The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-07
SHERIDAN. ON THE
SHENANDOAH RAID vi
A Cava1rynan's Account of Some
Hard Fighting iii the Beat
tiful Valley.
BATTLE OF CEDAR ::l' CREEK ;. FL
Personal Recollections and Incl.
dents of Thrilling Period
Of the War.

dents Of Thrilling Period
Of the War.
| History has been varously characters
lied by its authors, according to the hu-
NOR of tho hour, or tho mood OF the
| writer. Diodor,ls Sicuus regarded his
tory as THE Handmade of Providence,
| tho Priestess OF truth and the mother
Of Wisdom;'' Cicero, as '"rhe voracious
chronicler of the times, tho testimony Of
experience and the beacon light of lifeS
and still another has sald Those state
ments OF facts which we call history are
OF little worth except as they bear upon
tho practical questions Of government
tlfc one of all evolution tending towards
proposed end Iii the worlds social
state. The legendary evolution of the
La tin race and the mythical wooden horse,
though a beautiful epic. may be poor
history, albeit tho bard attained immor-l
tally thereby. The war between tho
Northern and Southern Suites OF tho
Federal Union. while undoubtedly mark
Ing an important epoch in Its evolution
pseudo history which seems to DO the
usual concomltant of stirring events in
all ages Of the world. The future his
torian OF the war of coercion who would
find acceptance must weave tho web
of fact with tho thread Of, ihcontestible
truth. ss& X IA
Fiction and Truth.
The fiction OF Barbara Freitchie may
be set of by the reality OF Sheridan in
the Shenandoah. and Gertrude OF NVyonl-
ing find her. counterpart IN the heroine
OF Winchester. Is, Fa ct and fiction mingled
in chaotic embrace may be entertaining.
but not always edifying. Truth and
error have ever been eominingled, but.
1t is the province OF the faithful historian
to separate the true from the false, as
the skilled alchcmst does tho pure gold
from the dross of baser metals. Many
years have elapsed since the war closed,
and most Of It's actors ARE but hand
Iful OF dust yet n chapter from the
kScord OF those exciting events may
not he embarrassing to some and OF pos.
sblc Use to the future historian and
to posterity in making up their verdict
upon tho issues involved
t Among other things. the dlsparity2iin
numbers between the contenalngs forces
In general and on particular battlefields
hRs been the subject OF much animated
controversy, and some misrepresentation,
Monentous events transpired with such
appalling rapidity; and OF such transcen-
dent Importance to all concerned, that
it is not surprising TINT different view
points resulted in conflicting opinions.
Some Of thosa kaleidoscope scenes SO In
adelihly Impressed upon the mind Of youth;
are almost as3.vivid as when first re-
ceved.
Sheridan's Heartless Report.
The. cruel and heartless destruction Of
the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and the
|iresulting battle of Cedar Creek, October
the 10TH 1864. arc matters sometimes al
luded to, though the facts connected
Herewith are seldom correctly UNDER
stood. The record of that fiendish out
rage byEa general OF the United States
Army shall stand for all time, testify
ing that while others made war upon
armed men, this one made war upon
innocent women and. children. II have
destroyed over two thousand barns filled
with wheat amounting to $4,000 bushels;
over seventy mills filled with flour; sew
enty-seven thousand bushels Of corn;
twenty thousand tons Of hay; have.
driven off eleven thousand beef cattle,
fifteen thousand hogs; twelve thousand
sheep, etc., etc." telegraphs Sheridan to
Grant ut City Point; yet even he IL
careful to say nothing OF the forty or
more dwellings, which he also destroyed.
some of which ], myself saw In flames;
and Of the awful anguish Of tho homeless
women and children so ruthlessly bercft
OF their all, Congra tulated by Sherman.
another knight OF the torch In far OFT
! Georgia, he adds, II nm satisfied and
have been all the time, that the present
class OF men who rnlo the South must bn
killed outright, rather than the conquest
OF territory" /
Again: Rawllns Grants chief OF staff,
telegraphcd that Jeff Davis had killed
Good, JEFF Davis Poisoned Is in larg,
letters on the bulletin boards In the rebel
towns The enemies of ancient Israel
| were described by the prophet as moro
fierce than evening wolves, hut here we
have the prospect Of determination coupld
| with that OF desolation and despair,
Wonderful sentiments truly and worthy
| Of an Apache Indian.
At Cedar Creek.
After the events alluded to above, the
| Federal Army. over forty thousand strong
retired down the Valley and took position
! on the cast or north bank Of Cedar
Greek, Mt lis junction with the Shenan-
doah River, three miles below stras-
| burg In Shenandoah county, Virginia,
| The Confederate Army followed and took
| position at G'sher's Hill, about two miles
south of Strasburg with little over
ten thousand men, Tho disparity in
numbers was so great that It was simply
madness to attempt an attack In fnny
! other way than by surprise. and this was
finally decided upon. Tho Massanutten
Mountains, rugged ridge on the east,
ending as abruptly AT strashurg as It rises
at Harrisonburg, fifty miles further
south, divides the valley into two parallel
parts; the Luray Valley on the east,
much narrower than the Shenandoah on
the west. The Shenandoah River. flow
Ing northwardly close to the western
base Of this mountain. turns out from
the mountain at Strasburg and hack
again, making a complete loup or bend,
and then flows due east past the end OF
the mountain, and lnites With another
branch on the other side near Front