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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at |http: //books .google .com/I ,1 Google ,1 Google ^^ ^^ i» ^M^ M '^r) m ^^ 'x5 Mr? ,1 Google ,1 Google VERMONT BRIGADE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. BY ALDACE F. WALKER. ,1 Google le District Court of t ,1 Google T i£ n M K SJ n E i: SOI' THE VERMONT BRIGADE, l" op THIi glli!^■A^ ,1 Google ,1 Google OONTEKIS. VI. To VII. CH&KLEi ,1 Google ,1 Google INTRODUCTION. Ya'F.r since the terminadon of tlie Inle war for the Union, so honorable in itsolijeet, and so successful in its rcsHlt, the clti- Kens (inil ze d V m li p d and expected Uiat son g m very way coni- lietent f g if pie with a p\ib- i J ed r d g m It is a debt vl 1 h I m se ci iSce of their itivB btate H d w d tlie number of rgan za m d fl d was conipara- valy Di — m y one of cayalrj', (1 ree I flttenei of light aitdlery and tliree companies of sharp- 9 oiter'i comp aed the whole; but as these, witb the eseeption I one three months' regiment and five of niae-moiitha' men, were constantly replenislied with recruit?, the number of enlist- ments was very large in proportion to tha number of commands, reaching s total of thirty-four thousand two hundred and thirty- eight men. The Ddmirable series of AnniLal Eeporia prepared hy our eflicient Adjutant and Inspeetor-Qenoral, Peter T. Wash- burn, contam n wonderfully pains- taking and accurate resume of Hic bare facts of llic military lifo, llic date oC enlistnient and ,1 Google of discliargo, the promotions, woimtla, imprisonnient, or death, of each oiig of those thirty-four thousand twn hiiodred and thirty-eight, savu only seventy-Sve, not finally accounted for. We may well be prond of those ,.Eoporta, which- have not been equalled in any State, though it is to be feared that onr Cora- Dionwealtli may, at some time, regret the too frugal distribution of them, for which our economical legislatures from year to year provided. These Reports, in addition to the marvcUoualy exact regi- mental rosters jnst mputioued, eontaiu also ofEeial reports of most of the aetiona in which Vermont troops were engaged, fur- nished by the various commanding officers, and a clear, though coDcisB, history of their operations during each year, prepared hy the Adjutant-General himself. B t tleseofE 'il record'' val able ia tl ev re compr'se b t at 3 ng pirt of wi at si o Id be pre r ^ Iron the i istory of thow ter We yeira 1) e m ity \ol aes ol a tovn clerlis o'fi* be they ev r 'jo n te n tl e r data Is of bu'tha n arnages and deaths, of deeds and mor^iges of taxes i d votes, g e afler all rery little n* gl t cto tl o st te of tl e eomm d ly it elf wVen fifty yenrs 1 a e passed It s the da ly 1 fe that we m '■h to recall Ihe tl o gl ts tl e feel ng? the c i toma tie goisp — tie vn o s n lenls of every descrpton 1 at fill up tl e tl net, and malio the d ffcreacc between a hronol g al table and a h storr 411 tl e correspond ng dett il of he mar 1 the can p and tl e bat 1 or Bold ers should wr te o t and preae ve ^h le fho pre oua memor bb are si li V vid Cr t s may carp at tl o r h erary deSc eoc es b t tl e r fellow citizens will thank them cordially fur anythiog that agists in perpetuating the reinembraQce of those days, when the p?op)e fought their earnest war to save their beloved country ,1 Google The elegant and vivid mondgrapli of Lieuteaant G. G. Bcno- dict on "Veraiont at G ettjsbiii^," shows bow iotarestiiig an actor pan nicke tlioae scenes appear of wbicii lie was a pnrt. The only regret one I'eela iu ita peru^ial is in the thought tliat tliis is all that liaa iiitlierto been done in this direction hy our soldiers. With an e.-sperienee of but twelve montlm of actual campaign ferviee, the writer of theae pagea cannot, of course, attempt to execute siicii a general hiatoiy of the Vermont troops as ho feels abould be, and still hopes will be, soon compiled; but no such Tolume having been, as yet, preaented or promiaed, ho ventures to nsk, on behalf of his State, that it be quickls- done, and meanwhile to add his mite by giving, as well as ho la able, all that his qualificationB will permit hiin to attempt, the his- tory of six regiments for sis months; fortunately for him, not the least noted regimenta, and not the least iuteresting and esciting montlis. But he muet explain that he feels it to he hazardous for liim to nndertake even this eomparaUvely trivial task, fVom tlie fact that tlio regiment (o which he had tho honor to belong, and which he had the honor to command at the battle ol tl e Oj. eq a ( he proudest recollection of his life,) was not f m tl e fi at member of the Vermont Brigade. In fa t 1 s eg ment n a for a long lime treated by the " Old Br ^ide as an nte lope with no claim to any share of the liono a j s ly d lo tl e veterans of the Peninanla and of Fredo cliaburg Ths [cs t on and treatment were felt most huraillatrngly bj the II th Vermont when it was first enrolled as a member of tl e B ga le on H n ISthof May, 1S64, nearSpottsylvania Co rt House Org oil} enlisted aa an infantry regiment, we 1 ad aervod nde tie t tl) ,1 Google of the Isl Vermont Ai'lillei'y, in the defEnces of Wnshlngtor, for oightecD months previous to our being ordered to take t)ie field. The regiments whioli had been constantly at tlie fixiiit vrere moanwhile jealous of our "soft thuig," and the taunts with which we were greeted when finally ordered to tlie service for which we liad enlisted, were certainly aatiirnl, and perhaps J t It w hard h wever, to be suspected of n liability to tar- 1 tl f f m f Qie Brigade. We too were from Termont, d by 1 11 w bo leas brave than our former neighbors, h 1 d d 1 d lonff been onr constant boast? B t by 1 t m 11 it the command liad reached the Slionan- d ol 1 11 J- bj y of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Peters- b g w belief that this feeling was passing away, d th t tl on Brigade" was beginning to neknowledjjO If li 11 I d of tho timely reinforcement. It is certain tl I, 1 1 d I t n the fighting experience which went so f 1 1 ood soldier to accomplish the most with the 1 t mp t dinger, the Ilth Vermont never, for an I t 1 w i y iinsoldieriy lack of braverj-. Tho writtr He the final campaiguSj resvilting in tlio cnp- I g nd Lee, and tlie joint happy discliarge of ] dmg his regiment, it will not be regarded as f h m to assume tlio riile of Bi'igade historian f I! period of bis service as c member of itj even mm da and his memory may be especially par- ind, while merely general eon- nents. Ko one honors tlio " old " I he will do his best to bo fair is own regiment seems to be made y of Iho others, he nsks thai it be trust th t t f P t th B -ad pre mpt tu ghl t 1 P ce gtl ,1 Google kindly cousiclered Id his favor tliat every man loves Ma own; ibiil, it cannot be otlierwise than that he slioiild liave been eepeciflUy impreased by ita esploits which he aaw, rather tliaa by otherB equally worthv of which he only heard, or, perbape, of whidi he failed to hear , and that dm mg the period under consideration the lllh actually constituted abont one half of the entire Brigade; and having introdiced thia somewhat delicate subject, be cannot refiam from sav ng tliat, after a few niontlis field eiperienee, his regLment became again disposed to punc- tihously inast on its fill official designaliun of 1st Artillery 11th Yermont Volunteer", aiil its merabeia (,loried in their nickniiracof '-llcaiits. A. F. \Y. ,1 Google ,1 Google P R E L I M I X A R Y . Tub part taken in the late war by tho Vermont Urigadc can never be forgotten whilo thanks remain for any Northern soldiers. In the war for Independ- ence the "Green Monntain Boys" made tlieir name historic ; in the war for the Union their descendants revived the ancestral glory, aud earned now honor for their Stato, Without the assistance of (he metropolitan press, without political influence, and under officers iinfcnown to fame, this organization fairly fought its way into prominence and became the theme of universal praise. Citiaens of the model Republic of our thirty-six llepubliean States, these soldiers might have been ex- pected to do their duty always, and well. They added to that the eshibition of uniform and most unusual capacity to meet the emergencies of war, and a remarkable quality of ateatly quiet courage, comparison with which was tlie highest honor. If a good reputation was ever honestly earned, if any martial renown can ever stand the test of candid investigation, that reputalion and that renown belong to the Vermont Brigade. ,1 Google 14 niELIM The consolidation of varic State into one eommancl, might, with profit to the ser- viee, have been carried much further than it was. Its success, in brigades formed solely front citizens of Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey and Vermont, was, in each instance, complete. It was urged against the plan that if it were gonoially puisued some seveie loss might caince to suddt,nly tjU ui on one community which would be di^tnbut«d araonj, vinous Stifes it tioops fiom difftient sections were commingled and also thit emulation withm 3"iigtdes nould he [romoted by uniting strangei legiments horn different paits of the eouBfry but the result pioved thj.t the avciage unships weie on the Tvhole M,iy even y distributed thioughout the army ajd thit the lai^ei the conimind into which a spuit of unifj coull by any means be tnfit=bd the greatei the good effect of the natuia! strife foi excellence in competition with others A leaders naiiiL a past loint danger or success fcometimes pro duced this harmony but the most rea ly and effective method which was unfortunately too rarely adopted was that which gave us the \eimout BngitU Memories of home were strong in eveiy soldiei s heart; personal ac juamtances and fiiendo of fiiends abounded in every regiment thus united the honoi of the State was felt to be at stake in a highei degree upon the deeds of the combined Lon.mind and when as ia oiir case, the oigaaization comprised so proportion ately large a poition of the entire oflermg of oui Commonwealth for the thiee years seivce tho eflect ,1 Google of these state eonsideratioce became almost iiioonceiva- bJF stiong It ina notably leco^nued in the fjmous order of biiie John Sedgwiek in (hi. Wilderness Keep the column dose! iij ml put tliL Vermontoii ahead Tlieie WJ.& a feerond '\ eimrnt Briftade i^onbi&t ittg of five rpgimenta of nmc months tioops wuich uidor Stinnail did n nmivellouf feat at Gettysbuij, then onlj battli- fipld Iht. i iLcorl ib fj le founl Ihe Veimont Biigade vi£\% orginizLd in 1%2 ind was then lomposed of the 2d "d 4th 5th and 6th legimenti of \ eimont Iif mtiy Volunteeis Major Creneial WiUiiin T Smith (Ualdj Smith) wan the ongi nal Coloael of tho 3d and for a lon^ time comminded the DiTision to which thih Brigade wa& assigned Mt)Oi Genoial Brook who afti,iwards commanded tho 10th Aimj Corps wis jta echoolniaitci hi'* steri discipline ind lion liLe braveiy led it honoiably thtough the Peniniulai cimpaign ind the subsequent battle, of Antie am and ricilencksbuig While the Bngide wis ccnfiontiug Spottsylvima Couit House in Miy 1*^1)4 the 11th Vermont wt; added This regiment it that time exceeded m num bers tho entire Brigade it loined which had just sacri ficed its larfjOr hi!f in holding to tli" end against Longstreet s rcpeatel attael s the celebrated plank roid in the Wilderness. That wonderful feat of arms, which left one Vermont regiment but five offieors, and another ,1 Google 16 PLELiaiNAnv. only three, out of over twenty in eaoK whea tlicy crossed the RapidaQ, gives a fa,ir exhibition of the fighting quality of the Vermoat Brigade. The campftign in the Shenaticloiiii Valley was the brightest period in our history. The men were gener- ally well clothed and well eared for; tiie seasjon and the country were alike delightful ; the successes there obtained were palpable and complete. The battles of the Army of the Potoniae had previously been terrible in eartiage, and unsatisfactory in result; very rarely, if ever, had it witnessed the entire diseomfiture of the enemy, and his confused retreat ; and when, by the per- severance of Grant, Lee had, at last, been pushed to the wall at Peterebucg, the very wall itself seemed a perfeet barrier and a complete defence. But under Sheridan all this was changed. The fight- ing was equally bitter, but wo enjoyed on every occasion the unwonte 1 txcifement ot entire and glo loua suceeas The inspiration wh th that (jeneiil gialually infused info hi a aimy was unpit edented m oui counliy s his tory its fmit appeared long afleiwards at Sailoi i Cieek when two DiviMons of the Sisth Coris unes pectedly seeing Sheiidm leading theit haijfo bioke forth into the wilde'it &hi,erb n 1 <, ptui d I d\ \ tl nine thousard n en The Vermont Bi ga le m Julj l«l 4 wu offi i Ih known 13 tbi, Se end Brigad Sec nd Dn isi n S jith Army Coips Major General Horatio G. Wright was the Corps coni- mander, having recently succeeded the lamented Sedg. ,1 Google 17 wuit, who had won in a remaikable degree the esteem and affection of Ins men, and who was rarely spoken of s,a\e as " Uii-'e John " It was a havd post to fill, and some quiet grtimbling was, of course, occasionally heard ; hnt Oeneral Wright, although aomctimes unfor- tunate while holding independent command, was an exceedingly careful and pains-taking officer, prompt and energetic almor-t to excess; his great desire to be punc- tually ready, and to tiioroughly accomplish the end of the moment, occasionally causing his men to think him unneees»irily severe. He was known among his supe- riors as a most admirable exeeutive officer ; first in the Department of the South, and afterwards as a Division commander under Sedgwie!;, and as a Corps commander under Meade and Sheridan, he did yeoman service for our cause. Brigadier Greneriil George W. Getty, who was bre- vetted Major General in the ShecandoaSi campaign, commanded the Second Division. It may be said with- out hesitation, that the army did not contain a better Division General than he. True in all soldierly in- stincts ; conspicuous for persona! courage on the battle field ; repeatedly wounded in action ; careful in disoi- plino, but uniformly kind and courteous to all ; almost silent in general conversation ; the impersonation of modesty ; frequently overslaughed by men of much infe- rior worth, who, zealous lor promotion, would condescend to fish for it in filthy waters,— but never complaining ; intent on his duty, and forgetful of himself; a native of the Diattiet of Columbia, a West Point graduate, the ,1 Google 38 husband of a Virgiuian, whoee relatives at Stjiunton, in full sympathy with tho enemy, were reached by our cavalry during Sheridan's campaign, — but with so many Southern associatio f an eiin t patriot; always to be found at the head of 1 u c who trusted in him implicitly ; he was ill n all h model of an educated American soldier ^ tl a Our Brigade was con n atd d 1 v Urigndicr General (sTibsequontly JJrevet Major General) Lewis A. Grant, a Vermont lawyer, who entered the service as Major of the 5th ; whoso bravery aad whose energy were never qu^tioned ; who had, by diligent study, made himself BO thoroughly aequainled with tho red tape of the Regu- lations, that he became a martinet in his disposition to require tho performance of many of its absurdities, which are especially ridiculous in a ield campaign ; bnt who, with all hLs fiissiness, was entitled to great credit as a hai-d worker and a vigilant commander. The fact is that there is a lovo of niinutim and a sense of the beauty of infinite detail, incorporaied, by force of habit, into tlie very life of a regular ofSccr, which few volun- teers could appreciate, and which they were very much disposed to sneer at sub rosa, while recognizing the great benefit derived, in time of war, from a corps of educated soldiers. For instance, a distinguished Division commander in the Sixth Corps, whom the writer lately accidentally met, joined enthxisiastically in praising that organization, and said that it was acknowledged to be without a peer. My mind, of eoui-se, at once reverted to our brilliant battles and herculean marches, but he ,1 Google PUKLDILVAKy. 19 r J i t pi G 1 H k & I Cp sadh wth ly tht med t 1 t tl 1 h Im ft d t m th f f w ih t 1 Id t I t II y b tt h w th p f t 1 dd It t. ly tl f t t b Id wl h t f d 1 f 1 t y p m I th f. ty d t w th whltw sttdinltpp Imtld ua Shttt ttfiw tmdbyfli ft f th ] ss 1 1 f tl t f ly f ]!y Im t II H tm f t y 1 j^ "\\ Id f 1 i gun d d ly A) t t hi 11 d 11 w w 11 gly ght f d h ghly J yed by th It b t 1 f p t p f 1 Id £ vfh. th ly 1 b! mp 1 1 su ! m tt rs th oomp t 1 11 y fL h Id le. th d g ftl k f 1 If doz p 11 1 h te m 1 d p Uh fli f 1 ywtl t f 1 se 1 h t d 1 g ly d J tly 1 w t t t th t y i i ih y touid fight too, and they ptovi,d it. Now General L. A. Grant was constitutionally a Kegolar in such matters, without a Eegular's experience and power of adaptation. This explanation may serve to make clear that the loputation for old-maidishnesa which he acquired among hia troops, would, by many, he regarded as the highest compliment. On the battle field, the care with which he always provided for a ,1 Google skirmish line in hie front, was especially noticeable, and though Iiis Urigade was sometiinea overwhelmed, it was never surprised. The commandiug offieevs of the various regiments were as follows r of tlio 2d, which was a "veteran" regiment, the three years of its first enlistment having aspired, Lieutenant Colonel (afterwards Colonel) Aniasa S. Tracy; of the 3d, Colonel Thomas 0. Seaver; of the 4th, Colonel (since Brevet Brigadier General) George P. Foster; of t^e 5th, Captain Eugene A. Ham- ilton, this regiment having lost all its field officers in the preceding campaign ; of the Oth, Lieutenant Colonel Oscar A. Hale; and of the 11th, Lieutenant Colonel George E. Charaberlain, its Gulonel, (afterwards Briga- dier General,) James M. Warner, having been ehot through the neck at Spotfsylvania. and appropriated by the Washington aufhorities on his reporting for duty, being assigned to the command of a Brigade in the northern defences of that city. This I'egiment, the 11th, on accoimt of its comparatively large size seived in two battalions, which were manceuvred as inde- pendent regiments, though usually side by side, com- manded respectively by Major {aftei-wards Colonel) Charles Hunsdon, and Major (subsequently Lieutenant Colonel) Aldaec F. Walker. Of the men composing the regimeuts thus com- manded, little need now be said. Their actions will speak for them as this account proceeds. Gen. Sheri- dan insists on every occasion that it was the private soldiers who fought the war ; certainly whatever credit ,1 Google the officers of tlie Vermont Krigade attaineJ was little, in comparison witli tlie glorj^ earned by the rank and file. Ite offiaers and men were aJmiKt all native-born Vci- montera. Love of country gave it zeal, and Iho strength of the hilla filled it with migUt. Its foreign admixture was very small; a few Irishmen, nature's cosmopolitans, and a few Canadians lured from over the border hy the enormous bounties offered for re- cruits, were all. And in. every soldierly quality no class of men is equal to the iatelligent, reading, prop- erty-holding citizen, who wears his uniform to show his convictions, and uses his good sense in performing his daily duty. An apparent parados appeared which has been so generally noticed that it may be set down as one of the striking lessons of the war ; the more cultured, re- fined and delicately nurtuied the holdiei had been at home the betttr he seamed to enduio the haidithips o! the campiign Tht fccholai would almost »ni,iiibh outweti the Itborei 4nd these ooHier'. to a man were scholarly enough to mideistand then euindanl to know that indniUuil duty done was the suie=t eime>-t ot the pcice they longed for Among their associates in the Corps oui Biigadewas held in the highest estimation. The writer remembers that while walking the midnight rounds of out Peters- burg picquet line one frosty night, he stopped to warm himself for a moment at an outpost fire. The five veterans on duty there were keeping (homaelvcs awalio ,1 Google by remindiDg each other of this and that ren of the past four years, and ag some nausually viyid reoolleotion was suggested, one esclaimed ivith the em- phatic approval of the balance of the gi-oiip, "Then's when we wanted the Vormoaters !" 1q claiming suet a eharactoi' and reputation the Ter- mont Brigade does no injustice to other troops which fought at their side. Except in an occasional instance of striking inferiority, little distinction could be made among the regimenta from tJie north as they sucees- sivefy became merged in the army ; certainly no one ever supposed that soldiers from Vermont were intrin- sically better soldiers than tlioso from New Hampshire, or Massachusetts, or Wisconsin, or any other State, if native-born, but the Vermont Brigade, in being thus consolidated, had a better opportunity than was usual, so that its regiments soon became harmonious, recipro- cally ti-ustful in each otiier, confident in themselves, and were at last recognized thronghout the Army of the Potomac as composing an organisation to be uniformly spoken of with esteem, and even to be regarded with affection as an honor to the whole command. On the majch il the pace wis for any reason hiir- iieJ the suimi^e wis a common one that " the Ver- montera must be leading to day, for their stride was tremendous lu camp they were always courteous!}' treateil bj their nei£,hbors and were good neighbors themselves, though it must be allowed that the state of discipline exhibited by the Brigade on the march ov in camp never approached very closely the Oromwellian ,1 Google pi!i:i,ijn\AjtY. 2.S ideal ; in faot the regiments were organizGd somewhat on the town-meeting plan, and the men were rather deferred to on occasion by the officers ; not that there was any especially noticeable laxity, there was too nuich good sense for fliat, but tliere was hardly the least rigidity, and camp-life on the whole was of the easiest possible descfiption. It was on the battle-field that the Brigade gained its glory, and even then it did tiot excel in feats of unusual or surpassing brilliancy ; the troops wliich most notably succeed in the charge are thee whose natuial eouiago is tempeied and re strained by oompkte oflitiil control the most temail able chaige if the Veimtnt Brigade might have proved a fiaseo if th enemy hal not been utteily demoralized by its disoideily impetuosity the occa&ion leferrtd to was oil the morning of April 2, 18b'i when the Sixth Corps execute! what General Meade piOBounred the decisive movement of the campaign agimst Piters burg, and wht,n the Vermont Brigade being the joint of Geueral Wright ? well-driven wedge bio!.o the line of the i.nemvs foitifitations with i nisli so c ^er and so unrestrained that its ranks weie re formed mly after mile^ of puisuit and hours of vii-torj The distinguishing chaiacteristic of this command and the secret of its acknowlelged pie(,minenee on the battle-field was its met lemaikable tenacity It was seldom it evei diiven back, by a direct as ault though it passed thiough a field espeiience second to none, and it presently became justly and most honorably known as always and entirely to be relied upon. Such stcadi- ,1 Google iiess ill critical positions, perseverance ngainst all odds, Slid iiiabilitj to admit defeat were the Eources of its I'enown. Years of fighting proved the paramount value of such qualities, and bnlluniy ii is at la^t aduiitf ed on all hania to be less important and ]i,'« =ei\i'ejhle than steady, peiaeveiing confident pluck No deBciiption of the oigiiiizitnn m which ne - rved would be complete unless it nieotioued the sjfteni of badges nsed to distingmih its feuhdivisions The badge of the Siith Coips was the simple dieek CiosK, (see coiei ) Plannel cloth toi tho puiposo nan issued by the Quai-teimastei s Depiitnient on the usual requisitions This cloth, unless some more elabonte niiterni wis piOLiired wis worn by e\eiy mombor of tho different Divisions in the three national colors, First Division red, Second Division whito. Third Division blue. Each Genei-ai officer was fol- lowed by a mounted orderly bearing a headquarters flag which showed at a glanco the command to which he was attached. Thus the Corps commander's flag was a white cross on a large blae pennant; the flags of the Division Generals were square, — of tho First, a red cross on a white ground, of the Second, a white cross on a blue ground, and of the Third a blue cross on a white ground: while the Brigade commanders were attended by smaller triangular flags, each in the Second Division showing our white eroi-s, and that of our second Brigade being upon a red ground. The flag we followed during the campaign of 1864 now bangs in the State House at Montpelier : ,1 Google 25 in less tlian six months it was in the thickest of the important battles at the Wilderness, Spottsjlvatiia, Cold Harbor, Petersbarg, Charlestown, the Opequan, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, besides a larger num- ber of minor affairs in which the Brigade w^ engaged, the total number of Vei-monters killed and wonnded nnder its lead and during that brief period reaching the terrible aggregate of three i hundred and sixteen. ,1 Google ,1 Google FORT STEVENS. TiiB Sixth Corps, for the first time detiiohed from the Army of the Potomac, took ship at City Point on the 10th of July, 1864, (Ool. Periey P. Pitkin, tho first quart«rma9ter of the Second Vermont, hut at this time ia charge of all the land and water transportation of General Meade's army, superintended t!ie emhaikation,) and reached Washington ia the evening of the following day. It disembarked to the music of Early's artillery on the morning of the 12th, and promptly marched up Seventh Street through the city, and out the pike to the front. We found the citizens ia a state of great and not surprising consternation. The cannon of the enemy, whose camp was only five miles north from the Capitol, liad been heard continually for two days, and it was known that the works were insu£E.ciently manned ; a few green hundred-day regiments, the scrapings of the convalescent camps, and some civilian government clerks and employees hastily armed in the emergency, comprised the entire garrison of the ^xteen ,1 Google miles of forts and works that encii'cled the cit}' on the norti of the Potomac. And the lines on the south of the river of equal extent had likewiae to be occupied with the slender force at hand, although the rebels were not in force in that direction. Therefore the sight of the Veterans of the Sixth Corps was an intense relief to the conslitutionally timid Washingtonians. We passed through crowded btreets; cheers, good wishes, and fervent Gtod-speeds were heard on every side. Oiliaeus nn thioi^h the 1 nes with buotets of ioe-water tor tin, raorninE; was ultiy newspapers and eatables weie handed into the column and our welcome had a heaitino'is that showed how intense tad been the fear ffe pushed on rapidly thioigh the lust and weio soon at the threatened [.omt Foit '^te\ena on the Rockville pike, a little west of the ontie ot the noith ern defences. This Fort, with two or three otheis in the vicinity, was in greit mea ure conatiu ted by the 11th Vermont, and just heie that regiment hid spent a year and a half of its military ei stenee Long practice had made its officers and men entirely fimiliai ■with the range and capaeitj ofeveiygun howitzer and mortar, but they had the moi tifii-ition of seeing the artillery entrusted to troops who couli harillj load heavy ordnance with safety when by thu luiky chance of its return to what ae med tj it like home great good might have been seemed is t! e fruit of its oarly labors, unfortunately no use was made of the skill its members lonr-ed to exercise. ,1 Google FOr.T STETBNS. 29 I'he Corps was kept coneealecl in a forest tekind the lines, while a grand Council of War decided how the so timely 'reinforcements should bo employed. President Lincoln S^oretary Stanton, G-encril Hillccfc General McCoofc, General BIi.ig9, Genera' "V\iight and otheis, had caiefully disouraod the situation and had differed mat lially as to whethei a vij^roRs attack ihould be made hy the entiie coip^, or whether fht, enemy p position should be first developed hy a sliong s irmiih- lini, Thelittei plan prt.\ajlel, ind lathor litt m the afternoon the attacking piify filed down fhe pike in fiont of the fort and rapidly deplo} ed Mmufe detnila of this affiir cinnot beie be given is ihe Yeimont Biigadc w s cot involved Tne 'illv was made by General ISidwoH's Thii-d Brigade of our Division and a company of about seventy-five w!io were selected from the various regiments of the Division and attached to General Getty's hoadquartore as eharpahootera, under command of Captain Alesander 51. Beattie of the Third Vermont. The pseudo-soldiers who filled the trenches around the Fort were astounded at the temerity displayed by these war-worn veterans in going out before the breast- works, and benevolently volunteered most eaniest words of caution. The enemy's skirmishera were at this time within sis hundred yards of the Fort in strong force, and their bullets, which were plenty, were assisted by shell from artillery planted be- hind them. In a few minutes all was over. Our brave men ,1 Google dO VOET STEVENS. charged handaomely, for they meant business and knew how it was done ; the enemy after a bitter little contest fell bae'c out of sight, leaving us to establish our picqueta for the night where we would. The Vermont Brigade relieved the charging party for this purpose, and the dignitaries in tlie Eort returned to their homes, having witnessed as pretty and well con- ducted a little flght as was seen during the whole war. President Lincoln was present on General Wright's invitation, which he says he bitf«rly repented having ^ven, when to Ma surprise it was accepted. The President persisted in standing on the parapet, though an officer was wounded bj his side, and his danger was a source of great anxiety to the General, who at last suggested that lie should have to remove him by force, an idea which seemed greatly to amuse Lincoln. He at last consented to stand on the banquette, looking over the parapet, but was under fire to the end of the action. The object proposed in this affair was to make such a display of force as would convince Ekrly that Washington did not propose to submit to be tamely captured, and to relievo our line from the annoyance of the enemy's sharpshooters. It succeeded even hotter than waa hoped, since as its result the rebels abandoned the vicinity at once. That night Early rapidly retreated, and there can be no doubt that the arrival of the Sixth Corps, with its prompt offensive movement, was the immediate cause of his withdrawal from before the city he had so bombastically threat- ,1 Google rOET STKVENS. 