The National tribune., 1909-09-09
SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK.
\ Vivid Description Of the Fight by
Man Who Had q Good Chance 10

\ Vivid Description Of the Fight by
Man Who Had Good Chance t'
See 1t.
Editor National Tribune: Are you not
:. getting tired with the efforts OF so many
to make it appear that Gen. Sheridan
arrived on the battlefield at Cedar
Creek at and 3:27 p. m, when II was
we'll established that he started very
early from Winchester on a very good
horse, with only 20 miles to overcome,
which such a good horse would make
in tNo hours? Have not some of his
stat. who Were with him, declared that.
tho well mounted. they were unable to
keep up with him? The fact is that he
was at the Sixth Corps headquarters In
the field early, considering the distance
he had travelled. AT that time l was on
detached service with the Ambulance
Corps of Crooks Corps. We were en-
camped between the pike and Sheri-
dams headquarters Occupied by Gen.
Wright during Sheridans absence).
The first gun was fired on our extreme
Tigft.v west of Cedar Creek, and in less
than. two minutes afterwards general
attack was made on Gen. Crooks front,
near our left. This was at daylight,
with nearly every man in his bed. The
army felt safe with good cavalry pick
ct stationed at the ford of the Shenan-
doah, at the foot OF Mansanutten Noun
tain: but by some ones blunder that
cavalry had been Withdrawn during the
night and sent on a scout to the Luray
Valley. Col. ". r. Brown, of the 18th
w. Va, was Officer of the Day, and
could give no reason for its withdrawal
This enabled Gen. Gordon to swoop
down unannounced upon the infantry,
: whose pickets We're but little in ad-
VANCE of the line
Maj. II. L. Karr, of the 116th Ohio,
was; apparently the first to hear the
enemy. and, rushing out. had the whole
brighde in line at once, and most gal
lant;y repulsed the enemy. The bri-
gades to the right and left were caught
in their tents, and rushed to the rear.
which nearly resulted in the capture OF
the brigade, which had been so success
full, by being fianked on either side. Had
ali been as alert as the ever-watchful
karr there would have been different
beginning at Cedar Creek. In very
few minutes rebel cavalry had fianked
our left, held by Gen. r. B. Hayes, and
were at Middletown creating panic
among our trains.
/ was ordered to take the ambulance
train down the pike toward Newton,
until a safe place was reached, while
Crook was attacked not later than sun
rise, met Gen. Sheridan going to the
fronS before halfway reaching Newton.
which was probably not over eight
miles from starting point. We had not
been! playing on the road, as the rebel
cavalry was goading us along. With
Shegidan,s known energy and anxiety IT
hardly seems credible that he could
have been later than o'clock in reach
ing Gen. Wright
/ iimmediately countermarched my
train. and soon took position few rods
westI OF the pike. where the new line
OF battle had been formed, about two
miles north of Aliddietown.
The enemy made a most vigorous at
tack upon our center. which was occu-
pied by the good old Sixth Corps. the
only infantry force that had not been
seriously shattered in the early attack,
and was most effectively repulsed
Cen. Sheridan was present. and di-
fected the resistance. 1t was reported
that he said: Now. boys. stack your
arms and get your breakfast. and 1 will
go down and get Emery to prepare
supper for the enemy
Emery Doubles Up the IAiemy's Left
About an hour later Gen. Emery
doubled the enemy's left back on his
center, and about p. m (3:37, ac-
cording TO W. G. Barden, of the eth
Mich, In issue of June 10). Gen. Sheri-
dan rode up to Gen. Crook with several
of his staff Barden supposed this was
: when Sheridan first arrived but he had
directed two successful fights before
this, after arriving. which consumed
much time. j was sitting on my horse
about four rods from Gen. Crook, and
witnessed all that transpired. Dismount-
ing, he walked hastily to Gen. Crook
with his large, expressive eyes we'll di-
lated. and said: Gen Emery has just
knocked - out of the rebels and
doubled them back on his center Now
if you viii double his right back. the
way we will make them get over tbs
creek" pointing 10 the lnassed artillery
as If a terrible execution would be tbs
result. Just then one of his staff rod'
UP and said: General, they are getting
ont of here" ID 'em; i was afraiG
they would not stand said Sheridan
Then turning 10 one of his staff. II
yoSr horse fresh2" and to another III
your horse fresh - We'll. go right dOwr
the line and tell Wright and Emery q
go right in. and go in yourselves. takt
off your hats. and yell like -" OR
dsring Crook TO charge at once, he wa!
of. and away we all went. never stop
ping until we were on our old ground
The charge of our cavalry on our lef
upon the rebels right was magnificen
sight. the first j had even seen on good
open ground, and most gaiiantiy was i
done. j picked up Maj. McGriBsie. o
Sheridanis staff, who had been lef
wounded about halfway to Middletown
and Capt. Bier's body. who had beer
killed. The evening casualties were
few. Arriving AT Ger. Crooks head
quarters-at the same place it had beer
In the early morning. found Sheri
dan. Crook and Hayes in consultation
While waiting 10 get permission of Gen
Crook to go on our early camp grount
20 look for wounded Gen. Custer ar
rived. Leaping from his horse. h
rushed up to Sheridan. and with a Wig
orous slap on his shoulder said, We'll
General. 1 got the - old gun" ''Hoy
are things going west Of the creek :?
asked Cen. Sheridan. Fine Put then
into Woodstock" And Custer was Of
A Mad Stampede.
Learning that the enemy had formet
field hospital at big brick hous
west of Cedar Creek Bridge, / went ar,
found quite a number OF our wounded
Several officers were among them wh
said that they supposed they had bee
in stampedes, as they had never wit
messed such disorder. such terror-stricI
en- people. as they saw that afternoon
when the enemy were getting out of tn
way of Clusters and Merritt's CaYalr,
That had been the camping ground {
all the marauGers from Strasburg, who
believing Early was going 10 go "whirl
ing thru Winchester" had arrived wit
wagons, buggies, carts and every COZ
ceiyable turnout for the purpose of loot
ing the rich sutier stores in Winchestel
Suddenly the retreating army struc
them. and away in enc mad race to tt
: rear went the looters Qncluding sever;
women) and buns. in the widest dii