Connecticut western news., 1911-11-30
SOLDIERS IN PANIC
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and they were routed, leaving tents and about everything but arms-caught un- awares, with no more thought of an at- tack from Early.s army than of the American Indians.
 Early had marched his force eight or more miles. through an almost impasa- ble route, fording the north branch of the Shenandoah river twice so still that our piekets did not suspect sur prise. If they had been discovered when passing our Hanks so near it would have been certain destruction to them. So imperative was the necessity of silence that the enemy had orders to leave can teens and everything that would make noise, in their camps. Some of the pickets had heard noises, as of moving troops. and so reported, but General Crook, feeling secure from any attat k across rIver, paid little attention to the report, only to order to keep look. out.
 eA OA bAAS AOIAbAOA OA Gh1AA dan $ army might bring to your mind something of the situation. It was To- cated on the north shore of Cedar Greek, small stream, very crooked; general direction from west to east and empty ing into the north fork of the Shenan. doah river and the means of crossing are by lords. Crooks Corps (the 8th) lay on the extreime left, with the north branch of the Shenandoah as barrier, but Early moved down past Crook s leftSand was ready at o'clock a. m. to strike, and it was done so stealthily that most of the boys were asleep.
 Reader, imagine for a moment that you were asleep under your shelter tent and with hardly moments notice, 8 volley of thousand muskets sends their bullets through your ranks from your flank and you rose up to find thousands more in your rear and what would you do? No time to form fer protection, so the first thought is to seek safety in fight-and such was the case, the stampede of the 8th and the 18th Corps was general, but the Sixth was little far ther removed, so they had more time to get into line and move back with more regularity. The sth and the 18th Corps abandoned their batteries and the rebels turned them on the fleeing forces and the slaughter was terrible. You know it was so dark that you could not dis. tinguish friend from foe; you had nc time to dress, only to take what wat within your grasp and git" all eager to get out of the way of this terrible rair of lead and iroR. Pen cannot depict the terrors of this hour. To stand up anC fight an enemy before you is compara lively easy, but this. surprise indeed meant seek safety by getting out of this storm and then prepare to meet the foe
 Previous to this dilemma two gentle men appeared in camp as commissioners to take the vote of the regiment. Presidential election was to come off 1T November, and agreeable to statut, law passed by the Connecticut legisla ture Connecticut soldiers could vote ir the field hence the appearance of these commissioners in our regiment for this purpose. It occasioned change of tn, methods of warfare by peacefully regis tering vote as their choice for presi dent. The commissioners expressed themselves as much pleased with camI life and said they would not consider ii an innovation to see 8 genuine battle which however seemed very improbable so that after enjoying 8 genuine eamI fire, repaired to bed, on the soft earth with little thought that their wish would be so fully realized. But before day light the opportunity came, and pande monium let loose is putting it mild "Fall in fall in l' was heard from every side. Cannons booming, musketry rattling. shot and shell screeching. Youi commissioners, pale and excited, looking for way out, had lost their "desire to see fight" and made for the rear a' fast as conditions would permit. AnC oh ! such running and for aught we know they are running still, don't know whether they got enough or not.
 To be continued