The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13
BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK.
a Comrade Claims that Custer did More
than Anybody to Save the Day.


time, but on this particular day he
was absent from his command. business,
which was no fault of his. Whether the rebels
know ne was absent or not cannct tell; /.
they did no doubt they selected that emporium
ity to make the attack, FOR they would be more
likely 10 do that than 10 wait for Us to get
ready.
Speaking of getting ready puts ME in mind
of an incident that took place IN Chenango
County. n Y, near where | reside. during the
war Allow Inc tG digress momen! from the
line or thought / have in mind to relate the IN
/ cident Two neighrors both of whom were
natives OF the Emerald Isle land it was said
were not particularly in sympathy with the
Union cause). were in the habit Of meeting
after a battle had been fought and talking
over the result rejoicing or feeling sad. accord
! ing as to what it had been. At the time Of
! which 1 speak there had been i signal victory
gained BY the Union forces and. usual, ono
of the good old neighbor5 called on the other
and, after the usual salutaiion, said: " Well.
! Mr. - another battle has been fought and
the Confederate army has been badly beaten !:
but" said he, " there was nothing fair about 1t,
I for the Yankees attacked them before they got
tbeir breastworks done"
Now, my object in writing this letter Is not
so much to give description OF that terrible
DAYS fight for that has been done by the his
toriau long ago. bat have ever ieit that the
credit of that days battle was never given TO
the man who did more TO bring about the
! happy result than anyone who participated III
! the great struggle IL will be remembered the
! attack was made III the early dawn when orr
men were slgmhcring IN their tents, and they
! had no opportunity to form il liGe or 10 make
any defense whatever. And the result was g
general stampede OF the whole army. which
! fell back an disorder and confusion. Now.
something must be done to cause reaction Of
! 81 f. u t1-. md
! mark me- rs ! have before Stated, this early
! morn ana Sheridan 20 miles away" and. as
/ a matter OF course, he could not be OF any ben
! eft to that struggling disorganized, routed
! army As said in the start il was no fault of
/ his that he was not there
Fortunately for the Union forces, Gen. George
/ &. Custer gwhose tragic death We all lament
! commanding the Third Cavalry Division, of
which the writer had the honor to be mem
| Der. was encamped on the extreme left, aud
the moment his well-traiued ear caught the
sound Of musketry and the roar OF artillery,
! mis- Headquarter bugle rang out, Boots and
saddles" which means saddeup in haste.
and almost simultaneously came tire orders
! (which every cavalryman viii understand):
! Lead 0ut-Prepare TO MouIt--Afount-By
Fours-Forward March!' and in less time
than il takes 20 relate it his division, with
drawn sabers, were Oh the move.
He deployed the division in front of the
| mass OF stragglers that were running pell NELL
1 to the rear. and long before Sheridan arrived
/ the onconling rebel hosts were checked, turn
/ ed back: their guns captured. turned on them,
| aud they were falling back through our camps,
/ which they had SO ruthlessly demolished i'll
the morning pursued by the Third Division.
led by lis gallant commanner; and before the
1 sun had shed its last rays over that scene they
were making hasty. disnrganized retreat far
( up the Valley. As the boys returned TO their
old quarters and had partaken Of their scanty
meal Of bareback and coffee. aud the shades OF
night had thrown its sable mantle DER the
field We see them gathering in groups around
! their glowing campfires methinls hear them
singing. % We are tenting TO night Oh the old
canpground."
] would not ignore the valuable services OF
the different corps commanders and their sub.
. ordinates; they all did noble work and deserve
great credit.
The poem entitled "Sheridan's Ride" OF
SHERIDAN Twenty Miles Away" has been read
aud acclaimed from the rostruin in almost
every hamlet. not only in this country, but in
other countries until the people have come t.
believe that Sheridan's presence when he ar.
rived OF the 6e!d inspired the army with suci
indomitabe prowess that they put forth extra
effort and BY so doing what appeared To be
total defeat was turned into glorious victory
Now, every soldier knows that it would be i'm
possible for Gen. Sheridan 10 have seen but
very small per cent of the rank and file Of that
army when be arrived and ! very much
doubt if oue-half OF per cent knew when
he arrived even knew that he was absent
for officers Of MS rank were not supposed TO e
through the camps and inform the soldiers tina
they were going TO be absent.
/ would not detract one star from the CT owl
Of Gen. Sheridan's military glory, cast ont
reflection on his ability as commander, for
know from my own personal knowledge OF hin
that he was one of the ablest commanders VI
had in the service, and his name should be
and it is, written high on the tablet of fame
and it will be handed down TO coming genera
tions by the side of Grant, Sherman, Hancock
Reynolds Meade. and others, as one of TIA
great military men OF the period.
In conclusion. say. without fear OF success
ful contradiction. that Gen. Geo A. Custer di'
more and is entitled 10 more credit for the fina
result Of the battle Of Cedar Greek than an.
! man who was Engaged in it'll J.. MILLEK
( | Co. II, Sth y. Y. Cav, North Fen;on, n i.
/, Hnsv Another Irla- Went TI,rauoll.