The National tribune., 1910-02-17
DEFENDS GEN. HARRIS.
\ 10th W. Va. COmrade Thinks Much
Ignorance Is Displayed Concerning
Cedar Creek.

| Editor National Tribune: The battle
of Cedar Creek was undoubtedly the
most remarkable of the many desper-
ate battles of our civil war. The mos
| consummate skill was displayed or
| both sides; by Early in his plan of bat
tie, which gave him such a sweeping
victory in the early morning; by Sheri-
| dan in that superb generalShip dis
| played in turning that crushing defeat
of the morning into the most decisive
Victory of the war ere the sun set. 1t
| was clear and forceful demonstration
of what our armies were capable of
accomplishing when led by Generals of
force and ability.
Except it be Gettysburg, no other
battle of the gigantic struggle presents
| so fruitful and interesting n theme to
| lovers of the literature of that war,
| and no other General of any war so
vividly typifes the spirit of battle, "the
rapture of the strife as did Sheridan
on that momentous occasion. He tran
scends even our conception of the he
roic as exemplified in Napoleon at the
bridge of Lodi.
Judging from the columns of The
National Tribune people seem to never
tire of Cedar Creek, and yet there isn't
another battle of the war about which
there has been so much nonsense writ
ten, much of it owing to gross ignor-
dIte pl the Ddllie.
Here are a few examples: Gen,
Hughes, who was Colonel of the 18th
w. Va, says that Sheridan had just
taken a run down to Harper's Ferry to
meet Gen. Grant. Gen. Hughes had
command of a brigade in the battle,
and should be better posted.
Another correspondent says thR' the
noted ride didn't begin Mt Winchester
at all, but from several miles. north of
MI. Il
of the 18th at a dance or other enter
tainment given him lay the loyal ladies
of the neigbborhood (This corre-
spondent might have added that the
distinguished Col. Mosby was master
of ceremonies on the eccasion.). s
Another wiseacre gravely tells us that
the great ride didn't begin at Winches,-
ter at all, but at Martinsburg. milking
the ride, as he says, 40 miles, instead
of 20. Winchester in this case WAS but
way station thru which that fiery
steed went '.as with eagle Hight in his
mad gallop to the front
The number of guns captured ~ us
is given all the way from 80 to ~, and
the time Of Sheridan's arrival between
the hours of, a. m. and p. M: lib
eral margin this. But Sheridan him
self left us a few items on these sub
jects i'm his book Of memoirs, in which
he recitcs the actual facts of history.
Comrade Mai. Karr, of the 1l6th
Ohio, living at Osceola, Iowa, in The
National Tribune of Oct IA severely
criticizes Gen. Harris for his conduct
at that battle. | will here quote part of
the Majors structure:
81 have been an early riser all my
life, and that morning was up some
time before daybreak, and in the quiet
ude of that hour / heard the slow and
careful tread of the rebels forming in
line very near and in front of us. I
Immediately awoke Col Wildes, the
commandant of our brigade. He read
lily comprehended the situation, and in
the fewest minutes we had our brigade
under arms in line of battle. This done
Wlldes directed me to notify Gen. Har-
ris. the commander of our division NV
horse having already been saddled, /
hastened to Gen. Harris. and found him
asleep in his ambulance, more than
half a mile from his command Upon
arousing him and giving him the in
formation that the rebels were form
ing in our immediate 'front.' he raised
himself slightly in his bed and an
SWered: That cannot be-
Being somewhat irritated at his sin
gular reply, / answered firmly and en-
phaticaliy: General, that is so, and Won