The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
Battles Of the OpeQuon, Fishers Hill, and
Ccdar Creek.


Codar Creek.
(eontfns.sd from last sreek.l
The devastation Of the Valley was q very
sssere measure Sorrow was everywhere. The
whole Nation was In mourning. Every home
An the North had o vacant chair, and some OF
Them two, three, and even more. The Valley,
shat had nursed and supported the parent OF
sreason, must weep too; the Valley that. under
Gods blessing, had hloomed as the rose and
from its richness had fed for years the armies
of the rebellion-thst had been passage way
for the advancing rebel hosts 10 invade the
North and en6snger the Capital Of the Nation
whose people were emiuently disloyai and bit
terly hostile, and who had promoted, as far as
possible, every expedition OF Inyaslon-must
fosl the aveDging hsnd of Freedoms army.
Only few weeks previous, The rebels had
burned beloved Chsmbersburg. and while Its
women and children shed tears over tho ruin
Of their homes. the people of the Valley, IN
their IRRESPONSIBLE hearts. approved. Too soon
Ale curse had come home to roost. Ashes tor
sshes.
Sheridan returned with has command to
Cedar Creek. The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps
we're ordered 10 be returned TO the Army of
fhe Potomac, and Sheridan ordered to 90
10 Washington 60 consult with the Secretary
OF War. When he left, he placed Gen. Wright
I'm command The rebel signal flags were
giving information. snd Eariv must have dis
covered from his signal officers and other
sources that the Sixth Corps had started, and
sAeridan wss absent 4 courier was captured,
with the following message:
70 GEN EARLY.
Be ready TO move On soon as come up, and we
Will crush Sheridan IoSGSTREET
This message wss looked upon as blind.
Longstreet hsd been very severely wounded
nc the battle of the Wilderness. aud Anderson
commanded his corps. However, the message
a.tDr
Indicating renforeements; and other corrobo-
rating information being received, the Sixth
and Nineteenth Corps, that were under march
snf orders were detained, the Sixth being
ordered back sgsiD-s wise precaution.
Meanwhile Lee had sent achievements to
Early, with orders 20 whip Sheridan at all
hazards and warned him that he had 10 little
sob on his hands, but that he relied upon him
10 do it. Early awaited the arrival of ker-
shsw's Division two battsiions of artillery, and
some two brigsdes of cavalry, together with
the remainder of the Valley reserves, making
quite formidable reinforcement tAnderson's
Corps, except Kershsw's Division was not sent,
90 il could rot be spared from the Army OF
Northern Virginia., and began his movement
down the Valley. he conceived well plan,
that came very near succeeding, and was as
sisted too by Gen. sheridan's temporary ab-
sence, of stealing upon SheriGan's camps in
she nighttime, under cover of the darkness.
and falling upon him ut the break of day, take
his troops by surprise sweep over the field and
defeat the Union army before it had time to
recover 1t was bold, rash, and even dangerous
TO the assailants, ne they might have to fight to
hold what they had won by surprise as soon as
the Union troops could recover and get into
position to resist The tables might be turned
before night On the night Of the 18th Earlys
siger-like movement began. He crossed Cedar
Greek, and the next morning at The break of
Asr a 4 he Trif had
posted the army as follows: Commencing on
ths left was Crooks Corps, the Eighth; his
frst line was GA high ground bordering Cedar
Greek, and entirely on the left of the turnpike
leading TO Strssbure; his second line was
thrown back at q considerable angle toward
the left On the right of Crooks command.
and to the right of the turnpike. was the Nine
seeuth Corps commanded by Emory. These
tive commands, both together would hardly
have made one strong corps. To the right OF
the Nineteenth Corps, and nearly at right
angles 70 the general line, was the Sixth Corps.
ThiH corps had three divisions which, though
much reduced by battle, were wholly reliable.
In addition to the foregoing was small pro-
visionsi brigade occupying a position along the
pike in the rear. The cavalry, under ToTbert,
Nks on each flank, the whole being as first
posted by Sheridan. The rebels fell on the I'M
Guspecting Eighth Corps and instantly routed
ia FIRST line, and Crooks second line was soon
I'm much confusion, and before assistance could
come it broke and fed to the rear all except
two regiments The Eighth Corps was taken
In reverse aud st terrible disadvantage. A
Ycrtion of the Nineteenth Corps, connected
With the Eighth, followed the movements of
She latter. The Sixth Corps from its position.
had more time to form, and moved as it was
ordered. as also did that part Of the Nineteenth
Corps which had not retreated.
When the left of the line vas attacked and
scattered the rear of the 9th was exposed as it
lay on the right Of the army nearly at right
angle to the rest. change OF front and
retrograde movement was therefore necessary
Dc bring il TO face the enemy and place it be-
fween him and its own base To accomplish
this il retired in good order to suitable posi-
zion, and Emory was directed to fall back and
sake position On it's right when it halted. This
movement, though splendidly done gave more
ground 10 the enemy, and be was in full pos
session of the camps of the Eighth and Nine
teenth Corps and had captured many prisoners
and guns. So far matters had gone sore against
ths Union arms. About this time the CON-
tnknder, Gen. Wright, was wounded in the
face, but he still continued to act. He FASTENED
&c ths rear and came up with the Sixth Corps
and with part of its First Division and some
artillery contested the advance of the enemy,
~ also did Getty with the Second Division.
This gave time for the formation of the rest OF
She troops. In this attempt which sue
eessful, Wright lost heavily in men and several
guns the horses of which had been shot and
had to be abandoned. Wright then directed
Che withdrawal of the force with which lie was
IS the moment aud went to the rear to superin-
tend the formation. The Second Division was
klrssdy established, aud the Third and First
sskinF positions as also was the Nineteenth
Corps. At this juncture. IL a. m, Sheridan,
who WIS at Winchester when the battle COM
snenced. arrived on the field. Wright Informed
hiE of the dispositions he had made and
Sheridan gave his approval. The enemy had
ceased their pursuit aud were occupied In plum
esring the CAMPS OF the Eighth sBd Nineteenth
Corps Sheridan had met many of the flying
Eighth Corps on the pike. halted them, and got
then to return to the field. These showed
fhsmselves good soldiers before ight and helped
% pay the enemy back in his own coin. 1t would
Soon be his time 10 stampede. Sheridan went
30 work TO reorgsniEe the lines aud to bring
erder out OF confusion. The ammunition
wagons were ordered Up. and Sheridan declared
shkt The army was not whipped that he was
going in with everything; that lie would re-
gain that field or lie upon it; that they we're
going TO get twist on the enemy and lick
them out of their boots" The army is
whipped" said Colonel 20 Sheridan. "The
army is not whipped, bat you are" sharply re-
tertec Sheridan; it was just such muss as
this out West that gave me my first star and /
vii make ii two" IF we beat tbom now il
will be magnificent" said staff officer. "And
we are likely to do st." said another; "they
won't be expecting u.s." What troops sre