The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-29
SHERIDAN AND CROOK.
Some Incidents of Cedar Creek Not Before
Related.


Related.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: When a
boy under 90 years / was a member of Co.
G, Both Ohio. My regiment was transferred
from the Fourteenth Corps, Pap" Thomas's
command to the Army of West Virginia,
under command of our former Colonel,
George Crook. When Gen. Hunter made a
raid through Virginia via White Sulphur
Springs and Lexington and on to within
sight of Lynchburg IN 1854, Gen. Crook was
at the head OF his command as we approached
Lexington, and was fired upon by some can
noneers who were ambu~hed.
This WIS such a surprise that Gen. Crook s
bodyguard. Co c, 2d Va. Cav, turned about
and fed leaving Gen. Crook and staff. This
90 incensed Gen. Crook that he ordered the
company TO report to their regiment for
duty, remarking that he had men in his old
regiment that would not desert him in a
time like that.
So Co. G was detailed as body-guard. and
nearly ali the company was mounted. Well,
you know we were compelled to Withdraw
from in front OF Lynchburg which we did
during the early part of the night after the
days fighting, but the JOhnnies soon dis
covered that we had retrealed, and gave us
chase.
We never stopped until we arrived at
Parkersburg W. Va. This being within "a
miles of my home, a neighbor boy and |
took French leave and went home, report
ing back TO the regiment just So hours after
ward, having meanwhile eIu braced our rela-
tives and our sweetheartS. On our return
We found everybody boarding a train, which
was 10 take us to Harper's Ferry, and The
next day We were close to The enemy, and
fnr in firo
service.
Meanwhile ! was detailed as Orderly for
duty at Gen. Crooks Headquarters l know
Of some interesting bits OF history in con-
nectiOn with Gems. Sheridan and Crook,
which. so far as ] know, have never been
written. Gen. Sheridan loved Gen. Crook,
and took him into his cOunsels al all times;
and have seen evidence of their confidence
and love being reciprocal even on the field
of battle.
At the battle of Cedar Creek, about /
o'clock p. NJ, while there was luil in the
ba tie, Gen. Wright, in command during
Sheridan's absence, and Gen. Crook were
holding a cOu"cl of war near the turnpike.
Their staff officers and 0rderlies were there,
some sitting in THEM add les, some dismount-
ed-Gens. Wright a d Crook were dis
mounted. We heard a cheer and the clatter
peared as he ended that famous ride from
Winchester. He was accompanied by one
or two of his siaff and 0rderies. Sheridan's
horse and theirs were painting and iecked
with foam.
When Gen. Sheridan first arrived he dis
mounted within five feet of where / stood
holding my horse. With a dextrOus morton
he threw the rein of his bride off over the
head of his steed and dismounted, saying to
Gems. Wright and Crook:
What are you doing away back here?n
He then threw his arms about Gen. Crook,
and these two brave men embraced each
other, and ] thought saw unusual moisture
in the eyes of both.
Sheridan then shook the hand of Gen
Wright, then noticing some blood in Gen.
Wrights whskers. where it had trickled
down from a bul-el-wound in his chin, he |
said:
AHA! You're wnundedi"
"Only a scratch" SAID Gen Wright.
The 'fficers walked few steps aside and. |
after a ew moments of conversation, re-
mounted, and a. Gen Sheridan did so / /
heard him say:
." If taH get ouf men rallied again we'll ]
put them tnIeaning the Johnnies) back a !
- sight faster than they came"
We were then about three miles north of |
where We were when attacked in the early
morning. We had fallen back about three |
miles IN nine hours.
Then a thrilling scene was enacted as
Gen. Sheridan RODE gallOping away westward. /
8 scene which proved how great a hold this
little man had on the hearts of his soldiers.
He rode in front Of the F, deral line-oi-bat-
tie, and as fas, as he approached the BOYS in
blue they greeted him with wells Of delight
ENwsr g 1. 1. IL.
Tesembled swarm Of bees.
When it was generally known that Sheri-
dan bad returned, the boys felt sure OF victory
coming out of defeat. 1t was not long be-
fore the sounds OF battle were renewed. |.
Hundreds OF cannon rosred and thousands
OF rifles cracked their lesser reports and the
oeafening roar of battle ragged, while the
storm OF leaden hail dealt such death and
carnage that none save those who have wit
messed such scene can ever approach in |
imagination its awfulness
Al the point where the great wide turn
pike crosses Cedar Creek below the bridge
the approach was gradual and roomv. but
Immediately after crossing, going south, there
was deep cut where the road passed up the
embaDkment. As the bridge had been de-
stroyed IN the early part of The day, the re-
treating Coniederates must needs pass
tuiohSu iisS cut.
Each horse and wheel and soldier who
crossed Cedar Greek there in their hurry 70
retreat from the boys in blue carried more
or less water, which dFpped on to the CLAW
In this steep incline, until the road at this
particular point was worked into a stiff
mortar. An artilleryman's horses baked in
this mud right IN the middle of the road
and he acting on the old adage that the irst
law OF nature rs preservation of ones self
dlsmounted and cut the traces and remonnt-
ing his ssddle-hOrse rode away, leaving
blocked the only avenue Of escaping with
caDnOns and wagons.
or courre, the next and the next and so
on were obliged TO follow the first mans ex-
ample, until hundreds Of wagons. many
loaded with provisions, and many cannon
fell into our hands an easy capture
To the best Of my recollection this is how
1T came about that we recaptured the guns
taken IN the early morning. and the many
wagons aud ambulances, too.-M. o. PER-
KINs, Galveston, Tex.