The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-09-10
Civil War Stories
Rattle M Cedar Creek

lIarpers Ferry to Staunton. Here
Federal generals won fame. Here
Stonyyall jackson marched and fought
and Sheridan sent Early whirling our
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
plckets or shooting down the guard
placed at the houses of farmers to iii
sure them protection. The Fifth Mich
igan Cavalry boys will remember the
fate Of their comrades at Berryyilln.
The valley has been largely settled
since the war by Northern people, and
time has oblterated many traces of the
conflict. But fCrtificatiOns at and near
Cedar Creek still remain partially i'll
tact, grim reminders OF the struggle
that nearly resulted in driving the
Union army into the Potomac at Har
per's Ferry. The impending disaster.
however, was averted by the timely ar
rival Of Sheridan after the Federals
had been driven eight or nine miles and
what seemed sure defeat was turned
into brilliant victory
On the morning Of Oct. 10, 1861 just
before daylight, Early began his cele-
brated movement which resulted In a
complete surprise to the Union army
and afterward Il 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 Gisencumbered OF
every accoutrement except their arms
and ammunition They were not even
permitted TO retain their canteens. lest
their clapking might advise the Fed
erals of their approach. Just as the
break of day approached the rattle OF
nusketry on the extreme right gave no
tice of what proved to be a feint at
tack. Then along the whole Confed
crate line signal shots were fired from
left to right. Immediately following
three divisions under Pegram, Ramseur
ana Gordon came down the turnpike
from Strasburs in solid columns, with
out skir1nlshers, and assaulted Crook
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
m hn hf....l St civ
The enemy continued to press on, keep
Ing up deadly fire Of musketry. which
prevented Crooks men from rallying in
The thick fog which bewildered both
men and officers The smoke Of battle.
the thick fog. The yelIs of the Confed-
crates and the deadly fire from an I'M.
seen foe who poured into the camps.
capturing camp equipage and half
awake soldiers. helped in promoting the
general confusion. The enemy then
pushed up and beyond our left and en-
tered the camp Of Col. kitchin's di-
vision, routing it also and driving those
and Crooks troops toward the pike.
Kershaw's division in the meanwhile
lad crossed the north fork of the Shcn.
andoah before dawn. and was closing
in OH the Eighth Corps. capturing pris-
oners i'm large numbers and selzing the
batteries. At the same time Early.
with one division. had moved up the
pike toward our center and opened Il
hot fire with artillery on 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 10 swing out Of position and
meet the flank fire Of the Confederates
This was done. but scarcely had the
men left the brcastworks when the en-
envy was upon them, forcing Growers
whole division back. with the loss of
eleven guns. BY this time il 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 Einory's left, who
was fanked and driven away TO the
rear Then general retreat was or
lered, covered by the Sixth Corps and
The cavalry. which had been sent fer
from the right, together repelling a ire
meHdouS charge of the COnfederates
and holding thea in check. The were
steadily gaining ground on the pike to-
ward Middletown. In the retreat and
I'm the effort 10 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 enemys advance gave OPP
portunity for the formation of Il new
line
Early had Increased both his mus
Retry and artillery fire to its 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 APP
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
OH the left than on the right that the
cavalry under Custer and Merritt was
sent for from the extreme right. When
his order came the Michigan cavalry
brigade was massed I'm a piece of woods
with an open field beyond Just then
A she'll came screaming over them and
exploded Il dozen yards or so in front.
Another and another followed and then
they came by half dozens. hurtling and
crashing through the woods The or
Ter was given to change position. and
hey gained the rear of 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