Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-28

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picture
The old veterans. as they beheId Il.
swelled up with pride at the thought
that each had contributed toward this
signal victory
A wag. (and we had some in the
army chalk marged one of the cais-
sons: ITO Major General Philip Sher-
idan, commanding the army of the
Shenandoah, in care of Major General
Jubal Early. From Richmond Ar
senal.
Early's army was completely dis
persed. Our cavalry followed up the
victory and so harassed them that
they became demoralized and with
out commands or commanders-they
took to the mountains and not one
seemed to be left-(every man for
himself) The last seen of that army
was Early himself with a small num-
Der of his STAFF and body guard on a
run through Staunton, Va No army
was ever SO completely whipped or
dispersed.
One peculiar thing happened dur
ing the battle of Cedar Creek and 1t is
too good 10 be omitted.
Our ammunition train of wagons
and mules was packed on a prominent
HILL When the Sixth corps started on
its charge both drivers and mules
seemed to catch the inspiration; at
any rate they stampeded and ran
down the hill over stone walls and
bitches, completely frightening the
enemy. As they had never seen a
wagon train on charge they thought
1t some new Yankee trick or that Sa-
tan had Joined hands with the Union
forces and not knowing how to de-
fend themselves against this mode of
warfare, they made right about
face and bee-line for the bridge
only to be made prisoners of war.
The Shenandoah valley being
cleaned, the grain mills, ETC., being
wiped out of this great granary of the
south; our corps started for Wash
ington in earnest this time.
The citizens who had been so badly
frightened a short time before, when
Early gave them such a scare, turned
out on the streets, along the line OF
march giving the old reliable Sixth
corps grand ovation. Again we
boarded transport steamers, and soon
arrived at City Point, taking up our
position in front OF Petersburg. The
war did not last very long after this.
On April 2, 1865, the Second brigade,
first division, Sixth corps, penetrated
the lines at or near Fort Gregg,
which fell into our possession. Hav-
ing met with success at this point,
General Burnside made requisition
for this brigade to break the lines in
front of the Ninth corps as they had
made nine assaults and were repulsed
each time. We took Fort Malone, the
key point in the chain of forts around
Petersburg, in 10 minutes from the
time the bugle sounded the advance,
with loss of only two men, SO quick
~ was the movement made.
Then came the surrender of Pc
tersburg on April 8. 1865. There are
a number of claimants as to what
regiment first entered Petersburg, but
l know of my own knowledge, the
colors Of the 65th Regiment, New
York Vols. were the first raised in
that city We made an error by Sc
lecting, the Presbyterian church stee-
pie, and failed to think for moment
that the city hall was the proper
place. A battalion of sharpshooters
from Michigan placed their colors on
the city hall several hours later-our
colors were up flying before daylight;
the Michigan sharpshooters did not
enter the city until after daybreak.
The chase to get around Lees army
began on April 4th, 1865. The sixth
corps having gained a reputation for
supporting cavalry movements, were
again required, and supported Cen
eral Sheridan, whose mission was to
find the right flank of Lees army. We
marched parallel with his army and
finally brought up with the right of
Ewell's corps at Sailors creek, on
April 6, and with General Fitzpatrick
and his cavalry he leading the charge
captured General Ewell and his staff
in the open and the entire corps with
hundreds of wagons. At Eweil's
headquarters the drum corps of the
G5th New York Vols. had a picnic.
They dressed themselves in his staff
officers uniforms and, mounted on
mules. marched in review to the mer-
riment of the bridage.
1t was here we met and captured
the Richmond Naval brigade. This
was the first battle In which they had
participated. They were armed with
cutlasses, revolvers and rifles, all of
which were soon in our possession
Many of them are held as souvenirs
of the occasion to this day.
In fording Sailors creek, which
was quite deep our men carried their
belts and cartridge boxes on their
bayonets while under fire, thus keep
ing their powder dry
From here we passed on to and
through the old tobacco city Of Farm
Vile to Appomattox Court House,
made famouse as the place where
General Lee and his veterans surren-
dprad ~ CANAAN Hrant ~ Ao,;I n