31 ened fo destroy. There ean also be little doubt that he might have taken it on either of fie two days he spent in its neighborhood before our arrival from Petersburg. In this affair the Vermont Brigade lost one man killed and one wounded from the Third, one wounded from the Fifth, and three wounded from the Eleventt, all serving at the time in Captain Beatlio's company of sharp-shooters. This company lost quite severely in driving the rebel marksanen out of a house near our lines, from which they had greatly annoyed the Port, and which was riddled with buOots and cannon balls. The total loas was about two hundred and fifty killed and wounded on each side. At one point half a mile from the Fort, where the enemy had thrown up a little entrenchment of earth and rails across the road, a large number of hia dead were found, and the struggle there must bavo been quite severe. A large number of his wounded were left behind in the houses near Silver Spring, ou his hasty retreat. Our dead were afterwards carefully collected, and interred in a lot just in front of the Port, piirchased for a cemetery by the government. The battle-field is now one of the objects of interest to Washington sight-seers. All this was in the District of Columbia, and it served to give the semi-rcbcla in that vicinity a practical taste of the horrors of war. Perhaps a dozen dwellings of well-to-do citizeaa were destroyed because they ob- structed the range of our guns ; one situated directly ,1 Google 82 roET STEVENS. across Iho pike from the Fort, and the residence of a widow of strong southern proclivities, at whose table many ofiicera of the 11th had boarded for months, was saved until the last moment, and finally necessarily burned on the day of the fight, the poor woman being allowed but twenty minutes in which to remove her household-gods before the application of the torch. Other dwellings not entirely destroyed were rained in the fight; all tie crops in the neighborhood were trodden down, and the bomb-proof in the Fort was filled for days with terrified women and children. The most notable injury done by the enemy was the burning of the elegant mansion of Hon. Montgomery Blair; then Postmaster General, whose subsequent career shows him to be of a most forgiving disposition, The residence of his father, Hon. Francis P. Blair, Sr., called " Silver Spring," was the headquarters of Gene- rals Eai'ly and Breckenridge, and was thoroughly overhauled; it was left in the utmost confusion, the always hospitable table bearing all Ihe marks of a famous carousal. A carte- de-visite of some Virginia beauty was there found in the side of a minor, on the back of which had been pencilled the following " Taken fiom a pilferer for old aci|ua!ntancc ^^ke with Miss Emma Mason, and left at 11 p M heie by a Bebel officer who once knew her, and remained behind to prevent this house from being burned by stragglets, a'f wai the neighboring one. 11 v Ji and no light July 12, 1S64." ,1 Google roRT srnruN?. 33 The photograph was left where found, but it may never have reached the family, as the credit of the preservation of the house was ^ven to General Breek- enridge by the newspapers. The above shows how much he deserved it. He had not then become the " estinet volcano " He has recently dubbed himself. ,1 Google ,1 Google SNICKER'S GAP. After their demonstration agaiDet the Capitol, the enemy ruade their way to the north-west, proposing to cross the Potomac near Poolesville, forty miles or so above Washington. We lost some time in order to be satisfied that Early had not gone to Baltimore, as the presence of a sqnad of rebel cavalry on the Washington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad scomed to indicate, and then tie Sixth Corps was ordered out in pursuit, of course too late to overtake more than the rear guard which Early left on the north side of the Potomac. For a few days General Wright was the conimander in the field, being directed by General Grant to go outside the works with all the available force at the disposal of the Washington authorities, and to follow up the enemy nntil he was convinced that they had completed their raid and returned to Richmond ; but when so eoavinced, to retrace his steps and re-embark for Petersburg, Wright's independent command lasted only a week. ,1 Google but our exei'tions for the next forty days were tre- mendous, and we aooomplished apparently nothing. Marching almost constantly, frequently by night as well aa by day, we nearly exhausted all our eaergies, while gaining no credit whatever for our wearisome struggles. The army knew no better than the country at large what it was doing so vigorously, and we have never even yet been able to entirely comprehend our mysterious manojuvres. Of course it is not the writer's intention, or within his ability, to give a military criticism of the operations of the Army of which our Brigade formed a part, but its services cannot be understood or narrated without continual reference to the general oampaigo, and the movements of the Ai-niy will frequently sufficiently describe the movements of the Brigade. It is the more satisfiiotory thus to be compelled to touch upon Ite conduct of affairs at large, because the history of Sheridan's Valley campaign has never been even partially written, though well worthy the closest study as a continual daily exhibition of the highest military science : meanwliile the mazy period before the rising of his brilliant star must be hastily threaded through, although the task will bo laborious and un- profitable except by way of contrast. We shall be enabled thus at least to see How not to do it, and How it was done. It may here bo said that but one newspaper corres- pondent fairly reported the movements and actions of this Army under cither Wright, Hunter, or Sheridan; ,1 Google snicker's gap, 37. Mr. Jerome B. Stillson of the World. A reprint of his letters would perhaps bo as good a, general history of these campaigns as could be given. That first night's march from Washington, July 13, 1864, was one of the most fatiguing we ever peiformed The Vermont Brigade wis selected as rear guard to bring up the straggleis and the train<( The po-iition occupied in a maiching column makes a ■vast deal of difference in the easo with which the jouinej i^ per- formed: the head of tlie army, which ilwajs movef. by the flank, or four abreast, being greatly preferable for various reasons ; chiefly because the obstruction? con- tinually met with from fences, bridge tord'^ mud holes, broken waaons, and a thousand other causes compel the rear of a column to crowd up to a halt while the regi- ments which have passed advance steadily, so that tke troops behind, as they successively surmount the difB- culty, are compelled to make great exertions in order to properly close up the marching column ; this alternato crowding and hurrying being excessively annoying as well as fatiguing. In order to distribute the inequality, the Divisions in our Corps always marched in numericail order, leading by turns ; the Brigades in each Division f 11 w 1 tl ra -ul d 1 th m t n ch B gd w h ly n d fa day, th g t B g d nd D n t th n day tak g th 1 d th t Th d t. f this ytn g t th t t w p rs 1 by the amb Ian nd th w f tl t ,1 Google 38 snicker's oap, Vei'mont Brigade to bo last of all, and orders were even received for it to follow the train. This was interpreted to mean that we sKoald go in the fields or in the road itself on each side of tlie rearmost wagons, assisting them if necessary, and for ourselves, scram- bling along as best we could. Exhausted already with picquet duty for a night and a day, we got off about three o'clock r. m. ; at nine we reached Port Ecno having made in "dx. hours less than three miles Here we found Colonel l\amer in com mand ind after a look at his headquaitci and a hasty gieeting plunged foiwird through the "Maryland woods and gullies into the daiLnes" The wigons soon became entinglel mirt,] and fiequeiiflj upset The mules xa\ drivers ^vere gieei our oil te^n b having been left at ]*eteisbmg The load was nariow and oi itself diflicult The men presently began to steal out of the column and lie down to le t "Many weie ictuilly lost in the foii-sts as we huiried on and flii» hoirid contu ion contmned all the night long When we halted for breakli t we hai miiohed 21 miles The bahnio of the Division was then ]u&t icaJyto com raen<-e itb nest lay maich h \ing tested tor hour= and aftei baiely t me fur a cup of coffee we stru^Ie 1 forward unlei tho July sun oui system of rotitiou then placing us m advinLi, of all That afternoon wo reached Pooles\ille tho Inst few m les of our lourncy being enlivened by the cannonading of a aoetion of artil- lery, which, with a little cavalry as our advance guard, was driving the rear of the enemy toward the river. ,1 Google Having thus marclied forty miles ia. twenty-four hours, we lay still the next day (the 15th) near Pooles- viile, grumbling because our taste had been apparently so profitless. Here the 3d Regiment, with Co'.oiiel Seaver, left the Brigade, their three years' service being completed : a command ot respectable eize, 483 ofEcers and men, (218 on duty,) ucder Lieutenant Colonel (afterwards Colonel) Horace W. Floyd, re- mained however, composed of men wlio had re-enlisted and who had joined the i:egiment as recruits, still known as the 3d Vermont. On the 16th of July we crossed the Potomac at Con- rad's Ferry; our skirmishers in advance driving a few rebel videttea up the hills on the southern bank, and our artillery shelling them aa they galloped away. On our way to tiio river we passed through a corn-field already so high that the tassels waved against the shoulders of the horsemen. The scene at the ford was new and exhilarating ; the river is quite wide at this point and about thigh deep : the horses were loaded double or treble, and most oi the footmen, not having the fear of women before their eyes, carried their clothing upon their shoulders ; brig- ades were crossing in several places for a mile up and down the river ; every one greeted the unusual sensa- tion of the slippery rocks and the gurgling water with shouts and laughter ; the burdened men were here and there overthrown by the swift current, and occasionally one would slip from a staggering horse and be hurried for an instant in the stream, to the intense amusement ,1 Google 40 SNICKEU'S GAP. of all but the uufortanate ; in such a gleeful humor we re-entered Virginia, and laid ourselves out to dry upon her sacred soil. Presently we went on through Leesburg, perhaps fifteen miles beyond the river, to the summit of tbo Catoctin Mountains, which we found to be a ridge of cultivated hills running north and south across the pike on which we were moving towards Winchester. About this time Genera] Wright's command, which had hitherto consisted only of the First and Second Divisions of his own Corps, was joined by his Third Division under Kicketts, just from Baltimore, by a Di- vision of the Nineteenth Corps under Emory, fresli from New Orleans and the Red Kivcr, and by two small Divisions, commanded by Colonels, under Crook, which were known at headquarters aa the Army of Western Virginia, but were incorrectly called by tlio rest of the army aud the correspondents, the EigKth Corps ; they were composed of Ohio and West Virginia troops which for a long time had served in this vicinity. On the 17th Crook reached Snickers ville, but failed to force the Gap bearing the same euphonious name ; on the 18th the rest of the army followed, and the reb- els crossed the mountain. That day we obtained our first view of the celebrated Valley of the Shenandoah. Snicker's Gap, through which we passed, is really very little of a gap, being a slight depression whore the pike crosses tho London Mountains, or the eastern Blue Ridge. We were inarching towards tho west, and were halted on a plat- ,1 Google snicker's gap. 41 eau about half way down the mountain on the western side. Wo thence for the first time overlooked a conn- try with the topography of which we afterwards hecame entirely familiar : that beautiful Valley, the garden of Virginia. It extended north to the Maryland Heights across the Potomac, south as far as we could clearly see, and twenty miles or more in width to the western Blue Ridge, beyond the city of "Winchester, whose spires wo could perceive in the distance, glistening on the plain. The surrounding country dotted with houses and groves and waving fields, well watered with wan- d b k th f 1 farms with harvests even then p ^ b d t J mise, the occasional glimpses f th bl Sh 1 h rushing post the very foot of th f th TJgged side of which we stood, d th bl h 1! b d ug the landscape where itfaded t nl t tn le up a most glorious view, ly 1 II d th continent in its mellow beauty. M nwhil C k ploring across the river, had become entangled in what was called in the dialect of his troops, a right smart little fight ; and though he was supported by Rickctts and assisted by sundry batteries on our side of the river, his men were driven back in. intense disgust. It was generally understood however that we were under orders to discover but not to fight. On the nest day, the 19th, Wright finding the fords in our front commanded by the enemy, east about towards Harper's I'erry to the north, or through Ashby's Gap to the south, for a circuitous route whereby he might enter the Valley with his army, the men mean- ,1 Google ■ 42 snicker's oap. while huntiDg for raspberries on the mountaifl side. On tho Hioniing of the 20th to our surprise Early was goce. The whole army at once forded the Shenandoah, or the Shining Door, as the soldiers atrociously called it, and moved westerly towards Berryville and Win- chester. We went cut three or four miles and found no enemy. Karly had apparently returned in haste to Richmond ; tho cavalry coxild find no trace of his whereabouts. That day every body robbed a bee-hive, and hard-tack was eaten with sweet-meats ; ask the members of the Vermont Brigade for a list of the natural prodactions of the Shenandoah "Valley, and every man will begin his answer with honey. In the afternoon orders were decided upon and issued that changed the entire appearance of the game. Ap- pearances indicated that Early had returned to Lee ; our instructions were to see him fairly off in that direc- tion, and then to anticipate him in reaching Petersburg if we could. All the General 0£E.oers coincided in the opinion that the object of the expedition was accom- plished. Crook's command was therefore seat on towards Winchester, being ordered to report to Hunter who had somehow turned up at Harper's Ferry in command of the Department, while the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps were ordered to return to Washington with all speed, where transports were awaiting us. The conclusion that Early had abandoned the Valley seems te have been hastily reached, and perhaps was ,1 Google tp. 43 founded rather on what ho was expected to do, than on actual infoi'mation obtained ooncerning his movenients. It will he remombered that we had been in full view of the rebel army on the previous evening. Bat wo faced about at once, refolded the wide and rapid stream, and with soaked shoos and dripping clothes began a long and tedious inarch. Blisters wore raised on every foot in the first half mile up the moun- tain side. The road was a series of loose rough rocks, for weeks at a time in the rainy season the bed of. a mountain torrent. Animals were suffering as well aa men ; many of them were shoe-less, and no forage whatever was issued for this campaign. It vf as midnight when wo reached the summit. The descent was easier and more rapid, Faster and faster we hurried on ; we came up with the Nineteenth Corps and went past it in the darkness while it was doing its Louisiana best. Thus we raced through Sniokersville, across a ten mile valley, soldiers frequently asleep in the ranks, and the artillery crowding the road with the troops, past a 1 ttle town where we had cheered so heartily, three days bofort, three children who saluted us with a miniature e lition of the Stars and Stripes, the only Union flag we found in all Virginia save those ive carried there; through 1 rugged region where every citizen was a guciilla, and our ranks were counted file by file as we passed and where a few tired soldiers, unable to keep the pace j dropped to the rear and were instantly gobbled up and hurried to the Libby ; till daylight fonnd us once more at the western foot of the Catoetin, We ,1 Google 44 climbed the mountain wearily, expecting every moment the order for the breakfast which we did not got, and went down its eastern slope still hungry, and kept on without any !ialt until wo reached the village of Lees- burg at nearly noon — a most extraordinary march whereby wo hope that we helped to "save the coimtry," In the afternoon we went on a few miles further across Crooae Creek, and the next day through Drainsville twenty-five miles further still. The pic^uet detail hero found the memory of the Vermont Cavalry regiment distiact and pleasant in the roeollestion of the hospitable citizens. The third day (July 23d,) we re-crossed the Potomac at Chain Bridge and went into camp again in the northern defences of Washington. The 10th Ver- mont in Eiokctts' Division which left Petersburg some time before us and joined us at Lcesburg, claim, in the thirty days next preceding this, to have marched 600 miles, besides fighting the battle of the Monocacy. The Vermont Brigade in ten days had marched much faster and further than ever before, and had apparently nothing to show for it, except the unwelcome orders we expected on reaching Washington, for an immediate re-transportation to City Point, and the false information that the Shenandoah Valley was free. ,1 Google HARPER'S FERRY. Thds we obtained our first glimpse of tbe Valley of tUc Shenandoah, and it seemed probable that we should see it no move. Bat our depai-ture for Petersburg was suspended, as reports were received that Early, instead of returning to Eichmond, was again threatening Harp- er's Perry and Martinsburg, having driven Crook out of Winchester with <|^uite severe loss. We now spent three days in Washington waiting for developments. Mean- while Colonel Warner at his urgent request was relieved from duty at Fort Reno and took command of his regi- ment, the 11th Vermont, which was at the same time detached from the Brigade, and assigned to the occu- pancy of eight forts, from Fort Stevens to Fort Lincoln, being those which it tad formerly garrisoned. It performed garrison duty under these orders for one night, and on the 26th, was again ordered to report to the Sixth Corps on the Rookville Pike " for temporary duty " the order said, but the temporary part of it was soon forgotten. Meanwhile shoes and clothing had been issued to all the troops of the Corps, except this regiment which made the nest campaign nearly barefoot ; and the paymaster had visited the Brigade with the exception of the unfortunate Eleventh which was left penniless for ftrar months longer. ,1 Google 46 HAEI'ER'S rERRY. On July 26tli, the Corps was moving rapidly througli Kockville on the road towards Frederick Oity ; (he Eleventh caught up with the Brigade on the 27th and camped at Hyattstown ; on the 28th we fordud the Monocacy, passed through Erederiok and reached Jefferson beyond the South Mountain at 11 p. m. ; and ott the 29tli we proceeded by Sandy Hook, along the banks of the Potomac and between the lofty mountains to Harper's Forry, crossed the long pontoon bridge, dunbed Bolivar Heights and at last went into camp near Halltown, four miles from the river and once more in the Shenandoah Valley. We were seventy-five miles from Wasliington by the route we had taken, and had made the distance in two days and twenty hoiirs. There is a veiy strong position where we rested, with which we afterwards became more familiar ; a line of hills, descending to the south-west, extends across the angle formed by the intersection of the Potomac and the Shenandoah, Here we camped for a night, wondering in army dialect why this was thus, General Hunter was then in command with nearly the same army which Wright had taken to Snicker's Gap and there disbanded. The nest day, the 30th, we returned to Harper's Ferry and lay on Bolivar Heights, bleaching or burning rather in the sun, while we recalled the history of the celebrated village, and of the wonderful mountains which, on the North and the East, tower above it. We understood how basely Miles had surrendered his com- mand lit 1862 on account of a threatening occupation of the Loudon mountains by the enemy, even while his guns ,1 Google UAKPEIl'S rEKKY. 47 on Maryland Heights still fiiirly commanded the whole position. We saw the spot down by the canal where bravo Colonel Stannard was discovered and recaptured, as he was attempting to quietly withdraw the 9th Ver- mont from the disgraceful scene. We gazed on the public buildings in ruins, and the sacked and riddled dwellings, with their mute sad story which needed no interpieter. And we remembered bow tko rash scheme of old John Brown, merely anticipating his time, had here thrown Virginia, mother of Presidents, into a par- oxysm of fear, with its terrible combination of twenty negroes, five white men, and a cow. MeanwJiile Karly had rocrossod the Potomac above us towai-ds Ilagerstown, and on tliis same July 30th, Ghambersburg in Pennsylvania was burned to ashes by the robber McCausland, who informed a clergyman there that "he was from hell," and doubtless told the truth. Our army was the sole defence of Baltimore and Wash- ington, and must instantly be thrown between those cities and the threatening enemy. Towards night we started back on onr weary roate, halted for supper in Harper's Peny ; spent long hours in crowding troops and trains across the narrow bridge in the darkness, hardly making five miles all the night long, tliough vainly striving to make ever so little pro- gress in the press of men and horses, wagons and guns, BO that at daybreak we had our journey yet to perform. That Sabbath day's journey was the hardest march we ever made. The heat was intense ; the day was the very hottest of all the season ; the clouds of dust were ,1 Google 48 iiabpdb's ferry. actually blinding ; the pace almost a gallop ; the poor men struggled bravely, ambulances were crowded, shady spots covered with exhausted soldiers, men falling out of the ranks at every rod, overpowered with the heat and positively unable to proceed ; actual cases of sun- stroke by the score and by the hundred ; a great scarcity of water; but no halt or chance for rest until towards night wa reached Frederick City : that is, the mounted officers and the regimental colors, accompanied by from five to twenty of their respective regiments : it was straggling without precedent, or subsequent for that matter, but every man had done his best, and od the next day the ranks were full again. Aft«r this effort Hunter remained quiet for a week, Early meanwhile fora^ng ia Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. The Sixth Corps shifted its camps once or twice for sanitary or other considerations, the last few days of rest being spent on the banVs of the beautiful Monocacj. Meanwhile the issues of clothing were completed ; the weather became cooler ; and, lounging in the shade, or bathing in the stream, we for the time forgot our hardships and enjoyed our lot. ,1 Google SHERIDAN. Os Augast Glh Lieutenant General Grant visited Major Qenerixl Hunter at his lieadquarters near Mono- cacy Stition. The interview was without ceremony or disjiljy, but it had an imjjoitant olyeet, for a epeelal train fVo'n Biltimore arriving about 11 P. M. hrought a new mQin'jjr (o the counoil in tho person of Major General, cow L'eutenant General Philip H. Sheridan. The three officers went onto llaiper's Ferry in tho night ; in the morning Urant and Hunter returned, and. Bhcridan assumed conimand of the Army. On the 8th, (the next djy) he telegraphed to headquarters the re- sult of a reconnoissanee towards Eerryville. At this time every one is familiar with the- eareer ot General Sheridan, hut when he eomrocneed the eampaiga in which he earned his first celebrity, ho was almost as little linown to the army as to the country at large. In tho early years of the war ho had been a Quarter- master, with aspirations to become a Major ; afterwards a Colonel of Cavalry ; then as a Brigadier hccomiiiaDd- ed an Infantry Division at Murfreesboro, Chiekamauga and C'naltanooga, where ho attracted the attention of General Grant, who wilh his usual sagacity gave him tho command of the Cavalry Corps of the Aimy of tho Polomae with tW-,T stars on his shoulders. In Slay and ,1 Google June 1864 te had handled his Corps bravely and well, had done some hard riding and some desperate fighting, but generally while detached irom tlie rest of the army which knew little of his services except through the newspapers, and, in reading of them, made the usual Cavalry allowances. So that our army now welcomed tis General Order No. 1 with no enthusiasm, and with almost entire indifference — in fact we were, on the otlier hand, a little afraid of him, for his only reputation Litherto was that of a desperate reckless fighter,' and the immediate active campaign his arrival seemed to forebode was [anything but a pleasant anticipation. When he fought his first general engagement forty-three days from this time, we had learned that he knew more of war than simply the shedding of blood, and was a model of strategic caution as well as of decisive energy. We did not then know the nature of the orders under which he was to act ; they have sinee been published, and were to the effect that he must drive the enemy to the South and clear the Shenandoah Valley, leaving "nothing to invite the enemy to leiuin." Tl 1 were at last obeyed, though if was month If tl end eould be successfully accomplished, th b 1 were reinforced before we were able to hi g a gageraent, and we were thus thrown on th d f again. Bat there never was a defensive n y j,n offensively eonductecl. The next month an 1 a h If wa occupied iu a rapid ceaseless game of fen w th h s antagonist, in which Sheridan (hough sometimes crowd- ed, never lost the control, and which culminated after ,1 Google 51 a final week of tantalizing thrusts at every side of the eaemy's armor, in the terrible day at close quarters before Winchester, when after one of the moat desperate struggles and admirable field-daya of the war, the rebels fled from the lower Shenandoah in coufosion. never to return. In order to give a. truer understanding of the cam- paign on which we ware about to enter, a hasty esti- mate of the strength of the opposing aimiea will be given : Of Infantry we had three small Divisions in the Sixth Corps, which had already during the ourreat year fought its way to Petersburg in the Army of the Potomac ; one comparatively large Division of General Emory's Nineteenth Corps, with little field experience ; and two fragmentary Divisions under Crook, well used to the work and the mouatalns. Au extremely liberal estimate of these sis Infantry Divisions would give them 4000 men each or 24.000 in all. We were soon after- wards joined by another Division of the Nineteenth Corps, 4000 men ; and by two Divisions of Cavalry from Sheridan's old Corps under Merritfc and Wilson, which, with Averill'e little Division already with us, were con- solidated into a Cavalry Corps under Torbert, There were perhaps 8000 of these troopers, making 86,000 in the entire army. It was weakened however by safe- guards, hospital attendants, teamsters and train guards, details and bummers of every imaginable description ; so much so that it is very doubtful if at any time 80,000 men could have been found actually under arms. It was the great vice of the Northern Army that nearly ,1 Google or quite one-fiftli mast always be deducted from tlio paper strength "present for duty" in order to aseertain its actual lig'itiag number ; wHib tUo rcbe's, with far wiser eooBomy, strenuously kept a musltct in the hands of every practicable man. At the time in question Early tad four Divisions of Infantry, Rhodes', Gordon's, Ramscuv'a ami Breckcn- ridge's ; the last was deforitcd in their newspapers as being, not as was erroneously reported, a Corps, but mere- ly an unusually small Division of only 5000 men. At this estimate as Ihe number in a represenfalivc Division, 20,000 will eerfainly bo a reasonable estimate for the total of his foot. I have put the rebel Divisions bu6 1000 larger than our own, whereas thej frequently contained four or five Brigades, while only two of Sheridan's Divisions comprisel three Brigades — the rest having but two each. Early also had several unattached Brigades of Cavalry, and was reinforced about August 17th by two more Divisions, namely, Kershaw's and Fitz Lao's. On September 1st, after this addition, " Druid, " the cc'ebrated rebel correspondent of the World in Baltimore, gave a long and careful estimate of Eir'y's strength, putting it at 33,100 ; it will be seen that aliowing 5000 for his first a^lowanoo of Cavalry these figures are the same as those I have given, and Druid's estimate was made as small as possible for poiitieal reasons. Wo were probably the strongest in artillery, but our actual fighting strength did not exceed that of the enemy, if it equalled it. On September 3d, Sheridau says, " the difFeroncc of strength between ,1 Google 53 Ihe two opposing forces was but little, " and a battle was then avoided until decided on by (he Lieutenant General, after a personal inspection of the field. On August lOtli, Iiowever, before the arrival of Ker- shaw and Pita Lcc and before ihe remaining Division of tho Nineteenth Corps had joined us, we were probably COCO stronger thnn the enemy, an excess which certainly warranted a forward movement. With this view there- fora tioncral Sheridan at once concentrated his army before Harper's Ferry. On this occasion our BHgade performed the journey from Monooacy in a train of cattle cars, wailing all night in the rain for our lura, but glad enough to escape the march. We took up our old position at Iliilltown until the arrival of cavalry from City Point, and the Sixth Corps with very good reason now began to call itself " Harper's Weekly. " ,1 Google TO STRASBURG AND BACK. On the lOtk of August the whole avmy moved out from Harper's Ferry and camped at Clifton, the name of a large plantation near Berryville. We marched, to our surprise, through the open forests and aeross the fields, scarcely seeing a wagon during