Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-10
Civil War Stories
Battle of Cedar Creek.

down the dusty pike that extends from
Harper's 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
oy night and by day, capturing our
plckets or shooting down the guard
placed at the houses of farmers to in
sure them protection. The Fifth Mich
| lgan Cavalry boys will remember the
fate of their comrades at Berryville.
The valley has been largely settled
since the war by Northern people. and
time has obliterated many traces of the
conflict. But Gortifcations at and near
Cedar Creek still remain partially in
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 a brilliant victory.
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 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 disencumbered of
every accoutrement except their arms
and ammunition. They were not even
permitted to retain their canteens, lest
their clarking 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 feint at
tack. Then along the whole Confed-
crate line signal shots We're 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.
The enemy continued to press on, keep
ing up q 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 yells- 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. kitchins di-
vision, routing it also and driving those
and Crooks troops toward the pike.
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 seiZing the
batteries. At the same time Early,
with one division, had moved up tie
pike toward our center and opened
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 to 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 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 Earlys force was over the creek
and closing in ON Emory's left, who
was fianked and driven away to the
rear. Then q general retreat was or
dered, covered by the Sixth Corps and
the cavalry, which had been sent for
from the right, together repelling ire
mendous charge of the Confederates
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 enemys advance gave OPP
portunity for the formation of 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 the extreme right. When
this order came the Michigan cavalry
brigade was massed in a piece Of woods
with an open field beyond. Just then
shell came screaming over them and
exploded 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
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