Connecticut western news., 1911-11-09
SECOND HEAVY REGIMENT
tCOntinued from First Page.)

This is a matter of history. but it is l history that our regiment helped to make. as you we'll know,
 At>the time that you were lying at Halltown the matter of suitable com- mander who could hold Early in check was considered. This choice fell to Phil. Sheridan. as he was familiarly known, much to the disgust of Secretary Stanton and some others, who thought him too young.
 August 7th, the day after you camped at Halltown, Sheridan assumed command of the troops in. the entire valley, and afterwards known as the Army of the Shenandoah Gen. Sheridan began his moves with caution. Early appeared in the upper valley, and moved down to, or near Strausburgh, and August 10th Sheridan, who was now in command, had massed his army at Halltown in front of Harper's Ferry; moved out towards Early's forces, whose cavalry he met and drove towards Kernstown.
 You know that there was road lead
 ing from Snicker's Gap across the Shen- andoah ford through Berryville to Win
 chester, and Early had stationed force
 to hold this highway. while his trains
 were being moved back towards Straus-
 burgh. 4 considerable of skirmishing
 was carried on in the advance towards
 Early's retreating force, with quite a ! loss in killad and Nuoppdad op hotb cidas
 However, the pursuit was continued
 with much vigor up the valley pike
 through Kernstown, to Cedar Greek,
 where you were located on either side,
 and the enemy lay about Strausburgh.
 A dispatch came into your hands that
 heavy reenfUrcements from Richmond
 VI ere being hurried to augment EarlY's
 force. So that Sheridan considered it
 safer to be near his base of supplies,
 On the 18th, Sunday, he retraced his steps back towards Halltown. This move
 was done very slowly, until the 21st.
 You know that inspections were always
 the order, unless something of more i'm
 portance was on hand. as was the case this day.
 The enemy appeared about the mid.
 dle of the forenoon and found our forces
 preparing for inspection, which was
 broken in upon by Early's force appear Ting and driving in our pickets. Lines
 were instantly formed and preparations
 were made to repel an attack winch did
 not come. At midnight the army mov ed
 back to Halltown, the enemy following
 closely. Here you lay until the 18th.
 then moved forward to Charlestown, where John Brown aud his confederates
 in 1860, paid the penalty of their enthu'
 siasm. 0rs t.. e. On the 2d of September you moved to , Clifton and remained two weeks prepar. . ing for the graPple which was sure to come. There had been considerable of
 maneuverfng back and forth. The Con,
 federates had tried flank movement coming down the east side of the Shenan. doah. Custer's brigade being near the . crossing 8 regiment was dismounted and placed just over cliff, near to it,
 and when the Johnnies had got part
 way across, opened fire qn them, winch threw them into confusion. This scrim, mage cost our side 50 killed and wounded and the enemy 300 prisoners aud 200 killed and wounded. which resulted in g
 serious check to the advance of tht rebels.
 On the 3d of September the enemy made move upon our left flank, whicl resulted in finding our boys wide awake with several casualties on both sides FThese maneuvers were in the main led by the Cavalry under such leaders al Custer, Torbet, Wilson and others. bu it impressed the enemy with the idet that our Cavalry was all element ol strength to be reckoned with. Genera Grant visited the valley about the mid dle of September and found Sheridan master of the situation. At 9 a. ID. September 19, the army was astir and thousands that answered the roll call that morning were absent the next morning. An so many tna had answered their last roll call The 9th corps, and with it the 2d Brigade ? which included your Regiment, the % Heavies, had started early, and yuu | knew that there was something doing You had witnessed thIs see saving fol some weeks and were eager for an op portunity to decide who was master o the field. The Opequon river, situated about 315 to miles east of Winchester was something of barrier to the ap breaches thereto. The Berryville pike crossed this stream nearly ar right angie These crossings were selzed early ill th' morning by the cavalry.
 ! The Winchester and Potomac rall roaC ran through Winchester. Ydu know that rivers and highways were alwsyt of more or less importance Ill the plan | Of battlefield. These had been secured