the whole day. On the 11th we advanced, still diagonally across the country, as far as Newtown, leaving Winchrater at our right. It was expected that the enemy would make a stand; we were therefore under orders to forco t!ie passage of the Opequau which covered their front, and briug on an engagement by striking for his right and rear. But he was too wary for that, slipping by us to the south. On the 12th we came up with him again at Cedar Creek, just beyond Middlotowu. ThcKO marches, though long and rapid, were made in most admirable order and with comparatively Httle fatigue. Our new commander was much oomplimentcd therefor, it being noticed that tlie columns did not interfere, and that the trains were made subordinate to the troops ; hut an order issued about this time by General Wright was of great value to his Corps, It prescribed ten minute halts every hour while on the march, with an hour for dinner at two, and a regular time for breakfast and for break- ing camp ; it also gave instructions to the various ,1 Google TO STKASBDUG AND BACK. 55 GeneraJB coDCeming marching distances tctween Brig- ades and Divisions, and contained directions in regard to various minor matters of little consequence in them- selves, but uniformity and regularity in the performance of which added much to the ease of our journeyicgs. The only fault with the order was its two o'clock dinner, breakfast of course being at daybreak. Tie hour was however frequently anticipated if water was found earlier. The Shenandoah Valley was also a far easier place in which to march tkan Eastern Virginia or Maryland, ' There was little dust in the roads, and moreover wo were often able to march in the fields where the soft turf was a gi-eatrelief to weary feet, and where frequent t ^ d g h I d th 1 m f m th The pply fwtw bit dtl d hich th t m 1 w Uy 11 t tl t pike f m W I t t St t gUy m 1 1 g prob- bly th b t Bi d m d d th t j ; it mm dtdtwp HI Im f yw gous th ugh Is t t t wh 1 uf d th t .on th dthf^^ tpios^ lo-jas t nies had worn bare two hard wide paths where marching had little discomfort. Middletown is on the main turnpike between Win- chester and Staunton, fifteen miles above Winchester and forty miles or more from the Potomac. It should be distinctly remembered that the Shenandoah runs north, forgetftilness of which fact has led to curious confusion :s as well as ideas ; even General Sheridan ,1 Google 66 TO siHASBrna and back, telegraphed that ho waapuisuing the mLiuy "dowo" the Valley — to ward 3 the hej.dwilers of the river. Bt.low 'MiddletowQ it flows close «ndci the mountam at the ^eiy eastern side of the Valley ind is tea mUos away fiom the piko Just abo;o Middlctown the MiSBinuttau mouniams ipringing up abinptly, elivide the Va ley southnaid into two the upj,er Sjenaiidoah and the Luray the latter being the oistcm 'subdivision and the least inipoitant rront Koyal lies "it tlie en- trinct. of t'lo Luray , Slrisburg two miles beyond the entriBce of the uppei SHenando ih whiih deaouciies into the Shenandoah Valley proper midwiy between Stras- burg and Middletown Cedar OreCi flows across the Ycry mouth of tht, upper Valley. The ground h hilly on both sides of the Creek, and on its further side we now found Early's army, Sheridan promptly sent over a skirmish line, which engaged the enemy in the usual d^u'tory way. Skir- mishing, as it bocamo reduced to a science, depended on twg 1 y mtkp Ids mh p blbhlt l"sf bldgar wl t t d h p ty t P th 1 i h f t pp t w th yth 1 k d t m t If a k m h h 11 I wl m If lyh t da gth fgttght Ifh td tl th my w th f ty fifty 3 J t w ce d ly d us th g tt w y t y . Th k m h J ltd J pi th t ,1 Google TO ETUASBUEG AND BACK. 57" tJii! holding of the position was essential, which was seldom the case, flio men knew it intuitively, and the BkirmisU lino required a battle lino to drive it. On the next morning, the 13th, the enemy had van- ished, and the whole army crossed the creek to Stras- burg. But ttat day's mareli was short, for he had fallen bade hut five miles and was in position at Fisher'a Hill, This extraordinary natural fastness will be des- cribed subsequently. It is sufficient hero to say that both from the reconnoisanoe made at this time, and from the esamination of the stronghold after the battle of Fisher's Hill, every one was convinced that it would have been folly to attack it at the time in question, for an army holding it is more than doubled in strenglh. And Siietidjin promptly camo to that conclusion, fallint; back the same day to the camp of the morning on the northern side of Cedar Creek. Then followed a day or two of nianosuvring with skirmishers and artillery, bui no cnomy appeared in force. At the time of a sharp littlo picquBt fight on the Mth we thought the rebola were certainly coming ; a sub?oqucnt advance by the whole skirmish line from right to left, made in splendid style in full view of the army, proved that no line of battle had as yet left the Hill. Two men from the Second Vermont wore wounded in this affair. Meanwhile the Onvahy Corps was watching the Luvay at Port Royal, and on the 16th, Monday, it was des- perately attacked by rebel cavalry and Kershaw'a infantry. Torbert and Merritt held their ground and captured two hundred prisoners, from whom the fact ,1 Google was learned that Fitz Lee as well as Kersliaw was in the Luray with, two large Divisions fresli from Kioh- mond, and that without doubt on the morrow they would force through our cavalry guard and plant themsolv;es upon Sheridan's lines of supply. Mosby was also vig- orously attacking our trains near Berryville, and ra- tions were short already. The tables were turned like a grand transformation scene in a pantomime. Sheridan suddenly found himself in the most dangerous position of the whole campaign. He had been pursuing an infe- rior enemy and inviting a fight, but here was Early in both Valleys instead of one, with a force decidedly superior to our own, (Grover's Division of the Nine- teenth Corps not ycthaving joined us,)and ten thousand rebels already on our flank, pushing for our rear ; four days' rations ordered to last five, and groat improbability about receiving any supplies on the sixth even ; there was no more thought of pursuing a fleeing foe from the Valley, for we were nearly suiroauded ourselves, and our capture entire confidently counted on by the enemy. If wo wished to escape from our predicament it was evident that we must run for it, and wo did. The next morning, the 17th, we were the oilier side of Winches- ter, making the best possible time for our " base." The New Jersey Brigade and a few Cavalry faced about to see if any cue was coming ; in an liour they were scat- tered in all directions, the vigor with which they were pounced upon showing the disappointment felt by the enemy at the escape of the rest of us. On the 18th, at ,1 Google TO sTi(,i£iiima AND UACK. ui) noon, we litilted for "breakfast" near Clifton, and a.te what remained of our rations — nothing in moat eases — as the fifth day of the foul' was already passing. Then we resumed onr march reaehijiff the neighborhood of Charlestown at 10 P. M., being deluded all the afternoon by ramora that the supply train was only three miles ahead ; we got a hearty supper at last, thongh a lafo one. Ten miles from Hai'per's Ferry the whole army faced to the South in a good position, on our own ground at Inst. For the past two days officers and men had lived principally "on the country, " It would not have been so bad living either, if we had not been in saeh a tremendous hni-ry, for green com was then excellent and plenty, while flour and fruit abounded at the mills and about the houses- " Thvoo days rations to last four " was always tlie order on the nest advance, and the experience of the last two days had taught us how to obey the order without suffering, by merely using a little foresight. It was a hard system for the citizeDS, but yet severer measures were in store for them. We spent the 19th and 20th quietly at Gharlestowc, the precise locality being designated as Welch's or Flowing Spring ; a large harvest of guerrillas was mean- while gathered in the vicinity ; Sheridan had a barn full of them in rear of the Sixth Corps' headquarters. On the 21st an affair occurred which was only a skir- mish, to the army at large, but which was inscribed upon tho flags of the Vermont Brigade as the Battle of Chnrleaiown. ,1 Google C H A R L E S T O W N . On tlic Dioriiiiig of August 2Ist, the Bi'igada was Btationed at the edge of a wood two miles soulh-west from Cbarlcstowii. It happcDcd to be quite near the picqiiot Hoe, which described a grand curve around our left flank asj it oovorod the army front perhaps half a mile from our camp ; the ground the picquets occupiod was undulating, and there heitig no high hills or prom* iaent positions, they were .posted on the crest of one of a series of rolling ridges in no way superior to others its front. The constant reoonndisances which our leader Lad indulged in for the last two weeks were a new sensation to boih armies ; I'krly dow attempted the same method of getting information, but discovered nothing at all, Boaroely any troops excepting our own Brigade being displayed on our side, though for a short time a general engagement seemed imminent. The commencement of the skirmish was startling enough. While the army was making preparations for (he usual Sunday morning inspection, the picquets sud- denly broke out into a Lasty fusillade, and then falling back In confusion wore seen making rapidly for camp across the fields. Horses were hastily saddled, tents struck, knapsacks packed, and lines formed; General ,1 Google CilMli.KSTOWN. Gl Getty ttud liis staff rodo through our camp, auJ directeiJ (reneral Grant to mnye out it onoe indre eBfablish tlie- pioquet line The oider wit. wmplo, kit its execution seemed likolj to bo diflicult foi tin, line had hpen diiyen in tor neailj or quite i mile in extent along (ho Bemi (.irtle of which oui pohilnn. wa^ the centre ind. whcthei by a lino ot bittlo oi t sLirmiish line ins eiitntly unknown is well as m what dirertion wo weie to expect the stiongL^t hostili, foiLO Whatever wis done must hi done aa lu experiment foitunately the disposition first direited by denenl Giant led to t succeBsful result. Widiont a moment's delay after reoeiying those orders, the Brigade filed out of the woods and into the fields in front of our left, in the direction of the heaviest fire; the Third, Fourth and part of the Sixth deployed as skirmishers aud dashed foi-ward rapidly, while the other regiments followed in line of battle more deliber- ately on various radii of the curve assumed by the skir- mishers. Directly beyond the field in ■which wc formed, there was a hill sloping towards ua and covered by a large corn-field, of so high a growth that a man passing through it could not be seen ; it soon appeared that it concealed a uniform line of rebel skirmishers extending over our entire front, and which had almost reached our camp iteelf. Our advance exchanged volleys with them, plnngod recklessly into the waving corn, and dis- appeared. Presently the groy coats of the enemy were seen as tiey, retreating, clambered over the fence at the further side of the field and vanished beyond the ,1 Google 62 CllAKLKSTOlVN. hill. The rest of the Brigade excited by the success of the charge followed eagerly. The regimeBts on the right halted as they regained the summit of a second hill where the picqucts had heretofore been posted, for the enemy in turn had re-formed on a similar ridge close in their front; but the regiments on the left continued to rush forward with more enthusiasm tJian discretion, until General Getty, who iiad feared such an excess of zeal and who iu person closely followed the movemeEt, Bueceeded in bvingiug them to a bait and ordered them back to the proper place. He afterwards told the writer that his orders were sadly disobeyed that aiora- ing : that he ordered thu re-establishment of the pic- quet line, and before he could reach the troops on horseback they were half a mile beyond it, in the very face of Rhodes' Division drawn up in line of battle. The offence was of a natare easily forgiven, though the consequences might have been serious except for the personal exertions of General Getty, assisted by Colo- nel Haaard Stevens of his staff. The regiments had been simply directed to advance, the orders about re- establishing the pioquet line not having been communi- cated to them from Brigade Headquarters. As the left of the lino withdrew to connoct with the other regiments, the enemy in turn advanced firing heayily, and now a gcTioral musketry battlo opened aloog the whole position. By tliie time all the Brigade had reached the front lino, and, becoming deployed, coTered the wJiole mile as skii'mishers. The enemy at- tacked us fi-om behind trees, ridgesj fences, and walls ,1 Google with a force that could not clearly bo made out, and with a vigor that expressed their disappoicfment at finding themselves no better off than iu the early morn- ing. Bat the Vermont Brigade though pressed most dangerously, would not give Wiy The men hastily collected raih for feeble bieaitworks ind scraped out hiding places in the sandy soil being determined sa they said to raili.e a day of it They lecalled the skir- mish near Eunkstown in the Aiitietam campaign, when they had under very 'Similar circumstances held a ekir- mish line successfully against lepeated line-of-battle charges, tnd the e^pentnee of old campaigners was manifest in eveiy action The regiments at the extreme right weie comparatively little innoyed and had excel- lent covei The Sixth about the centio of the line, wasthroTHi iiell to the front owio^ to the contour of the ground and the em.my got \BrY He'll It lost more than any regiment in the Biigade. One battalion of the Eleventh was well protected, while the other was in a position entirely exposed to the enemy's fire, the men lying in the grass by the side of a large brick house, and only able to get together a few rails for shelter, while the rebels from behind a stone wall at short range were annoying them terribly. It lost both its color bearers, Sergeant Daniel B. Field, who was instantly killed, and Sergeant John 0, Pellett, besides many other men and ofE.cers. As might Lave been expected, Gen. Getty, whose horse had been shot while he was extri- cating the left of the Brigade from its previous predica- ment, came round on foot to inspect the situation, and ,1 Google 64 CHAKI.KST01VN. as he was coiiTorabg with an ofSoer on the !osa of his favorite animal, a bullet whistled between the two ; he merely interrupted his story to say in his quiet do- liborato way, " That came pretty near yon, Major ! " He now authorized xis to occupy with sharpshooters the house ahovo mentioned, known as the Pacfcett House, and which had been hitherto under the care of a safeguard. Among the inmates were several young ladies, one of whom, tall and beautiful, dressed in mourning, and especially noticed for her bravery in the trying scenes that followed, was understood to bo a daughter of Col, Washington, the vendor of Mount Yernon, w'ao had been killed in the rebel service. These people were all at once notified to leave, and could then have dono so with perfect safety, but they wore overcome by the perversity of fear and could not be induced to go; though urged, reasoned with, and entreated, they insisled upon taking refuge in the cellar of the house. Still, as the fight was with musketry alone, there scorned to be no danger for them behind the heavy basement walls. All the windows that facod tlie enouiy were opened and filled with picked marksmen. The house at once became the fooas of fire from the rebels in oar front, and the troops on either side now had comparative rest, while there was a constant rattle of bullets against the walls of the mansion. Continual efforts were made to induce the owner of the premises and the women to retire to our camp, but in vain. Presently, about noon, we were startled by the I'cport ,1 Google CIIAIVLHISTOWS. 05 ot a Cdnr oi in 1 a i!n,ll seri-araed over om heads. We uideratool at once that our position was a great an- noyance (o thi, enemy an I that the missile was intended as a wiiDiog for m to withlnw Of rouise this ia- ercised owr determination to rennin inl nur answer was a Vigo ow* Yolley fiom tht, ivindows A second shell WIS tiied with no ht.tti,r suecess Again and again it wts i cptated until finally the guns were de- pres ed no low ll t one of the (himn ys if the house was struoL and fell with i terrible ensl the bricks flying m neij direction At thii loud ehecrs were heard fro H the rebel lines our only anew er was still from the muzzles of our mual eti The eyes of all on both "lies weri, now fixed on the mansion is shell after shell plowed throigh its wills and exploded in iis- mom Ona hoi torn in its sile wai used as a loop- hole by some biive f How, not hilf -i mumte after the shell had entered, and the act was cheered vehemently ■by the soldiers without. Twice the interior of the- house was sot on fire, but the flames were estingoished' by our men. Several shells reached the basement, for^ tunately exploding in different compartments itoia those occupied by the trembling citizens who now ran from, the house to the rear weeping and shrieking. I have understood that the rebels, with their well-known tenderness, censured us for sabjecting these females to sueh danger. It is certtun, however, that our occu- pation of the house was absolutely necessary, and even decisive of the day's operations, and that everything in our power was done to save this family, well-known aa ,1 Google rebels, fi-om tke weiipona of their fiieiids. None of them were injured. During this same season Lieuten- ant Edward B. Parker of the Eleventh Vermont was dragged down and actually killed by blood-hounds ia South Carolina. If the tiouthernera raise the question of comparative humanity they open a wide door. At last after fourteen sheila had struck the building and ite front was spotted all over witli the dents of rifle balls a fiml death bear ng m s le exploded a the very room cup d by most of our n e k 11 tig one and wo n 1 ng other st an^o to say the fi t tl it hid been inju ed n the house H therto n the p'^ itement no one hai thougi t ot }i Ion „ the [o ton, but it was now -ee to he j udeat to do o tl e order to e louat ViSjj n llle oto bled us no But at ones the musketry re-opened all along the lino with renewed vigor, and the battle continued until the evening fell. Two mules were employed all day bring- ing up ammunition; tho Brigade consumed 56,000 cart- ridges. So steady and constantly severe a fire has rarely been known ; a,s the result we regained our lost position and held our ground sueee^fully. Another incident perhaps worth mentioning occurred that afternoon. About six o'clock a few of our officers were quietly lunching on the rear piazza of the shattered house from bread and milk and sweetmeats furnished by the owner who had returned thoroughly subdued, when their attention was called to a regiment from another Division passing out before the left of our line. Our ,1 Google CIIARI.KSTOWJi. 67 men had no disposition to follow, though toiinteii with having spent the day fighting a phantom. The new comers marched holdly on, iip a somewhat steep ascent, but preserving a capital front, until tliey approached the stone-wal! mentioned above, when suddenly a grey line of rehels rose up, apparently two deep along the whole estent threatened, pioving mcontestibly that we had fought all day a full line of battle with artillery to boot, and had held oui ground with i shiimishdine. Of course the valiant logimtnt which wis to show Ver- montei-s their foliy confionted by tlie unexpected ap- parition and saluted by a thoasand rifles, fled ia dismay without firing a gun, and we could not help greeting their discomfiture with peals of laughter, though the occasion might have been serious. When the night had fallen, — and a very dark night it was, — we began to cflnnt our files and compute our losses. The Brigade suffered as follows : REGIMENTS. KILLT5D. WOUNDED. MISSING. 'lOTAL. 2d, 5 11 16 3d, y i5 I 10 Uth, S 27 32 Total, ^3 98 '1 12B Lieutenant- Colonel George E. Ohamberlaiu of the Eleventh was shot through the abdomen, almost beforo tho regiment was under fire, and while preparations ,1 Google 68 CIIARLEKTOWB. were making for the first advance against tlie corn- field. He fell from hia horse into tlie arms of Lieuten- ant Dodge, his adjutant, and survived but a few hours. Bora in St. Johnshurj or its vicinity, a graduate of Dartmouth College and of Harvard Law School, he was at the commencement of the wai- in tlie successful practice of hia profeaaion at St, Louis. He entered the army under the moat genuine moral compulsion — im- pelled by the force of principle and the feetiag thathe must do what he believed to bo his duty, though very much against the wishes of his friends. His career as a soldier w^ what might have been ospected from suoh antecedents. He was truly sam peur et sa?w reproche. Exaggeration is impossible in spcaliing of one who of- fered such remarkable taleot upon hia country's altar. Vermont should and will always cherish his memory as that of one of her noblest and bravest sons. While in command of Fort Totten near Washington he had mar- ried the sister of Adjutant, subserjuently Colonel, Gar- diner of the Fourteenth New Hampshire Regiment, a life-long friend. Colonel Gardiner waa killed a few days after Col. Chamberlain, at the liattle of the Ope- quan, and the bride, a widow and bereaved of her only brother, an orphan before, was left in circum- stances where sympathy alone remained to cheer her life. Major Carlos W, Dwinell of the Sisth was also mor- tally wounded, and died on the 24th, He was born in Calais, Vermont, and entered the service from Glover, at the organization of hia regiment, being then elected ,1 Google rHARLBBTOVS. 69 a Lieutenant, He was about twenlj-'sis jears of age at the time of Lis death, a farmer before he joined, tlie army, and a quiet, pains-taking, valuable, officer. Though uever thrustiug himselt forward he was always a favorite in the regiment and the Brigade, and his loss was a severe one. Lieutenant Colonel Oscar A. Hale of the Sixth was also wounded severely and subsequently resigned in consequoncc. The regiment was now left in command of Captain M. Warner Davis. The array, having been effectually covered during the day by our efforts, mai'ched towards Harper's Ferry as soDn as it was dark, when the firing ceased. Our 35rigade still held i(s place quietly, but every man was on tho alert and recognized the danger of our situation. About 3 A. M. we received the long-espeeted order to withdraw, and without the slightest noise we stole away. Assembling near our morning's camp and march- ing rapidly, we carao up with the rest of the army soon after daylight, finding them entrenched at Halltown, where they had spent the night spade in hand. General Sheridan entered the lines behind ua. ,1 Google CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. "\\ e cie non (Hxlltown Auonst 22d) m a position wliLii, n nttatl, Bcemcd impoSiSible, and for a week we cnjojed our piosimity to Harper's Feny with, its abundance of ^ujjlie? Tlie cavi Iry meanwhile made daily loionnoi&ance? liy Bugadei or Divisions, whioh the coiieapondents on the wafoh for esciting nows, lignifiod with the name of 1 ittlea leading Ihc country to suppoio that wo ntn, icting offensively rather than defensively. On the moroing of the 23d an order was received pulling US all out of bed and placing the whole ai-my under arms at 3 a. m. ; for a wonder it contained a reason for the unasHal vigilance, a reason of surprising lucidity ; to wit : " The enemy have been divided into two columns, part in our front." With perhaps too much preeipitatioa we leaped to the conclusion that the other " part " was probably somewhere else : neither part made it« appearance however, and we breakfasted in peace at daylight, Pinally Early, after having threatened to cross the Potomac at William sport, where Custer promptly mot him, fell back from the river, and our army moved out to within feeling distance, faking ils old position in front of Charlestown. ,1 Google As we marched through that once celebrated village we found no traces of the gallows where John Brown Bwnng, or the grave where his body is said to lie mould- ering, but we remembered both, and onr band, as did probably every northern band of music that ever passed there, reminded the rebel lions citizens that "his soul " was still " marching on." Torbert with the caiahy west ont towaids Uiink r Hill liirly gathered np his trmy and atiuck at him Shetidin as u «al picsent on the Sdd bzought np Ricketts Dmsion in! sucLecded m de\ eloping the entwe rtbcl line n the iftaii lepoited as the lattle of Smithfiill inth however httle lo=s oti oifhtr fil Lirly now letiied to the high ground we t ot the Opefjuin lymg on the piko between "fi jn'-hestei ind Martmsburg where he held ■x long liti li itig ei'it while Shendin got his iimy compactly together at Clifton taeing west his left neai Beuyvillo which Crook oceupiol aftei a tueie sliimishon the "d of Septembei .The remaining Division of the NinLttLnth Corps had now joined ns via Saiokej s Gap m i oui loroe again c [ualled the enemy s The campniga as a dtfensive c nip ugn wi i ov, eii dently successfally ended. Early, made no movement for a fortnight and onr position was secure. Maryland was covered, while at the same time the enemy conld nut go to the south witliont onr knowledge. The quiet was so general that we even began to talk of winter (juarteirs. The rebels also appreciated our mastery of the aituHlJou. An officer's djarj fowiid on the field of ,1 Google the Opequan, under date of Sept. lOtb, contained this entry, " The Yanks are ju6t playiDg witli us." The oavaky however saw no peace, day oi- night. Hither and thither they scoured, over llio whole adja- cent country, — now creeping cautiously up iti tho evening twilight 1o tlio close vicinity of the rebel picquets, passing the long night with hridle reiri tied to tliunib and forbidden even to light the grateful pipe, — then at earliest dawn plnnging at full gallop over the enemy's videttes and up to tho very face of his battle line ; or anon hunting the gaps and the forests behind us for Mosby and his partisans, who continually attempted to torment our rear and flank ; guarding wagons to and from tho Ferry or snatching up a convoy of the enemy's supplies from the Upper Valley, in sight of the rebel camp : the careful I'ostlefs handling of those horsemen by our General, whose skill we now began to appreciate, has never been surpassed if ever equalled. Our own Division also was in some degree an ex- ception to the general quiet of the army. AVheu we moved out to Clifton we were put in reserve near headquarters, and as a consequence wo had all the extra work to do. For instance, on the night of Sept, 4th, the Vermont Brigade dug rifle-pita in the rain from sunset till dawn — not objecting in the least t^ earth- works, for we had learned to love tliem, and oven Sheri- dan, the ideal of a field fighter, would as soon bo with- ont his ammunition wagons, as his entrenching tools ; but it (lid seem rather hard, after painfully shoveling all through the long wet night, to march back to our ,1 Google CAMP life: and as kpisode. TS old camp while strangors gleefully filed in beiiind our laboriously constructed breastworks. On anottier day the Second and Eleveiith were sent back to Rippon to esoort in the semi-periodical supply-train ; and other similar errands oceasionallj varied the monotony of this long halt. On the 6th tbe Brigade held its shad- ow of a Vermont election : the votes wcro duly taken, counted and returned, the Eleventh, the only regiment whose figures the writer recorded, polling 237 votes fm- John Gregory Smith and 2 fur his opponent, who- ever ho was. We were eow so far up the Valley that our supply- train as above suggested had to move with an escort ; it came through once in about four days, usually starts ing on its return the same night ; mail facilities were therefore limited, bat a party of energetic new;rbDya reached camp every afternoon with the morning's "Baltimore Ameriea/i," perhaps obtaining immunity from capture by paying occasional toll in kind to the guerillas. About this time also a quantity of wall tents were received, the regiments being allowed one for each, lor the use of the field officers, and a wagon being detailed from the Brigade Headquarters train for their transportation, the number of wagons allowed being at the same time reduced. Sheridan's own head- quarters were always much the simplest in the army. On the morning of the 13tb, Getty's Division moved out towards the Opequan for a reaonnoisanae. The Ver- mont Brigade had the advance, the Thii-d and Fourth be- ing deployed in front as skirttiisbera. Sheridan and ,1 Google 74 CAMP T.lfP : ANlt AN Kl'ISOBB. Wright accompanied the column. At teu o'clock the ekirmishera reached the Creek and crossed it at once, meeting the rebel picqucts, however, hut a short distance up the hill beyond. Capt. Cowen's Battery, going in- to position on an elevation on the hither side of the little Btream, opened fire, the General hoping thus to discover the portion of the enemy's camps in the vicinity, thdr strength, and other information of that nature. The Battery could be plainly seen from the opposite side ; the skirmishers who had crossed were showing an oc- casional puff of smoke from their riies, while the rest of tiie Division were massed in a wood, a quarter of a mile behind (he artillery. The grove was clean and the shade was dense ; the men were scattered in groups among the staoks of arms, chatting carelassly or playing (heir simple games. The enemy presently planted a heavier Battery than Cowen's upon a hill on the opposite Mde of the creek and returned his Are ; their first few shells, being fired at too high an elcvalion.passed over his gunsatwhich they were aimed, ploughing through and exploding among the troops of the Division which lay concealed in the timber. Several were wounded, and the lines were formed fiir a removal to some other position, but it being noticed that the missiles began to fall short of us, we were soon con- vinced that our situation was unknown to the enemy, and in a few minutes the danger was over. Among those who were wounded on this occasion was Lieutenant Henry B. BodcU of the Eleventh Vermont. He was a man of splendid physique, muscular and athletic, over sis feet high, about twenty-eight years of ,1 Google UJMeUSB: AND AN EPIBODB. 