Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16
SENT SHERIDAN ON RIDE.
Han Who Started General on Noted
Trip Lives in Illinois.

Decatur Correspondence Chicago Chronicle
The man who started General Phil Sheri-
dan On his famous ride from Fairfax Sta
ton to Winchester to win back battle that
was lost lives in Warrensburg, a village in
this county, and his name is George Mixell.
This incident is the old veterans most treas
Ured memory of the war, and he delights to
tell how he sent Sheridan galloping down
the Shenandoah valley at o'clock in the
morning of October 10, 1864.
Il was Il private in the 20od Pennsyl-
vania'' says Mixell, land Colonel Charles
Albright commanded our regiment. We
We're or duty at Fairfax Station, twenty
five or thirty miles southwest of Winches-
ter, in old Virginia. Near Winchester runs
Cedar creek, near which Sheridans army
was in camp. City Point, where Grant was
at the time, is about twenty-five miles south
and west of Winchester in West Virginia.
You know Sheridan left his army to visit
General Grant and have conference with
him. He did not think Early, the confeder-
ate leader, would surprise and rout his
army; he didn't think Early was strong
enough. So he took plenty of time and was
in no hurry to return to his command. That
is why he came by Fairfax Station.
1T happened that l was on guard duty
a. the headquarters of our colonel the even
ing Sheridan arrived at the station. Colonel
Albright had his headquarters in a large
mouse near the railroad and L patrolled the
porch.
When Sheridan arrived he was alone and
came up on a black horse, not large one
but magnificent animal full of spirit and
splendldly proportioned. He dismounted in
front of the house, and started to pass me-
but stopped him. not knowing who he was
but just then my colonel came out and well
coined him and 1 saluted.
He spoke to me pleasantly and that's
probably what gave me courage to do what
did later. Sheridan went into the house
and was soon in bed. l guess, for it was late
when he came. l continued my watch with
out anything unusual happening until about
O'Clock in the morning, when sounds Of
cannon firing came from the direction of
Winchester and some other sentry called to
me that he thought Sheridan's army was in
night battle
Il knew this was unexpected and some
thing told me to call my colonel and Sher-
dan. and woke them up. Sheridan Jumped
out of bed and asked what was wrong and I
tod him. He ran out on the porch in his
shlrt, listened minute, made some strong
remarks and called for his horse
While the animal was being brought he
was getting into his clothes. He jumped on
MS horse ordered my colonel to get his men
out and galloped off. He was alone then,
ana If he had a guard he picked them IN in
our camp. He may have left couple of his
men there when he came up to the colonel q
mouse. L never heard anything more about
his ride except that he got there and found
his army on the run and made them stand
up and hght. Our regiment did not get in
the night because it was over before we got
there ana we were stopped on the way"
MIR. Mixell gleefully relates how Sheridan
seemed put out when he heard the sounds OF
cahnonading as if distant thunder when
aroused from bed.