The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-29

right OF the position at Fishers hill,
then traversed this bend and crossed
again at McInturff's and Bowman's
fords, the former being a few hundred
feet below the mouth of Cedar creek,
and the latter half a mile below. NOV
ing thence through the dense woods,
column of infantry could be secretly
placed less than half mile from
Crooks camp, taking it in reverse.
The ground in front was seen to be
favorable for forming the troops in
the attack. The advantage of a
bird s-eye view from Three Top can
hardly be exaggerated.
g g g
For this turning movement were set
apart the divisions of Gordon, Ram
seur and Pegram, ali under Gordon,
With Paynes brigade of cavalry, the
latter being directed to capture Sheri-
dan at the Belle Grove house, for his
absence was not known. Early was not
to manage the divisions of Kershaw
and Wharton, and all the artillery.
since this could not be moved on the
blind path taken by Gordon. The cav
airy were to cooperate, Rosser to move
with two brigades, his own and Wick
hams, on the road across Cedar creek,
and attack Custer at a. m, while Lo-
max was to come down through the
Luray valley, cross the river and strike
the valley pike wherever he might
find the battle going on
The execution of the plaa followed
hard on its conception. Immediately
after dark on the 18th, Gordon cross
ing the north fork proceeded TO the
foot of Three Top, and there halted to
give the troops few hours sleep. An
additional intrenchment being reported
by Pegram as thrown up on Crooks
lines since Gordon and Hotchkiss made
their examination, Early, at a late
hour, altered the line of march of the
force under his immediate command,
allowing Wharton to proceed as before
over Hupp's hill, but DETECTING Ker-
shaw to the right near Strasburg, so as
to strike Cedar creek at the left of
Sheridan's line, short distance above
the mouth of the creek.
g 81 81
Stealthily, an hour after midnight,
the Confederate columns moved for
ward. Since silence was essential to
success, swords and canteens were left
in camp, lest their clinking should be-
tray the march: while the artillery was
massed on the pike at Fishers hill,
there to wait until the hour set for the
infantry attack, when it was to move
at gallop through the town to Hupp's
hill, for an earlier advance might be-
tray the secret by the rumbiing of the
heavy wheels in the dead of night over
the macadamized road. Early accom-
panied Kershaw, his center column,
and came in sight of the Union fires at
$50 o'clock; the moon was now shin
ing and he could see the camps. Ker-
shaw was halted under cover, and
while his men shivered in the chill
night air, Early, during the hour that
followed, pointed out precisely how and
when this part of the attack should be
made. Kershaw was to "cross his di-
vision over the creek as quietly as pos
sible, and to form it into column of
brigades as he did SO, and advance in
that manner against the enemy's left
breastwork."
The scene was weird and memorable
The Union camps on the hills beyond
the creek wrapped in slumber; corps
of infantry, Jackson's old corps, and a
brigade of cavalry, stealing along the
base of the hills to gain the rear Of its
unsuspecting foes; in the background
40 guns and more awaiting the. signal
to rush down the pike; an infantry
division creeping over Hupp's hill and
another crouching near the creek. Be
fore o'clock, Early ordered Kershaw
forward again, and after a time came
the welcome sound of a. light crackle of
musketry on the Confederate right,
where Union picket stations had been
set near the fords at which Gordon was
crossing. This petty sound did not dis
turb the dreaming camps, but to the
attentive ears of Kershaw and Whar-
ton it was the signal of attack. Ker-
shaw quickly moved down to the creek;
and meanwhile, as if nature had en-
listed to aid in the enterprise, the moon
had vanished and a thick fog. clouding
the landscape, now hid from sight the
march.
The morning Of Oct. 10, 1864, brought
to the Union camps little presage of
the approaching peril. The army of
Sheridan was camped on the left bank
of Cedar Greek, just above its junction
with the Shenandoah. The three corps
were positioned partly en- echelon, the
Eighth near the junction of the creek |
and the river; the Nineteenth at the
right and rear of the Eighth; the |
Sixth at the right and rear of the Nine |
teenth The creeks could be waded |
everywhere in that neighborhood, as
could the Shenandoah. Crooks corps, |
on the left of the pike, was .encamOed |
in two positions. The first division, |
Thoburn, in front, and on the extreme !
left of the infantry line, occupied a
round hill, with the line of works fac |
ing the juncture of the creek and river.
There were roads to the left extending /
partly across Thoburn's front. The |
second division, Duvars, under Colonel |
R. B. Hayes, and Kitchings division, |
we're in the rear of Thoburn on an
other hill. This second elevation was
he highest on the Union line, and was
rot entrenehed, but Hayes and Kitch
ng could reinforce Thoburn.
The Nineteenth corps, at the right of 1
he Eighth, and west of the pike, was
encamped on an elevated plain, being
separated from the Sixth corps by
Meadow Brock, a rivulet feeding Cedar
Creek. The corps was compactly es-
ablished and intrenched, the creek in
is front On the left was the greater
,art of its artillery, which commanded
he road and the bridge across the
reek. The plain rose gradually in the /
ear of the intrenchments. Back of the
amp, on elevated ground, was Belle
Grove house, the headquarters of Sher-
dan, portion of the commanding gen.
rails staff that had not accompanied
lin to Washington continuing TO oc-
upy it during ms temporary absence.
The Sixth corps, beyond Meadow
Brook, was not intrenched, as it was
Intended that The corps should be foot
Dose for use anywhere on the main
inc Merritt's cavalry camp was near
hat of the Sixth corps, on the right
# the infantry line; Clusters about
nile and q half beyond Merritt's.
Watching the fords and the neighbor-
ood of Kupps mill; Moore's brigade,
vo miles or more beyond Crooks left