75 age, a fermer, married, and tlie father of two or tliree children. An iinesploded shell had erashed through lua left leg above the knee, leaving flesh at either aide, and a most ghastly mafia of mangled muscles, shattered bones, and gushing arteries, between. As he lay npon the ground he he screamed continually, " Cord it ! Cord it ! Dont let me bleed to death ! " The first rude tourni- quet which a friend attempted to apply broke under the twisting of tlie ramrod, and allowed the spirting torrent again to flow. But when the eompresdon was complete, lie became quiet under the pei'hapa ima^ary impres- sion of temporary security, allowing himself to be lifted upon a stretcher and borne away to the surgeons and their ambulances without a groan. An operation was speedily performed. The leg was amputated at the upper third, everything being done for the sufierer tliat science and personal regard could suggest and the rude circumstancKi permitted. Still there was very little hope. Though his natural vigor was in his favor, his very sine and the muscular strength oa which he had prided hmiself were agamst him, ftr it was computed that over sisty-fonr square inches of flesh were laid bare by the surgeon's knife. And it was also found that his right hand had been seriously injured, the bones of tliree fingers and of the middle hand being fractured and comminuted. The op- eration already performed had been so severe that it was thought best not to attempt the treatment of the hand until it was seen whether or not he would rally from the slioek of the wounds and the amputation. ,1 Google 7G CAMP LIFE : AiS'» AN EPISODE. Wg returned to our camp atout nightfall ; tho joui- ncy was a terriblo trial to tho wounded man. An ambulanoe under the most fevorablc circumstances ia tardly a " downy bed of case," and the jolting this rem- nant of a man for miles across the country, over fences and walls half torn down, and across ditches partially filled with rails, reduced the chances of his life to hard- ly one in a thousand. Lis immediate death, heing expect- ed every moment. But, sustained hy stimulants and his indomitable courage, at last in the darkness he reached the army lines alive. Fortunately a house was aeoessible, and tho use of a vacant room in its second story was obtained, where Bedell was placed on a tick hastily stuffed with straw and resting on the floor. And to the surprise of every one he survived the night ; a little hope even of saving his life was awakened. On the second day after the skir- mish the surgeons decided to attempt the re-habilitation of the shattered hand. A flnger or two were removed, the broken bones were adjusted, and the patient rallied in good sphits from tho second administration of chloro- form and shook to the lystem. But his struggle for life was only just commenced. After a few days of such rest a? his miserable pallet could afford, orders were issued, in preparation for the coming Battle of the Opequau, that all sick and wound- ed should be at once removed to Harper's Ferry, twenty miles distant. Army wagons and ambulances were therefore loaded with the unfortunates, and an attempt was made to transport poor Bedell with tho rest. ,1 Google But although lie had preTioiisly endured a rougher journey, it was while his wounds were, as wounds always are for the first few houra, partially teDurabed, the nerves seeming paralj'zcd with the very rudeness of the injury. Now the torn flesh had become inflamed and was having its revenge. At every motion of the ambulance he groaned fear- fully, and it was soon apparent that to carry him a mile would cost him his life. He was returned to his straw utterly ezhausted, all but expiring. The army was to move the nest morning. The sur- geons were forced to decide at ouoe what they would do with the dying man. In fact but one course was open, he must bo abandoned to his fete. True, we were to leave him to the north of us, but in the Valley no attempt was ever made to cover the long line of our commnnica- tions. Strong (scorts guarded our supply trains, and for tie rest Mosby had free swing. Moreover, though we did not know it at the time, Martmsburgh was thence- forth to be our base, instead of Harper's Ferry ; and the vicinity of Berryvllk, where we then were, instead of being threaded once in four days by our caravans, as we expected, was not re-visited by our troops or trains for months. The wounded officer was therefore left on hia chamber floor with a soldier nurse, and such hospital Btores as he would be likely to need before his death. ,We fought the battles of the Opequan and Fisher's Hill, " whirling" the enemy up the Valley, for a month supposing the Lieutenant dead. The attendant left with him followed ua immediately ; Bedell himself thought it ,1 Google 78 CAMP LIFE : AXD iN EPISODE. best, and it was doubtless neoesaary, for the country swarmed with guerillas, and tbe system of bloody re- prisals engaged in by Mosby and Custer i-cduced tlie probable life or death of tlie nurse to a simple question of time, had he remained. It appears that the family who allowed our officer the use of the naked room as a place in which to die, were hardly pleased with their guest ; in fact they seem to have been utterly destitute of sympathy, and to have thought it best for all concerned that he should leavo this world and them aa speedily as posdble — and they left him at perfect liberty to do so. The promises they had so solemnly made us to give the wounded officer oate and attention, were entirely neglected, and his chamber was never entered. Death, horrible in its lone- liness and pain, would inevitably have come quickly, had not a Good Samaritan appeared. A Rebel among Rebels, there was a woman who moat nobly proved her- self to unite with a tender heart the rarest courage and perseverance beyond account. Mrs. Bottle YanMotro was a Virginian, born in the Luray Valley, scarcely twenty at the time in question, and of attractive personal appearance. She had been educated in comfortable circumstances, and before the war her husband had been moderately wealthy, but now his farm was as barren as a desert, not a fence to bo seen, and nothing to protect had any enclosure re- mained ; there was a mill upon the premises, bat the miller had gone to fight for his country, as he believed, . and there was now no grain lefl in the country to be ,1 Google OAMr LIFE : AND AN liPISOEE. 79 ground. Officers who had called at her door, remarked the brave attempt at clieerfiilness which bo manifestly struggled with her sorrow, and treated her grief with dof- erence. For this delicately nurtured girl was Kving alone id the midst of war ; battles had raged around her very dwelling ; she was entirely at tlio mercy of tkose whom she had been taught to believe to be her deadly enemies, and who held her husband and brother prisoners in Fort Delaware, taken while fighting in the Confederate army, the brother being, until long after this time, supposed to be dead. Her only companion was a little g?rl, per- haps ten years of age, her neica. There thia young woman and this child were waiting in their anxiety and desolation, waiting and praying for peace. We should hardly expect the practice of active, laborioiis, gratuitous benevolence under such circum- stances, but we shall see. It is not known how Mrs. VanMetre learned that a Union officer was dying of wounds and neglect in the house of her neighbor, but no sooner had she made the discovery than all her womanly sympathy was aroused. As she would have longed to have her husband or her brother treated under similar circumstances, so she at once resolved to treat their foe. She would not be moved by the sneers and taunts which were sure to come, but she would have him at her own house and save him if she could. The Lieutenant had now been entirely neglected fot a day or two or longer ; he had reagned himself to death, when this good woman entered hia chamber and with ,1 Google 80 CAMP I.ITK : AND AN EPisonr.. kicdly words called back his spirit from the mouth of the grave. She had been allowed to keep an apology for a horso, eo old and broken-winded and rheumatio that he waa not ■worth stealing, and also a rickety wagon. With the aa- aistaaoe of a neighhor whose color permitted him to bo humane, she carried the sufferer to her house, and at last be found himself in a clean and comtbrtable bed, his wounds washed and his bandages cleansed, and b^t of all, his wants anticipated by a gentle female tender- ness that inspired him with sweet thoughts of his home, his family, and hia life even yet perhaps to be regained. The phydcian of the neighborhood, a kind old gentle- man, was at oBce summoned from a distance of sCToral miles, and uniting persona! sympathy with professional seal, he promised his daily attendance upon the invalii The chance waa stiU but a slender one, so much had been endured, and so little vigor remained, yet these two good people determined to expend their meat earnest endeavors in the almost desperate attempt to save the life of an enemy. And they succeeded. The details of convalescence are always uaintei'esting ; it is enough to say that Bcdeli lay for many days wrestling with death, but at last ho begaji to mend, and from that time his improvement was rapid. But although Mrs. VanMetre and the good Doctor were able to supply the Lieutenant's most press- ing wants, still, much more than they could furnish was needed for the comfort of the invalid, and even for the proper treatinent of his wounds. No stimulants could ,1 Google be obtaiaed esoept the yilest apple-jack, and the ueces- sity for them seemed absolute ; no clothing was to be had, and ho was still in his bloody garmeats of blue ; delicate food was needed, but the impoverished Vir^uia larder had none but what was simple and coarse. At Harper's Ferry, however, there was a depot of our Sanitary Commission, and stores in abundance. Some one must undertake a journey thither. It was a long day's ride to make the distance and return, and Buoeesa was by no moans assured even if the store-house could be reached. It was in the charge of strangei-s and enemies. The Lieutenant was too feeble to write, and evea if ho had been able to do so, there was no method of autheutioating tis signature. But a woman would bo far more likely to succeed than a man, and iu fact no man would be allowed to pass within the limits of the garrison encircling Harper's Ferry, So it came about that liie feeble Eosinante, and the rattling wagon, and the brave-hearted solitary driver, made the danger- ous journey, and brought back a feast of good things for the sufferer. Tlio picquet had been seduced by her eloquence to send her to Headquarters, under charge of a guard whieh watched her caicfiilh !■* a piobabli spy Xhe General m command h^d seen fit to ^Uow hei to canj awiy Buch tnfluij^ aitick? as thf. Oommi&sion people would bo willmg to give and although the chincLS were even f h it the gifts would bt. used in building up some wounded lebtl itiU the earnestness ind the apparent truthfuluiffl of hci cntri"i.t> for rth t ov ibore \\l sera. ,1 Google ^2 CAMP LIFE : ASl) AN CTISODE, pies; tlie old fashioned vehicle was loaded witt tlio w^ed for supplies, and the suspicious guard escorted the cargo hcyond the lines. The ti-ip was thereafter repeated week by week, and when letters were at length received iu answer to those deposited by the fair messenger, postmarked among the Green Mountains, her triumph was complete, and her draft good for anything the Sanitary treasury contained. The only lingering doubt was in regard to the enormous amount of whiskey the invalid required. Mrs. Van Metre, however, esplaloed that it was needed for dip- lomatic as well as medicinal purposes. Of course it had been bruited aboat among the neighbors tliat the miUer's wife was nui-sing a Federal officer. In that re^on now abandoned to the rule of Mosby and his men, couccalmcnt was essential. Therefore the old men who had heard of the convalescent must be taken into confi- dence and pledged to secrecy, a course rendered possible only by the liberal use of the Spiritus FrumerUi. Under the influence of such liquor as had not been guz- zled in the Valley since the peaceful days of Buchanan, the venerable rascals wore easily convinced that such a shattered life as that of the Lieutenant could not greatly injure their beloved Confederacy. Five weeks after Bedell received his wounds, our army was encamped on Cedar Creek, and Sheridau was in Washington. The Lieutenant greatly needed his valise from our baggage wagons. Therefore a journey of twenty miles up the Valley was planned, which f heroine and her little neioe to the army ,1 Google again, with a few words traced by the maimed rigSit hand of her eharge as her credentials. Our feelings of wonder and admiration were most iatcnae, as we learned from her simple story, that our favorite who waa dead was alive again, and felt how miioh true heroism her modest words concealed. She had plainly totally aband- oned herself for weeks to the care of a Buffering enemy, and yet she did not seem to realiae that she deserved any credit for so doing, or tliat every woman would not have done as much. We loaded her with the rude at- tentions of the camp, and she spent the night comfort- ably (from a military point of view) in a vacant tent at General Getty's headquarters. The desired valise waa then at Winchester, but she obtained it on her return. The next daybreak found us fighting the Battle of Cedar Creek. Amid the mounting in hot ha te icd the thronging confusion of the morning's enrprsc Ceneral Getty found time to commit his terrified gaests lo the care of an orderly, who by a circuitous n t conducted them safely out of the battle. While our army was near Borryville "^ej teraber some of General Getty's staff-officers had o lied j on Mrs Van Metre and had persuaded her to jrepar for them a meil or two f om the army rations th re be ng a magnet m in female cookery th t the blades of the staff were always cmv ng In her visit to the army; just ment oned she learned that one of those casual ae- quamtance had fall n at the former battle of the Ope- quan, and that his body was still lying somewhere on (hat wide battle-fieldi Seizing, the earliest opportitnity ,1 Google 84 ftMPLirL iNB i.\ JitscM aftec iiei return she pcr'nnally eearchLd all through the territory between Opequan CreLk ■md Winch<«t«r, amid the earnon and the graves until she found at last the rude board with ita almost obliterated inecription that fixed the identity of the too scantily covered corpse. Shocked at the sight fir the ram had exposed the limbs, and the erows had mangled them, she procured a eoffia and laborei-s from "Winchester, and had the remains de- cently intoiTcd in the cemetery there at her own ex- pense. Then she addressed a letter to his friends giving tliem the information which she possessed, and they sub- sequently recovered the rtlics, thanking God and their unknown benefautor. We heard nothing far&.er from the Lieutenant for months. We eventually learned, however, that after a long period of such careful nursing, varied only by the weekly errand of Mrs. Van Metro to Harper's Ferry for letters and supplies, the prudent Doctor at last gave his consent that Bedell should attempt the journey home, Armed now with a pair of Sanitary crutches, he doubted not that he could make his way, if he once could roach the Union lines. But the difficulty of getting to Harper's Ferry cost him much ansiety. Though at various times forty guerillas together had been in and about the house where he lay, the watchfiil care of his protector had thus far kept them in ignor- ance of his presence. This journey, however, was likely to prove even more difficult to manage. At length one of the totldy-drinking neighbors, while relating hra trials and losses, chanced to mention the seizure by our troops, ,1 Google of a pair of his mules months before, and the fact that a negro had since seen them in. the Martinsburgh corral. A happy thought struck the Jjieutenant ; he at once as- sured the old gentleman that if he could only be placed (what there was left of him) in safety at the Perry, the mules shoaid be returned. The promise might perhaps be considered rash, seeing that Martinsburgh was twen- ty-five miles from Harper's i"en'y, under a different eommander, that it was very decidedly unueual to re- store property seiaed front the enemy for government use, that the chattels were probably long ago fer up the Valley, and especially that Bedel! could not have, ia any event, the faintest shadow of authority in thepro- mises. Bat the old man jumped at the offer ami the bargain was struck. It was decided that Mrs. VanMetve should accom- pany the Lieutenant homo, both for his sake as he was yet months from recovery, and for her owa, as she had now lived for years in unwonted destitutioa and anxiety, while a quiet, comfortable homo was thenceforth assured to her by her gratefiil charge until the return of peaco ; and who knew if she might not in some way regain her own hnsband, as she had reitored another's ! So the party was made up and the jouraey commenc- ed. The officer was carefully hidden in a capacious farm-wagon, under an immense heap of straw, and though two marauding parties were met during the day, the cheerful smile of the well-knowa jolly farmer dis- armed suspicion. The escape was successM. The chimsy vehicle drew up before head-quarters at ,1 Google 86 CAMP life: and an episohb. Harper's Ferry, audBedell, saluted once more by a sen- tinel as he doffed his hat to the flag he had suflered for, headed the processiou to the General's room. The unique party told its own story. The tail Lieu- tenant, emaciated, sta,ggeriiig on his unaccustonied crutches, the shrinking woman, timid iu the presence of authority though so heroic in the presence of death, and the old Vir^ian aghast at finding himself aetually in the lion's den, but with the burden of an anxious long- ing written on his wrinkled face, — each character so speaking, the group needed only this, simple introduc- tion : " General, this man has brought nie in, and wants his mules ! " Genera! Stevenson, warm-hearted and sympathetic, compreheaded the situation at once. He made the party seat themselves before him and tell him all their story. He fed them at his table and lodged them in his quarters. He telegraphed for a special, leave of ab- aenoe for the officer, and secured free transportation for both him and his friend, and finally, most surprising of all po^ble good-fortune, he sent tho venerable charioteer to Martinsburg, the happy bearer of a message that secured the restoration of his long-eared quadrupeds. On the nest day the Lieutenant and Mrs. VanJiletre went on by rail to Washington, where of course every one tieated thera kmdly, and gave them all possible apsihtanee When the paymaster bad been visited and all prepaution made foi their journey north, it was do- termmed to make d.n effort to secure the release of the rebel piisoaer 80 it came about that the quasi-widow ,1 Google CAMP LIffE : ANU AN JiPIBODE. 87 and tlie crippled officer called together upon Secretary Stanton. Tlie btiaiest of all busy men found time to hear their stoiy, a.nd despite the " stony heart " at- tributed to Mm by his enemies, he was deeply affected by the touching talc, and the ocular demonstration of its truth in the person of the wounded soldier. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he gave the order ref[uested, earned by acts that few women would have dared ; and the couple with glad hearts, crossing the street to the office of the Commissary General of Prisoners, presented the document to the clerk in charge to be vis<5d. But here another difficulty arose. Some one had blundered, and on searching tlie records of the office the requirfed name could not be found. The cruel report was made that no such prisoner had been taken. Neveriiieless, Mrs. VauMetre's information had been direct and her conviction of some mistake waa sure. They laid the case before fteneral Hitchcock, then in charge of that offiw, and again the story was argument enough. With trembling hands the old gentleman en- dorsed the order ; " The commanding officer at Fort Delaware will release any person the bearer may claim as her husband ! " The prison barvaoks were quickly reached. The oom- mandant caused the thousands of grizzly captives to be paraded. File after file was anxiously, oh how anxiously ! scanned by the trembling woman, and when the circuit was almost completed, when her sinking heart was almost persuaded that death, instead of cap- ture had indeed been the fate of the one she loved, she ,1 Google 88 CAMP HFE : AND AN EPISODE. recognized tia face despite his unkempt tair and liia tattered garments, and fell upon the neck of her hus- band as he stood in the weary ranks. A few days more and the two united feuiilies were at rest in Bedell's New England home. ,1 Google OPEQ_UAN. On September 16fh the Fifth Vermont was broken up, the larger portion of the original members heing mUBtereil out ; a sniali veteran organization remained, commanded by Captain Addison Brown of the Fourth, assisted by Lieutenants detailed from other regiments of the Brigade. The time of service of the Fourth expired September 19th. The regiment went through the Battle of the Ope- quan on that day, and some of its loas^ were amoflg the men who should have been at the time en route for Veii- mont. Colonel, afterwards Brevet Brigadier Gen. George P. Foster remained in command of the portion of the reghnent left in the field, which retained its name, as in the ease of the other regiments of the Brigade, with- out the consolidation resovted to in troops from other States under simUar cireumstances. Although we had at last successfully quieted the demonstrations of the enemy, which !md excited so gi-cat apprehensions at times during the last three months, it had also become apparent that the rebels would not leave the Valley nor abandon their still threatening atti- tude toward Maryland and Pennsylvania until they were driven away. Lieutenant General Grant therefore paid our army a viftit for the purpose of ascertaining the pre- cise situation of affairs, and deciding on the question of ,1 Google an active campaign. He found Slieridan eager for a battle, and in kiB ofScial report says : " he " (Sheridan) " explained so clearly the location and condition of the two armiea, and pointed out bo distinctly the method he should pursue if left at liberty, that I saw no instruc- tions were necessary except the simple words. Go in ! " He farther says that he asked if the movement could not be commenced on tlie following Tuesday, the visit being on Saturday. Sheridan answered that he would be ready to move ou Monday at day-bi-eak. Grant returned Saturday CTening. On Sunday a supply train arrived, five days' rations were distributed, the same wagons removed the sick and the superfluoiM bt^gage, and at night we knew that we were ready for some serious movement which the uncertain morrow vma sure to bring. Gen. L. A. Grant, having obtained a few days leave of absence, and not crediting the rumors of an advance, went to Harper's Ferry with the train, where he spent the next day listening to the sound of the eaonon, and anxiously espeoting news from the battle-field. His absence lefl Colonel Warner of the 11th in command of the Vermont Brigade; a West Point graduate, but with little previous field experience, he developed abili- ties on ttis occasion that for the remainder of the war gave him a Brigade of his own, and deprived his regiment of his valuable services. It will be remembered that the Opequan Creek was between the two armies, four or five miles to the west of us, but diligently guarded by Early. A portion of his ,1 Google PLAN OF TUB B^TTLK OF IWh Soptember, 1864. ,1 Google ,1 Google OPEftUAN. 91 army was near Bunker Hill, ten miles north of Winehee- ter ; the reat occupied the hilla and plains, covering that oity, Kershaw's diviaon, it was said, had just disap- peared up the Luray Valley — leaving ns with a prepon- derance of about 4,000 men. Our movement oonimenoed at 3 o'cloeic Monday morn- ing, SoptemSier lOtI C etty D 7 B on hav ng the ad vanco, the Vermont Br s; 3e be ng the 1 &t n the Division. Striking Ai tly aero a the country at fast in the darkness, we p e^ently ei hed tl e a a n roaii from Berry viDe to W ehe ter anl mov d down t to- the crossing of the Opeq an This st e n b cons der ably below the level ot the adjo n g country and the roa^l on its furthers 1 keeps the low !e el of the stream for a mile or more w a 1 ^ th ough a long to tuo s wooded ravine, oiir nobstruote 1 pa'aa^-e whereof was for the time a my tery It eem^ tl t W laoa t Division of cavalry had already cl red the way and was then holding leap rately *i. pos t on th t t ha 1 gained with consider hi !os h t whi h p ov 1 a n ost ftdmirable one in wh oh to depl j o r 1 e of b ttle As we filed out of the av n whi h towar \ toe last was lined with wounded cavalrymen, we found Sheridan, his beadqiiarters Used on a coospicuous elevation, per- sonally superintending from the commencement the operations of the day. It waa to be our first battle under his command, as well as his first independent battle; the troops were hitherto destitute of all enthusi- asm for him ; fortunately, however, no impres^on save a fevorable one had as yet been received, it being univereal- ,1 Google 92 OPK(lUA\, ly conceded that he had so fiir handled his .army hand- aomcly. And it was with great satisfiietion that wi found him id this early twilight at tlie very front, and under fie fire of the enemy, carefully attending to di;- taila which we had been accustomed to see more cele- brated commanders entrust to their staff. Our Division promptly relieved the cjiralry and formed its line facing woat, the Third Biigade whieh waa in advance going to what was to be the extreme left of the infantry line, resting on Abraham Creek ; the First Brigade fo!loi?ing, took up its portion on the right of the Third, and our own Brigade filled the re- maining distance between the First and the road on which we had reached the battle-field. It had been in- tended to place us in two lines, but the unexpected ex- tent of the ground we bad to cover forbadethat fomiatioo. We were just on the hither edge of a narrow fringe of wood that ooQoealed us from the enemy ; the Sixth Ver- mont was thrown forward as a sicirraish line perhaps one hundred yaitla to the further side of the little forest,, and at once engaged the entm^'v Mkirmnhei^ Near us in the load at oui ngbt was the troops as they successively uime up the road Our Division thus formed in single line was the only D.ivisiou on the south or left of the road. The Third ,1 Google Division, Rjobetta', followed us and prolonged the line across and on tte north of the road, placing its two Brigades in two lines. The First Division, HuaaoU'a, ■oaine nest, and was drawn up behind the Third as a third line or reserve, also somewhat overlapping the right of our Brigade. Then to our surprise no more troops appeared, and our eorpa was alone confronting the enemy. There were two or three anxious hours, but Early was engaged iu hurrying up his detachment from Banker Hill, which this delay gave him ample time to do, and made no as- sault. It was said that the Nineteenth, Corps being ordered to follow the Sixth, had filed into the road be- hind our wagon train, instead of keeping closed up on our column. It Is certain that with this loss of time, from whatever reason it occurred, we lost the opportun- ity of attacking the enemy in detail, and gave him time to prepare for our reception. It was noon before the Nineteenth Corps had reached its place and was formed in three or four lines on the right of the Sixth. Our men during the forenoon had been resting, sit- ting or lying on the ground. When at last the disposi- tion was completed and the signal gun was fired, they sprang to the ranks, and the line advanced. Particular instructions had been received to the effect that the road was to give the direction of attack, and that the guiding regiment was to be the left regiment of the Third Division, just across the road from our right. In passing through the bit of trees in our front, ■which was filled with underbrush, our line was neoes- ,1 Google 94 OFBUUAN. sarily thrown somewhat into confusion. When we emerged from the wood aiid the ground over which we must make our attack was developed, tie prospect was appalling. The hill gradually eloped away before ua, for a quarter of a mile, to a long ravine, irregular in its course, hut its windings csteuding either way as far as we could ECO. The ascent beyond it was in most places sharp, and the enemy keld its crest in force, per- fectly commanding witli musketry and artillery the long slope down which we mu^t pais though the acclivity on the fiirther fide of the hollow w is so stes,p as to ictu il ly present a cover from their hie — if it uould onoe bo reached. When this fearful probpect openel the lino invilun tarily halted au\ the men threw th'msche? on the ground as wH their wiut wh n under fiie Oui own Brigade was piopprly wiit ug tor the niDvemint ot the guiding regiment wh oh l p 1 pos t on ot tl e e y n tl s ( o tion of th hell ha 1 now been g el an 1 we rua! ed onward towa d the d stant spies ot W ncheater with shoata an 1 ohee s now th r gl ly exc ted by our un expp ted a icceas \ batte y ot the eaemy waa before 93 but t limber lup which the new administiation of ifliirs piesided over by Lieutenant (jeneral Grant completely satisfied and compellel the approval of the many soldiers of the Vi,imont Brigade who were thoioughly wedded to the Jove of the old rfgime. Meanwhile the cavalry had dashed furiously through ihe city, and on towards Newtowa, but it was presently recalled, and the army bivouacked for the night on the South side of Wiuchester near Abraham's Creek. A night pursuit was physically impoaaible after such a day, but on the morrow we followed the enemy twenty- five miles to their fortress at Fisher's Hill. The battle of the Opequan was an entire and complete success. It was fought between two armies nearly equal in size, and in a country for the most part free irom trees — a "fair field fight." The enemy were at first surprised by Wilson, but concentrated in time to repulse the first general attack, losing however their best position. Then they were outftanked and almost surrounded on an open plain, hardly escaping with the loss of 4,400 prisoners, five cannon, many flags, nine generals (six wounded and three killed), 5 000 men killed or wound- ed, and much material captured. Their wounded wei'e ,1 Google 106 OPEQOAN. left in our hands, and the Eobels never revisited tlie lower Shenandoah Valley. Gen. Wright in his official report spoke of the bat- tie in the following terms ; The battle of the Opequan affords a rare example among the many hard fought fields of this war in whioh all the arms of the service eo-operated with full effect. Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery had their full share in the operations of the day, and thoir movements wero in entire harmony. The artillery of this Corps alone ex- pended eighteen wagon loads of amnmuition and all with good effect upon the results of the conflict. All my batteries were effectively engaged. Sheridan telegraphed General Grant at 7.30 P. M., aa follows ; I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces of Gon. Early on the Berryville pike at the crossing of the Opequan, and after a most stubborn and saoguinary engagement which lasted from early in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening, completely defeated him driving him through Winchester. * * » » « • The conduct of officers and men was most snperb. They charged and oariied every position taken up by the rebe!s from Opeqaan Creek to Winchester, The rebels were strong in numbers and very obstinate in their fighting. I desire to mention to the Lieutenant Gen- eral commanding the army, the gallant conduct of Generals Wright, Crook, Hmery and Torbert and the officers and men under their command. To them the country is indebted for this handsome victory. PaiLip H. Sheridan, Ml j. -Gen. Commaiidinff. At 1 the next morning he also sent the following dispatch to General Stevenson at Harper's Perry : " We fought ISarly from daylight till between 6 and 7 o'clock. We drove him from Opequan Creek through " :, anl beyond the town. * * # ,1 Google lOT We have just sent them whirliog through Wincheater, and we are after them to-morrow. This army behaved Bplendidly, P. H, SlIERIDAtf. The next morning the New York Triiune expressed the relief which this victory had brought to the loyal heart of the nation, in an editorial, commencing with the following stirring words : " Hurrah for Phil. Sheridan ! And for hia gallant army ! And for tho Union which they fought for on Monday I And Thahk God for the great victory which they won ! " Wo care not to repress tho grateful csultation which we oan but feel over this splendid success. It went with a thrill to the heart of every loyal man who hoard it. yesterday morning, and with a chill to the heart of every traitor in Richmond and in New York, Con- Bcibusly or Tioconeoioosly it sti'uek every one aa the taming point of the great Virginia campaign, and it flashes upon us as the Firat Victory in the Valloy of (he Shenandoah which hitherto has been to u3 a Valley of Humiliation and almost of Despair. Wo remember no Victory in this War which has more suddenly and joyfully awakened the sympathies of the North; nor oao which has been welcomed with a more enthuBi- astie delight." The casualties of the Vermont Brigade were as fol- lows : REGIMENTS. KILLED. WOUNDED. MIEBINQ. TOTAL. 2d 3 :J9 (J 33 3d 20 4 30 4th 1 15 16 ,1 Google i08 opj;(iUAN. Major Oharlea Euxtoii and Captain Dennis Dniiigg' of the lUh were killed. Sumner H. Lincoln, Adju- tant, afterwards Colonel, of the Sixth was wounded early in the day; Capt, James E. Eldridge of the Eleventh was also wounded severely, and Capt. Darius- J. Safford slightly. On the nest day Gel. Warner was assigned to the command of the First Brigade of our Division which he held with credit to the close of the War, becoming a Brigadier General presently; its commander, Gen. Wheaton, succeeded t!ie lamented Russell in the com- mand of the First Division. Gen. Grant being still absent, Col. Foster of the Fourth Vermont now com- manded our Brigade. The Eleventh was thencefor- ward under Lieut-enant. Colonel (afterwards Colonel) Charl^ Hunadon, its Battalions being commanded by Majors Walker and Sowtes, ,1 Google FISHER'S HILL. 1 1 HI f tl Op i J t 1 11 d 111 w 1 f i d y t( d C L Bth IJth fO tob h f t b d w I d h tL 1 t ki w fSh d ■\ li y Tj Ul E t m g h sold rsth d t a 1 11 p ] th t th b ttl r li HI th t 1 m t f ca f I d L llf 1 oe ff u=iilt- in ! t d b! oe^ 1 pi y 1 m m 1 ta y g h tli f tk fi t nam d fl Id The meti who for two days faced Ihoae bustling forties ses, wondering if the disiodgment of their garrison could bo possible, can never sufficiently ajiplaud the skill that won them. The surpriseof the enemy was here complete, tliongh accomplished in broad daylight, and i equinng the expenditure of mucb. time and great strength in tiavers- ing the long and laborious di'^tjinces required The plan was raatored 1 day and a half before its ese(,ntion, and its suLie'a depended almost as much upon a col- lect estiniite of the maiale of tht hostilo aimies, as upon the strategic skill displiyed in jiertecting the jntii(,ate di'ipositions involved in (lie pkn of asstnlt, and eieeuting the scheme just is it was oiigmdliy coiioeived The reason why this battle has faded almost entirely from the memory of the average reidor, and hia even been almost entirely oveilooked by our hiivti,!! ma, ,1 Google 110 fisher's hill. is simply its wondotfiil and most cstraordinaiy result. It was gained with so little loss that the overwhelming nature of the defeat inflicted is forgotten. On the morning after the battle of the Opei^uan onr whole array was in vigorous pursuit of the enemy be- fore daybreak. Evening found us halted in his preaenee. Thirty miles south of Winohester, the noble Valley being now narrowed from twenty miles to five, and thei River still clinging to the mountaius on its eastern Mde, a line of hills stretohea across the country from the Shenandoah to the Blue Ridgo (which is here call- ed the Little North Mountains ) ; broken hills, now re- ceding and anon advancing as they follow the windings. of a little stream, or mountain brook, called Tumbling, Ban, on their hither side, which wanders from the last named mountains eisterly into the Shenandoah, bills high, andcoramandmg downed with earthworks and artillery, separated by rugged lavinci which were blocked up- with sldfched and fallen timber, every rod of hill and hollow well guaided by iifle pits jnd abattis and bay- onets. These hills and the stream run at right angles, to the pike by which we were maiehing up the Valley to the South, and they are confronted on this side of the broolt in part by wooded elevations and mpait by level meadows. Beyond them in the centie ot the Valley rises Round Top, a eaiious lofty height almost a moun- tain, entirely eovpred with forest sive where a wide path had been cleared directly o>er its summit to fit it for a signal station in which cipacity it commanded most admirably every regiment of Early s army at it» ,1 Google FISHBIL'S lOLL. Ill immediate foot, and equally admirablj every company ■of Sheridan's Force and every mile of turnpike as far as Winchester, except as woods scattered here and there might mask tlie ground. Along the hills beneath this natural watch-tower the Rebels had drawn up their lines. In order to reach ■them Tumbling Ilun must be crossed, and the heights of Jisher's Hlil must be wearily climbed in the face of their muskets and artillery. Oa their right was the Shenandoah, on their left the Little North Mountains, carefully picqueted as far as the enemy supposed a goat could climb. Tiie position had been selected years before by Stonewal! Jackson as the strongest in the Valley, and was by him antrenched and used as a con- stant rallying place, or sallying place, as the occasion might suggest. A half written letter found in the works after we had carried them, spoke of the Rebel army as secure in a " haven of rest." Fisher's Hill was thus always ready for rebel occu- pation, and had been confronted once before by Sheri- dan, who then deemed it prudent to withdraw. Now, however, he was at liberty to strike the enemy accord- ing to his best discretion, and had also yesterday in- flicted upon them a terrible blow. His array was eager in pursuit; the rebels were disheartened in retreat; we were satis&ed that our commander was energy per- sonified, though we yet feared an order for some reck- less assault, scarcely dreaming that it was possible even with the heaviest loss to carry the Hill ; the enemy were still ready to fight with determination, as long aa ,1 Google 112 siskbr's hill. they were sure that they were not out-generaled, but were iafeoted with a want of confidence in their leader sure to ruin them if they saw any cause to waver. All these considerations Sheridan appreciated and laid his plans accordingly. On the evening of September 20th the Nineteenth Corps was placed in the front along the meadows whence the turnpike sprang across the massive sloping bridge of masonry, and up the steep ascent of the hills in the possesion of the enemy, the village of Strashurg being their iieadquarfcrs. An interchange of cannon shot proved that our day's march was ended, and our passage up the Valley was to be here disputed. The rest of the army filed into the woods north of the village, and bivouacked for the nlglit. At break of day Q-eaera! Sheridan made a careful reconnoisance and commenced his dispositions. The Sixth Corps was to extend the line to the right of the Nineteenth across the Valley, and Crook's com- mand, or, as it was usually called, the Eighth Corps, was again, as at the Opequan. to perform the part of the hammer that breaketh the rock. The cavalry had been sent up the Luray Valley, in order, if possible, to react the enemy's rear at Newmarket, and cut off his retreat in the event of our success at Fisher's HJII ; one small Division under Averill alone remained, which was of no assistance on account of the impractieablo nature of the ground. Our loss in killed and wounded at the Opequan had been probably a little greater than Early's, and the absence of our cavalry more than ,1 Google count BiWiinced Ihe prisoners we iud taken flicre. Kereiiaw's Dmsiou of the enumy hjd letsred into the Luray before the foiraei battle, but any lujjenoiity which we may have hid on thi^ occasion, was fai ovei- matched by the wonderfiil natuial fortifit-ation occupied by the lebels, which was being strengthened eaoh minut* by the \igoious use of the shovel jnd the aae It Wis evident that a duect assault must tail Biivery alone couid nevei gam us the upper Valley Attei hours of ■study the biill'int schtime was laid which gai e us vii^tory without its u=ual price It is said that Wrifjht alone of ali Sheridau'a lieutenants legaided the piojeit fixed upon as feasible, but our commanding G-eneral was ' bure he could make it," relying greitly on hn confidence that EirlySbiave army, distrustful of its leidei, was on the wati'h foi ju'it «acb a catastiophe a-, finally befel it At 10 A M on the -ilst our movement began. The Sixih Ouips, filing nfi' to thi* WL&t, took its posi- tion on the [jrolong^fion of the line already held by the Nineteenth Oorpa, on thin side of the Gun These two Corps covered a front of thipe miles or so, seizing such position and protection as best they could, while Lontinually annoyed by the hostile batteiies, and the sharpshooteis on the enemy's skirmish line Howevei, most ot us were under cover, hidden in the forests, or lying behind some i leat of hill, or crouching beneath the walls with which the country is there striped A railroad, bereft of its rails, and in a terrible sfat« of dilapidation generally, ran from north to south ,1 Google 114 PISHBR'S HILL. through tlis centre of l)oth armies, piercing the hills- wift deep hewn cutf. Its lofty hridge across tKe brook had been burned years before, and ite road-bed was guarded by artillery. Its vicinity was held by the Ver- mont brigade during the afternoon, and the constant whizzing of the shell from side to side over and around ns was much, more enlivening than agreeable. The bearer of Colonel Foster's headquarters flag was here killed by a sharpsliooter's bullet ; the only man killed iD the Brigade at Fisher's Hill. About a mile to the right of the railroad rose Flint's^ Hill, tlie highest elevation to be found on. our side of the Run. The enemy, aware of its value to us, had occupied it, and instead of leaving it when they abandoned the remainder of the hither side of the stream, they evinced an unexpected determination to remain in possession of it. Twice or thrice during- that afternoon fierce volleys of musketry had beeu hoard from that direction, tiie meaning of which was- discussed but not understeod, the prevailing impression being that the enemy wero trying to drive in our skir- mishers, or perhaps making a sortie against our flank. Suddenly just at dusk our Brigade was called to at- tention and hurried off at a double quiok by the right flank. As we advanced, the firing all at once beoame sharp and sharper, until it was evident that no picquet line engagementwasinprogress. Presently we were halt- ed in a wood just behind the rattling musketry, and ia an admirable defensive position. It was now quite dark. No other idea occurred to ns than that the rebels were ,1 Google ,1 Google ,1 Google ,1 Google ,1 Google FISIfBR'S HILL. 115 assaulting and driving in our skirmishers ; and as the men tJirew themselves on the ground for rest after tkcir race, and for cover, muskets were cocked and all pre- parations made to give any troops tliat might appear over the crest on which we lay a reception worthy of our reputation. But the tumult gradually oeaaed and a staff officer came in from the front, Lieutenant J. A- Lewis of the Eleventli Vermont. He was holding a handkerchief to his face to staunch the hlood where part of his chin had been shot away hy a bullet, but majjaged to say in explanation, " Warner has carried the hill ! " It was well for Warner aud his Brigade that they succeeded, for if they had failed and come back upon our rifles wr should inevitably have fired upon them in thedaikne^. His Brigade had been assigned to the task which several times already had been unsuccess- fully attempted ; and by a dashing charge with fised bayonets, under the eyes of all his commanders, he had won the position, driving a large body of the enemy across the brook to their main lines. Our Brigade had been hurried o t ppth fa ssy Thus the day's \s k 1 1 w th h mp! hm t of its principal obj t th t 1 h 11 g d though Warner's B 1 1 t m 11 th t t 1 casualties in the y th. m th 11 t Colonel was recommended tor a Brevet in Sheridan a first dispatch, and received it promptly. Our own Brigade soon felt its way up to Warner's right and into the open field. Bnti'enching tools were soon brought forward, and the night wore toilsomely ,1 Google 116 nsHKii's int.1.. As tlie day broke on the 22d the scene was a surpris- ing one. We had reached our then position through the woods, after night-fall, and now we were behind a solid entrenchment, traced boldly on the front of Flint's Hill, curving gracefully to the rear as the ground fell away on our right, and overlooking a beautiful field sloping down to the brook. The rebels were in plain view before us, scarcely half a mile distant across the stream, occupying a long entrenchment similar to our own, though with abattis in its front, which crowned a hill that brought them even above our level. After a half hour evidently spent in wondering at the mush- room growth that confronted them they fell to work diligently and laid down their shovelsonly to com- mence tlieir flight. It soon became apparent that the locjition of our Bri- gade was a fortunate one in enabling uB to see and understand the operations of the day that had just dawned. Two rifled batteries promptly moved up and took their places iu our line. Severul others were halt- ed just behind the top of the hill, where they were hid- den from the view of the enemy; and presently G-enerals Sheridan, Wright, Crook, Emory, Avenll, and others rode up with tbeii- staffe and orderlies. A telescope was planted upon its tripod in the field in front of our earthwork. General Crooic after a hasty examination of the country to the distant right, rode vapidly away. The other officers continued to study the rebel line, waiting for the decisive moment. General Sheridan, especially, spent hours that day, sweeping ,1 Google FISHER'S HILL. 117 with his glaas to the right and the left, evidently bent on understanding preeiselj the task before him ; oc- casionally pausiag to remai't to some by-stander, or to mutter to himself " I'll get a twist on 'em, d — ii Uunn^ the ±in,nron deoeial Eicketts moved his Third Division of the Sixth Ooips m two lines from the woods behind our light sweeping in grand display over the enemy s skiimishers anl flnilly halting at a very oblique angle to our line some distance in oui' front. The d(,monBti ttioa caused a gieat commotion among the rebels who evidently espLLttd an immediate assault at that point where a receding sweep of their lines made a sharp angle; and they bent all their energies toward building a battery which should command this new im- posing battle line. Their attention was thus entirely diverted from our position, and better yet, they were led to suppose that this Division was our extreme right flank, (" mistaking Rioketts' Division for our turning col- umn," Sheridan says } and paid no attention to the vital, point which Crook was aiming for. To add to their as-v ■sarance of this view of our movements. Gen. Averill's cavalry ostentatiously picketed their horses on the very summit of a bare knoll on Ricketts' right and rear, as, any soldier would infer, for tho purpose of covering the outside of the army. Meanwhile here and there tiirough the trees behind us we could catch glimpses of the shining musket barrels of ■Crook's command, as they wound forth on their long and silent journey. Equipped only with rifles, cartridge ,1 Google 118 BISHEll'S HILL. boxes and canteens, keeping in tlie forests witt the ut- most care, avoiding every possibility of observation from the lofty natural watch-tower behind the rebel lines, these five thousand men crept from Straeburg to the dis- tant mountain side. Our excitement momentarily in- creased as we came to understand the game, but our only relief was in watching the interchange of danger- ous compliments between the skirmishers on either side of the brook below us. A large tree on the rebel side was particularly noticed as puff after puff of smoke was seen to rise from its branches, until Capt. Lamb, a grey-haired Rhode Islander who commanded half a dozen ten-pound Parrotts just at our left, deliberately and at the fii'St attempt sent a screeching shell plump through its branches. A dozen ' Johnnies ' dropped in great haste to the ground and scampered up the hill. As the hours passed slowly by, Gen. Sheridan with more and more anxiety peered through his powerful tele- scope at the distant mountain side. Gen. Orook with his command of mountaineers had meanwhile reached the Blue Ridge and was clambering up its steep acclivi- ties; no path, no guide — ordered simply to climb high enough to clear the enemy, then stealing sonth until they should overlap his flank, to dash down the mountain and strike him like a thunderbolt. The point aimed for by their tedious circuit wasperhaps four miles from Flint's Hill ; the enemy's left bending far to their rear, and making Crook's undertaking much more diffi- It was almost four o'clock when he at last attained ,1 Google riBHEB'S HILL. 119 the coveted position and formed his men for the assault. The attack began at onee. Jnst aa we saw his glitter- ing line emerge from the forest, our Brigade leaped over our breastworks and swept off by the left flank into the woods; we went down near the bank of Tumbling Run, the rebel canister and grape meanwhile rattling through the trees about us, and waited for the result of the flanking movement. All our batteries that had been massed behind Flint's HiU galloped madly through the openings left for the purpose in our parapet, wheeled in- to position in the beautiftil field, and answered the dis- tant obeer that announced tbe commencement of the charge with the roar of thirty cannon. Crook swept on without a halt. Tbe rebel aigaal oflkcer afterwards said that his Corps seemed to burst fi'om the clouds. The enemy supposed them to have come over the mountains. The paralyzing murmur that they were outflanked crept through, the rebel lines. The men lost heart for battle and the bravery of the officers was of no avail. And now Crook had nearly reached the positioH so long con- fronted by Ricketts, who, without waiting to effect a junction, advanced his line against the steep ascent, rushed upon the fort that had been built in his face that day, and took it at the firat attempt. Staff officers shouting the glorious news galloped wildly to the leit along the line, sending brigade after brigade to join the charge, and thus the whole army gradually swung mto place like machinery, swelling the graad advancing wave. The Vermont Brigade at the commencement of its ad- vance met a shallow mill-pond that had not been noticed ,1 Google 120 rtSHTiu's iriLL. in the forest, in some way floundei'ed thvough, I'ushed up the bill to the rebel works, tiien turned to the left, and in a confused delirious mass, hurried on as best it might after the scattered enemy. Guns were fired wildly into the air and re-loaded as the soldiers ran ; captured cannon were wheeled about and discharged at the panic-stricken, foe in mad saints for our victory; General Sheridan with long black streamers waving from bis hat joined our owe dirisiou, exclaiming, " Run boys, run ! Don't wait to fonn ! Don't let 'em stop ! " and when some answered, " wo can't tun, we' re tired out, " bis reply was perhaps unmilitary but certainly under the circumstances judicious, " If you can't run, then holler ! " and thus the wild pursuit was continued until we reached the turnpike where it crosses the very summit of Fisher's Hill, The Eleventh Vermont almost alone of the troops engaged in the charge retamed a respectable organization, and this was owing to a peculiar artillery flag it carried, esKly distinguished among the others, of yellow silk with large crossed cannon. General Crook sent this regiment across a deep ravine to drive away a few of the enemy still remaining on the bill be- tween the turnpike and the Shenandoah. After this had been accomplished it returned by a long detour to the road, perhaps a mile beyond where it had left it, and . waited for other troops to come up ; the first man tliat appeared was Col. Foster leading the balance of the Vermont Brigade in line of battle to the south. The enemy had now vanished into the forests and it was dark. While the various brigades were disentang- ,1 Google ¥Isiibe's hill. 121 ling themselves, and the men were seeking here and there their respective regimental colors, the Nineteenth Corps appeared, from whose front near the pike the enemy had fled deraoralijied, almost before they com- menced their advance. The troops of the Sixth Oorpg were drawn aside into the field and made a hasty sup- per, while the Nineteenth Corps passed tiem in pur- suit of the enemy with General Sheridan at its head. The Sixth Corps followed the Nineteenth closely, Gen. Wright being again loi the time m command of both Corps, making twelve miles duimg the night ; Crook's command was obliged to return to Strasburg for its knapsacks and did not overtake the army for several During the night Sheridan found time to pencil the following dispatch ; " 6 Miles From Woodstock^ ( 11.20 P. St., Sept. 22. ( LiEUTBNAMi Gkdjubal Grant .- I have the honor to announce that I have achieved a signal victory over the army of (general Early at Fisher's Hill t«-day. I found the rebel army posted with his right resting on the north fork of the Shenan- doah, and extending along the Strasburg Valley west toward the North Mountain, occupying a position which appeared almost impregnable. After a good deal of manoeuvring during the day Qen. Crook's command was transferred to the extreme right of the line on North Mountain, and then fttriously attacked the left of the enemy's line carrying everything before him. WhileOrook wasdriviug the enemy in the greatest confusion and sweeping down behind their breastworks, the Sixth and Nineteenth Army Corps attacked the 11 ,1 Google l'£i fisher's niLL. rebel works in front and (he whole army appeared to bo broken up. They fled in tlio utmost conl'uKion. Sixteen pieces of artillery were captured, also )i great many caissons, artillery horses, etc. I am to-night pushing ou down (sic) the Valley, I cannot say iiow maay prisoners I hjivo captured, nor do I know either my own or ihe euemy's casualiiea. Only darkness has aaved the whole of Early's aririy from total d(»trattion, My attack could not be made till ibur o'clock in tha evening which left but little iJaylight to operate in, PiiiLip M. Sheridan, Major-Geueral." And again from Woodstock : " Sept. 23d, 8 A. M. * * * " I do not think there ever was an army so badly routed. # # * j piighod on regardless of everything. * * P, H. Sheridan," The results of this battle can bo briefly told. The carrying the strongest position in Virginia with, tho loss of scarcely two hundred men ; the utter rout of Early's army which made no stand in all the eighty miles through which it was promptly pursued ; Ihe capture rf 1 500 prisoners, all the enemy's camp equip- age, many colore, (on an elegant staff here captured our Brigade flag was afterwards mounted), and twenty-one guns, being all the artillery ho had save three pieces- which were planted near the pike ; and what was perhaps most important of all in view of the scene to occur a month hence at Cedar Creek, the conversion of the whole army to the belief that General Philip li. Sheri- dan is not only a brilliant cavalry rider, an impetuous fighter, and the impersonation of warlike energy, imt ,1 Google EisiiKii's mi.L. 123 ihat he is also a carefut, deliberate, pains-taking sol- dier, thorooghly versed in tactics and strategy, whose fiery zeal ia controlled by most unusual discretion, and whose masterly skill curbs a spirit of the hottest mettle. In short that he is, as General Grant has frequently declarccl, competent to command all the armies of the United States against any enemy. To show tiat the importance of (his victory is not ■cxaggorated above, I again quote from Gen. Wright's repoit, "The annals of the war present perhaps no more glorious victory than this. The enemy's lines, chosen in an aimost impregnable position and fortified with much care, had been most gallantly carried by as- sault, capturing most of his artillery, a large number of prisoners, and sending his army ' on the run,' in the most disorderly manner, and all this, from the inipeta- «aity of the attack, with an absurdly small loss on our part." No members of the Vermont Brigade were killed, «scepting the color-bearer above mentioned, who fell on the day before the battle; and the number of wounded -was so small that ao report of them was made. ,1 Google A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING, On the morning of September 2Bd, we halted at Woodstock, twelpemilea aoulhof Strasburg. Hei-e, to oTir great surprise, we were overtaken at daybreak by a supply train which had followed close at our heels through the night pursuit ; and it caught us just in time for no issue of rations had been made since the day be- fore the Battle of the Opequan. It was welcomed aa a new proof of Steridan's foresight, and at noon with hayersaoka well-filled again, the shrunken sides where- of had been eyed with great suspicion at the conclusion of our last hasty supper-hour, we resumed our march up the Valley, Averill being now in advance with his little Cavalry Division. He soon reported that he had found two divisiona of iniantry in his front near Mount Jackson. Sheridan, disbelieving his story, promptly relieved him from his command and sent him back to Martinsburg, replacing him by General Powell. Meanwhile the afternoon was nearly lost and we camped beyond Ediuburg, this side of Averill's infentry simulacrum. Early in the morning of the 24th we again advanced, (the commencement of my sentence reminds me of a somewhat profane use of a saored couplet, then com- y Goa wirlioiit delay, ■ w seek tliy fflce — ") ,1 Google 125 and soon parsed through Mount Jaokson, Here were several barracks, built long before by GcDoral Shields, now used as hospitals, and full of wounded rebels ; the only one of thorn which was empty was most malicious- ly sot on fire by Fomc stragglers from our column, and entirely destroyed. A few miles beyond this village all of Early's force remaining coherent were deployed in & strong position in order to cheek us and enable their train to got away. A little way behind their line the road was to be seen winding down the mountain's side, by which Torbert had been ordered to cross over from the IJuray Valley to the enemy's rear. He bad not yet been heard from, and was anxiously watched for, bnt the combination failed. Meanwhile the ground on which the rebels were drawn up was so strong and their line so extensive that we were compelled also to go into line of bat- tle. The Nineteenth Corps being pushed around to their extreme left however, th<'y incontinently with- drew, and we hastened after at our best gait. Now commenced a wonderful race. "When we reached the elevation which they had abandoned, we foand a high plateau, nearly level, the road rnn- niiig through its centre, the country oa each side somewhat hilly, but still favorable for our uSe^and we also saw the retreating lebels in thedistnnee driving their trains before them. It wjs j. beautiful day, clear and cool ; every one at once perceived the situation of affairs. The Sixtli Corps tmk the left ct the road. ,1 Google 126 A MONTH 07 CAMPATCNING. Gettj in advance, his Division in parallel columns by brigades, so that the division line could at any time ba formed in tbree minutes, the Vermont Brigade nearest the pike. The Ninotoenth Corps waB on the right of the road, its front, in line of battle, a much more difficulty though more imposing and methodical mode of marching. Skirmishers were crowding on in front of all, who kept up a constant fusikde with the enemy's rear guard ; two batteries also were with the advance, now galloping along the road to some high, point far in front of the skirmish line, and now nnlimbering and opening a fiirious fire upon the fugitive. Thus wo chased the enemy through Newmarket to Sparta, twenty-five miles that day, thirteen miles without a halt and with the rebels in our sight. The Nineteenth Corps across the pike was a mile or two behind us when we gave up the pursuit. The enemy were too anxious to escape and we saw them no more. The nest day, the 25th, we encamped at Harrisonburg, while the cavalry, which had now joined ns, went on t» Staunton. We passed a very pleasant week in this vicinity, although rations were rather scanty. Our sup- plies wore brought up by a series of supply trains or caravans, from Martinsburg, furnishing three