The National tribune., 1894-09-20
CEDAR CREEK.
Another Defense of the Eighth Corps by g
Participator in the Battle.

Another Defense of the Eighth Corps by a
Participation in the Battle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There are
often times when forbearance ceases to be a
virtue and one feels justified in administer
ing a merited rebuke. i have read for years
past articles written by comrades of the
Sixth Corps ridiculing the Eighth and Nine
teenth Corps at Cedar Creek Oct. 49, 1864.
If these aggressive comrades would read
some of the back numbers-notably the
issue of May 9, 1s90-they might see the
subject discussed by ADLER pens than theirs
or mine. The latest Objectionable article
came from w. E. Webster of Auburn, N. Y,
few weeks ago. He lauds the Sixth Corps
to the skies, and is not content without a
fling at the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps.
Now, be it understood, have no dirt to
throw on any corps; one may perform
prodigies of valor or not, depending largely
on circumstances. was so situated on that
eventful morning that / probably saw as
much of the commencement of the battle as
my comrade of the Sixth Corps. My COM
pany of the 18th N. Y. formed the extreme
left of the Nineteenth Corps, only section of
the LIST Me. battery intervening between US
and the pike. We had, a few days previously,
thrown up low intrenchment on the ridge
III HOut Vi our n UIlRau0 Vi LHc
Nineteenth had been ordered to be ready to
march at day break on a reconnaissance to the
front. We had eaten our breakfast and
formed line behind our works, and stood
awaiting orders, when our attention was
attracted by single musket-fash and re-
port to our left, nearly in line with us. 1t
was followed in a few seconds by several,
perhaps a dozen, shots, which rapidly in
creased.
In few minutes a fieldpiece was fred
toward the enemy. The action now became
general on both sides; the fieldpece was
turned on it's late owners sending its shots
far in our rear. So soon as it became light
we saw rebel battery in our front, just out
side the woods, half mile or so away,
which commenced a vigorous cross-fre ON
the retreating Eighth Corps which was re-
piled to by the LIST Me- Art, Of the Nine
teenth Corps. At the same time q strong
force of rebel skirmishers appeared in our
front, and advanced within firing distance
of our line.
1t soon became evident that we must get
away from there OF soon he surrounded rs
the victorious rebels had already penetrated
well to our rear. Our Lieutenant said:
Boys, we have got to get out of here, and
if you want to save your things you had
better be about it."
l ran down the hill and packed my shelter
tent and put on my knapsack. / stopped
few minutes to watch the battle raging on
our left, and on looking for the regiment saw
that they had moved and were then some
distance away betweenlthe Sixth Corps aud
the rebels AS l had no hopes of staying,
single handed the victorious enemy, and
very vivid recollection of rebel prison hospi-
talities, from, which had Just been released,
l made up my mind TO fall back on the Sixth
Corps, and accordingly struck out for their
camp, but failed to find it, SO kept on, with
fleeing men dropping all around me until
out of range. Then [ turned to the right,
coming out on the pike near the hospital.
Upon making inquiries L found that the
rebels had been checked. With several
others / started TO the front, and soon came
up to the Nineteenth Corps standing at ease
in the edge of a piece of woods. In few
minutes the order to advance was given, and
the line advanced through the woods out
into the field where our camp had been, and
it didn't seem very hard work either.
Now, / should like to ask Comrade Web
ster if, as is universally conceded, the Sixth
Corps fell back and changed position several
times after the opportunity that they had to
get ready with half the rebels scattered
around piundering our camp, what they
would have done in the darkness, asleep in
their tents, on the same ground as the Eighth
Corps? No sane person would believe for a
minute but that they would have got out,
and not stood on the order of their going,
either, and / don't think any one in the
Eighth or Nineteenth Corps would be un-
charitable enough to blame them for it. |
would not for one. This comrade also gives
the number of the Nineteenth Corps as Is, 176
and the Sixth as 2,6l5, which | think is an
error, as there was but two divisions of the
Nineteenth in the Valley.
As to the understanding that the Eighth
was the smallest corps, his own figures show
it. This comrade then goes on to say that
it makes no difference how good the men
are, if commanded by poor officers they will
fail. If he refers to the Nineteenth, / can
assure him that all its officers bore good rec
ords before the battle of Cedar Creek.
He further asserts that without the Sixth
Corps the day would have been failure. l
think that idea must be original as well as
undeniable, as it was close work with their
assistance l maintain that it was the plum
dering which disorganized the rebels that
saved the Sixth Corps, and the arrival of
Little Phil that saved the days. III.
WRIGHT, 18th n. Y, Bridgeport, Conn.