Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-10-07
heridan's Ride.

Sheridan's Ride.
General Horace Porter, in his Cam
paign With Grant in the Century,
says: At 3 o'clock on the afternoon of
October 20 General Grant was sitting
at his table in his tent, writing letters.
| Several members of the staff who were
at headquarters at the time were seat
ed in front of the tent discussing some
anticipated movements. The telegraph
| operator came across the camp ground
hurriedly, stepped into the generals
quarters, and handed him Il dispatch.
I He read it over, and then came to the
front of the tent, put on very grave
look. and said to the members OF the
staff: ''Ill read you a dispatch [ have
just received from Sheridan" We were
all eager to hear the news, for we felt
| that the telegram was of Importance.
The general began to read the dispatch
in a very solemn tone. 1t was dated lO
p. m. the night before: Il have the
honor to report that my army at Cedar
| Creek was attacked this morning be-
fore daylight, and my left was turned
and driven in confusion; in fact, most
of the line was driven in confusion,
with the loss of twenty pieces Of artil-
lery. I fastened from Winchester,
where was on my return from Wash
ington, and joined the army between
Middleton and Newtown, having been
driven back about four miles, Here
the general looked up, shook his head
solemnly, and said, '"Thats pretty bad,
isn't it ?" A melancholy chorus replied,
Its too bad, too bad!"
"Now just wait till read you the rest
Of it, added the general, with per-
ceptible twinkle in his eye. He then
went on, reading more rapidly: Il here
took the affair in hand, and quickly
united the corps, formed compact line
of battle just in time to repulse an at
tack of the eneny's, which was hand
somely done at about p. m. At p.
NJ, after some changes Of the cavalry
from the left to the right flank, I at
tackled with great vigor, driving and
routing the enemy, capturing, accord
ing to last reports, forty three pieces Of
artillery and very many prisoners. 1
do not yet know the number of my cas-
ualties or the losses of the enemy. Wag-
on-trains, ambulances, and caisSons in
large numbers are in our possession
They also burned some of their trains.
General Ramseur is a prisoner in our
hands, severely, and perhaps mortally,
wounded. I have to regret the loss of
General Wright, Grover, and Ricketts,,
wouuded-Wright slightly wounded.
Affairs at times looked badly, but by
the gallantry of our brave officers and
splendid victory. Darkness again inter-
vened to shut off greater results. >"
By this time the listeners had tailed
from their detection, and were beside
themselves with delight. The general
seemed to enjoy the bombshell he had
thrown among the staff almost as much
as the news of Sheridan's signal vic
tory. In these after years, when this
victory is recorded among the most bril-
liant battles of the war, and "Sheri-
dams Ride" has been made famous in
song and story, one cannot help recall
his headlong gallop to join his COM
mand, and snatch victory from defeat
He dismissed it with the sentences: 81
fastened from Winchester, where
was on my return from Washington,
and joined the army. :" Further
news brought the details Of the crush
ing blow he had struck the enemy.