days' rations once in four days. For the rest every man took care of himself, and there was no suffering. Many of the regiments thenceforward wore followed by cows as well as pack-mules. On the 29th a mandi of seven miles was made, to Mount Crawford, the ferthest point we reached. De- ,1 Google A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNINQ. 12T taohmente were sent out to the numerous mills in the Ticinity and a large supply of flour ohtained. Major Safford, a practical miller from Morrislown, Vt., ground and brought into camp a full day's ration for tie entire D V s on On the nest d j we r turned to Har sonhurg an 1 ret me 1 our old hue at the east of the ¥ llage On tl e I of tol e five h nd ed p Led men f om the Vermont B ^ade unde an enth is ast c staff officer, Bcouiei the adjacent mouata ns all day long hmting ftr stiagglers nd guei lias hutfinl nf, 1 ttlesave cattle and aiplo b anly We we e n w for t vo or thi e weeks cut rely cut oft from news of th Tar else vhere nd the c n ps were full uf tlie m st imp o al le sto O'f Intell g a e of tlie capture of Kichmond and Jeff Davis seemed as reason- able as the story of Grant's utter and overwhelming de- feat, and we had our choice of the probabilities, for both of these stori^ were retailed with the utmost positive- ness. Once in a great while we managed to obtain a Richmond paper, our only reliable channel of infor- mation. Perhaps we might have been furnished regular- ly with them, but for the fact that stage communioo- tions were for some reason interrupted. On the 6th of October we commenced our return down the Valley. No enemy could be found by the most diligent search and the question of supplies was be- coming a serious one. There was not enough transpor- tation in the Department to feed us at that distance from our base, and moreover the guerillas wore attacking every train. A Provisional Division, organized as train ,1 Google 128 A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNJKC. escort, had rather a hard time of it, marching niglit and day, besides flghtiag almost as continually. After a long day's march, we at last halted for tJie night on meeting a supply train, which waa again ex- Gen, Grant came up with diis d the command of our Brigade. Q the 8th we reached Strashurg, whence, was very cold, many of us improved the resume our acquaintance with Fisher's Hill, under more fiivorable circumstances than on the former occasion. At this time the cavalry turned round at Tom's Brook to wipe out Rosser, the new Cavalry General from Eichmond who was expected to deliver the Valley but didn't, losing instead everything he had with him that went on wheels. The march from Harriaonburg was memorable on ac- count of the Mght of burning barns, mills, and stacks of hay and grain, Pillars of smoke surrounded us through all of tJie three days, and though no houses were destroy- ed, everything oomhustible that coald aid the enemy during the coming winter was burned, and all cattle and sheep were driven away. On the 10th the Sixth Corps moved round the Mas- sanutten to the vicinity of Front Royal in the Luray Valley, a point that General Augur was trying to reach, by re-constructing the railroad through Manassas Gap, The attempt was subsequently given up, however, and Sheridan's army was supplied by the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad throughout the winter. On the 13th tho Corps was ordered to move at day- ,1 Google 129 light, tie rations issued the previous day to last ua to Alexandria. It was reported that transports were to tate ua theuce to meet Sherman in North or South Caro- lina. We marched some fifteen miles to the ford of tlie Shenandoah near Ashhy's Gap, where, just as the lead- ing regiments were commencing to cross, and when Wright and Getty were already in the stream, acouta readied us bi-inging oi-dera from General Sheridan, aui3 we bivouacked without cro^ng. At our dinner hour that day we had halted near a somewhat dilapidated but unmistakaMe country school-house. It did not appear clearly what feeling of impropriety or iuappropriatenesa it excited among the soldiers, hut suddenly and by a com- mon impulse of wrath the brigade seized upon it for culinary purpAU CBEEK. the Nineteenth Corps without delay. That orgauiaatioa was as above mentioned drawn up in its works, some of the troops being actually formed on the reverse side of their entrenohments. But Goi-don'a powerful right ex- tended far to Emory's rear; and the Nineteenth Corps, inturnflankedaiidenfila,ded, althou^ it offered an organ- ized and energetic resistance, was soon crushed by piece- meal, and brigade after brigade, first losing heavily, fled in disorder. General Wright and Sheridan's staff worked bravely and vigorously, endeavoring to stop the rout and reform the stragglers, the gaUant General riding wounded over the field, hia bleeding fa^e bound with a handker- chief. But bravery simply could not ari'eat the torrent; the Sixth Corps was ordered in, but the excellent dis- position of this Corps and the cavalry directed by Gen.. Wright failed of success through lack of time, and on account of the fog. Getty's Division, two miles to the right of Crook, heard all this firing with astonishment simply ; we could only suppose that the attack was in front, for we did not dream that the position could be turned on the left, and we expected the easy i-epulse of the enemy ; still we instantly struck tenfs, packed knapsacks, formed our lines, and were ready to move when called upon. The Third Division, then the First, and lastly the Second, of the Sixth Corps being now moved by the left flank and by file left were successively put in the way of the charging column, each passing by the rear of the Division and forming in echelon on its left. ,1 Google CBBAll CKBEK, 139 SO that Getty's DiYision passed to the left of the corps, eudeaToriog to reach the high ground on the pike near Middletown. The cavalry from our right eoiitiniied the same movement and passed behind us to our left and rear. But the right of the enemy's column kept along the creek toward our right flank after sweeping clear the entrenchments of the Nineteenth Corps, aud our Third and First Divisions were successively attacked and overpowered by Early's now concentrated army. They were lost to our sight in the fog but we could hear the noise of their battle, and we knew that they were fights ing desperately. Nearly every field officer in the First Division (Wheaton's) was killed or wounded. G-eueral Kieketts, in command of the Corps, was wounded almost mortally. The Tenth Vermont in the Third Division went back a long distance after commencing its retreat, in the fiice of the leaden rain, to recapture and save a battery from which the horses had been shot, dra^ng off its guns by hand. Twenty-four cannon had now been lost and the enemy had hardly been checked for a moment. As Getty's Division moved by the loft aci-oss the plain in the rear of the late camping ground, making as mentioned above, for the high ground near the pike, the prospect was dreary enough. I am utterly unable to describe the universal confusion and dismay that we en- countered. Wagons and ambulances lumbering hither and thither in disorder; pack horses led by frightened bmnmers, or wandering at their own free will ; crowds of officers and men, some shod and some barefoot, many ,1 Google 149 CEDAH OUEKK. of them coatless and hatleas, few without their rifles, but all rushing wildly to the rear; oaths and blows alike powerless to halt them ; a cavaliy regiment stretched across the field, unable to stem the torrent ; and added to the confusion and consternation the frequent sight of blood, ambulances, wagons, men, stained and dripping, with here and there a corpse ; while the whistling bullets and the shrieking shell told tiiat the enemy knew tbeii' advantage and their gi-ound. It was a sight that might welt have demoralized the Old Gaard of the first Na- poleon. As our division reached Meadow Kun (a branch of Cedar Creek) a deep brook that annoyed us continually during the operations of the day, we received a fire from the enemy's skirmishers in a piece of woods near by, which compelled General Uetty to abandon his intention of reaching the pike and to go into line on the immediate left of the First Division, a little to its rear. The Fifth and SistJx Vermont, under command of Major Enoch E. Johnson of the Second then commanding the Fifth, and Major Walker's battalion of the Eleventh Vermont were ordered forward to clear the woods. Promptly deploy- ing as skirmishers they advanced for the time success- fully, reaching fie further edge of the forest and halting under cover of the trees, so far to the front that they were much annoyed by the fire of our own batteries from behind the Division. The position was a good one, and a continuous line was arranged covering completely the whole Division front. Thus for the first time during fie day the enemy was opposed by the regular forraa- ,1 Google CBDAE CBBEK. 141 tion of a akirmish line masking a line of battle. Still, the skirmieherB in the confiision and the fog feared that there might yet remain some of our own troops in their front, and being almost literally in the dark, hesitated about opening fire. At last a scattered line was dimly seen approaching through the mist which felt no such hesitation, giring us a volley which at once convinced ua that the skirmishers of the enemy were upon us. Their progress was stopped without dif&culty, but a double line of infiintry was soon made out moving forward in perfect array, the front line fli-ing heavily as they came, evidently supposing that a large force was stationed in our little forest ; and ouv skirmishers at once falling baok, as was their duty, rejoined their Division, leaving several wounded where they fell. MeanwhUe Uen. Getty, forming his Diviaon in two lines, had advanced across the Run to the prolongation ■of the line held by the Fu'st Division ; but that command at last routed in turn by the heavy force of the enemy thrown against it, broke in confiision and fell back, pass- ing through the artillery of the Corps. Getty was now left alone upon the field. Seeing a strong semi-circular crest behind the Run, he fell back about three hundred yards and occupied it with his Division, throwing War- ner's First Brigade from the second line to the right of the Division in order to cover as much ground as possi- ble, the Vermont (Second) Brigade being in the centime on Warner's left, and Bidwell's (Third) Brigade oa Grant's left, Warner and Bidwell being partly covered by woods, but our own Brigade bemg in an open field. ,1 Google 142 CKIIAR CRKEK. Warner's Brigade was " in the air," all oiar troops in that direction having retired ; Bidwell's left connected with a cavalry sliirmish line, bending towards the rear. The position was on the whole an escellent one, however, notwithstanding there were no works, walls, or fences, the men lying down just behind the top of the hill, while a few skirmishers from each regiment were again sent forward over the ridge. The assault was not long delayed. The enemy charged in full line of battle against our brigade, and the left of Warner's, They pressed their advance with great de- termination, but it was unavailing and they presently retired across the run into the fog, which from this time began to disappear. Our skirmishers again followed over the orest. The rebels now concentrated a terrible fire of artiUery upon our position, and shell from thirty guns flew, screaming devilishly, over and among us. The men hugged the ground, being somewhat covered by the hill, and owing to the cover thus obtained, the loss, as General Getty says, " was lighter tlian could be espected." After a cannonade lasting for half an hour, our skir- mishers announced another charge and the men stood, or knelt rather, to their guns. On the rebels came, through the woods, straight against Bidwell's line and the left of Orant's, with a vigor that promised success. As they pressed us harder and harder, the lines being but a few yards apart, Bidwell's brigade began doggedly to give way, gradnally retreating step by step almost to the foot of our little hill, of which the i-ebels now occupied the summit, while the left regiments of Grant also swuug ,1 Google ED R EE 143 1 k w t! out conf on to m nta n the coutinuitj of the 1 ne \. } n for a mon nt eemed to tlireaten tte xth and Me ent! "X e mont 1 ut the b avery of (he officei'8 at once i-estoied the courage of the men, and they gave and took without further flinching, though the strag- gle was deadly. At this critical juncture a shell struck General Bidwell as he sat on his horae, holding his men to their work; he was a manof remarkahly large frame, aud the missile tore thi'ough his shoulders and lungs, hrjnging him heavily to the ground. Wonderful to re- late he lived until evening, and died rejoicing at our victory. He is well remembered by every member of our brigade, which had fought at his aide for years, and he was so much beloved and respected by his own men that it seemed impossible but that they would now give up the contest, when Lieut.-Col. French of the Seventy- seventh New York, next in command, shouted, "Don't run till the Vermonters do ! " and with a cheer of des- peration his troops sprang forward reaching their first position on the crest. The astonished rebels formed in rows behind the trees for protection, and these files were forced to swing first to the east and then to the west as a fire was poured upon them from our Brigade or Oolonel .French's, until strange as it may appear, many of them actually surrendered themselves as prisoners; two of these were killed together, far behind our line, by the same rebel shell. Thus our position was for the second time left uu- vexed. At about this time, General Getty learned of the serious wound of General Kieketts, which left ham in ,1 Google 144 CEDAIt CREEK. command of the Corps. He therefore turued over the Division to General Grant, though he still watched ita movemeutB, the First and Third Divieiona being far out of reach, no longer "confronting the eaemy." Lieutenant Colonel Amasa S. Traej of the Seeoud Vermont was now in command of the Brigade aa its senior officer, Colonel Poster not having as yet oome in from the pic- quet line. The two repulses thus inflicted upon the enemy must have annoyed him terribly; he kad previously routed all the r^t of our infantry and had good reason to expect no further labor but pursuit. The attack was at once re- sumed however, this time upon Wai'ner more especially, though involving our right re^menta somewhat. They were checked for a time, and on the nest morning the slaughter of rebels in front of this position was seen to have been terrible. But their whole army was now up ; we could see heavy columns marching upon the cavalry on our left, while Warner was struck upon his unprotected flank, and a line of rebels even came upon his rear. At this time. Early having now men enough in position to bag our stubborn little Division entire if we longer maintained onr stubbomess, General Getty sent word to Grant to withdraw unless he saw some especial reason for remaining. The order was hand- somely executed. A full line of rebels took pos- session of our hill almost the very moment we left it, but for some reason they did not see fit to pursue us except with scattering bullets. After retiring about half a mile we halted in an old road just west of Middletown, ,1 Google CEDAK OHBEK, 145' where we remained for perhaps twenty minutea. Not finding other troopu in the vioinity however, and the position being of no value. Grant threw foi-ward Oaptain Wales with the Second Vermont as skinnishers to eoYer our retreat, and the Division coolly marched in line of battle a miie further to the rear, when we found a posi- tion that Grcneral Getty considered suitable to fonn upon. We therefore fiiced to the front again while he ordered the othev Divisions, then still further to tlie veai to ecn- form to the movements of his own. It was then alwut 10 A. M., and Early now lost the opportunity which might have given him complete suc- cess. In the night after this same day, General Shcii- dan's cavalry pureued the routed enemy to New Maiket witboat a halt, butEarly, after his victory of the mom u^, kindly gave us three valuable hours in which to refoim ouv scattered troops, without attempting to prevent it. A General Oi'der which he subsequently published to Ms troops, i-ecogoiaesbis failure to properly push bis success, and says he was unable to give the rapid pursuit he de- sired, because his men had so generally left their ranks to plunder our deserted camps and rifle the pockets of oar dead and n'ounded. The blame rests upon himself," for it was truly a sad state of discipliue which could not keep together, in the flush of victory, a suffiolent number lof men to follow up a diBorganised retreat; his gallant army was not alone in fault for this shameful state of affiiira which he reprobates so bitterly. And even if his infantry were beyond his eoutraj, where was his large cavalry force, which had not fii-ed a guo escept iu their ,1 Google 146 CEDAR ORBEK, insignificant skirmisli with our piequeta in the early morning f Without doubt the report was correct, which, attributed to some of General Early's brilliant young. Bubordinates the inception of the wonderful plan, which it is certain he left to them to execute, and ita sueeess* which his own feeble authority and lack of energy were by his own confession entirely incompetent to pursue, or even to pr^erve. The position selected by General Getty was behind a long fence, for part of the way a stone wall, stretching west a mile or two from the pike, across ravines, and beyond our owu Division extending into a forest. It was evident that we could here check the enemy's next advance, and probably could hold him at bay until he should again outflank us. At the very worst we could make an organized stand and take up an organized re- treat. GeneralWright now devoted himself to arran^ng the troops on their new line and to our Division belongs, the credit of rendering the formation possible. While we had held the hill near Middletown so tenacioualy^ General Wright had got together the regiments of the Nineteenth Corps and of our Fii'st and Third Divisions^ and now placed them on our right, forming a strong and defensible line along which a rude pi-oteotion of earth and rails was at once improvised. He frequently said that he could yet defeat the enemy, and his staff have claimed that he issued orders looking to a counter-attack, hut it is doubtful if such a movement would have been suoeessftil, as the army was much disheartened. Still we now had an opportunity to rest, and even to breakfast roughly, in a sort of dogged gloom. ,1 Google CEDAU UREKK. 147 Frenoh's Brigade now cstecded from tlie pike down the "hill to Meadow Run; our own Brigade was still in tlie centre of tlie Division across the Run, and Warner's on. «iir right. The Tiiird Division followed hy the First and the Nineteenth Corps were coming up to prolong our line. Across the pike on the left were two Divisions of cavaby, and Crook's command also there attempted a shadow of a formation, though some of it had already . Teached Winchester, and the greater part of it was in a fair way to do bo soon. A strong and well posted skir- nueh line again covered our front, which Col. Tracy after Sheridan's anlyal rode out on horseback to inspect. As he was reconnoitring with a field glass he was brought to the ground, seriously wounded in his previously unfortu- nate left leg, and disabled for months. While tlins waiting for the complete re-formation of the army, sulkily and it is to be feared profanely growl- ing over the defeat in detail which we had experienced, though not in the least disposed to admit that our Divi- sion had been whipped, in feet a little proud of what we had already done, and expecting the rebel charge which ■we grew more and more confident we should repulse, we heard cheers behind us oji the pike. We were astound- ed. Thei-e we stood, driven four miles already, quietly waiting for what might be further and immediate dis- aster, while fer in the rear we heard the stragglers and hospital bummers, and the gunless artillerymen actual- ly cheering as though a yictory had been won. We ■could hardly believe our ears. The esplanation soon came, ia the apparition which ,1 Google 148 RBBAR CUEKK. BuoliaDan Kuad's ii'i jit emUyonic, but Don nell Luuwu poem, lias made familiar As the stuidy, tiery Sheii- dan, on liis sturdy, fltij steed, iULed witt foam fiom his two hours mad gillopiug, wheeled fiom the pike and dashed down the hue, oui Division also broke forth into the most tumultuous appLuse Ardent General Ouster first stopped thenondeiful Insptier J,ud kissed him liefore his men His nest halt waa betore our own Brigade, Sui,h a scene as his piesenee pio- duced and such emotions j.s it awoke cannot be lealazed once in a century. All outward manifestations were as enthusiastic as men are capable of exhibiting ; cheers seemed to come from throats of brass, and caps were thrown to the tops of the scattering oaks ; but beneath and yet superior to these noisy demonstrations, there was in every heart a revulsion of feeling, and a pressure of emotion, beyond description. No more doubt or chance for doubt existed ; we were safe, perfectly and unconditionally safe, and every man knew it. When our.gi'eeting had somewhat subsided Col. Tracy, the fii-st man in the Corps to address him, rode up, hat in hand, saying, "General, we're glad to see you," "Well, by G- — , I'm glad to be here," exclaimed the General, "What troops are these?" "Sixth Corps! Vermont Brigade !" was shouted from the ranks. His answer was as prompt : " All right ! We' re all right ! We'll have our camps by night !" and he galloped on. So soon had he determined to defeat tlie enemy. He soon met General Wright and " suggested that we would fight on Getty's line," sending us word meanwhile that Getty's Division had out-done itself that morning. ,1 Google OEEAIt CHEEK. 149 It was now about noon. The noKt hour was speut by the General in riding through the whole command, con- firming Wright's dispositions and inspiriting tke troops by his presence and his words. He thus surveyed the entire field and felt that lie was master of the position. General Wright, General Getty and General Grant re- turned to their commands. Ouster's cavalry was again moved by our rear to the right of the army. About one o'clock the Vei-mont Brigade was hastily taken through the woods to a point in rear of the Nineteenth Corps, where the enemy were preKsing, but the attack was easily repulsed without our assistance. Then we retunied to a spot where we were concealed from the enemy's view, but from which we could in a moment reach our old position in the line, and where we quietly waited for the order to advance. In ten minutes half the men, with genuine soldier nonchalance, were fast asleep. Sheridan's plan of battle was something as follows : to throw forward the right, Nineteeatii Corps and Cavalry, striking the left of the enemy and turning it if possible ; to occupy the rest of his liae by a ehai'p a1> tack but especially to overwhelm his left, the whole army following the movement in a grand left wheel. With this view the Sixth Corps, our left, was drawn up in one line, considerably extended, while (he Nineteeath was massed in two lines, its flank weighted by the cavalry. Time was consumed in making the necessary disposi- tions and in distributing ammunition, so that it was near- ly four o'clock when the few guns we had remaining ,1 Google 150 CEBAll CKBBK. eummpncLil the i iis,uil ante bittle salste Tiie'challenga wa& promptly answered in I at the app inted time the whole line idMnoel igoiobt the enemy. Their stragglers had been collected thai line was well oiosed up and stiongly jostel and theii advance would 8oon have been uaameJ had not our army taken the mitiative The long th n lint, of the Sisth Corps waa thus hulled agaiuht a ■very heivy hne of the enemy,, covered th oughoit byt soiies of stone wills Oui own Djviaion was now the only one m our sights the rest of the battle eomraencing in the woods. 80 it happened that aa French's Brigade on Grant's left, General Bidwel! being absent and dying, crossed a long open field into the line of Are that flamed from the wall- before them, being ordered to move slowly as the pivot of the army wheel, it staggered and at last fell back to its starting place. Warner's troops on our right had obliqued over a hill where we could no longer see them; we were therefore forced to halt behind a fortunate wall, low, and just long enough to cover our Brigade, where we opened fii-e. Directly in front of our position were a house, mill, and other out-buildings, swarming with the enemy, our only approach to which was along a narrow road by the side of a little mill-pond formed by a dam across our old annoyaiice, Meadow Bun. French's broken Brigade seeing that we refused to retire, rallied with very little delay and again advanced to the charge, this time by General Getty's direction on the doable qiiick, its commander having complained that he could not take his men over the open field at a slower ,1 Google oedAr creek. 151 pace, and witli au apparently unanimous determination to succeed. When they were nearly abreast of our position, being still across the Run, our Brigade poured over the wall whicit had covered it, and rushed promis- cuousiy inti the azl de sac by the mil! pond The at tack WIS successful and the gioup of bu Iding* fiom which the enemy fle 1 in confusonto a wall which fio te),te1 then second line wi^ is j,ood a protection fo us 18 it htd bepn lor the rcbpls The tioojs of our Bngade were now scatteitd about the gi mndp ud out buildings ju3t mentioned some of them being behind and iipjn two hige haj stacks and fuUv one thud ot thecommaol bun^ ad^ ncel juite % li^tanoe tuithei to the c^ver of a bi ! en girden wall anl among =everil laige tre^ Tiencii was now iii i eajital sjot neirly up with ne, and we were still unable to see the re^ments on our right. Officers sent over the hill to reconnoitre found a rebel line of battle and a section of their artil- lery nearly on the prolongation of our line, and it was considered that we should be doing extremely well if we were able to hold our then position, being it will be re- membered the extreme left of the army, witli a heavy foi-oe of the enemy in our iront, and even extending across the pike where we had now no troops escept a re^ment or so of Ool. Kitchen's unattached " provision- al " train guard, and some cavalry. Therefore we kept concealed as much as was consist- ent with expending the fiill fifty rounds of ammunition consumed in the nest half hour, the rebel fire mean- while being so hot that we could not carry off our ,1 Google 152 CBDAK CltJiliK. wounded or send for more cartridges. At last however the excelleuDQ of Sheridan's plan waa proved ; a move- ment became apparent on the right ; "Warner's left was again seen advancing, and with a cheer we made a final charge against the walls before ua. The enemy fiieed onr advance but for a moment and then 9ed in confiirfon; we pursued faster and fester, only stop- ping to hastily fill our cartridgc-bosea with captui'ed ammunition ; the retreat became a stampede, the pursuit became arecklesschase, and with tumultuous cheers and throbbing hearts we crowded tie motley mob before us, on and on over the miles of hOl and plain to the banks of Cedar Creak, Oua- foi-mation was eutii-ely lost but we had the organization and enthuaiasm of recognized suc- cess ; every man felt that it would not do to allow the enemy to rally on this side of the stream ; the front was presently occupied by flags alone, as the more heavily loaded troops became unable to keep up with the ener- getic color-sergeants ; the strong cavalry force on our distant right were seen charging down the field ; the rebels obliqued confusedly and in nnoontrollable dismay towards the turnpike and the bridge ; a final attempt was made to orgaaiae a !ast resistance on tlie hills that orowned the Creek, but after a feeble volley the line melted away ; a last battery faced us with a round of canister, but in vain ; we saw the fiag that followed Sheridan, a white star on the red above a red star on the white, flashing in the fi'ont and centre of the army, literally leading it to victory ; the regiraeiita! standard bearers vied with each other in an eager strife to be firat ,1 Google OEJJAR CCEEK. 153 in the woi'lca ol' the moi-niug, every brigade in tlie army suHfirwarils eiaiming the distinction, our own brigade certainly not with the least ground of any ; and so at last "we manned the entrenchinenta of Uie Nineteenth CorpB, while the foe toiled up the other haak of Cedar Creek and hastily formed a battle-line outside our musket ArtiUery came up on the gallop and opened vigor- ously. Oenerals esohanged congratulations with each other and their troops. Steridan's promise was tulflUed again, for .we had our camps as the evening fell. It ia perhaps not surprising that sarcastic cheers and impudent questions concerning the distance to Harper's feiTy and the probabilities of an early maii saluted a few of Geni Crook's officers who followed to witness our success. Tlie feeling was prevalent and not unreason- able that we were indebted to them alone for pur day's work, with the terrible discomfiture of the morning, but "we were afterwards convinced that they had done what they could. Sheridan was not satisfied even yet. Custer was ordered to pursue the enemy still fui'ther. We saw in the twilight the regiments he bad selected, being the Krst Vermont and the Fiith New York Cavalry, cross the creek at a ford a mile above the bridge, then gradual- ly deploy and climb the hill in an estended line; a volley awaited them at its summit which was like a blaze of fii-e in the darkness, but the brave horsemen did not falter, and that volley was the last. " Every regiment to its camp of the morning " was ,1 Google 154 CESAE CKEHC. the order nest received, and we joyfully picked our way to our first position. Tent poles, i-ude tables, and rustic couctes were found undisturbed ; a few minutes more and everything waa as it kad been twenty-four hours before, save in the absence of the filleu. Eires were lighted and the exoited men, though weary, were more ready to discuss and congratulate than to sleep ; while once and anon a quiet party would sally forth into the night to find and save some groaning sufferer. The bodies of the Union troops left dead and wounded on the field in our first retreat had boon most shamefully plundered by the rebels, many of them lying naked on the ground when recaptured. At perhaps ten P, m., a cavalry acquaintance hurried into camp and from him we learned the sequel of the day ; how Custer and Davies had pusiied the cavalry over Fisher's Hill and were still in pursuit ; how all our captured cannon had been re-taken and nearly every one of the enemy's guns had been brought into camp by their own unwilliug drivers ; how prisoners were crowd- ing in by hundreds and the vacant space iii front of Sheridan's headquarters bad become a corral, full of all sorts of plunder, men, guns, wagons, and mulos, upon which be was wont for many days to look with grim satisfaction ; how a Vermont boy bad, single-handed, captured a rebel General, for which he afterwards re- ceived a well-earned decoration, naively telling Secretary Stanton at the time of its bestowal that the Johnnies in the darkness expostulated with him for interfering with " tho Grcneral's " ambulance, whereat ho "guessed the ,1 Google CEBAR CKEEK. 