Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-09-18
Civil War Stories
Battle of Cedar Creek.

battle Men of the North and men of
the South chased each other up and
down the dusty pike that extends from
Harpers Ferry to Staunton. Here
Federal generals won fame. Here
Stonewall Jackson marched and fought
and Sheridan sent Early whirling out
Of it. Then it was the home Of the
guerrilla, whose chief occupation was
stealing through the mountain passes
by night and by day, capturing our
pickets or shooting down the guard
placed at the houses Of farmers to in
sure them protection. The Fifth Mich
igan Cavalry boys will remember the
fate Of their comrades at Berryville.
On the morning of Oct. 10, 1864, just
before daylight, Early began his cele-
brated movement which resulted in a
complete surprise to the Union army
and afterWard a crushing defeat for
himself. A dense fog had settled down
and this favored his designs. Three
divisions had been massed at Fishers
HILL and these were disencumbered Of
every accoutrement except their arms
and ammunition. They were not even
permitted to retain their canteens, lest
their clanking might advise the Fed
erals Of their approach. Just as the
break of day approached the rattle of
musketry on the extreme right gave no.
tice of what proved to be a feint at
tack. Then along the whole Confed-
cate line signal shots were fired from
left to right. Immediately following
three divisions under Pegram, RamSeur
and Gordon came down the turnpike
from Strasburg in solid columns, with
out skirmishers, and assaulted Crooks
position in front and rear. The sur
prise was complete. The Confederates,
advancing by columns of regiments and
firing rapid and terrific volleys of mus
kerry, swept over the works almost
without opposition. Crooks whole line
gradually gave way, and of seven guns
in the breastWOrks six were captured
KershaW's division in the meanwhile
had crossed the north fork of the Shen-
andoah before dawn, and was closing
in on the Eighth Corps, capturing pris
oners in large numbers and Selling the
batteries. At the same time Early,
with one division, had moved up the
pike toward our center and opened a
hot fire with artillery OH the lines of
the Nineteenth Corps. The cannonad-
! ing was followed up by the advance of
the infantry across the creek. The
third brigade of Growers division was
ordered to swing out of position and
meet the flank fire of the Confederates.
| This was done, but scarcely had the
gnen left the breastworkS when the en-
envy was upon them, forcing Growers
whole division back, with the loss of
eleven guns. BY this time it was broad
| daylight, and the enemy had rolled up
our left, captured eighteen guns, which
were turned on our retreating columns,
and was driving in our center. Nearly
| all of Early's force was over the creek
and closing In on Emory's left, who
| was fianked and driven away to the
rear. Then a general retreat was Or
dered, covered by the Sixth Corps and
the cavalry, which had been sent for
from the right, together repelling ire
and holding them in check. They were
! steadily gaining ground on the pike to-
| ward Middletown. In the retreat and
| in the effort to cover our wagon trains
| the troops suffered severely from the
, enemy, who pursued closely and with
great vigor The Sixth Corps continued
| to steadily cover our retreat, and by
resisting the enemy's advance gave OPP
portunity for the formation of a new
line.
Early had increased both his mus
kerry and artillery fire to it's utmost
capacity, and the roar Of the big guns,
the sharp rattle of the small arms, the
shouts of the advancing Confederates
as they furiously pushed us back and
the dreadful carnage everywhere ap-
palled the stoutest heart The scene
was awful. Men were falling dead and
wounded on every side, but on came
the Confederates again in a furious
charge, threatening our left flank and
seemingly determined to drive us away
from the pike, seize our trains and get
between us and Winchester. The en-
envy pressed us SO much more heavily
on the left than on the right that the
cavalry under Custer and Merritt was
sent for from tho extreme right When
this order came the Michigan cavalry
brigade was massed in piece Of woods
with an open field beyond. Just then
a shell came screaming over them and
exploded dozen yards or so in front.
Another and another followed, and then
they came by half dozens, hurting and
crashing through the woods. The or
der was given to change position, and
they gained the rear of a small hill,
where they were somewhat protected
from the deadly missiles that were
showered around them. They remained
there but a short time, however, when
an order came to move, and they rap