago but have ever felt that
the credit ~ that days battle was never
given TO the man who did more 10 bring
about the happy result than anyone who
participated In the great struggle. IL
will be remembered the attack was made in
the early dawn, when our men were slum-
bering In their trnts aud they had no on.
defense whatever. Aud the result was a
General stampede OF the whole army, which
fell back in disorder and confusion. Now.
something must be done TO cause reac-
ton of this state of affairs. or the day was
lost; and, mark me. a, have before stated
this was early morn and. sheridan ~
miles away" and, ns n matter OF course, lie
could not he of any benefit 10 that strIg-
Cling, disorganizcd, routed army As I said
IN the start It was no fault Of his that he
was not there
Fortunately for tho Union forces, Gen.
George A. Custer (whose tragic death we all
lhment. commanding the Third Cavalry
Divisions OF which the writer had the honor
10 be a member. WAS encamped on The ex-
treme left. and the moment his well-train-
ed ear caught the sound Of musketry and
the roar OF artillery. his headquar'er bugls
rang out boots and saddlesl' which
means saddle up in has'e, and almost sim
ultancously came the Orde T. (which
every cavalrvman will understands Lead
Out-Prepare 10 Mount--Mnunt-By Fours
Forward, March, and in less time than
II takes 10 relate II, his division, with drawn
sabers were on the move.
He deploycd the division in front Of the
mass of y ragglers that were running pell.
nell to the rear. and long before Sheridan
arrived the oncoming rebel hosts were
checked. turned back. their guns captured,
turned on them. aud they were falling back
through our camps, which they had 80
ruthlessly demolished in the morning, ptir-
sued by The Third Division, led by its gal
liant commander; and before the sun had
shed It's last rays over that scene they were
making hasty. disorganizet retreat far up
the Valley. As the boys re- ned to their
old quarters and had partaken OF their
scanty meal Of hardtack and coffee. and the
shades OF night hal thrown its sable mantle
DER the field, we see them gathering in
groups around their glowing csmDfres; me
THINKS hear them singing, I'VE are tent
ing tonight on the old campqround"
would not ignore the valuable services
OF the III fforent corps commanders and their
subordinate; they all did noble work and
deserve great credit.
The poem entitled "Sheridan's Ride" or
"Shcrdan Twenty Miles Away" has been
read and declaimrd from the rostrum in al
most every hamlet, not only in this country,
but in other countries until the peop
have come 10 believe that Sheridan's pres
ence when he arrived on the field inspired
the army with such indomiiable prowess
that they put forth extra effort, and by so
doing what appeared 10 be q total defeat was
turned into glorious victory. Now, every
soldier knows that il would be mpOssibls
for Gen. Sheridan to have seen but a very
small per cent OF the rank and file OF that
army when he arrived, and / very much
doubt II one half Of one per cent. knew
when he arrived or even knew that he wa,
absent, for officers Of his rank were not sun
posed 70 go through the camps and inform
the soldiers that they were going to be-
absent.
would not detract one star from the
crown OF Gen, Sheridan's military glory. or
cast one reflection on his ability as a com.
inander, for know from my own personal
knowledge Of him that he was one of Nh.
ablest commanders we had in the service
and his name should be. and il is. written
high on the tablet OF fame and II will be
handed down 10 coming generations bv the
side OF Grant. Sherman, Hancock Reynolds.
Meade and others, as one of the great
military men Of the period.
In conclusion, I say, without fear of suc.
cessfnl contradiction, that Gen. Geo A. Cue
ter did more and Is entitled to more credit
for the final result of the battle of cedar
Creed than any man who was engaged in
I'LL l.. MILLER, in National Tribune.