The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-05-31
Christian Warfare.
Continued from Fourth Page.

up the valley were described. Then came the
most famous of this series Iof famous engage
ments, the battle of Cedar Creek.
The surprise and the retreat Of two corps,
the arrest of the victorious Confederates by the
Sixth Corps and the appearance of sheridan
on the field when General Wright had begun
the reconstruction of the disordered Union
lines were elements of the exciting story.
Among the officers who were engaged in try
ing to bring the Estampeded soldiers into line
behind the Sixth Corps were Colonel Ruther-
ford B. Hayes and Major William Mckinley.
AS the afternoon advanced the preparations
for an advance of the Union wing had been
completed and the question to be tested was
whether it was to fall back to Winchester,
beaten and Inundated, or return to its bivouac
along Cedar Creek
The order came to move forward Soon
there commenced the widest race that had
ever been witnessed in that valley, so famous
for the flight of beaten armies The Confed-
crate line was broken and the retreat became
a rout.
President Lincoln wrote to General Sheri-
dan:-"With great pleasure 1 tender to you
and to your brave army the thanks of the
nation and my own personal admiration and
gratitude for the months operations in Shen-
| andoah Valley, and especially for the splendid
work of October Nineteenth 1864.-Your ODE
dent servant, Abraham Lincoln
The battle of Cedar Greek has been regard
ed as a most brilliant achievement of high
spirited army led by most brilliant strategist,
dashing soldier and inspiring leader. The
praises of the army and its General have been
sounded in song and story and it ranks, the
world over, as one of the most dramatic of the
worlds battles. But was it only this Had
it no smore influence on the history of the
country and of the world than other victories
which have not been followed by the imme-
date closing of hostllitiesS
10 these questions l reply in the most en-
phatie terms that the battle of Cedar Greek
was one of the great decisive battles of his
tory.
1t was the event on which hinged the des-
tiny of this great Republic.
There are many contingencies to be associat-
ed with this battle and many phases of con-
| temporary history which in the public mind
have received scant consideration.
From the beginning of the war there had
been party at the North strongly opposed to
| its prosecution. After two years of.campaign-
| ing, when the Confederacy seemed Ito be
|
gent, conservative people, loyal to what they
believed to be for the best interests of the
country, felt that the war which was costing
so much and which seemed to be accomplish
ing so little should be brought to an end.
| With 1.-THE history of thirty-six years upon
which to base our judgment we can now see
that change of policy and of adm inistration
at that contingency would have meant a radi
| cal change in the whole subsequent history OF
| this country.
1t can not for moment be doubted that the
series of successes, including Winchester,
| Fishers Hill and Cedar Creek, in the National
election which followed soon after these bat
| ties turned to the Union side more than
| enough votes to turn the sc&le Of public opin-
ion in favor of carrying the contest to a finish,
From military point of view the results of
| these victories were no less decisive.
Thus it appears that not only was the battle
| of Cedar Greek victory of the most brilliant
| order but it opened the way to the ending of
the war and the restoration of the Union.
Those who have watched the history of this
country since the close of the civil war have
seen with pride and even with amazement the
enormous strides with which it has progressed
| in power and influence. And those who have
observed critically have seen that for much of
| this marvellous progress the country is indebted
to the spirit of enterprise and manly courage
which were developed In the hard school of
army life.
The men who fought with Lee and Long
street, with Sheridan, sherman and Grant
became a resistless force in civil as they had
been in military life.
These men had been drawn from quiet homes
in the country or from busy shops and offices
in the city to gain lin the exciting fields of
active war. broader views of life than those
which they had experienced in the tranquility
of peaceful days. They overran the country
east and west, north and south, carrying with
them the indomitable purpose and the resist
less energy which had been impressed into
their characters during four years of most
strenuous living. revolutionizing the business
professional and social life of the nation.
Today this nation, saved and terminated by
the men who braved the dangers of battle, is
not only world power, it is unique in being
the only world power that fears no other
power or combination of powers.
With wisdom and with prudence. with I'M
self1shness, moderation and firmness 1t Is
brother of the nations leading in the paths of
literature and arts, of science and of COM
merce and holding up the light to all the
world 1t shows the way to the highest ciyiliza-
ton and the most perfect liberty and prosper
ity.