The National tribune., 1910-03-17

Early's report speaks of finding the
Sixth Corps in position from which it
was impossible to dislodge 1t.
Gen, Sheridan says he found the Sec
onG Division confronting the enemy,
and that the other two divisions were
n mile in rear of Getty, and the Eighth
and Nineteenth Corps still in rear of
them.
Second Brigade's Work.
7. T. Leonard, Captain. Co. 7. Sd Vt.
Austin, MINI, says: When we of the
Second Brigade, Second Division. Sixth
Corps. double-quicked thru the mass OF
men. horses. vehicles, etc. we were inn
mediately engaged with the oncoming
enemy. We had plenty TO attend to. as
their line appeared to overlap ours and
threaten our TANKS. We drew back
gradually, and continued fighting and
changing position to save being fianked.
We made the final stand and charge in
the afternoon, so we were strictly in
the battle from early morning until the
routing of the enemy in the afternoon
and at no time was our division routed
or put out of action. At times the fight
ing was close. After the final charge
it was simply foot race to SEE who
could get there quickest and capture
the most prisoners, etc. Gen. l.. \.
Grant writes In his account of the bat
tie that it was Gettys Division (Second
Division, Sixth Corps that repulsed
and held Early's army and is entitled
to the credit for it. 1t is not claimed
that our division was superior to the
others. but we had the opportunity and
improved it.
At the Beginning.
A. c. Fletcher, Co. D. 1st VT. II. A,
says: Comrade Benway is away out in
his account He may have met Sheri-
dan at 10 o'clock, but if he did 1t was
long way from the fight. Somewhere
about a. m. the first firing COM
menced. and in about three minutes
the men of the Eighth Corps began
passing where l was At the same time
L saw part of the Sixth Corps rush for
ward to meet the enemy, and join the
flank of a brigade of the Nineteenth
Corps, holding the rebels In check un-
til the fog lifted. In the first charge
the rebels captured eight guns from the
Eighth Corps. and, having surprised
the Eighth Corps in their beds and
caused them and one brigade of the
Nineteenth Corps to leave in a panic,
they greatly outnumbered the Sixth
Corps and the brigade of the Nineteeth
that then confronted them. Accord
ingly they got on our fanks. and caused
us to fall back in order to straighten
our lines. Gen. Wright was shot in the
neck about o'clock. and the command
then went to Gen. Getty.
Grand Old Sixth Corps.
W. E. Webster, Cowan's Battery, 1st
n. Y, Auburn, N. Y, says: Comrade
Waddell some weeks ago furnished a
letter of Gen. Curtis, in which he (Cur-
tis) says: Sheridan was at Harper's
Ferry to consult Gen. Grant" Gen.
Grant was then at City Point, on the
James River, and Gen. Sheridan had
from Harper's Ferry, but from Wash
ington via Martinsburg.
And further he says that Gen. Sheri-
dan ordered Gen. Curtis to organize
that crowd of stragglers (without arms
and many without uniforms) of the
Eighth Corps Cor Army of West Fir-
ginia) into battalions, and put officers
over them and start Immediately to the
front with his command, which he did.
What Toti
And he makes Sheridan say: Gen.
Wright, this army is not whipped. If
/ had been here this would not have
happened" etc. As a matter of fact
Gen. Sheridan says in his own book
that it was not the fault Cf Gen.
Wright.
The entire army of Jubal Early was
repulsed three different assaults and
charged them to boot. 1t was not driv-
en- a foot, and when. the rebels could
not move the Sixth Corps that way
they flanked 1t out of its position. but
the Sixth Corps retired at its leisure,
our skirmish line holding its last line
of battle position.
In justice to the Sixth Corps it should
be noted that Gen. Wright had given
Early a successful check, had made the
for a counter advance, and
was about to move forward when Gen.
Sheridan resumed command. which was
near 1890 a. m. Sheridan did not start
from Winchester till about o'clock,
and he stopped number of times on
the way.
The Sixth Corps was composed of SO
regiments, and Of this number "a of
them are in "Fox's 800 Fighting Regi-
meDts." The Nineteenth Corps had So
regiments, and one is in FoX's book.
The Eighth Corps had 16 regiments,
and four are in Fox's book.
There is much dispute as to the rebel
forces under Gen. Early. He claims
about 5000 muskets." Gen. Lee wrote
Early Sept. 81, 1864: II very much re-
gret the reVerses that have occurred to
the army in the Valley. The enemy's
force cannot be so greatly superior to
yours. His effective infantry / do not
think exceeds 1900 men. ="
The Sixth Corps stands second to
none. 1t saved the National Cap tai; it
took Marye's Hights after the failure
of the army under Burnside; it helped
the Second Corps hold the Bloody An
gle at the Wilderness; it saved the day
at Cedar Creek; it cameJin handy at
Antietam and at Gettysburg; it broke
the line at Petersburg. and turned the
trick at Sailors Creek, Va. and the
Army of Northern Virginia surren-
dered.
Cedar Creek was my last battle, as ]
was seriously wounded in it. My bat
terry lost % killed and wounded and IA
horses killed at Cedar Creek, and we
We're the one battery that saved all of
their guns in this battle Gn the Infan-
try Corps).