The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-05-23
sHERIDAN's RIDE.

Major Spera, the sole survivor of
the escort of twenty men who made
that eventful ride with Sheridan to
Winchester ,on the morning of October
Io, 1864, which turned disastrous
rout into brilliant victory for the
North, gives graphic description of
the ride through an interview in the
Sunday Magagine The Major was
accompanying Sheridan on hunt for
winter quarters, and when they
reached Kernstown they heard firing
that made them think the day might
prove an eventful one.
As we rode out of town and reach
ed the top of hill we noted men COM
ing toward US double quick. 1t look
ed to me mighty like the rout at Chan
cellorsville when the men broke; but
I said nothing. l was riding with the
advance guard of my command, and
wnen Sheridan saw the men there
was something doing at once.
Just month before he had licked
Early men numerically at Winches-
ter, and Early had been trying to take
his revenge ever since. was ordered
to take twenty of my best men and
follow Sheridan to the front. Before
we could get them picked out, with
the remainder of my command to
form Gordon across the road, Sheri-
dan, on his big black horse, Reinzi,
was tearing for the front.
All along the road we saw men in
retreat. There might have been l.
900 or there might have been 10000
for all we knew. We were too busy
riding to count. Here and there the
men had stacked arms and were max
ing coffee. The only information we
had had as to the retreat was from
the chief commissary, Colonel Kel-
logg, who had informed US that
everything was lost in the front
and that the men were rapidly re-
treating.
Sheridan set his teeth when he
heard this and did not pause for more.
AS we passed groups of men drinking
their coffee, he would turn in his
saddle and shout
"Face about, boys. Well sleep in
the old camp tonight. Face about !"
This was the signal for general
cheer from the boys. They dropped
their cups of hot coffee, kicked the
coffee-pots out Of their way,
made dash for the guns,
and wheeled into line after their gen
eral. All along the line it was the
same. The men seemed to be inspired
by the sight of Sheridan and his con-
fidence in himself and in them. The
victory of the month before was still
fresh in their minds, and they felt
certain that once Sheridan got to the
front, he would again lead them to
victory.
remember, as we tore along, see-
ing Mckinley come riding out of the
timber n - uusaz T TsiinIstenaut Mex JIM
wasI President thought of that day
when the young officer came dashing
past us that eventful day. never
knew where he was going or where
he had come from.
Fortunately for us, the enemy were
so obusycongratulating themselves over
their capture of the artillery and in
rummaging the wagon train of sup
plies, where they found whisky and
proceeded to become intoxicated, that
they did not dream of rally on our
part.
They discovered their mistake
when they heard the cheers of our
men for Sheridan, as he rode up and
down the line, reforming the ranks.
They supposed these cheers were due
to reinforcements, and before they
could gather their scattered forces
Colonel Miller charged at them at
right angles and Cosier with 2 1000 sa-
bers charged them from the right,
where the enemy had attacked Emery
and had supposed him too badly beat
en- to rally.
The battle ragged all afternoon and
late into the evening. When it was
over we found that we had taken over
I 900 prisoners, had recovered all our
artillery and twenty-five pieces be-
longing to the enemy. In fact, we
got all their artillery but one piece,
and Captain Hanley captured that at
terward at Jackson.