Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-27

had been sent up the Valley to New
Market and Woodstock at the same
time was sent to Romney, and when
coming back they fell in with some of
aEarly's stragglers at Fishers Hill,
where the enemy was camped, and
with them, under cover of night, they
had worked their way into the Con-
federate lines and discovered that the
Federals were about to be flanked in
their camp ON the banks of Cedar
Creek. With all speed they withdrew
from the enemy'S lines and made for
the Union camp. Sheridan was in con
ference with Hallock in Washington,
and so they reported to Gen. Crook,
who commanded the Eighth Corps
known as the Army of West Virginia.
The enemy will attack at dawn!
said they. Crook pooh poohed the ideT;
treated the news very lightly; made
them feel like five-cent shin plaster,
as Fannin said to us at the scouts
headquarters.
"'We'H be attacked at daylight-you
seen they grumbled, and then they fell
to swearing at Crook again, and wishing
sheridan had received theirs report. They
made such a fuss that L said, finally:
Lie down, you two fools, and let me
sleep. If Crook can stand it, We ought
to- and 1 fell asleep"
That night there came down through
the deep, wounded ravines of Fisher
Hill an army as gray and as silent as
the river fog that rolled to meet it and
envelop it it with a cold, sheltering veil.
The march was a march of gray shad-
ows; canteens and the very swords of
lal Jaft halN nd Lost Aiy
iangle sound a warning; the fog muflied
into a low patter the rush of thousands
of footballs In the half-light of coming
dawn they struck-in TANKS, in front, IN
rear Solid battle-lines, without skirm-
ishers, swept up and over every picket
post, swallowing picket, patrol and re-
serve, whose scattered firing was, as
pebbles flung into the sea. So swift and
certain was the attack, so sure the sur
prise, that they were in the camp and
upon those regiments of the Army of
West Virginia. where reveille had been
sounded ere the unarmed men at roll
call had time to arm and form. 1t was
but a matter of minutes before all were
swept together into a panic-stricken
mob, on whom the Confederates turned
their own cannon and moved them down
as they ran. In other regiments men
heavy with sleep. their arms laden with
their clothing-having been Weakened on
IS by TIE attack-plunged out of their
tents into a twilight of fog ana low
rolling, ever-densening smoke, in which
they ran here and there in bewilderment.
officers, no less confused RACED about,
desperately trying to rally the fleeing
men; here and there groups held for
moment and turned TO fight, but. over
whelmed by numbers and attacked on
two sides, they scattered, and, like the
rest fled once more for the support of
the Nineteenth Corps. The wreck of the
Army of West Virginia like driftwood
on the crest of a wave, shattered and de-
moralized the Nineteenth; surprised and
already attacked in flank, they too
crumbled and ran; and the unchecked
Confederates swept victorious over the
camps of plenty. Pillage began.
And then Sheridan came up the Valley
Rowand and Campbell, who had stuck
together all the morning, We're already
north of Newtown when they met him.
II looked across a large clear field and
saw black horse at fun speed coming
out of the woods and | said to Camp
bell There comes the "Old Man we
always called Gen. Sheridan the old
Man. and he said, Cant be; he's in
Washington / looked again for mo-
ment, and then said, It's him; there
come a couple of his staff officers a
hundred yards behind. We stopped, and
Gen. Sheridan came up, pulled in his
horse. and said, Boys, how is it.? Camp
bell replied General, it's rout" he
threw his eyes quick at me and said,
Not quite that bad, The Eighth and
Nineteenth are scattered, but the Sixth
is sold!
"a young lieutenant with a Nine
teenfh Corps badge on his cap, was hur-
rying by; Sheridan wheeled around to
him. Lieutenant, where is your com
mand?' L don't know, the lieutenant
shouted. and was hurrying on again.
Damn you. turn back and find it"
Sheridan yelled, and passed on. The
lieutenant stopped. Who was that
scout?' That was Gen. Sheridan
said. I'm turn back! ne cried
at was the same all along the road: