Connecticut western news., 1911-12-07
SHERIDAN'S RIDE
Second Heavies Played Important
 Part at Winchester.


 At the close of my last letter we were noting the "skedaddle" of the citizem voting commission. At this writing wo have no evidence of their having 'lit." Referring again to the early morning of this 18th of October-there was a heavy fog settled low down on the river which acted as a curtain to your forces but gave the enemy an opportunity to oyer look J our whole camp. Upton's brigade, as we'll as the Sixth Corps, were astir be- fore light, as the picket firing in your front was little ominous, and the "Heavies" had learned from experience that as signs were, they'd better have something on their stomaohs, rather than be hustled out otherwise. as the rebel picket firing appeared heavier in front of the Sixth Corps. Ordinarily picket firing during the night exoites little anxiety.) But it was becoming very inc teresting to the Sixth Corps boys. It was comparatively quiet on the left fronting the Eighth Corps and the ex- treme quietness hanging over the Eighth Corps under the fog was suddenly broken by "Whang-rR-ng.ng" when the rebel batteries opened from the point least sx- pected. Rapid volleys of m usketry were hurled into the unsuspecting boys of the Eighth Corps, still in slumber under the blanket of fog which made it still darker and added much to the surprise and stampede. And it was a stampede. for soon the round disk of the sun peer ing through the fog showed the boys that from the terrible carnage it was everybody for himself and the rebels taking the hindmost. It fact it was not alone hIndmost but all over-most. What a skedaddle-horses, mules, ambulance, sutlers' wagon-and what a jam and tumult. The 18th Corps, by this time, awoke to the surprise and soon joined in the run-and calling 1t a run, is put ting 1t mild. .......E .-.
 The Sixth Corps tried to stem the rout but to no avail. Your brigade could not stand the terrible fire coming mostly from an unseen foe, so you lay down to let the leaden hail pass over. This did not last long, for large numbers were be- ing killed. In fact most of the losses to your regiment were while you lay there, and this time could not have been fifteen minutes. Colonel Mackenxie's horse was killed under him. g.
 The fog having risen somewhat, dla- closed large rebel body of troops com svzrw aswzF FvxII advancing, pouring the shot into your ranks. Mackenzie ordered an "About face Retreatp The brigade moved back at first in order, but soon became a rout. Strangers in blue, of various regi- ments, were in the flight. This kind of retreating with the volleys pouring around you, over you, and into your ranks. was an unusual mode of warfare for the Second Heavies, but yon were obeying orders to fall back in order to get an opportunity to get into line. This stampede continued back about mile to 6 road running across your path. Here halt was called and flags set up to rally around, and & slight defence thrown up with rails from a fence near by. where & stand was made, to retreat no farther. Colonel Mackenzie and General Hamblin were wounded and went to the hospital. The firing had lessened and soon died down, showing that the rebels had stopped the pursuit, and were pillaging your camps which were left by you in haste. You could see the Johnnies wandering through them and appropristing anything of value from the camp where you had slept through the highland so many that were now sleeping their last sleep and the ground strewn with dead and wounded.
 There has been much dispute as to when General Sheridan arrived on the field. It was known that he had been paying visit to Washington. He had returned as far as Winchester, Va, and had passed the night there, and in the morning he was aroused by the can- nonading and soon began that famous ride that the poet Buchanan Read so beautifully pictured in his verse, although thought by many to be over drawn, still SO dear to every living mem Der of the Second Hsavies, as we'll Oa his whole army. There is no doubt that Sheridan's return put new impetus into the boys. But no doubt the boys would have retrieved the day had Sheriden not returned. He was not seen at all by nearly all of the boys.
 About the middle of the afternoon you were posted in a piece of woods where the land sloped to the southwest ana across this was a similar hill, sopinR toward you, on the top of which was stonewalI and the rebels were behind this, from which they sallied and were repulsed with heavy loss. Lots of cheer ing, said to be on account of Sheridan's l 1s