The National tribune., 1906-02-15

Editor National Tribune. Being a
| reader of The National Tribune, and
| believing that its columns are open for
all who desire to write on any subject
pertaining to the war. take the liberty
| OF criticising an article published by
the indianapolis Star of Jan. 25 The
article is headed: 'Sent Sheridan on
| Famous Ride"
| A comrade, Mixell. of warrensburg.
ILL.,, says he Is the man who aWoke
Sheridan from his much-needed slum-
Der. at Fairfax Station, Va, and started
MIN on his famous ride to Winchester
to win back battle that was lost. If
Comrade Mixell was acting as referee
I'm the battle in question, he threw UP
the sponge too early in the day. He
says 1t was O'Clock when he heard
cannonading In the direction of Cedar
creek, which. he says, is near Winches-
ter. He also says that Fairfax Station
| Is 20 or 80 miles southwest of Winches-
ter, In Old Virginia, and that Sheridan
was visiting Gen. Grant at City Point
which place is about % miles south
and west of Winchester, I'm West Vir-
g1nia. / think that Comrade Mixell
ike many of us, gets locations some
what mixed He surely is badly ratified
| In trying TO give locations I'm regard to
the battle of Cedar Creek. was over
the road from Martinsburg to Winches-
ter, as far up as Staunton, in June
1863 l, with the Captain and about
half OF the company. was taken prison.
or by Jenkins's Cavalry, at Martinsburg.
on Sunday evening, June IA, 1863. We
were escorted to Winchester by rebel
cavalry. who We're very cruel and shot
colored boy ON the way. without any
provocation whatever They wouldn't
allow us to stop to fill a canteen with
water on the way. 1t is % miles from
Martinsburg to Winchester After w.
ing in one OF Millroy's forts q day or
tl.txo
water to- drink-they started us on our
Journey up the Valley. en- route to Lib
| by, at Richmond. Cedar Creek IS 20
miles south and a little west from VIM
chester.
In regard to the battle of Cedar
Creek, Early moved his army down
along the foot of the mountain. there
| being only cowpath. They had taken
| precautfon to rid themselves of any-
!, thing that would be likely 10 make a
| noise. They succeeded In capturing the
pickets and massed in front Of the
Eighth Corps, which was on the exe
IRENE left Of the line. The Nineteenth
Corps held the right and the Sixth Corps
was on the right of the Nineteenth. If
my memory serves me. the first firing
was about daybreak, Oct. 10. There
was no artillery firing until later, as
! Early had given instructions for the
artillery to be stationed as near as pos
sible on the south side of Cedar Creek.
Inc battle opened very early I'm the
morning. think there will be quite
a number Of the Eighth Corps bows who
Will bear me out in this, that there was
no eannonading at o'clock that morn
ing. There was a complete rout on the
left or the line, but the Sixth Corps
and part of the Nineteenth were NOT
whipped, as they were not engaged nm
III later In the day. 1t was pretty far
toward noon when Gen. Sheridan ar
he. Gnl
bcen my idea that Gen. Wright (who
| mad temporary command while Sheri-
dan was away had the battle well in
hand when Sheridan arrived. IL has
always been my opinion that Gen.
Wright never got the credit due him
Under the circumstances. 1 think also
| mat history will show that the word
! whipped has no place i'm the history
Tor the gallant old Sixth Corps Conn
rades Will remember that part of the
lcofps was overpowered Or Outnumbered
nye 10 one al Monocacy. near Frederick.
Nd, and had TO fall back; but accord
ing to the Confederate reports our uttIe
army gave them the hardest battle
considering the number OF troops-and
absence OF artillery on our side-that
they ever had. Don't think that ! am
trying to make you believe that The
sixth Corps put down the rebellion: but
do say that ii did It's part and came
out covered with glory
Now. Comrade Mixell, straighten ont
some of your geographic lines. and tell
u: why your regiment didn't get there
in time To participate In that battle of
Cedar Creek. / was and am q great
admirer of Gen. Sheridan. L was born
and raised in the same County and near
the old home of the Sheridans; and
am proud To say that my uncle, Gen.
Tom Ritchey, who was a member OF
Congress ut that time. secured the APP
pointment at West Point for Little Phil.
Ii was told that when the wires car
ried the news North that Sheridan was
whipped in the Valley, Uncle Ritchey
mounted his old gray mare and went to
Somerset to hear about Ii. staying until
late I'm the afternoon, when the wires
clicked on the news OF Sheridan's VIC
tory. The old man cried like a child