The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-02-23
Copyright. 1904. by C. L. Kilmer.I

n fighting on sight This was far
from the truth. like many an
~ther war tradition, and it is said that
he once led the march of mis- division
away from the sound of the guns in
an emergency when to most soldiers
the watchword was Victory or
DEATH OF course it was not personal
timidity which made Sheridan eau
tious about pitching in; rather a fear of
being whipped and getting black eye
for his reputation, which was an I'M
certain quantity until the time of his
famous ride from Winchester. in Octo-
Der, 1864
Two months almost to a day previ-
GUS to the disastrous retreat and
heroic rally at Cedar creek Sheridan
was heading Il retreat over the same
ground and refusing battle to an in
feriOr foe. The circumstances which
brought about this well nigh bloodless
campaign on Cedar creek, the middle
of August. 1864 were connected with
the Confederate raid on Washington by
General Jubal EarlyS command the
previous July. Early's bold incursion
to the gates of the northern capital
had the effect Of drawing Il new sys-
TEN of warfare to Shenandoah valley.
From the beginning of the war the
valley region, so convenient for the
shelter of hostile force on the TANKS
of Federal army operating in north
ern Virginia had not been occupied by
one good, consolidated Federal com
mand
StOnewall Jackson fought one Fed
eral army under General Fremont and
another under General Banks on alter
nate days in 1862 and defeated both.
After that General Sigel had Federal
command there, General J. d. Cox an
other and General b. +. Kelley still an.
other all charged with looking after
the Confederates in and around the
valley. Later General Milroy, Gen.
eral Kelley and General French had
separate commands supposed to be
available to prevent the COnfederatcs
from Occupying the region in force. but
Robert L. Lee made it highway when
he chose TO do so, as In the AntiCtam
and Gettysburg campaigns Of 1862 and
1868. and drew upon it as a Granary
of war supplies at leisure. Then came
General Crook, General Sigcl again and
General Hunter these last in 1864. but
at the end of hard summers cam
paign Early held the valley, and the
Federal forces. composed Of the rem
nants Of the old valley commands ami
the Sixth corps from the Army of the
Potomoc were huddled close TO the
~ bank of the Potomac river with Gran;
on the ground devising some method to
solve the problem of protecting Wash
ington from valley incurSiOns while the
main army was fighting along the low
er James
During the excitement Of Early'S raid
on Washington in July Sheridan had
come to the rescue with a division of
cavalry. An arrangement to have Gen-
eral Hunter. the nominal Federal chic.
in the valley department, and Sheridan
act together failed. Hunter left the field
and the four old departments were con
sOlidated into the middle military Gi-
vision under Sheridans command. Tie
forces constituted an army and com
prised the Sixth and Nineteenth cops
of infantry and three divisions of cav
airy under General Wesley Merritt.
General j. II. Wilson and General y.
w. Averell.
BY the middle of August Sheridan
mustered in the field about 10000 rnn
and his opponent not over 10000. B0,h
were eXpectingre-enforce for their
own commands, and both were feariH@
that the enemy's re-enforcementS wouId
get to the ground first SheriGau'S
came the fastest, and yet he.proccaG1l
with caution. When Early saw tie
great gathering of Federals at the head
of the valley he placed his troops III
front of Winchester, so often the bon,
of contention in the Shenandoah cam
paigns, but instead of standing for bat
tie retreated leisurely down the excel
lent roads toward Strasburg. Every
mile brought Early nearer to the to
endorsements coming up from Ricl-
mond, and it is one of the mysteries Of
the campaign why Sheridan, with his
superior numbers and splendid cavalry.
made no attempt to flank the enemy
and get between him and his supports
On the 18th Of August Early, afte.
leisurely choosing positions, establish
ed his line on Fishers hill, two miles
south of Strasburg. Sheridan follow
ed up the bank of Cedar creek and con
tented himself with cavalry recon
noissances until satisfied that the en-.
emy's re-enforcements were at hand
The one position which in his own
hands would endanger the enemy and
the one which in possession of the en-.
envy would jeopardize his own rear he
allowed to be seized by the Confedcr
ates marching up from Richmond. THIS
was Front Royal, on the flank of the
Cedar creek line and at the head OF
Luray valley.
The requirements which came 10
Early at this time did not exceed 5000
nd probably were only 5000, yet the
onfederates so manipulated the in
ldent as TO brighten both Sheridan
and Grant \ dispatch reached She"
Ian Wy way Of Harpers Ferry stating
that heavy re-enforccmentS under
Tnpsrser..s .,,..l ET;tl ,,.,r, ,,.i.1,t.,