The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-06-13
sheridan's Ride from winchester.

To the Editor Of the St. Louis Re-
public: l notice in the Republic Of
recent date a special from Boston,
headed elbow at q Popular IDOL"
giving the views of General Manning
in regard to Sheridan's Ride from
Winchester, which has been made
famous by T. B. Reads poem. Gen.
eral Manning called the story Of Sher-
idan's ride "poppycock," and said
that his coming had no effect on the
result Of the battle.
General Manning 8 version is largely
correct, but not quite accurate in de-
tail. / Iappend true account of the
so.called "ride." I was one of Sheri-
daa's body-guards and with him on
that eventful day.
81. S. BARNETT,
Formerly Of St. Louis and once pri-
vatc in Third New Jersey Cavalry,
Clusters Brigade.
Cuba, Mo.
On the night Of October II, 1864,
General Sheridan, who had been on
visit to President Lincoln and Secre-
tary Stanton at Washington, arrived
at Martinsburg, w. Va, on his way
to join his command, which was then
located one mile north of Cedar Creek,
forty-two miles up the Shenandoah
Valley. At that time Martinsburg
was the nearest railroad point, and
the depot for supplies. Transports
tion TO the front was by wagon trains.
On October 18 Sheridan accom-
panied long wagon train under cav
airy guard from Martinsburg to Win
chester, a distance Of twenty-five
miles. He staid over night in the
town and the cavalry escor. camped
in an open field on the southeast side.
Shortly after sunrise on the morning
Of October 10 Sheridan rode leisurely
out of Winchester on the macadam
road leading southwest. He was
mounted on an elegant black horse
whose hair was sleek and shiny. He
was accompanied by an orderly, very
large and well-preserved army chap
lain and few other officers. Twenty
four cavalrymen marched in advance
of the General and about the same
number made up the rear guard. We
were guarding aLittle Phil" from
Mosby's Guerrillas.
They proceeded up the road at an
ordinary walk. The low moan Of
distant cannon had been heard in the
early morning, but caused no appre.
hension.
The march proceeded in this way
for about one and half hours, when
some wagons and number of soldiers
were seen coming down the road and
scattered on either side. They were
much excited and hurriedly related
hew the army had been attacked by
General Early before Daylight and had
been driven back and much Of it
stampeded.
This news Of disaster vas received
by Sheridan when about four and one.
half miles from Winchester. He at
0Ios put SPURS to his horse and gal
loped up the road through the strag-
glers and reached the headquarters Of
General Wright (on whom the COM
mand devolved during Sheridan's alb
sence) ct about 10 o clock. This loca:
tion yes near Hsiddietown and six
miles northeast Of Cedar Greek and
fifteen miles from Winchester. Hence
the distance travelled during the cele-
brated ride was ten and oue.half
miles, and not twenty miles, as related
by song and story. The feat was not
very extraordinary for man to per-
form, provided he had horse whose
wind and muscle could hold out.
e o7asr 20 understand the nature
and extent Of the Stampede" and to
show that some historians are better
adapted to the making Of heroes than
to the recording Of true history, it
will be necessary to notiae.-brieAy the
position occupied by The Army Of the
Shenandoah on the morning Of the
attack.
The Sixth, Eighth and Nineteenth
corps were encamped in the form Of a
crescent, or semi-circle, with the Sixth
on tn, right, the Eighth in the center