155 General waa the very man he waa looking for ; '' how in fact the turnpike had been blocked at the foot of Fiaher'e Hill, and three milee of wagons and guna were captured entire The defeat wib utter, a,nd decisive so fiir as the Shenandoah Valln w%i concerned Its secret was sim- ply Sheridan's person il magnetism, ind all-conquering energy. He felt no douht he would submit to no de- feat, and he took his irmy with him it, on a whirlwind. G-eneral Grant well Slid \\ith generous eulogy, " this 7ietory stamps Skeiidan as whit I hjve always tliongbt him, one of fJie ablest of Generals." It was announced in another vivid dispatch as fol- lows : "OCTOBBU 19th, 10 P.M. LiEUTKNANT General Grant: I have the honor to report that my army at Cedar Creek was attacked this morning before daylidit, and my left waa turned and driven in confusion. In faot most of the line was driven in eoafusion with the loss of 20 pieces of artillery. I hastened from Winchester where I was on my return from Washington and found the armies between Middletown and Newtown, having been driven back about fonr miles. I here took the aflair in hand, and quickly united the eorps, formed a compact line of battle just in time to repulse an attack of the enemy which was handsomely done at about one p. B, ; at 3 p. M., after some changes of th.e cavalry from the left to the ri^t, I attacked with gi'eat vigor, captnring, according to the last report, 43 pieces of artillery, with very many prisoners. I do not know yet the numbei' of my casualties or the losses of the enemy. Wagon trains, ammuuitiou and caissons in large abundance are in oar possession. General Bamseur is ,1 Google 156 OBDAR CREEK. a pnsoQei m onr hands a^verely and perhaps mortally wounded I hi^e to lepoit the loss ot (Jen Bidwell, killed tnd Ueneials Wnght Ijrover ind llieketta wounded Wnglit la slightly wounded Affiira at times locked badly, but by the gillantiy cf uui br'vvc oflicerB and mcndisastei hisbeenion\eit*l into a spien did VKtory Dirkneia igim ititi,i\t,ued to hut cfl greater reauUs. 1 now occupy Strasburg. P. H. SiititinAN, Maj.-ye!t. And again ou the "Jlet: * « « "Tho accident in the morning turned to our advantage, as much as though the whole thing had been planned." * #**#*«*»*** The actual number of cannon captured was 53 in- cluding those lost in the morning; wo also took 1100 prisoners besides the eneuiy's wounded, with which the village of Strasburg was crowded. Major General Wright's official report pioposes tlie following exphiiialion of the surprise of Oiook's com- '~A brigade sent out by Genoi'al Crook oit the pre- ceding day to »s(,eitttin the poMtion of the enemy hid retmned to cjmp and reported that nothing nns to he found 111 the old camps of the enemy nnd thtit ho had doubtieis letieated up the Viliey f i* y- »> * * Ilowcicr this mistake was made I ha\ no quLstion thit the belief in theicticat of the enemy wis gtnet illy cnteitaiucd throughout th i ii j t 1 1 loi e ihiB fmee whidi , 1 s t. ii the mnyof West Vii | H Ji it own hiiei dnd mu'.t 1 lie ho | in fBMip Kid on th(. pi ' I in tl em my i leticat Now it li p^i i tli it ti t itUaiico ut the enemy was made upon thii put of tht, lint the &ui,iri-e wts completi. tii the pickets did not tiie i ,1 Google CBEAR ORBES, 157 Biiot, and tiie first indication of the enemy's presenee was a volley into the main lino where the men of part of the regimente were at reveille roll call without arms. As the entire picket line over that part crossed by the ■ enemy was captured without a shot being fired, do ex- planation could be obtained from any of the men com- prising it ; but it is fair to suppose that they were lulled into an unusual security by the report of the previous evening that the enemy had fallen back, and that there was consequently no danger to be apprehend- ed. This supposition seems to me likely enough; it certainly goes far toward explaining how an enemy in foroe passed and captured a strong and well connected picket line of old soldiers, without occasioning alarm, and gave as a first warning of its presence a volley of musketry into the main line of unarmed soldiers. It was reported in camp, as derived from the enemy, that he first relieved a part of our line by his own men dressed in our uniforms ; but I have never been able to confirm this rumor." General Sheridan says, "This surprise was owing, probably, to not closing in Powell," who was towards Front Royal, rather Uian watching the nearer fords, "or that the Cavalry Divisions of Merritt and Custer were placed on the right of our lino, where it had always occurred to me there was but little danger of an attack," These two hypotheses are both doubtless correct, General Sheridan proposing the more remote strategical error, while Wright explains the more immediate care- lessness which enabled the enemy to surprise Crook's camp, without notice from his picquete. General Wright's report continues ; "The proceedings up to this point were bad enough, for us, as it gave the enemy, almost without a struggle, the entire left of our line, with considerable artillery, not a gun of which had fired a shot. But the reserve of this line was ,1 Google 358 CBDAB CKEBK. posted a eonaiclerable distance in its real, where it coulct be made available as a moYable force, and was well situated to operate upon any force attempting to turn our left. It waa in no way inyoived in the disaster of the first line, which was after all but a small part of our whole force, being only one weak division ; and its loss waa in no wise to be taken as deciding the fate of the day ; with the other troops brought up, this support- ing division was in good position to offer sturdy battle with every prospect of repulsing the enemy ; and aided as it would have been by the rest of the army, the chances were largely in our favor. Here the battle should have been fought and won ; and long before raid-day the disoomfitted enemy should have been driven across Oedar Greek, stripped of all the captures of his first attack. But from some unesplainable cause the- troops forming this part of the line would not stand, but broke under a scattered fire which should not have- occasioned the slightest apprehension in raw recruita, much less in old soldiers like themselves. Most officers who have served through the war have had instances of the flame kind in their own experience, and will there- fore perfectly understand this, though they may find themflelvea as much at a loss for a satiafiiotory espfaca- tion of its cause." " It was the breaking of this line which involved the necessity of fitlling back; a change of front was neces- sary, and this must be made to a position which would place our force between the enemy and our base. That there was no intention of retreating, the soldiers wh& stood firm clearly understood, and when once brought into the new position in face of the enemy they were ready to advance upon him as was shown by their magnifioent attack when ordered forward." "To the Sixth Corps which it waa my honor to com- mand after the death of that noble soldier Sedgwick, — to its officers and men, I desire to acknowledge the obligations which in addition to the many others it has imposed, it laid upon the country by its f ,1 Google CBOAH CEHBK, 159 «oiirage and discipline in this important battle ; without disparagement to the soldierly qualities of other organi- zations concerned, it is hnt just to claim for it a large share in the Bncoesses of the day. Being from the nature of the attack upon our lines somewhat in the p(«ition of a reserve force, and therefore fairly to be ■called upon to turn the tide of unsucceaafiil battle, it came up nobly to its duty, fully sustaining its former well earned laurels." General Getty's official report contains the following paragraph : "I take just pride in reoapltulating the services of the Division on this eventful day. At daybreak the Division was on the extreme right of the infantry of tho army. Immediately after daylight it moved by the left toward Middletown with a view of gaining possess- ion of the pike and the high ground near the town. On ite march it encountered the enemy, formed line rapidly, and immediately advanced, driving the enemy, and taking some pi-isonei^, at this time finding itself on the extreme left. Compelled from unforeseen causes to halt and occupy a crest 300 yards to the rear, it held this position unsupported for over an hour after all other troops had left the field, checking the further advance of the enemy and repulsing every attack, thus giving time to the scattered commands to reorganize and reform. Finally outnumbered and outflanked, the DiTision moved back leisurely, contesting every inch of ground, about a mile to the north of Middletown, with its left resting on the pike, and in this position served as the nucleus on which the lines of the army were re- formed. In the afternoou the Division advanced upon the lines of the enemy, over almost entirely open ground, in the face of a heavy fire of musketry and artillery ; and although parts of the line had to yield for the moment to the galling fire encountered, the mass of the Division moved steamly on, driving the enemy from hia first position back upon his second, and eventually ,1 Google 160 CEDAR CREEK. forcing Lira from this position and driving him in con- fusion through Middletown and the plaias beyond, to and over Cedar Creek." The following table shows the c: ade at the battle of Cedar Gre BEGIMKNT. KILLUn. 2d. S 31 the Brig- first reported : 28 212 51 i loat from Tbe prisoners it will be r &e picquet line at da corrected this aggregate as follows : killed 33, wouncled 210, missing 41, total 284. The only of&cer killed was Second Lieutenant Oscar B. Lee, of the Eleventh Regiment. He was a remark- ably brave and offioient officer, from Waterford, whose commission as Captain was received a few days after hia death. A oommitsion previously issued to Lieutenant Duhigg as Captain of the same company {M) had iu like manner reached the regiment a day or two after that officer was killed at the Opequan. Captain Edward P. Lee, a brother of Lieutenant Lee and in the same Regiment, was among the wounded. The other officers wounded were Lieutenant Colonel Tracy and Lieut«nant Amasa W. Ferry of the Second; Captain William H. Hubbard and Lieutenant Augustus H. Lyon of the Third; Captain Joseph P. Aikers of ,1 Google CEDAR CKBEK. 161 the Fourtli; Captain Thomas Kayanaugh of the Fifth; Captain Edwin R. Kinney and Captain Thomas B. Kennedy of the Sixth, Captain Kinney being the senior officer of his Regiment and succeeded in command by Captain Sperry after receiving his wound ; Lieutenant Greorge 0. French of the Eleventh, afterwards killed at Petersburg, together with Captain George H. Amidon of the Fourth, and Lieutenant Henry C. Baxter of the Eleventh who were serving on the Brigade Staff. ,1 Google XIII. CONCLUSION. But little worti the writing now remains of my sub- ject. The Shenandoah Valley was fairly and finally conquered and a season of rest cnsuccl, varied only by the ordinary incidents of life in camp, and rumors, which had grown to be stale and profitless by frequent repetition, of our expected removal to Petereburg and the army of the Potomac. On the 21at of October, onr Division then still oa the extreme left of the army, was transferred to the village of Strasburg, the Vermont Brigade occupying the town itself, and finding capital quarters. The rest of the army still held the north bank of Cedar Creek, while we act«d as a grand guard with our outposts on Fisher's Hill, We were entirely unmolested during the fortnight wo spent there, and were made happy by an opportunity to renew our acquaintance with Pay- master Hayward and his greenbacks. There being no farther signs of an enemy, the army presently moved back to Kemstown, a few mil^ south of Winchester ; the railroad being soon put in running order from Harper's Ferry to Stevenson's Depot, but six miles from camp, we were again at our base and accessi- ble to military comforts. Hay for the horses was issued for the first time since the army of the Potomac had crossed the Bapidan in May, while suttlers began anew to vend their salt mackerel and clammy ginger- bread. ,1 Google coNCLTisioN. 163 The presidential election was held, the Erigado agaitt having an opportunity to vote and easting a large majority for Abraham Lincoln, though some of the veterans of the peninsula still had sufficient enthusi- asm for MoClellan to honor him with, their ballots. livening dress-parades and formal guard-mountings were resumed. Gen. Getty each morning collected together the guards and piequets of the Division, and thus made a remarkably fine display of the most inter- esting ceremony of the Kegulations, while the evening parades were by Brigades, our own of course eondaot«d by General Grant. On the 21st of November the Corps was reviewed by General Sheridan. It turned out in large numbers and in fine style, and the sight would have been an ex- ceedingly imposing one. Lad not a blustering rain set in which converted the field into a sea of mud and dampened all enthusiasm. Still it was an admirable performance, and it may be doubted if the steadiness of marching shown has ever been equalled by so large a number of troops upon our continent. The 24th was Thanksgiving day at home, and was remembered in camp. The weather was beautiiul, all drills and labor were suspended, barrels of turkeys and other good things had been forwarded from the north, which were faithfully distributed among the mea ; and Vermont, where we hoped, yet somewhat doubtfully, to spend our nest Thanksgiving, was the universal subject of conversation and field of fancy. The "loved ones at home" during the war doubtless spent ,1 Google 164 much, time in pitying the soldiers and longing for their return, while suffering deeply from their absence and danger, but one misery they were spared, they could not be homesick ; while the " boys in the field" were many of them afflicted with chronic nostalgia except on letter The campaign now closed had beeu a hard bat a pleasant one. It commenced when the men were ex- haosted with the unprecedented labor imposed upon the army of the Potomac in its progress from the Kapidan to Petersburg, comprising two months of continuous fightiug, relieved only by most wearisome marches and labor in the trenches. The investment of Petersburg was just completed when we were called away, and entered at once in the heat of the summer upon another month of the most severe marching, and fatiguing campaigning, that we had ever been called upon to perform. At the be- ginning of August when Hunter was relieved we were as well nigh exhausted as men could be and still retain any energy to be, or to do, or to suffer. From Sheridan's arrivaiourcase began to mend. The weather grew cooler; the marches were easier ; we were presently successful in battle ; and at last, at the termination of the season we were in the beat possible condition, contented with ourselves and proud of our services, with small sick- lists and plenty of supplies, preparing winter-quarters, ready for any movement; though hoping to the last against hope that Petersburg would not again be our destination. Our Urigade was ably served in the Shenandoah, by ,1 Google coBCLOSioN. 166 ita non-eombutant staff, wKose labors should not be for- gotten. The dalies of the various Kegjmectal Quarter- masters were especially severe on aooount of the long distance each supply train had to traverse. Martins- burg, where tliey made their headquarters, was aperfeot pandemonium one day in four, mules, wagons, Boldiera, negroes and carts being mingled apparently inextricably and almost undistinguishably, while the days when the caravan was on the march were not only tedious but often dangerous, the guerrillas never ceasing to annoy. Captain Kandall of the Sisth was the Brigade Quarter- master and was an exceedingly hard working and efficient officer. Lieutenant Olark of the Eleventh was also in charge of that department a portion of tlio time, and was not surpassed by any officer in his branch of the service in the foresight with which he anticipated every want that could be supplied, and " drew for it," Capt. Valentine, the Brigade Commissary, supplied our bodily necessities as abundantly as the fiieilities for transportation would allow. But among all the faithful soldiers of the Brigade, the one who will be longest remembered with affection by the greatest number and with, the greatest reason, is Castanus B. Park of the 1 Jth Eegiment, the Brig- ado Surgeon. As a worker Br, Park was indefatiga- ble, and his skill was equal to the requirements of his position. Of all ite medical staff the Brigade were justly proud, the assistant surgeons as well as the surgeons being always found at their posts, and shrink- ing trom no labor that migiit benefit their men on the ,1 Google 166 mareh, in the oamp or in battle. Their duties were often estremely arduous, for in case of an engagement tiae work of tlie surgeons was but just begun when, ours was over. At and after the battle of Cedar Creek Dr. Park was at his table for forty-eight tours consecutively, and during this campaign it was his duty to perform all tlie capital operations required in the Brigade. The number of amputations which he performed was ex- ceedingly large, but he traced with care the after history of each patieat, and in no single instance did one fail of recovery. This fact speaks equally well for \hephysique of tlie men aad for the science of the Doctor. Among tho officers of tho Brigade, who were all so gallant inaction that their bravery became a proverb — Col. Warner in repoiting the battle of the Opequau Baid that to specify those who tad distmguibhed them- selves would be to give a coniphte roster of the com- missioned officers of tho Bngade — the ffllowmg were honored with bre^ ets for meritoiioua semeeB during tliis campaign, iCLeiving commission'! =igned by the it according them Bievet link as follows TDiihE T„hi]3 D Lieutenant Coloael. .[Eur ri jah Wale Mawr Erastue Ij BhUou Major lEMT HuiocB 'W riojd Colonal tHST ( eorge P Footer Brigadier General. Jamc? M W arner Brigadier Gooeral. Aldnoo P H alter T aatenant (,oloiie!, "'''"' J mca E Eldndga Maior Henry C Baatar C iptain ,1 Google CONCLUSION. 167 Many of thcbe officers were ifteiwiid" ilvaneed to the full rani f theu brevet" The Vermont B ig tie was one of the last m the corps to return to Peter huig On the 9th of Decern her, in a driving snow atoim it t ok the ens dt Ste venson's depot ind thus in the ni^ht and the tempest it finally left the She anloih '\ alley. The muster-rolls of the Vermont Brigade enable the author to give the names of its members who were killed or mortally wounded in the Shenandoah Valley. His little book, dedicated to their memory, would be incomplete without such a record. It should be ob- served, howover, that the remark on the rolls, "died of wounds received in action," opposite the names of those not instantly killed, does not contain esact infbrraalion as to the time the fatal injury was received The date ot de^th, howevei, is always given, so thit the follow- ing h=t fan be lehed upon as substantially correct, Persons hiving knowledge either of omissions or of names impioperly inserted are requested to suggest coirections The lists are arranged alphabetically, without titles. Kank is no longer of consequence to them, and their fellow citbens hold the memory of all in equal esti- mation. ,1 Google OP wouNns liiioeiv X3 I 3B r> Jonathan Camp, Wells Boward, Charles H. Stowe, Henry M. Clark, Boojamin F. Maclburd, James 0. Sweetier, Marcna M. Clough, James C. Hutoliinaon Jonathan B. Tapper, Clark OnrtiOB, John B. Lute, Jamea A. WaJoott, Dexter Crossman, Miohaol Lynoh, Affchnr Ward, Alonio a. EieUs, Thomas Mo&oUoy, Lewia H, Weloomo. Zeuas Hatch, Williajii Been. .Tosei)h Elanshaw, jairLrr"" Ohnrlea H. Sanliorn. Eliphalet B. Crano, John S. Kilby, Daniel E. Smith, John A. Daady, Tliomns J. Miller, BlbridgaG. Thompson, Charles Gee. Myron B, Parker, Honry C. Vroody. Austin Goodoll, John J. Rioh, Kneeland Badger, Lawrenoe Edwards, Joseph Marson, Charles A. Blanohard, Corns 0. flibaon. Smith Ormsbeo, Zacoheus Blood, James Sill, Richard S. Eioh, XhomaaXBuraham Napoleon B. Hudson Luther B._^Soott, Charles Camp, Nelson D, KnlghC, Banaom W. Towlo. Joseph Blair, Woodman Jaokman, JohnKaylor, Lewis lionett, Pater ladam, Addison Whitcomb, Silbart B, Davis, Julius Lewis, William P. Valentine Joseph Farimm, ,1 Google Sisni ItfeGlHENT. Thomas Aldon Alv.,hy ;ray, EdAvinR. Rioimrdson, JohD Botno) Edwin Gray, Oharka Bla)ie Tobn P How, SylYEater Spooner, Warren 11. Chijinnn U-4h«8r.nno, Alden ThomnB, Lawis B, Cook John Kelley, Lewis A. Tyler, Daniel Call, Samuel L i,!av, Charles P, Upliain, Augustus L. Oox ^^arr6^D Mather, Thomas S, Varnej, Simon P Dean Fdwnrd Mirae, Joseph Vondall, Carlos W. Dwinall Chart aa Parmenter, dtephon P, White, John FilasimnjnB Lea dtr Pnquet, Th 11 D 1 B I'Leld, Julius Minor, u r B J h n Fiab. RjiQSOra M. Pateh, M 1 J B P 11 ao G Gibson, Gooi^e A, Peeler, Wy R ]> p All W Goodrich, Edgar M. Phinnay, Ch I B to L Yi L 1 oddoh, Joseph Rshitoaux, CI ?o D IG EC7, Maroellua Ruaaell, « g R C pb 11 lb d S Hatch, Wesley G. Sheldon, J IV, Gb f G go Heath, Nelson F. Skinner, )« E E Ch mb 1 G g T Kasaen, Robert Tibbetts, Tl pi d G A Kilmer, Foster Thomas, tph Crr E ast L ird, Ira 0, Tompkins, WU d M D R Lea, Im C. Twiaa, II J E Deo mp M A Loeldin, Albert Witherhee, Ch 1 D Fib Is F. Lynda, John D. Williams, Oh I D 1 tl J h M arty, Marshall Wilmarth, D D bse Jw phMLanghlin Albert Woodnorth, Ljm D bir Fra k M or, John Woodward. Be jam S Ed t IB ,1 Google THE SHENANDOAH CAMPAIGN. MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. HKiDHtlmraiiB MlLITiUT DwiBIOB OP THE GlJlIf, ( N.™ OiiLKlss, Fol>r.m,j 8, 1860. i MaviUm, Chief of Staff, Gbnbral — I have the honor to mnke the following report of the oarapaign in the Valley of the Shenaadoab, commencing August fourtb, 18B4. On the evening of the first of August I was relieved from the eommanii of the cavalry corps of the Army of the I'otomac, to take coimnand of tlie Army of the Shenandoah, and on arriving at Washington on tiie fourtli mstant I received direc- tions from Major-Qeneral H. W. Halleck, Chief of the Staff, lo proceed without epartment of West Viipnia, a eop7 of which is herewith attaebed. The Army of the Shenandoah at this time consisted of the Siith corps, very much reduced in numbers, one division of the Nineteenth corps, two small infantry divisions under command of General Crook, afterwards desolated as the Army of West Tirginia, a small division of cavalry under General Avereil, which was at that time in pursuit of General MoCausland, near Moorefield, McCaualand having made a raid into Pennsylvania and burned the town of Chamberabui^; there was also on» small division of cavalry, theu arriving at Wasliington, f>om my old corps. The infantry portion of these troopahad been lying ill bivouao in the vicinity of Monocaey Junction and Fredorick City, but had been ordered lo march the day I reported, with directions to conoentraia at Halltflwa, four miles in front of Harper's- Perry. After my interview with the Lieutenant- General, I hastened to Harper's Perry to make preparatioiis for an imme- diate advance against the enemy, who then occupied Martins- burg, Williamsport, and Shepardstown, sending ocoational raiding parties as far as Hagerstewn. The concentration of my command at Halltuwu alarmed the enemy, and caused him to concentrate at or near Mar^nsburg, drawing in all his parlies from the north side of the Potomac, The indications were that ,1 Google MiJOR-QENEltAL SHERIDAN'S BEPOltT. 171 be bad intended anotlier raid iuto Maijlaud, prompted perhaps by the sliglii. suecesa be had gained over General Crook'i command at Kernatown, a sliort time before. Tbe city of Hartiosbui^, at which ttie enemy concentrated, is on tbe Bal- timore and Ohio railroad, at the northera termLnus of the valley pike, a broad niaoadamized road running up the valley, through WincheBter, and terminating at Staunt^D, The Shenandcab valley ie a eontiouation of tbe Cumberland valley, south of the Potomac, and is bounded on the east by the Blue Kidge, and on the west by the eastern slope of tbe Alleghany moust^ics, the general direction of these chaina being south-west. Tbe valley at Martiusbui^ is about sixty miles broad, at "Winchester forty to forty-five, and at Strasburg twenty-5ve to thirty miles, where an isolated chain, called Massaoutten motiataiu, rises up running parallel to the Blue Bidge, and tarmiaales at IJarrisonburg ; here the valley again opens out fifty or siity miles broad. ThiB isolated cliiun divides the valley, for its continuance, into two valleys, the one neit the Blue Ridge being called the Liiray valley, the one west of it tb@ Strasburg or main valley. The filue Ridge has many passes through it called gaps, the principal ones and those which have good wagon roads, are Sniclter's, Ashby'a, Manassas, Chester, Tboroughfaca, Swift Eun, Brown's, Rock-fish, and two or three others from tbe latter one up to Lynchburg. Many have macadamized roads through them, and, indeed, are not gaps, but small valleys through the main chain. The gen- eral bearing of all these roads is towards Oordonsville, and are flScellent for troops to move npo f tb t ' t ' t th I ley; in factj tlieBhie Ridge can by infantry or cavalry. The valley itself was rich in g ea Biiit, and was in such a prospei army could march down and up tin ta Snohl in brief, is the o ulline, a th Shenandoah valley wlien I enter Great eiertions were made to ea an advance, and on the momi Ge Torbert's division of cavalry hai W Ion, a forward movemeuB was co ■we were making our preparati B Hill and vicinity, twelve miles so M pushing his ecoutjng parties U Uharlestown. Torbert was orde ed B pike, through Berry^ille, and go to po W the Sislb corps moved via the Cbarlestowu and Summit Point road to Clifton; Uie Nineteenth corps moved on the Berryvilie pike, to the left of the position of iJie Sixth corps at Clifton; Genera) Crook's eommaad via Kabletown, to the vicinity of ,1 Google 172 UAJOK-QEHXEAL gllEllIBAH'S KEFOHT. Berryville, oomicg into position on the left; of tlie Nineteenth corps ; and Colonel Lowell, with two small regiments of cav- alry, was ordered to Sammit Point; bo that on the night of August teuth, tho army occupied a poaitiOQ stretclung from Clifton to Berrjvllle, with oHyalry at White Poat and Summit Point. ■ ThB enemy moved from viciniiy of Bunker Hill, stretching bis line from where the Winohesier and Potomac I'aiiroad crossea Opeijuan creek, to where the Berryvilie and "Wineheater pifee croaaea the same stream, occupying the west baaJc. On the morning of August eleventh, the Sixth corps was ordered to mnw from Clifton across the country to where the Berryvilie pike crosses Opequan creek, carry the crossing, and hold it; the Nineteenth corps was direoled lo move through Beriyville, on the White Post road, for one mile, file to the right by heads of regiments, at deploying distances, and carry and hold the crossing of Opequan creek at a ford about three- fourths of a mile from the leit of the Sixth corps; Crook's command was ordered to move out on the White Post road, one mile and a half beyond Beriyville, file to tho right and aeoute the crusaing of Opequan creek at a ford about one mile to the left of ^B Nineteenth corps ; Torljert was directed to move with Merritt's division of cavalry up the Millwood pike toward Winchester, attack any fores he might find, and, if possible, iscertain the movements of the rebel army. Lowell was ordered to close in from Summit Point on the riglit of the Sisth corps. My intention In securing these fords was to march on Win- djester, at which point, from all my information on the tenth, I thought ttie enemy would make a stand. In this I was mis- taiea as the results of Torbert's reconnoissance proved. Merritt found the enemy's cavalry cover g d p ke westoftlie Opequan, and, altacfcingit, d h d ti of Eamstown, tnd discovered the enemy mg p h valley pike. As soon as this iuformatioQ was ob e< T was ordered to move quickly, via the toll gate F R al pike, to Newtown, to strike the enemy's fl m in Ma retreali and Lowell to follow up g "W h Crook was turned to the left and orde-e bto yP , Efineveh, while Emory and Wright were marched to the left, and went into camp between the Millwood and Front Royal pikes. Crook encamping at Strong Point, Torliert met some of the enemy's cavalry at the toll gate on the Prout Boyal pike, drove it in the direotion of Hewtown, and behhid Gordon's division of infantry, wbicli had been thrown out from Newtown to cover tho flank of the main column iii its retreat, and which had put itself Ijehiod rail bariirades. A pordon of Merritt's cavalry attacked this infimtry, and drove in its skinuish Ime, ,1 Google MAJOE-OENKBAL sheriban's rrpoet. 