Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-11-17
Battle of Cedar Creek, October
19. 1864.

This battle was in Luray valley
at the foot of Massanuttox mount
ain. We were ordered from Peters
burg to the valley to whip Sheridan
back across the Potomac. On the
night of the 18th Of October we re-
ceived orders to prepare for march
ing al midnight. No drums were to
be beaten nor noise of any kind
mace. From this we knew an ad-
vance was to be made. Gordon's di-
vision had orders to march soon
after nightfall. The most profound
secrecy the absence of all noise,
from rattling of canteens or tin
cups, we're enjoined upon the men,
we were to noiselessly make our way
over the spur Of the Massanuttox
mountain, dividing the Shenandoah
and the Luray valley, and strike the
enemy in the flank away to our
right. The other divisions were to
be in readiness to attack as the roll
of battle reached their front or
right. The enemy was posted on an
almost impregnable position on the
bluff overlooking Cedar creek,
while in the rear was vast plateau
of several miles in extent. The ene-
my's breastw orks were built of
strong timbers with earth thrown
against them with a deep trench
on the inside being deeper from the
bottom of the trench to the top of
works than the height of the SOL
diers when standing. Thus step of
three or four feet was built for the
troops to stand on ard fire. Had we
not taken the enemy by surprise a
regiment strong could have kept an
army at bay. General Gordon's
troops left camp earlier than Ker-
sbaw's, beginning their winter
march at single file around the
mountain side, down in the plain
below through brush and under.
growth along trails, catching and
pulling themselves along by bushes
and vines that covered the rough
borders and lodges of the mountain.
Some time after midnight Kershaw
moved out across the turnpike in
the direction of the river, tie second
South Carolina in front, the third,
eighth, twentieth, fifteenth and the
seventh. The third battalion was
brigade of Sharpshooters, who were
to charge the fords and capture the
pickets. When near the river the
brigade was halted and scouting
parties sent ahead to see how the
land lay. A picket body moved
cautiously along in front and when
all was in readiness a charge was
made, fash, report or two and
the enemy's outpost at this point
was ours. The river crossed, (about
waist deep at gray dawn 10th of
October, cold as blazes) the brigade
continued in columns of fours, NOV
ing rapidly forward that all would
be in readiness by the time Gordon's
guns opened up in the rear to an
nounce that he was in position and
ready. Just at the beginning of
dawn we heard the guns of Gordon
belching forth far to our right,
and in the rear of the enemy. The
cannon's corps of the enemy reused
up from their slumbers and met the
attack with grape and canister, but
Gordon was too close upon them
from the rear and the assault so
sudden, that the troops gave way.
Nearer ard nearer came the roll
of battle as each succeeding brigade
were put in action. We were NOV
ing forward at double-quick to
reach the line of the enemy's breast
works by the time the brigade on
our right became engaged. Now the
thunder Of their guns is upon us,
the brigade on our right plunges
through the thicket and threw them
selves upon the abatis in front OF
the works and picks their way
over them. All of our brigade was
not in line, as part was cut off by
an angle in Cedar creek, but the
second and third South Carolina
regiment charged through an open
field in front of the enemy's line.
AS we emerged from thicket into
the open we could see the enemy in