The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-10
CEDHp CREEK.
Lieutenant's Story of Some Things Which
Occurred There.

Occurred There.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: ! have been
reading the many articles written by comrades
on the battle of Cedar Creek, and have been
very mucf>interested in them and the contro-
yersy as to who ran and who didn't. | will
not indulge in that part of the game, but tell
some things that | saw and the part that /
took.
When l got out of my bunk that memorable
morning the bullets were flying thckly
among our tents, and it was not very healthy
at headquarters Gen. Harriss).
Ny company (B, 10th w. Va, was on pro-
vost duty. / called my men out in a hurry
and formed skirmish-line to receive the strag-
glers already coming from the front.
My senior officer turned the company over
to me, said he had rheumatism, and started
for Winchester. This was all before it was
quite daylight, and it was foggy to boot.
After taking care OF the headquarters tents,
etc. aud starting the wagons to the rear, [
fell back with my company through the fog
passing along the left flank of the advancing
rebels
When | reached the pike / formed a
skirmish-line in the pike facing the south
with my right next to the Cedar Greek bridge.
We could see the rebs coming over the hill in
our front A brigade formed in my front
facing the hill on which the rebels were, and
just at that time party of rebels came up
the pike from toward the Cedar Creek bridge
and fired on our flank. | got one of their
bullets in my left hand.
AT this firing the brigade stampeded and
ran over my company. / never knew where
that brigade belonged. / gathered my men
together as best / could, and fell back down
yI,arn $la,n fpat ~,
Here we rallied some 200 men around our
a part of Cos. X and L, 10th W. Va. We
fought until the train got away. Our color
bearer was wounded here.
BY this time we were pretty much all fight
ing on our own condition. | was shooting
from the side of an apple-trec when | per-
ceiyed that the firing on our side had ceased,
and, on looking around, the last man but
myself was Just going opt of sight around a
point. | just used my legs to the best Of my
ability. -a
After rounding that point amid shower of
bullets from the rebs We ascended a bluff.
One of my company was wounded while
going up. Lieut. Col Hall passed, carrying,
/ think, Capt Frey, A. A.-Genera, who was
wounded. Just as Hall passed US he was
shot and seriously wounded.
On the top of the bluff we rallied n few men
and commenced firing on our pursuers. Capt.
Kuykendall was killed. On the bluff stood
q battery Of brass cannon; one gun was
knocked off the carriage and the men were
bleeding from wounds.
Then we fell back beyond some woods,
where our brigade was rallied and recognized,
and formed new line of battle OH the north
side of the pike We lay down and awaited
orders.
Just after Sheridan came up we were moved
by the left flank across the pike. Our line
now rested about three -fourths of mile east
of Middletown. The cavalry were fighting in
our front, and two pieces of artillery were
being advanced by hand. In short time a
general advance was ordered, and our brigade
(Harris's) charged through Middletown,
through yards, gardens, cross-lots and almost
thr0u h the houses We did not stop until
we reached the ground we left in the morn
ing, where halt was ordered.
One of my company, Snyder, being in ad-
vance did not hear the order to halt, and went
charging down through the woods by himself,
and the first thing he knew he was right
ON two JohDnies who were trying to get
away.
by quick manuver he got the drop on
them, and brought them and their guns back
to camp, where he was checred.-D. T.
PET RsoN, First Lieutenant, Co. Il, 10th w.
Va, Weston, W. Va.