New-York tribune., 1911-11-19
lie Dash on Horseback Averted Rout of Union

J 1t was hard journey, for the main road
! could not be used. He rode first upon one
side and then upon the other. but ever
speeding onward. As he approached Mid
dletown he came upon the rear of Getty
division Of the 9Th Corps and the cav
! airy. apparently acting as rear guard. az
point about three miles from the first line
| at Cedar Creek, where he had left them
only four days before General Torbert
was the first to catch sight OF the wiry lit
tie general and his foaming. painting black
horse. MY God. am glad you've come
! he called out as he rode up to meet his SUI
perior Jumping his horse over the rails of
fence, Sheridan rode to the top OF an
elevation. where he could be seen. He took
off his cap, and the men behind the barri-
cade rose as one man and cheered again
and again. Turning back Of Gettys divi-
sion a line OF regimental flags rose up out
Of the ground They were the colors or the
regiments of Crooks corps which had stam-
peded in the early morning, and their bear
ors had formed behind Getty's troops. the
line being composed mostly Of officers.
! Among them was Rutherford B. Hayes,
brigade commander. whose name afterward
became even more familiar To the people OF
the United States. Then Sheridan dismount-
ed on the far side of a narrow valley be-
hind the line and established there his
headquarters He had covered the dis
tance from Winchester I'm less than two
hours
In the course Of that short time h. had
done something to stimulate courage and
sense of shame in the troops who had
, stampeded before the onslaught OF the
enemy. What was the something? with
o terrible oath" declares the poet. a cor
respondent Of The Tribune who was on the
battlefield reported I'm dispatch that Sheri-
den, near Newtown came upon scat
tered. retreatng army. which had been sur
rrlsed. fianlIed and driven pell nell out Of
its strong works Of defence lie ar
rested the flight OF the panic stricken host
ard turned IT back as the wind Is
changed when dark thunder clouds empty
their tornado gusts out OF the northwest.
il would not be prudent 10 report the pre-
Csc terms In which II is said he addressed
! the mob Of skedaddlers he met upon the
| highway: they Were hotter than the fire OF
/ the enemy The majority needed little else
! than sight of their chieftain. however To
inspire them with new courage. and they
Instantly felt that the day was saved.
T Come on. boys. follow me. and well whip
/ Early in three hours harder than he has
whipped you all day" They threw up their
/ caps, shouted and almost wept for JOY
while they fell in and once more hurried to
! take their places in the ranks. We must
liyouac in our old camp tonight boys. and
/ Wen do it, said Sheridan, and he made
/ good his promise"
/ Sheridan himself said: Hundreds Of the
/ men, who on reflection found that they had
not done themselves justice, came back
( with cheers" Whatever it was, IL was a
/ remarkable Illustration Of fleeing. panic
stricken. defeated army returning to iinish
4 tho battle
But what had occurred that morning
/ along the banks of Cedar Creek TO STAN
pedc the formerly victorious soldiers OF the
! Army OF the Shenandoah? owing TO the
destruction OF the stores Of subsistence in
! the Shenandoah. Early had found 1t neceS-
! s,ry to make an immediate attack or re-
tire for ne could not stay where he was.
lis typographical officers had studied every