The National tribune., 1901-08-29
CEDAR CREEK.
A COnfederate's Remembrance
of the Decisive Engagement.
BY MAI. D. A. GRMsLEY, OF Gull
PEPPER, VA.

BY MAI. D. A. aRMsLEY, OF Gull
PEPPER, VA.
TIE battle of Cedar Creek, fought or
Oct. 49, 1864, between the forces of Gen
Early and Gen. Sheridan, is one which
has strange fascination for the Confed
crate soldier who was engaged In 1t
There is much about this engagement Of
which he may well feel proud. II was
skillfuIly planned, boldly executed and at
tended, for time, with splendid results
There is much about 1t, also, which
arouses a sense Of humiliation and sor
row, even at the present day.
After the battle OF Fishers HILL, on
Sept. 20, Sheridan had advanced up the
valley as far as Harrisonburg, and re-
manned in that locality until about Oct
6, when he began his retreat, burning and
destroying all military stores, supplies
forage, barns, mills, or whatever could In
any way afford comfort to the Confed-
crates.
SCENES OF DEsoLATIoN.
Early pressed close on his rear in the
| retreat No one who was with Early
will forget the horror of the occasion.
Column after column OF dense smoke from
the burning buildings, extending all across
the valley, would rise up in front OF the
| Confederates, indicating the extent Of the
work of destruction and the position OF
the Federals engaged in it. After a while
we would arrive at these fires, and we
would find wife and mother, with her
little ones, and perhaps an eyed father,
gathered around the smoldering ruins of
their homes, with their Winters supply
of food and perhaps raiment committed
to the flames.
AT CEDAR CREEK.
Sheridan took position on the north
bank of Cedar Creek, small stream that
crosses the Valley turnpike about three
miles north of Strasburg and empties into
the Shenandoah some two miles below the
Sition at Fishers Hill, but 1t was impos-
sible for him to remain in this position
for any length of time, owing to the diff
iculty of supplying his army.
Sheridan had fortified his position and
had determined to send one corps of his
army to Grant at Petersburg. Early,
having this information, determined to at
tack him and prevent the reinforcement
of Grant. Early's forces at this time
numbered less than 10000 infantry and
artillery, one division of cavalry under
Gen. ROsser of about 1,500, and one di-
vision of cavalry, or rather mounted in
fantry, under LOmax, of about l, 100. Lo-
max, with his division, was in the Page
Valley. Payne's Brigade of Cavalry was
river and the Massanutten Mountain.
Then came the infantry on Fishers Hill
and RosSer and Wickham's Brigade of
cavalry on the back road
Sheridan, as before stated, occupied the
north bank of Cedar Creek, with three
corps Of infantry, numbering, with the
artillery, nearly $4,000 men, and three d.
visions of the best cavalry in their sery-
ice, numbering quite 5000, his right flank
extending toward the North Mountain,
protected by two divisions Of cavalry, on
what is known as the back road, with one
division on his left flank toward the Front
Royal road.
With such disparity in forces an attack
from the Confederate side, to give any
promise of success, must necessarily have
been in the nature Of surprise.
The Massanutten Mountain, which ex-
tends from the ueighbOrhood Of Harrison
burg, breaks off abruptly at Strasburg.
The Shenandoah River courses along its
western base, till it nears Strasburg, when
it defects to the west toward the base of
Fishers Hill, then circling along toward
the right, sweeps along at the end Of the
mountain and makes its way to the east.
Just east of the end Of the mountain
road leading from Water Lick, a station
on the railroad, crosses the river at Bow
man Ford, and proceeding in northerly
direction intersects the Valley turnpike
just south of Middletown, and not far
from a farmhouse on the west side of the
turnpike, known as Belle Grove, which
had been Sheridan's headquarters.
There was nothing to indicate any
movement on the part of the Confeder-
ates till late in the evening of the 18th.
The writer, who was on picket with his
regiment on the hill, on the south bank
of the Shenandoah, overlooking the town
of Strasburg, received an order late in the
evening to return with his regiment TO
camp, leaving a small picket force to oc-
cupy the hill, feed his horses and report
in person at Cen Payne's headquarters.
GEN. EARLY's PLANS.
Upon reaching the Generals headquar
tiers he found him under orders TO report
to Gen. Gordon's headquarters, and he
went with Gen. Payne to the latter place.
There he found Gems. Early, Gordon and
others. We remained about Gen. Cor
don's headquarters for some time, Gen.
Payne having, in the meantime, received
his instructions from Gen. Gordon. After
leaving Gen. Gordon's headquarters Gen.
Payne gave the writer the information
that it was the purpose of Gen. Early to
make a night attack on the enemy. That
some time during the night, Cor
dOn's Division of Infantry would pass
his camp and taking a bride path
across the end of the mountain would
posite Bowman Ford, some time before
day the next morning. That when
Gordon had passed his camp he was di-
rected to follow in the rear, leaving be-
hind canteens and everything that would
make any noise, and requiring the men TO
walk leading their horses, strap up their
sabers and refrain from all noise or loud
talking.
he was instructed, that when Gordon's
Division neared the fort it would halt
and he, with his regiment, should pass
along to the front till he reached the
head Of Gordon's column, near the ford, !
and report to him. He was further in |
structed that when everything was ready, |
Of which he would be informed by Cen |
Gordon, he was expected to charge the |
ford, at which there was a cavalry picket |
but should pay no attention either to the |
picket at the ford or the reserve at the |
Bowman house, some half mile down the |
river, but would be expected to keep up |
the charge along this road at headlong |
speed till the turnpike was reached, then |
passing over to the Belle Grove house. at |
which was a portion of the 9th and 9Th |
U. ). Cav. as headquarters guard, dis |
perse them, capture Gen. Sheridan, if pos /
Slble, and get out the best way he could. |
lie was further instructed to give no in
formation to any one of this movement,
and to warn his command to preserve
silence both on the march and in the
charge.
The writer went back to his camp and
ay down on his blanket by a comfortable
lire, and looking up at the heavens stud-
led with innumerable stars, thought ear
leStly of his instructions and what the