Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-09-18

moment they were under cover, and IN
comparative safety. Here the men were.
dismounted and prepared to go in as in
fantry, armed with the Spencer car
bine. AS they went forward on foot
the enemy opened fire with battery
planted near the spot they had but
few moments before vacated. Our ar
tillery responded and for a quarter of
an hour the ground shook with the
lows had to return, forced back by
superior numbers, and with their ranks
thinner by many men than when they
went forward Fresh Confederate
troops were now pushed forward, and
after another short and bloody struggle
we were forced to give way, yielding
the ground grudgingly, and finally fall
ing back to a new position IN the
woods near Middletown.
This dismal morning wore eXcltingly
on, and at 9 O'Clock we were again
making desperate efforts to check the
enemys advance. The brunt of fresh
and fierce onset was borne by the
Eighth corps on the left, and the Sixth
in the center, with Custer, and Merritt
in the thick of the battle, cheering on
the men, fighting like tigers and accom-
plishing wonders. Artillery and mus
kerry were used on both sides, but the
big guns of the enemy were brought to
bear with greater effect, their batteries
being REINFORCED by those captured
from us earlier in the day. Early's
fianking column pressed us severely,
and once more we were forced to re-
treat. The Sixth corps in the center
held the ground stubbornly, but unas-
sisted, it could not resist the deter
mined advance of the enemy. The
whole line gave way and the Confed-
crates gained possession of MiddletoWn.
1t was an anxious and terrible mo-
ment. The gravest fear pervaded every
breast Where would it all end? Was
it possible that we were to be driven
back to Winchester, and so down to
Harper's Ferry and out of the valley?
We had been fighting against fate and
a desperate enemy since early sunrise,
and disaster had overtaken us at every
point. The bravery and dauntless cour-
age of officers and men counted for
naught before the furious onsets of the
victorious Confederates.
60 IN 0f
peril? He had arrived at Winchester
from Washington the day previous
1Sth) and slept there that night. On
the morning Of the 10th, without
thought or knowledge OF the danger
| menacing his army at the front, he
started with his escort for Cedar Creek
at leisurely pace. But he had not
proceeded far before he heard the dis
tant roar of heavy artillery in the dl-
rection of Middletown, and then he
| urged his horse into faster gait lie
began to feel very uneasy as the sound
of the guns came nearer. Had Early
ventured to attack the federal position
at Cedar Greek? Gradually as he rode
along the sounds of battle roll like
| thunder toward him, and then he be-
| gan to realize that heavy fighting was
raging to the front and that the Union
| army had met defeat and was rapidly
being pushed northward. Then he
drove the spurs deep into his horses
side and dashed forward at mad gal
| lop, unwilling to believe that disaster
| had oxertaken the gallant army he had
| twice led to victory. Yet the bands OF
stragglers and camp followers he met
! Oh the road told him but too truly that
| his brave men had been beaten and
were in full flight.
Galloping along far in advance of his
escort he dashed up to the retreating
army. horse reeking with foam, and by
his voice and presence infused new
courage into the dishearteend men. All
retreat was ordered stopped at once,
| and in a short time he had got his men