The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-06
1T CEDHR CREEK.
Comrade st. John Replies to Some of Com
rade HannafOrd's Statements.

ltS record during UDe war. must diner Win
him very materially on some points
The original question that has produced so
much controversy over the battle of Cedar
Creek, Oct. 10, 1864, came from a comrade
who asked what cavalry regiment received
the first fire. / claim that the Sth Ohio did,
and so stated through your paper. Several
comrades have differed with me on that point,
and some evidently did not read the article
carefully.
Comrade Hannaford says: II note Com
rade st. John claims that the first attack
made on the Union army at Cedar Creek was
on the First Brigade, Second Division, and
that the Sth Ohio Cav. drove off the enemy :"
Comrade Hannaiord is right in part of the
extract, but wrong in the ending The COM
munication that he read says 1.-The Sth Ohio
promptly responded, and just as promptly
fell back"
There is vast difference between that
statement and Hdrove off the enemy" 1t
has always been my motive in life to confine
myself to fact, and try not TO make misstate-
ments. -
Then again, COmrade Hannaford says the
Sth Ohio Cav. (or rather Powel's Divisi n,
OF which the Sth Ohio was part) was not
there; that Is, that they were not directly
connected with the main army OH that morn
lng. but were at Front ROYAL. 10 miles away.
lie Is right and wrong again. The Second
Brigade OF the Second Division and also Col.
Powell were at Front ROYAL, hut the First
Brigade, Second Division, under Col. A. 5.
Moore, sth Ohio Cav, were exactly where
staed-on the extreme left of the line and in
touch with the LETT OF the Eighth Corps; and
when the enemy struck rs they pushed in be-
tween us and moved f5rpidly down on the
flank and rear OF the ifghth Corps. Note
this extract from Gen. .Tsybert's report:
The First Brigade, Second Division (Col,
Moore, Sth OHIO Cav, commandng) was by
tins move cut off from the main army, and
C1l. Mnore immediaieiyspasSed around the
eneniy's right and came mp on the lett of our
army al Mlddetown on tpe Valley pike. hav-
ing previously sent ms train to Wlnches er
Tins brigade immediately attacked the
enemy and held thrmt an check on the pike
until they conld dlss,ssint3reses.
Does Comgaae, HHlh,oid >sfill think that
the 9Th OHIO was at Fr1t Royal? II so, here
is another extract from Gen. frorberts report:
- The First and TlTfid Divisions Brig.
Gems. Merritt and Custer were ordered TO
the left of the army. The First Division
(Brig.-G Merritt) was put in pcs tion
across the pike just north of Middletown.
The Third Division (Bfig..Gen Gus err was
formed on the left OF tbe First Division; the
First Brigade o. the Second Division (Col.
Moore) was formed ON the left of the Third
Division"
Gen. Torbert further says: During this
time the second Brigade. Second Division
(Col. Powell cunmandin2). tel back slowly
(by order on the Trnnt ROYAL and Win
chester pike to Strong Point, and then TO q
point near Newton
don't think 1T necessary. TO produce any
further evidence TO rut'>tantaie or corgobo-
raie my INST communication 1o your valuable
paper nn this subIcct. ] tflni any comIade
vino has red these art iclcS will agree with
me that the -th OHIO Cav. was in the battle
OF Cedar Creek. and had the honor OF receiv-
ing the first fire.
Even admitting for arguments sake that
the pIckets on lhe riaht o. The line did ex-
c.lanee shots e.ore tnelailacN on the left. it
h = n"tnug 10 do with lhe Original questI n
IL To what cavalry regiment received the first
lire.
Now we will proceed with the infantry
controversy. The clutr.de Is InclIned To
ceusure the Nineteenth Corps. and coincide
with onr comrade from Knox Vile. Bearing
in mirn the ground ana surroundings whele
the battle Ol Cedar Cree WAS fought, one
VIII see readily that the poSltIons occupled
hy the sixth and Eighlh Corps on a parallel
line were iarl her south tian the .'ns I Oh oc-
emp ed hy tne Nineteenth Corps. That would
naturally throw the Nineleenih Corps farther
III he rear, as we We're ~npm"Sed to be iacing
souIh. | never put lie >IAtn Corps next to
the E!gnth Corps; the Mn .leenth were tie
center OF our line, b more III the rear than
either the Sixth OF Eighth Corps.
i agree with the comratie when he saws
that hundreds OF the Nineteenth Corps had
passed hIn To the rea but perhaps he dad
not understand it. This he says WAS about 3
O'Clock "a. in. The night before the battle
one division OF The Nineteenth { rps was
ordered TO be in readiness early the next
morning to 20 on reconuolteilng eXp dltlon
They were ready To start Just about tine time
the attack was made on our left; they I'M
mediarely moyed iqawfrd to support the
Eighth Corp, and-heae is another pointer
if there had been any firing on tue right
why did they move to The kIt?
When the Eighth Eof,1s WAS driven back
this division OF the Niprleenlh Corps fell back
too, but went to theiTooip camp, and did not
fall back peil nell as stated by our comrlde
from Knoxville, Tenn. The comrade saw
them falling back, ana not the entire Nine
trenlh Corps. Lel NV give httle extiact
from Gen. II. G. WrigAtn report:
Seeing that no pat of the original line
could he held, a, the enemy was already on
the left flank of the NJaeleenth Corps. / at
once sent orders 10 tneriSth Corps TO fall
back to some tenabie 3HfHon IN our ear, and
to Gen. Emory, commanding the Nineteenth
Corps, that as his leit n.as rurned he should
tall back aud take position on the right OF
the Sixth" nufo
Does that look az though the Nineteenth
was demoIalized? We must all admit there
were triggl.rs from all the army, and it
would be pretty hard To decide which corps
had the majority.
Yes, Comrade Hannaford, | remember we'll
the night the I'd Ohio Cav borrowe | u few
little extras the 9Th Ohio hadn time to take
with them. But it's all right. i am almost
positive that we will have our reg mental
Reunion at Cincinnati next year during the
National Encampment, and as you are in
that " Pork polls" if you have any OF the
relics left you can bring them around; if not.
come and apologize.
At any rae, we will be more than pleased
to meet any of the gallant old ID Ohio Cav,
and if any of my ld comrades read this
would like them to ear in mind that ain q
member of Post 81, GAR, Department Oi