Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-19
Anniversary of Sheridan's Ride

1t was fifty years today since Cen
through the Shenandoah Valley from
Winchester to Cedar Creek, rallying
his broken forces and snatching VIC
tory from a rout-a feat that inspired
Thomas Buchanan Reads familiar
verses, "Sheridan's Ride"
| Fifty years ago yesterday Sheri-
dan, little dreaming of the imminence
of such coup, rode slowly on his
black horse Rienziy along the valley
pike from Martinsburg to Winchester.
Here, his courier having assured him
that all was well, he went to bed, ex-
pecting to rejoin his headquarters at
his leisure the following day. But at
| 6 clock he was aroused by the officer
on picket duty, who reported that he
had heard artillery firing from the
direction of Cedar Creek.
Continuous or desultory?" inquired
General Sheridan.
Rather irregular and fitful, sir"
"Its all right, then" said Sheridan;
doubtless Grover has gone out to
make reconnaissance and is feeling
the enemy" Then he tried to sleep,
but, being restless, he got up and
dressed.
Soon the picket officer returned and
reported that the firing was still
going on, but as he said that II did
not sound like battle General Sheri-
dan again inferred that Growers di-
vision was banging away at the
enemy to find out what he was up
to-" However, he went downstairs
and hurried his breakfast, at the
same time ordering the horses to be
saddled.
This is Sheridan's report in his
memoirs of what happened: eve
mounted our horses between half-past
eight and nine O'clock, and as we were
proceeding up the street which leads
directly through Winchester from the
Logan residence, where Edwards was
chartered, to the valley pike, noticed
that there were many women at the
windows and doors of the houses who
kept shaking their skirts at us an6
who were otherwise markedly insolen
in their demeanor, but supposing this
conduct to be instigated by their wei
known and perhaps natural preju
! dices. / ascribed to 1t no unusual sig
nificance.
"At Mill Creek my escort fell in be
hind, and we were going ahead at 6
regular pace, when, just as we mad'
the crest of the rise beyond thu
stream there burst upon our view thu
appalling spectacle of panic-strickei
army-nunuTeuS OL 5HBntly Wounuo'
! men, throngs of others unhurt bu
utterly demoralized, and baggage
wagons by the score, all pressing t
the rear in hopeless confusion, telling
only too plainly that a disaster hat
occurred at the front.
IT was greatly disturbed by TIL
sight. but sent word to Colonel Ed
wards. commanding the brigade il
Winchester, to stretch his troop
across the valley, near Mill Creek, ant
stop all fugitives; directing also tina
the transportation be passed through
and parked on the north side of thu
town.
"As / continued / was thinking o
Longstreet's telegram to Early, b
ready when l join you and we will
crush Sheridan I was fixing in m,
mind what I should do. I was sur
the troops had confidence in me, 70
heretofore we had been successful
and, as at other times they had seel
me present at the slightest sign o
trouble. 1 felt that 1 ought to tr.
now to restore their broken ranks
or, failing that, to share their fate.
"For a short distance travelled o.
the road, but soon found 1t so blocke
with wagons and wounded that
was forced to take to the adjoinin
| fields, When most of the wagons an
| road, which was thickly lined wit
unhurt men who were making coffes
but when they saw me they threw u
their hats, shouldered their musket
and turned to follow me. took Of