The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-07-28
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
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Continued from nr0L P0Sec
Early's retreat was not stayed until H., ne
reached the lower passes of the Blue
Ridge. whittier he retired with loss Oi
half his army. Sheridan. after pushing
the pursuit as far as Staunton. anu opei
ating destructively against the FHSIia
Central Railroad. returned and TOOK posi-
ton behind Cedar Greek near StrasDurg.
Previously to abandoning the country
south of Strasburg. it was laid waste by
the destruction of all barns, gram, forage,
farming implements, and mills Inc deSo-
Iation of the Palatinate by Turenne was
not more complete. (4O)
BEING REINFORCED. EARLY RETURNED.
On the withdrawal of Sheridan. larry;
after a brief respite. and being reehiorce9
nv ISersbaw's division of Infantry ami
600 cavalry from Lees army. again !
MARCHED northwari down the Valley. ana
ONCE more ensconced himself at Fisher
Hill. Sheridan continued to hold posnl9h
ON the north bank of Cedar Greek. Noth-
ing more important than cavalry comDats,
mostly favorable to the Federal arms, r .bon
Dlace until the 10Th of October. WHEN
Early assumed n bold offensive that was
near giving him victory as complete as
the defeat he had suffered.
SHERIDAN WAS ABSENT.
At this time the Union force was sta-
TONED as follows: The infantry ilne Ta'l
along the east bank OF Cedar SieeA ond
hind intrenchments drawn on r1slhS anu
rolling ground-' rocks (Eighth) corps OH
tho left. EmOry's tNineteenth) III the cell
fer. and the Sixth Corps. for the time IN
der Ricketts,. on the right. Ihe latter
corps was posted somewhat IN rear anu
i'm reserve. The Cavalry Divisions OF GUS
fer and Merritt guarded the right nah X,
int this time under lOWtUb
guarded the left. and picketed the Whole
line of the North Fork of the Shenand0,,a,h
from Cedar Creek to Front Royai. Inc
army was. at this time, temporarily unier
the command of Gen. Wrght-Sheridan
being absent at Washington
Union FORCES SURPRISED AND BEATEN.
Tho position held by the Union force
was too formidable to invite open altach'
and Early's only opportunity was To make
a surprise. This that officer now deter
mined ON. and its execution was DeSuh
duriuo the night of the 1S-l9th October.
Soon after midnight, Early. having Ilaue
his dispositions at Fishers HILL: moNed
forward in demonstrations against the
Union right, whence the sounds OF mus
kerry announced IA fight on the plcket-iihe'
Rut this was merely feint-the real at
tack was TO fall on the left. One co1nmi
was marched Southeasterly from SIFas-
burg, n short distance along the Mania sd
Gan Railroad. so as to pass peSohu tn ~,
furtirest development of the Union lei ,
flank. while another massed silently behind
the nickpt-lne for direct attack. The
thanking column then turned northerly on
a path that crosses the North Fork or the
Shenandoah. by ford about mile TO the
east of the junction of Cedar Greek WIN
that stream Before dawn II was across
the ford. and being favored by heavy
fog. had attained. unperceived. the rear OF
the left flank of the Union force. formed
by Crooks Corps. This position gained
the Confederatcs closed in upon ana cap
tured the Union pickets. and rushed into
the camp-the troops awakening only 10
find themselves prisoners. 10 rally me
men in their bewilderment was lmpossIDle'
and Crooks Corps. being thoroughly
broken up. fled in disorder. leaving many
guns in the hands of the enemy.
As soon as this flank attack was develop
ed. Early. with his other column, emerged
from behind the hills west of Cedar CreeS'
and crossing that stream, struck Directly
the troops on the right Of Crook. inns
served TO complete the disaster. and the
whole Union left and center became a
confused mass. against which the Confed-
crates directed the captured artillery us
guns, while the thanking force swept for
ward to the main turnpike.
WRIGHT REFORMED HIS ARMY.
Such was the scene on which the light
of day dawned. The only force not yet
involved in the enemy's onset was the
Sixth Corps, which by its position was
somewhat in rear. With this Gen. Rick
etts quickly executed change OF front
throwing it forward at right angles to ITS
former position, and firmly withstood the
enemy's shock. Its chief service was
however. to cover the general retreat
which Wright now ordered, as the only
practicable means of reuniting his force
This was executed with such order a.
might be under the circumstances, and as
the enemy pressed the left most vigor
ously. wedging in as though in the en-.
deavor to cut off the Union force from its
line of retreat to Winchester, the Cavalry
Divisions Of Merritt and Custer were
transferred to that flank. At length, when
Middletown. the first village north OF
Strasburg and about FIVE miles from thai
place. was reached. line of battle was
formed and a stand made to dispute the
further advance of the enemy. But it was
obvious that there was still too little co
hesion i'm the mass, and as the COnfeder
ates threatened to overlap the left flank
the Union line again fell back, and thu
enemy gained Middletown. Now, how
ever. the pursuit began to lose its vigor