The National tribune., 1909-11-11
SHERIDAN ARRUED-roLK DIED
Comrade of the Sixth Corps Says
These Matters We're Long Since Set
lied


tied.
Editor National Tribune: In the con-
trovcrsy between the old veterans as
to the hour Sheridan arrived at Cedar
Creek, 1 would ask what difference
does ii make? Everyone knows thai
Early was whipped, and very badly at
that. {. L. Webster, of the Bloody 18th
Pa. Cav, as he calls that regiment. is
positive that it was 8 p. m and also
that the Bloody 18th WIS put behind
the Sixth Corps to stop them from run
ning. L think some of the blood must
nave run into his eyes, so he could not
sec the badges on the Tetreating sol
diers. / Will not say that none of the
Sixth Corps ran, but / will say that no,
one of the Second Brigade, First ID Vi
sion, Sixth Corps, ran that morning OF
was the least bit demoralized. We
were in the front line, and Gen. Ham
lin, our brigade commander. rode bacl;
and forth in the front of his brigade
Tie had riding whip in his hand and
said: Boys, stand your ground; we will
whip them YETI
The General was wounded in the leg.
but he kept on his horse all day. A
iine OF cavalry was drawn up behind
us shortly after the fighting began. but
1t did not stay there long, but was
moved to another part Of the field.
do not claim that we did not retreat.
for we did. but in very good order. We
would load and fire VIII le walking hacl,
TO another position. / must say that
our cavalry was the best in the world.
and l always felt safe when we had
the cavalry to help us in fight, but /
10 not ike to sec anyone accuse a
whole corps of running when urobalJv
only few did. / do not blame anyone
IN the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps
Tor trying to get to a better position,
tnf some of them were surprised in
the early morning. and that was excuse
enough to get to a safer place.
Il. G. Jennings, of the Gth Conn.
says that h regiment was I'm line when
me rebels drove in the pickets, also
the Eighth and Sixth Corps Railways
understood that the Eighth and Nine
teenth Corps composed The front lin
ana the Sixth Corps was behind in re-
serve. Now. would like, to ask how.
uld the Sixth Corps get into the front
line at the first attack! Someone else
must have had blood in his eyesC There
mas been too much crit .lizing going on
IN regard to those that were rdriven
uack. ihere were just as good anen in
me Eiphth Corps as were in the Sixth
ana Nlneteenth Corps but they were
taken at disadvantage in the darL
ana consequently ought not to be
plaihed Tor running. No doubt other
corps ould have done the same if
paced in the same predicament The
Eishth Corps did very good fighting at
petersburg and on other battleficIds,
1T amuses me to see two different reg :
mems one cavalry and one infantrv.
iaIm they stopped the Sixth Corps.
lease bear in mind that it took a great
any more hard knocks than were
given at Cedar Creek (altho that was
very hard-fought battle) TO dcmor-
alize or rout such regiments as the
l2lst N. Y. I'd Conn H. A.. 5th Me,
ana 95th and 96th Pa History will
tel you that the I'd Conn never was
whipped, never ran in any battle. the
l21st N. Y. and 5th Me. showed at
Rappahannock Station what they could
DO; the 36th and 95th Pa. showed their
caiiDer m many other lIard-fought bat.
Ties besides Cedar Creek. BOYS, quit
quarreling about Sheridan's arrival at
Ceiar Creek, also about who killed
zen. POLK, as it does not make anv
dlference. We know Polk is dead and
Early was whipped. II took the
Sixth, Eighth. Nineteenth and Cav
airy Corps. with the assistance
or Gen. Phil Sheridan. to drive
Early across Cedar Creek on the
18th of October, 1864. 1 always sun
posed Sheridan arr we'd between and
10 a. m.-H. Eveiand Oneonta, N. Y.