The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-13
The BATTLE Of
CEDAR CREEK
An Event That the Historians
@ Have Neglected to a Con,
(. 81 siderable Extent.
4 PARTICIPANTS ACCOUNT U
General Earlys Plan Of Battle
and Its Manner Of
Execution.
ITf} III .------
i PARTICIPANTS ACCOUNT.
(sy Captain y. 8. McNeIly.)
CONTINUED From Last sunday.)

(sy Captain .. s. McNeIly.) Is
CONTINUED From Last sunday.)
n By the sheer audacity OF his brilliantly
conceived and skilltully planned attack,
the Confederate commander General
& Early) surprised and stampeded the Eighth
Federal corps and placed himself on the
nank and rear OF sherdan's position.
This compelled tho qucle abandonment
by the enemy OF their camps and much
artillery. IT has been quite commonly
assumed by Confederate writer's that the
rout embraced the Nineteenth CORPS,
Gheridan.s center. Some even include
the Sixth corps. This view Is given
color by sheridan's report. which 1t
well suits General Gordon's aRu-
ment to quote. 1t IS enough to say
that it has been bitterly assaied
by some Of his subordinates. for eXag-s
gerating the desperation OF the situation
when.l,e came on tho field; that he might
receive the more personal credit for saw
ing the day. His picture OF the rout
and confusion Is shown TO be highly dis
If colored hy!Gall the other Federal reports.
18th corps: AT early dawn my whole
"a omuand was under arms. when
heard firing to the left Guided by
the artligI ordered the Second brigade
Ito cross the pike to support General
Crook. 1t soon became ficrcely
enga ged. 1t was impossible to
make a permanent stand In consequence
OF the steady hanking by the enemys
( right. therefore ordered my command
.y.it eJ.e ,,nu lfnaU NJ is.o ,ra
About one O'Clock | received information
tina. the enemy were advancing on me in
force, Within an hour they charged my
line but were promptly driven
back, this be!il az believe the first per-
4. nanent repulse they received during the
day. General Mcmillan commanding tho
z First division OF this corps. says OF the
attack on 1t in thel morning: "rhe Sec
ond brigade was soon driven by over
wheirnlng force, but not until completely
fanked and nearly third We're killed,
wounded or CAPTURED. The First brigade
held their position rs long as 1t was
necessary. wheaA they .lfell back In good
order. =: fxhIink all the way to
line in continuation OF the line Of the
9Th corps. While I was con-.
stantiy driven back. do not believe
my command was at any time Whipped,
Z IN It's own opinion or unwilling to turn
commanding the other division of the Nine
teenth corps. after the woundng of Genera
Grover. says OF the morning attack:
Pressed by an overwhelming force. and
having already lost very heavily, oui
limo was forced back. retiring in good
q order. From tho positions taken
by the brigades as described above they
gradually retired, making stands at three
different points until an advance was
hrip do 10 nj
cation during the day, and with few ex-
ception the behavior OF officers and men
was all that could he asked for
THE SIXTH CORPS REMOTE FROM
THE EARLY MORNING ATTACK.
The Sixth corps, the largest, formed shcr
idan's right, and was remote from the
force on which Earlys daylight blow sc
orushingly fell. General Wright, until
Sheridan came Bthe communicative chief
says In his report: The proceeding.
to this point were bad enough for US
as II gave the enemy. almost without
struggle, the entire left OF our line will
considerable artillery, not a gun of whici
had fred a shot. But the reserve o
this line was In no way In
VOWED in the disaster Of the first int
i which was, after all, but n small part OF OH
Z whole force, being only one weak division
and its loss was in no wise to be takel
as deciding the fate Of the day" Cen
sral Getty, commanding the secon
division OF the Sixth corps, thus tells ho'
II WAS moved on The line of resistance
'Ohliquing to the right 20 gain the pike
the division retired In perfect order
marching. slowly and making several halt
Fl To n position about q mile north o
Z MiddI town. Says GeIfer, commandln
Third division, Sixth corps M line was q
no time driven from any position but wa
4 Withdrawn from ono position TO anothe
under orders" There Is no report ~
tic other division Of the corps, hut In
2 brigade reports show the same genera
n facts az The ether two.
These reports II viii be perceived
wholly disprove certain critic views o
lie condition ~ the Union forces III
extent of the disorder aud ais-nay. tina
prevailed after the rout Of Crooks corps
and with this disproor, The "cnn,inunu
advance theory on which has bee
founded the impeachment Of tie bray
and capable, though unmcky ard I'M
z popular General F,3TlY sustallis
ppncture The nxaegerated idra whic
81 the record dispels was not altogether I'm
natural, the morning OF tie battle, IN
din and dust raised by the Wild tiiEl
down the pike OF Crooks command
swelied by the camp followers and mans
portatIon OF the Nineteenth CORPS, tfs sgi
4 or the abandoneS camps, aud much a.ti
lery5 OF ALI theinfhniry did lpok Ike u
x whole OF Sheridsn's army Was IN IL
General Early WAS misled into statiu
IN HIS repor, that "KersheW and Gordo
swept everything before Them. rolt!a