The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-17
A FINAL REJoINDER.
Comrade Webster Strives to Settle
Cedar Creek Controversy.

Comrade Webster Strives to Settle the
Cedar Creek Controversy.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The more
Comrade Duryee writes about Cedar Creek
the more he exposes his ignorance OF that
battle He has been told from the begin
ming that the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps
were first engaged; that the Sixth Corps
was in the reserve. / notice the cavalry
did not stop the rebs from advancing.
The comrade desires information OF who
posted me. / served in Cowans 1st N. 7.
battery of four three-inch rifles We did
not fight from one end of the line to the
other. and, Of course, did not have the chance
to see it all, as did the comrade OF the lst
Mich. Cav. At the same time, we lost more
men killed and wounded at Cedar Creek than
did the 1st. Mich. Cav. Gen. Phil Sheridan's
official report posted me- The information
contained in that report would not be
thrown away if read by the comrade of the
1st Mich Cav. He would learn that Gen.
H. G. Wright checked the rebel advance
with the Sixth Corps; that Gen. Sheridan
did not check them, as they were checked
before he reached the field, and by Getty's
Division.
As for the matter of the capture of artil-
lery and wagons. the infantry made it pos
sible for the cavalry to act, for the infantry
broke the rebel line. They were routed when
the cavalry advanced. don't know If the
cavalry was demoralized. but l noticed
horses were not between the two lines-of-
battle, and they fell back with Getty's
Division.
The cavalry had nothing to do with saw
ing the guns Of any battery connected with
the infantry of the three corps. Speaking
| for my own battery, the in antry OF the
Sixth Corps protected us, and did not see
| q single cavalry command within mile of
our position.
That Gen. Wright commanded the army
during Gen. Sheridan's absence made no diff
ference The surprise would have been
made just the same. The rebs thought
Sheridan was in command, and special
force was detailed to capture him at his
Headquarters.
Gen. Wright was entitled to great credit
| for the manner in which he fought his corps.
Though wounded, he beld to his work.
As to the capture of all the rebel artillery
and wagons, it is like the Irishman at Niagara
Falls After looking at the water few min
utes he said: Be dad, don't see anything
very wonderful about that" "You don't, y
| inquired a gentleman? Don't you see all OF
that water running over the rocks ?" Yes y
same answer could truthfully be made about
tie captured guns and wagons. What was
to hinder their capture by the cavalry
The rebs had run away. The infantry
caused them to run. The rebel guns and
wagons lay in the road, and were hauled to
Headquarters by the horses of the different
corps batteries.
Comrade Dryers talk about the cavalry
saving the artillery at Cedar Creek is all
bosh. The batteries of the Eighth and
Nineteenth Corps were nearly all captured
and q number of cannon of the Sixth Corps
ALSO How did the cavalry save them?
am not attacking the record Of our cavalry
for this could not be successfully or truth
fully done. Our cavalry was the best tn,
world ever produced. Yet, do not propos,
to have history or facts misrepresented, ant
the actual services of that grand old division
commanded by Gen. Getty ignored. / d,
not censure the actions of any other veterans
The comrade claims he does not need his
tory to post him on battle wherein hi
regiment took part. There is where he il
wrong. Any man who served in battl,
knows the limited chance of seeing tn
! whole field of operations. The official re
ports tell the story.
Il When Washington was in danger tn
, Government did not make any mistak
when they ordered the Sixth Corps from
Petersburg to its defense. The Third Di
vision of that corps met the rebels at Mo
nocacy, Nd. Though they were defeated
they held Early's army, giving the other tw
divisions time to reach Washington. Til
Capital of the Nation was saved.
If Comrade Dwyer would take the time 1
read mp he would find lots of things he dit
not know. For instance, in his "COndnc
of the War;" page Al, Sheridan's official re
port. he says:
ION arrival at the front found Merritt
and Clusters Divisions of Cavalry, unde
Tobert, and Gen. Getty's Division, of tn
Sixth Corps, opposing The enemy"
Page as: Sat Winchester for momen
the contest was uncertain, but the gallan
attack of Gen. Upton's Brigade, of the Sixt
Corps, restored the line-of- battle.n
Page 50: The attack of WheatOn's an
Seymour's Divisions was splendid, but Il
more than had reason to expect from til
gallant Sixth Corps. Gen. Ewell and 9th,
general officers and 10000 other prisoner
were taken by us. Most of them fell int
the hands of the cavalry, but they are r
more entitled to claim them than the Sixt
q Corps, to which command equal credit
o due.n
o might fill the entire page of THE NJ
a TIoNAL TRIBUNE with such quotations, bl
it is not required by those who read hi
| tory-W F. WEBSTER lat N Y halter