Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-07-28
Fifth w. Va. Infantry.
EDITOR ADVANCE

Il
Virginia Infantry will be held at Charles
ton, w. Va, September 10, 1909. This
being so close TO the forty. fifth anniver-
sary of the great battle of Opequ an, f.,
which was fought on September 10. 1864.
in which the Fifth West Virginia had
its full share, feel tempted to hand you
for publication few facts that have not
heretofore appeared in print as herein
after detailed.
This engagement had much to do with
ern Confederacy The great battle of
Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain,
fought above the clouds, covering a per-
iod of two days and with much lnrger
force employed on both sides than that
OF Sheridan, as per statistics on file at
the war department show a list of cas-
ualities on the Union side of about 8, 900,
while the list of killed and wounded in
Sheridan's army at Opequan was in ex-
cess of $500.
The advance guard the Union army
came in collision with the outposts of
the rebel army about o'clock, a. m. -,
Monday, September 10, 1864, and con
tinued with almost undated fury until
nIghtfall. This conflict resulted in a
sweeping victory for the Union cause.
The flower of Lees army there, Stone
wall veterans, their leader then Sleep
ing his last long sleep at Lexington, Va.
now under General Early, their firm set
batallions tower of strength Brecken-
ridge and Fitzhugh Lee were there, too.
to strike another blow for the Lost
Cause" Their strength has been esti-
mated at from $4,000 to 10000 men,
with full complement of artillery. The
Sixth Army Corps, 1900 strong and
the Nineteenth Army Corps. with TO-
900 tried veterans, led the advance of
the Union host. These two corps bore
the burden and heat of the day from
early dawn until O'Clock, p. IN. Vic
tory and defeat alternated for these long
ten hours between the embattled hosts.
Sheridan had yet In his rear s, 900 SOL
diers. four miles back of his line of bat
tie, under General Crook, known as the
Army of West Virginia as fine a body
of soldiers as marched onto the battle.
field. Far to the right and miles away,
near Martinsburg pike. and marching TO
the fray was the grandest fighting ma
chine the world ever saw (Napoleon's s
Old Guard never equaled them ten
thousand cavalrymen under Custer and
Forbet and Merritt. Every man in that
gallant host was superbly mounted. Ev-
cry one of them could fire seventeen
times before reloading their pieces A
brace of five-shooting Colts revolvers
hung over their saddle pommels: a
oreech loading seven. firing carbine
slung TO their shoulders and trusty
sabre at their sides
Major Mckinley, afterwards presi.
dent, swept down the road on his met
tied steed, ordered General Crook to
close in with his eight thousand anoth-
er messenger was dispatched in hot haste
TO hurry up that cavalry" And now
General Crooks eight thousand are on
full swing for the field of battle. Cross
inF the Opequan "a stream near the size
of Twelve Pole) and mounting its pre-
cipitous heights, magnificent, thrilling
and awe.inspiring sight met my range
of vision, such as j had never before
witnessed. Probably more than one
hundred cannon with their deafenirg 2
revetberations timed the wild tumult
The very heavens seemed to be filled
with bursting bombs. History records
that men, women and children stood on
the streets and side walks Of Hagerstown,
Md. 90 miles away, and listened with
blanched faces AID abated breath TO the
mufiled rumble Of the great conflict that
was being waged on Virginia soil for the
supremacy of the nation.
Far to the right and far to the left for
a distance of five miles over the undulat-
ing fields and meadows eighteen thous-
and reserves were coming into action
Custer with his squadron of cavalry
with savage fury doubled up the length
ened rebel fanks Crook with his eight
thousand veterans moved straight for q
long line of stone fence. Behind thai
stone fence the Johnnies were packed
in like sardines. Over the top of the
fence rested thousands of rifles and q
long line of fame burst forth from their
muzzles. Every piece of artillery be
hind that stone wall fell into the Unior
hands.
AS the sun went down that day the
rebel host rolled off to the south like 8
worn out storm.
The Fifth West Virginia formed 6
part OF the Army of West Virginia.
Yours, G.. +. j.,
Co. B. Fifth w. Va. Inf