The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-28

Sixth Corps cavalry; the Army of West
Virginia occupying the southern or most adj
vanced position, and the Valley turnpike
passing between the Army Of West Virginia
and the Nineteenth Corps, under Gen.
Emory. To approximate, the Army of
West Virginia did not have 5000 effective
men; the two corps on its right had each
near double that number.
Now the reader may have some concep-
ton Of the position and strength of Grn.
Sheridan's army, and TO which may be added
al least 5000 avalry on he right of The Sixth
Corps, under Torbert, Custer, and Merritt.
Four miles south of this iutrenched posi-
ton was the rebel army at Fishers Hill,
under Gen. Jubal A. Early, which had moved
down from Browns Gap, reinforced by 1900
militia, and sat down i'll the stronghold from
which the Army of West Virginia had whip
ped and hanked them out less than month
before.
Gen. Sheridan had left Wright in COM
maDd and visited Washington City, and
after weeks absence had reached Win
chester, Va. twenty miles away" the night
before the battle.
Whether or not Gen. Early was appraised
Of his absence, on the night alluded to he
moved the portion of his army which he de-
signed using for the attack in front as near
his skirmish-liue as possible under cover of
darkness, and that he might not arouse
suspicion or alarm in the Federal camp.
Besides this force five rebel divisions, I'M
der Wharton, Lomax, Pegram, Kershaw, and
Ranlseur, were dispatched TO pass immedi-
ately under the base of the Massanutten
Mountain and around the left flank of the
Army of West Virginia With such secrecy
was this movement made that the JohHnies
left their canteens In their camps lest their
clanking against the shanks of their bayOnets
excite alarm in the camp Of the Union
forces. Indeed, the outlying pickets reported
90 Headquarters the muffled murmur of q
host in their immediate front, but no dispo-
sitIon of troops was made TO meet the con-
templated attack, and the soldiers of the
Union slumbered on all unconscious of the
fearful danger with which they were men,
seed.
The five rebel divisions continued their
march until il developed the left wing of
the Army Of West Virginia for fully two
miles
Such was the position of the embattled
hosts at o'clock on the morning of Nov. 10,
"a The first intimation that the rank and
file had of the foe was fearful yell from
thousands Of rebel lhroats as they bore down
thApuEh an aiAioSt-liDptHttdbiS log, StTlK-
ing the camp endways, sweeping it like an
inundation, and bayOneiing hundreds of
soldiers In their tents. There was no align
ment, no disposition of forces TO meet the
attack; it was like rolling up a piece of
parchment.
Now, where is the general officer, with a
military training, knowledge of strategy
and soldiers Judgment, but will concede
the point that, all the above facts consd-
cred, The position, without the proper dis
position Of forces, was unienable?
No body of men who ever faced death on
q battlefield could have held the position.
The details Of this great and sanguinary
field has passed into history, and " the rider
who rode from Winchester down" helped
save the day, turning The Johnnies upside
down, inside out, and back again.. H.
PRATHER, Co. Z, 91st Ohio, Manchester, o.