Evening star., 1897-06-05
SHERIDAN'S RIDE,
How Gen. Grant Received the News
From Cedar Creek.

How Gen. Grant Received the News
From Cedar Creek.
General Horace Porter, in his Cam
paigning With Grant," in the June Cen
tury, says: At o'clock on the afternoon
OF October 20 General Grant was sitting at
his table in his tent writing letters. Sew
eral members Of the staff who were at
headquarters at the time were seated in
front of the tent discussing some antici-
pated movements. The telegraph operator
came across the camp ground hurriedly
stepped into the generals quarters and
handed him a dispatch. He read 1t over
and then came to the front of the tent
put on a very grave look and said to the
members of the staff: ''IIl read YOU a dis
patch have just received from Sheridan -
We were all eager to hear the news. for
we felt that the telegram was of import
ance. The general began to read the dis
patch in very solemn tone. 1t was dated
10 o'clock the night before: "I have the hon
or to report that my army at Cedar Creek
was attacked this morning before daylight
and my left was turned and driven in con-
fusion: In fact, most of the line was driven
In confusion, with the loss of twenty pieces
of artillery. hastened from Winchester,
where l was on my return from Washing
ton. and joined the army between Middle
ton and Newtown, having been driven
back about four miles" Here the general
looked up. shook his head solemnly, and
ancholy chorus replied. ITS too bad, too
bad!"
Now just wait till read you the rest of
It,. added the general. with perceptible
twinkle in his eye. He then went on, read
ing more rapidly: II here took the affair
in hand, and quickly united the corps,
formed compact line of battle just in
time to repulse an attack Of the enemy's,
which was handsomely done at about D.
m. At pm, after some changes of the
cavalry from the left to the right flank I
attacked with great vigor, driving and
routing the enemy capturing. according to
last reports, forty-three pieces of artillery
and very many prisoners. 1 do not yet
know the number of my casualties or the
losses of the enemy. Wagon trains, am
balances and caissons in large numbers are
in our possession. They also burned some
of their trains. General Ramseur is a pris-
oner in our hands. severely and perhaps
mortally wounded. have to regret the
loss of General Bidwell, killed, and Cen
erals Wright. Grover and Ricketts,, wound
ed-Wright slightly wounded. Affairs at
times looked badly, but by the gallantry of
our brave officers and men disaster has
been converted into splendid victory.
greater results" 80
BY this time the listeners had rallied
from their detection and were beside them
selves with delight. The general seemed to
enjoy the bombshen he had thrown among
the staff almost as much as the news Of
Sheridian's signal victory. In these after
the most brilliant battles Of the war. and
"Sheridan's Ride" has been made famous
In song and story, one cannot help recall
ing the modesty with which he spoke of
and snatch victory from defeat. He dis
missed 1t with the sentence: II hastened
from Winchester. where was on my re-
turn from Warrington. and Joined the ar
N.Y." Further news brought the
details Of the crushing blow he had struck
the enemy.