173 snd altbouph unable lodiBtodsetheciLviBion, held all tlieftroiind gained. The rebel division dnrinji: the night moved off, Heit day Crook moved from Stony Point to Cedar creek, Emory fol- lowed ; the oHvalry moved to tlie same point, via Newtown and the vHlley pike, and the Slith corps followed the cavalry. On the niftbt of the twelfth, Crook was in poaition at Cedar creek, on the lefi of the valley piko, Emory on the right of the pike, the Sixth corps on the'risht of Emory, ond tlie cavalry on the right and left flankB. A heavy fikirmish line was thrown to the heishts on the aonth side of Cedar creek, which had brisk skirmishinp; dnring the evening with the enemy's picketa; his (the enemy's) oiein force occnpying the heightB above and north of Str»abnrjf, On the morning of the thirteontli, the cavalry was ordered on a reconnoiBBance towards Strasbnrg, on the middle road, whicb road is two and a half miles to the west of the main pilie. Eeportaof a colnmn of the enemy moving up from Calpepper Cmirt-honse, and approaclilngFrontBoyal through Cheater gap, hsving been received, caused me much anxiety, as any conaid- eraljle force advanced tbrongh IVont Royal, and down the F. E. and W, pike loward Winchester, orndd be thrown in my rear, or, in cbb6 of my driving the enemy to Fisher's hiU, and taking poaition in his front, this same force could be moved along the base of Massanutten mountain on the road to Stras-^ burg, with the same result. As my effective line of battle strength st this time was about eighteen thousand infnnlry, and thirty-five Imndred cav- alry, I remained quiet during the day — excepi, the activity on the altirmish line — to await further developments. In the evening the enemy retired with his main force to Fisher's hill. Aa the ramors of an advancing fofoe from the direction of Culpepper kept increaaing, on the morning of the fonrteenth I sent a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal, to ascertain definitely, if possible, the truth of such raports, and at the same time crossed the Sirth corps to the south side of Cedar creek and occupied the heights above Strasbnrg. Oonfaderable picket firing ensued. During the day I received from Colonel Chip- man, of the AdjuWnt-Generai's oJBce, the following deapatdi, he having ridden with great baate from Washington through Snicker's gap, escorted by a regiment of cavalry, to deliver the same. It at once explained the movement from Culpepper, and on Ihe morning of the flfteenth, the remaining two brigades of Merritt's division of cavalry were ordered to the crossing of the Slieuandoah river near Front Royal, and the Sisth corps with- drawD to the north aide of Cedar creek, holding at Stiasburg a strong skirmish line. ,1 Google City Poiht, August 13, ISM, a. h. Majar-General Hallcck .■ Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two diTiBions of infaDtry hflve gone to ]£arly, and some cavnlry and twenly pieces of nnillery. This movement commeueed last Saturday iiighc, he muat be eautiouc, and act now on the defensivB until movements liere foree Ihem to tliip — to send tiiis wBy, Early's force, with this increaBe, cannot exceed lorty thou- sand men, bnt tliia is too much for General Sheridan to attsck., Send General Slioridau tlie remaining brigade of the Niueteeuth I lisvB ordered to ^ashinstton ail the one hundred day men. Tlieir time mil soon be out, bul, for tho present, they wiE do- TJ. S. Graft, LlautoDsnt-Qeneriil. The receipt of this despatch was very important to me, as I possibly would have Tamained iu nncevtsintj as to tlie character of the force ooming in on ray flank »nd rear, until it attackad the cavalry, as it did on the sisteenth. 1 8t once looked over the map of the valley for a defensive line (that is, where a smaller number of troops could hold a greater number) and could see but one such. I refer to that at Halltown, in front of Harper's Perry. Subsequent experienoe has convinced me that no oXhst really defensive li'ie exists in the Shenandoah valley. I therefore determined to move hacfc 1c Halllown, oarry out myinstrndjona to destroy forage and subaistencB, and increase my strongtli hy Grover's division of the nineteenth corps, and Wilson's division of cavalrj', both of which ware marching to join me, via Snicker's gap. ]5mory was ordered to mova to WiuchesWr on thenightoftliB fifteenth,, and, on the night of the siiteenth, tho Siith corps and Crook's command were ordered to Clifton, via Wincheslflr. On the aflernoon of the sixteenth I moved my headquarlera back to Winchester; while moving back (at ifewt w ) 1 1 d cannonading at or near Front Roynl, and on reaching W 1 ler, Merritt's couriers brought despatches from h m tft g that he had been attacked at the crossing of tlie SI doab. by Kershaw's division of Longstreet's corps, and tw b g des of rebel cavalry, and that he had handsomely p I d th attack, capturing two battle flngs and three liiindr d p Dgring the night of tlie ^leenth, and early on th g f the seventeeoth, Kmory moved from Winchester to B yv 11 , and, on the morning of the seventeenth. Crook and Wright reached Winchester and resumed the march toward Clifton; Wright, who had the rear gnard, getting only as far as the- ,1 Google MAJOR-GKNEBAL Berpyville croasiBg of the Opeqiinii, where be was ordered to remain ; Orook gettinfr to tbo TidDiCy B ry il 1 w reacbed Wmohesler with liia two regim ca y afternoon, of tlia BKveiiteeiiDh, where he d b G Wileon's dixdKiou of cavalry. Merrii lom engagemect near FriHit Hoyal, was orde d b b of Wliite Post, and General Grover'a di d m ry lEerryville. Tlie enemy liaTinp e aignit nioiiLtain, almoet OTerhanftingStraatiurg <1 movement made by our trofipe could be se n, w m the inomiDgaf die Bsventecnthaa to co d and witliout delay followed after us, ge about sundown, and dri^^BJi; out Genera T he there wilh 'Wilson acd Lowell, Hnd the J m j g Bisth oorps. Wilaon and Lowell fell b ok S mm and Ibe Jersey brigade joined its oorp Opeqimn. Keraliaw'a division, and tw d Fita Le cavalry division. whioV. was the force d Early at Winchester, I thiok, on the evening of tlie aeven- teenth. On the eighteenth the Sixth, corps moved, via Clifcon, to Flowing Spring, two miles and a half wesc of Charlestown, on tlie Sinithfleld pike; Bmory about two miles and a half soulh of OharlestowTL on the B^rryville pike; Merrill tame back to Berryville; Wilaon remaiced at Summit Point, covering the creasing of Opeqnan greek as far north as the bridge at tmith- field ; MerriU oovering the crossing of the Berryville pike ; Crook remained near Olifton, and the next day moved to the left of Kniory. Tliia position was maintained uutil Ihe tweniy- first, when the enemy moved B beayj fores aerosB the Opeqnrui at the bridge St Smitlifleld, driving in the cavalry pickets which fellbnokto SummitPoint, and Bdvencad rapidly on the poaition of the Sirth corps, near Flowing Sprinea, when a very sharp and obstinate ekirmiali took place with tlia heavy picket line of that corps, reanidng very much in ita favor. The enemy appeared to have thought that I bad taken position near Sum- mit Point, and that by moving around rapidly through Smith- fleld he would get into my rear. In this, however, he was mistaken. During Uie day Merritt (who had been ctlaoked and held his ground) was recalled from Berryville. Wilson had alao been attained by infantry, and had also held his ground unijl ordered in. During the night of the twenty-flrst the army moved back to Halllown without inconvenience or loss; the oavaliy, eioepting Lowell's command, wLich formed on the left, moving early on the morning of t!ie twenty-second, and going into position on the right of tlie line. On the morning of the twenty-seoond the enemy moved up ,1 Google 17fi MiJOR-GSKBItAL SIIKRIDAN's REPORr, captnred was of fo coiiliioting anfl eontradiotor)' a nature, that, I detern ined to aseertain if fiOBBible, while on tliia dofenfive line ifllnt reinforcomenta iiBd uctiially been recslved by tin* enon y This could only be done by frequent recoiinoiKaaiiceB, and Hi II results oonviiioed me tliat fiut one division of infantry, KerBliawH and one division of caTalrj, FitK Lee's, liad joined On. the twenty-third I ordered a reconnoiwanca by Crooli, who was on the leii, reBnlting in a small cupliire, Biid a nnm- ber of 0;iHualtieB to the enamj. On the Cwenty-fourtli anolher reconnojsaanee ws3 made, eaptiiriag a number of priaoneifi, mir own loss beliiji: aVxHit tiiirty men. On the tweiiLy-tlftii there Waa sharp picket flritiij durius; the day on part of the infantry line. The caoalpy waa ordered to attack tbe enemy'H cj.valry at Kearneys villtr. Tliie attack was handsomely made, bnt, instead of finding the ene- my's cavalry, his infantry whb enconctBred, and lor a time donWfld tip and thrown into tlie utmost confusion. It was marching towards Siiepardatowo. This BnjtHirpment was somewhat of a iniitiial surprise — onf cavalry eipectinp to meet the enemy's osvalry, and his infantry expecting no opposition whBtCTer. General Torbert, who was in command, finding a large force of the rebel infantry in Mb front, came back to our lef^ Snd the enemy believing his (tlie enemy's) movonientB liad been discovered, and Uiat the force left by him in my front at Halltov™ would be attacked, reluriidd in ^i-eat haste, bnt, before doing so, if olsted Custer's brigade, which had to crosa to the north side of the Potomac, at Shepardstown, and join me via Harper's Ferry. :For my own part I believed Early meditated a ci-ossingof hia earalry into Mavjknd, at Willinmsport, and I sent 'Wilson'a diviaioD around by Harper's Ferry to watch its movements. A.verill in the mean time had taken post at WiUiamsporl, on the north side of the Potomac, anci hold the ci'oasinfc against a force of rebel cavalry which made the attempt to cross. On the night of llie twenty-sisth the enemy silontJy left my front, moving over Opequan creek, at the Smithfield and Summit Point Crossings, and concentrating his foroe at Brucelown and Bunker Hill, leaving hia cavalry at Leetown and Smitiifield. On tbe twenty-eighth I moved in front of CiiarlestowE with the infantry, and directed Merritt to altnck the enemy's c&valry at Laetown, which be did, defeating it, and pursuing it throng'h Smithflsid. "Wilson reoreased tlie Potomac at Shepardstown, and joined the infantry in front of Charlestown. On the twenty-ninth Averill crossed at Wflliamsport and advanced to Martinsburg. On the same day two dlnaions of the enemy's infantry, and a small force of cavalry, attacked Merritt at the SraithSeld bridge, and, after a hard flght, drove ,1 Google SIlERIBAU'a KBPOET, 177 to Obarloatowo and piislied well p to my j oh t on t HaOtowQ skirinishirig with the cavalry v debtee The despatches received fron the L eutennnt-General com ttandinir, from Captain (J. K. L et A A & at W afel ng on and information derived from y boouts and f m pr bi neva him througli SmithEeld and back towari^B Ch rlestown, the cavalry tighting with greal obstumoy lint I could re nforce t with Kicketta' division ot the S xth co |js when n t m the enemy waa driven back tliiougl SraihStM and over tiie OpequUQ, the oavaliy again tak ug pwt at the Sm hfleld On the tbii lieth Tortiert was dreoted to nove Merrtt and Wilson to Berryville leaving Lowcl to g ard the torn tl held bridge and noeiipy tlie Down On the thiiiy-Hrat Averill \ as ven a k from Mart na burg to Falling Waters. From the flrat to the third of bflp ember noth n^ of mp r On the third, Averill, who haa ret reed to Mart nsburg advanced OQ Bunker Hill, attacked McCaualands cavalry defeated it, capturing wagons and prsoneu ani iestroying a good deal of property. The uf nt y moved n o pes tion stretching from Clifton to Berryville Wr ^bt n ov ng by Sum nut Point, Orook and Emory by the Be yv 1 e p ke Torbert had been ordered to White Pus early a the day a d he enemy, supposing that be coul ut h n cC p she 1 across the Opeqtian towards Berryville witl K rs aw 3 v on advance, but Uiis division not especting infantry, blundered on to Crook's lines about dark, and waa vigoroualy attseked and driven with heavy loss back towards the Opequan. Tins engagement, which was. after nightfall, was very apirited, and our own and the enemy's casualties severe. From this time until the nineteenth of September I occupied the line from Oliflion to Beriyville, tratiafbrriug Crook to Summit Point on tlie eigbth, to use him aa a movable column to protect my right flank and line to Harper'a Ferry, while the cavalry threatened the enemy's right flank and hia line of communica- lions up the valley. The differeneo of strenglh between the two opposing forces at this time waa but little. As I had learned, beyond doubt, from my ecouta that Ker- shaw's aiyisioii, wliioii consisted of font brigades, w to b ordered back to Richmond, I had for two week p t tly waited ita withdrawal before attacking, bflieving th d of affairs throughout the country required great p d ce my part, that a defbal of the forces of my commau go Id b ill-afeirded, and knowing that no interests in the II y those of Ibe Baltimore and Ohio railroad, were suff g by th ,1 Google 178 MAJOR-QBNBRAL SHEKEDAN'b REPORT. delay. In this view I was ooinoidiflg with the Liauteuanl- General nommandiaif. Although the main force remained without ohfinge of posi- tion from September third to nineteeath, still the cavalry was employed every day in harassii^ tlie enemy, its opponents being principally infantiy. In tiieaa Bkinnishea the cavalry was becoming educated to attack infantiy lines. On the thirteenth, one of these handsome dashes was made by General Mcintosh, of Wilson's division, capturing the Eighth South Oarolina regiment at Abram's creek; on the BMne day Getty's division of the Sixth corps made a recon- noissance to the Opequan, developing a heavy force of the enemy at Edwards' Crossing. The position whidi I had taken at Clifton was six miles from Opequan creek, on the west bank of which the enemy was in position. This distance of six miles I determined to hold as my territory by Boouting parties, and in holding it in this way, without pushmg up the main force, I expected to be able to move on the enemy at the proper time, without his obtaining the iuformation which he would immediately get from his pickets, if I was in close proiimity. On the night of the fifteenth I received reliable information that Kershaw's division was moving througli Winchester, and in the direction of Front RoyaL Then our time had come, and I almost made up my mind that I would fight at Newtown, on the valley pike, give up my line to tiie rear, and take that of the enemy. Prom my position at Clifton I could throw my force into Newtown before Early could get information and move to that point. I was a little timid about this movement ontil the arrival of General Grant at Charleatown, who endorsed it, and the order for the movement was made out, but, in oon- seqaence of a report from General Averili, on the afWrnoon of the eighteenlii of September, that Early had moved two divis- iona to Uartinsbui^, I changed tliis programme, and deler- luined to first oatoh the two divisions remaining in viiauity of Stevenson's depot, and tlien the two sent to Martinsburg, in detail. This information was the causa of the batUe of Ope- quan, instead of the battle of Newtown. At three o'clock on the morning of the nineteenth September the army moved to tlie attack. Torbert was directed to advance with Merritt's division of cavalry from Summit Point, carry the ga ' Opequan creek, and form a junction at some point n S nson's depot with Averili,. who moved from Darkfl- W son was ordered to move rapidly up the Berryville p k m Berryville, carry its crossing of the Opequan, and g h ugh the gorge or canon, the attack to be supported by Ssth and Nineteenth corps, both of wliich moved couutry to the same crossing of the Opequan. Crook m d ss thn country to be in reserve at the same point. ,1 Google MAJOn-QENERAL Wilaon, with Mclutoah'a brigade leading, m cliHrge tbroiigh the loag canon, asiA meetmg tl Ramaeur's rebel infantry division, drove it baelr tlie earthwork at the month of the canon ; this n immediately followed up by the Siith corpa. Tl oorpa was directed, for convenience of raovemen General Wrfglit on its arrlvi'l at Opequao ereet. I followed up the cavalry attack, and selected the pTOund ^'^ 'he formation of tbe Sixth and Nineteenth corps, which went into line under a heavy artillery Sre. A good deal of time was lost in this movement through the canon, and it was not unjil perhaps nine o'cioek, a. m., Uiat the order for the advance in line was given. I had. from early in the momic^, become apprised that I wonld have to engage Early's enljre array, instead of (wo divisions, and determined to attack with the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, holding Crook's command as a turning column to use only when tJie crisis of the battle occurred, and that I would put him in on my left, anil still get the valley pike. The attack was therefore made by the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, in very handsome style, and imder a heavy fire from the enemy, wlio held a line which gave him the cover of slight brushwood and oornflelds. The resistance during this attack was obstinale. and, as there were no earthworks to protect, deadly to both sides. The enemy, after the contest had been going on for some time, made a connter chai^, striking the right of the Sixth corps and left of the Nineteenth, driving back the centre of my It was at this jnneture tliat I ordered a brigade of Busnell's division of the Sixth corps to wait till the enemy's attsekiiig column presented its flank, then Ijd strike it with vigor. This was handsomely done, the brigade being led by General Ens- sell, and its commander, Upton, in person ; the enemy in tiu'n was driven back, our line re-established, and most of the two or three thousand men who had gone to the rear brought I Btill would not order Crook in, but placed him directly In rear of the line of battle; as the report?, however, that the enemy were attempting to tarn my right kept continually increasing, I was obliged to put him in on that flank instead of On the left, as was originally intended. He was directed to act as a turning column, to find the left of the enemy's line, strike it in flank or rear, break it up, and tliat I would order a left half wheel of the line of battle to support him. In this attack the enemy was driven in confusion mim his position, and sim- ultaneous with it Merritt and Averill, under Torbert, could be distinctly seen sweeping up the Martinsbni^ pike, driving the enemy's cavalry before tliem in a confused mass tlirough the ,1 Google broken infanli'y. I tlieu rode along llio line of tlie Niiieteevilli and Sixili corps, ordered tneir advance, hhI directed Wilson, who was on the left Sank, to pnsli on and gain the valley pike southof Wineliester; EiWr wliieli I reiiimed to the right, where the enem/ wns still fighting with obfltlnacy m the open ground in front of Winchester, and ordered Torbcrt to collect his cavalry and chaise, which was dona aimulcaneoiiHly witli the inftintry advanOB, and the enemy routed. At daylight on moniirig of the twentioth of Septfmber the army moved rapidly up the valley pike in pursuit uf Ihe enemy, wbo had coutiniiod liis retreat during tiie night to Flsher'a hill, soutli of Siraahurg. Fiaher'B hlE ig the bluff immediSitely south of and over a little stream called Tumbling river, and is a poaition whiel) was almost impregnable to a direct assault, and us the valley is but about three and a half miles wide at thia point, the enemy cou-idared himaelf secure on reaohing it, and oonimeneed erecting breastworks aoroaa the valley fi^im Fisber'a hill to North mountain; so secure, in fact, did lie consider himself, that the ammunition boxes were taken IVoin the cnissoiia and placed for convenience behind the breastworks. On the evening of September twentieth, Wright and Emory went into position on the heights of Strasbui^. Crook norlli of Cedar creek, the cavalry to tlio right and I'ear of Wright, and Emory extending to the back road. This night I resolved to use a turning ooluinn again, and tliat I would move Uroolt, unperceived, if possible, over on to tlie face of Little North mountain, and le. bin-, strike the left ami rear of the enemy's line, and then, if HucceEiSf'iil, make a left half wheel of the whole line of battle to his support. 'J'o do this requli'ed much aeoreay, as the enemy had a signal staiion on Tbraetop moun- tain, from which he could see every movement made by our troops; tlierefore, during tlie night of the twentieth, I con- eealed Crook in tiio timber nortli of Cedar creek, where he remained during the twenty-first. On the same day I moved Wright and liraory up in the fi'ont of the rebel line, getting into proper position after a severe engagement bel ween a por- tion of Ricketts' and Getty's divisions of the Siith corps, and & strong force of the enemy. Torbert, with Wilson's and Mer- ritt's cavalry, was ordered down the Luray valley in pursuit of the enemy's cavalry, and, aftnr defeating or driving it, to cross over Luray pike to Now Market and intercept the enemy's infantry should I drive it from the position at l^ishar's liill. On the night of the twenty-flrst. Crook was moved to, and concentrated in, the timber near Strosburg, acd at daylight. on the twenty-second marched to, and massed in, the timber near Little North mountain, I did not attempt to oovor tlia Jong front presented by tlie enemy, but massed the Sixth siid Nine- ,1 Google MAJOK-GENEBAI, SIIEUIDAN's KBPOKT. 181 teentli corps opposite the right centre of his line. After Crook had gotten into the posiciorL laatnameil, I took out Riolietta' divis- ion of tlie Sixth corps and placed it opposite the enemy's left centre, and diiwcted Averill with liia cavalry to go up on Eiek- etts' front and right, and drive in the enemr'a sbirmieii line, if poaahle. This waa done, and the enemys signal officer on Threetop mountain, luistakinR BicketlE' division for nij turning column BO notified the enemy, and he made his arrangementa accordingly, whilst Crook, witliout being observed, moved on the side of little North mountain, and struck the enemy's left and rear so suddenly and nuexpectedly, that he (Uie enemy) Ruppoaing he must have oon.e across the moviiitains, broke; Crook swinging down behind the line, Hiclietls swinging in and joining Crook, and so oil tlie balance of the Sixth and KineteenUi corps, ttie rout of the enemy being complete. Unfortunately the cavalry which J had aent down the I.uray valiey lo cross over to Hew Market was unsiiceessful, and only reached so far as Millfurd, a point at whioh the Luray valley contracts to a gorge, and whicli was taken possession of by the enemy's cavalry in some force. Had General Torbert driven this cavalry, or turned tlie defile and reached New Mar- ket, I have no donbt but that w© would have captnred the entire rebel army. I feel certain that its rout fi'om Fisher's hill was such Uiat there was scarcely a company organization held together. Few Market being at a converging point in the valley they came together again, and to some extent reor- ganized. I did not wait to see tlie results of this victory, but pushed on during the night of the twenly-seeoud to Woodstock, altliougb the darkness and conseiiuent confusion made the pur- suit slow. On the morning of September twenty-third. General Devms, with his small brigade of cavalry, moved to a point directly north of Mount Jackson, driving the enemy in hia front, and there awaited the arrival of Gieneral Averill's division, Which for some unaccountable reason went into camp immediately after the battle. General Averill reached Devins' commanii at three o'clock, p. m., and, in tlie evening, returned with all the advance cavjilry of which he was in commar.d, to a creek one hall mile north of Hawkinsburg, and there remained until the arrival of the head of the infantry column, whicli had halted between Ddinbui^ and Woodstock for wagons, in order to issue the necessary raUons. ICarly on the morning of the twenty-fourth the entire army reached Mount Jackson, a small town on the north bank of the north fork of the Shenandoah. The enemy had in the mean time reorganized, and taken position on Uie bluff south of the river, but had commenced this same morning his retreat toward Harrisonburg; still, he held a long and strong line with the 16 ,1 Google 182 MAJOB-OESERAL Sheridan's eeporx, troops that were to coter liis rear, in a temporary line of rifle- pita on the bluff commaoding the piatsau. To dialodgG him from his strong position, Devins' brigade or cavalry was directed to cross the Shtnandoai, work aronad the base of the Massanutten range, and drive in the cavalry ■wUcli covered his (the enemy's) right flaoli:; and Powell, who had suceeeded Averiil, was ordered to move around hia left flank ma Simbecviile, whilst the infantry was rushtd across the river by the bridge. The enemy did not wait the full eseoution of these more- ments, but withdrew in haste, the cavalry imder Devina coming up with him at Newmarket, and made a bold attempt to hold him until I could push up our infantry, but was unable to do so as the open, amootli country allowed liim (the enemy) to retreat with great rapidilry in line of battle, and t!ie three or four hundred cavalry under Devins was anable to break tliia line. Onr infantry was pushed by heads of columns very hard to overtake, and bring on an engagement, but could not suc- ceed, and encamped alxiut sis: miles south of Jlewmarket fer- tile night. Powell meantime had gained the valley pike prisoners and wagons. This movement of PoweU'a probably forced the enemy to- abandon the road via Harrisonbui^, and move over the Keezel- town road to Port Republic, to which point the retreat was continued through the night of tiie twenty-fourtli, and from, thence to Brown's gap in the Blue Ridge. On the twenty-fifth, the Siitli and Nineteenth corps reached Harrisonburg. Crook was ordered to remain at the junction of the Keezeltown road with the Valley pike until the movements of the enemy were deflnitely aacertamed. On this day Torbert reached Harrisonburg, having encoun- tered Itie enemy's cavalry at Luray, defeating it and joining me via Fewmarket, and Powell had proceeded to Mount Crawford. On the twenty.sisth Merritt's division of Cavalry was or- dered to Port Republic, and Torbert to Staunton and. Waynes- boro lo destroy the bridge at the latter place, and, in retiring, to bum all forage, drive off all cattle, destroj' all mills, Jtc., whigh would cripple the rebel army or confederacy. Torbert had with him Wilson's division of cavalry and Low- ell's brigade of regulars. On the twenly-sevenlb, while Torbert was malting his ad- vance on Waynesboro, I ordered Merritt to make a demonstra- tion on Brown's Gap to cover the movement. This brought out the enemy (who had been re-enforced by Kershaw's diviaioo, wliich came through Swift Run Gap,) against the small force ,1 Google MAJOR-GENERAi. Sheridan's bepoiit. 183 «f cavBlry employed in this demonstration, wliicli he followed up ta Port Republic, and I believe crossed in some force. Merrttt's instriictiona from me were to resist au attack, biiC, if pressed, to fall back to Crc^a Keys, in which event T intended to attack with tha main force wliioli was at Harrisonbui^, and could berapidlf moved to Cross Keys. The enoiny, liowever, advanced with bis majn force only to Port Repnblic, after which he fall back. Torbert tliis day look postfesaion of WaynsBboro, and partially destroyed ttie railroad bridjfe, bnt about dark on the twenty-eighth was attacked by infantry and cavalry, re- turned 1« Stiimton and from thence to Bridgewaler via Sprlng- liill, executing the order for the destruction of subsistence, forage, Ac. On ilie morning of the twenty-aighth Merritt was ordered to Port Republic to open communication with General Torbert, "but on the snme night was directed to leave small forces at Fort Republic and Swift-ran gap, and proceed with the balance of his command (his own and Custer's divisions) to Piedmont, Bwing around from that point to near Staunton, burning forage, mill^ and such other pi'operty as wight be serviceable lo the rebel army or confederacy, and, on his return, to go into camp on the left of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, which were or- dered to proceed on the twenty-ninth to Mount Crawford, in support of this and Torbert's movements. September twenty-nintji, Torbert reached Bridgewaler, and Merritt Mt. Crawford. On the first of October Merritt reoceupied Port Republic, and the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were moved back to Har- The question that now presented itself was, whether or not I shonld follow the enemy to Brown's gap, where he still held fast, drive him out and advauce on Oharlotteaville and Gor- ■donsvaie. This movement on Qordonsville I was opposed to for many reasons, tbe most important of which was, that it would neoeasitate the opening of the Orange and Alexandria railroad from Alexandria, and to protect tliis road against the numerous guerilla bands, would have required a corps of in- fantry; besides, Iwould have been obhged to leaves pMall force in the valley to give security to the line of tlie Potomaa This would probably occupy the whole of Crook's command, leavrng me but a small number of fighting men. Then there was tlie additional reason of the imcertainty as to whethertlie army in front of Petersburg could hold the entire force of (gen- eral Lee there, and, in case it could not, a sutfldent number might be detached and move rapidly by rail and overwhelm me, quickly returning. I was also confident that my trans- portation could not supply me further than Harrisonburg, and therefore advised that the valley campaign should tc -'--'-- -■■ ,1 Google 18'i MAJOR-araERAL SllEUTCAN'S RBPORT. Harrisonburg, and tUat I return, carrying out ray original in— atructiona for the destruetiou of forage, grain, &,c, give up the raajorily of the army I commanded, and order it to ilje Ppters- burg line, a line wliicli I tl. ought the Lieutenant- General believed if a sncceasfiil movement oould be made on, would involve tlie capture of the Army of N'orlhern Virjrinia. I therefore, on the morning of the aixtli of October, oom- meiiced moving baclc, sti'etcbing tlie cavalry across, the valley from the Blue Ridge to the eaBtem slope of the AUeRhanieB, with directions ta burn all forage and drive oif all stock, £o.,as they moved to the rear, fuliy coinciding in the views and in- struotians of the Lieutenants-General that tlie valley sliould be made a bsiren waste. Tlie most positive orders were given, however, not to burn dwellit^s. In. this movement the enemy's csvalry followed at a respect- ful distenoe until in the viMnity of Woodstock, when they at- taclcad Custer's division anU harassed it as far as Louis brook, a short distance south of Usher's Hill. On. the n^lit of the eighth, I ordered Gleueral Torhert to engage the enemy's cavalry at day1%ht^ and notified him that I would halt the army until he had defeated it. In compliance with these instructions, Torbert advanced at daylight on the ninth of October, with Custer's division on llie back road, and Iferritt's division on the Valley pike. At Louis brook the heads of the opposmg columns came in contact and deployed, and after a short but decisive engage- )|ient tlie enemy was defeated, with the loss of all his artillery eicepting pne piece, and everything else which was carried ou wheels. The rout was complete, and wati followed up to Mount Jackson, a distance of some twenty-six miles. On October tenth the enemy crossed lo the north aide of Cedar creek, the mxtli corps continuing its march to Front Koyal; this was the first day's march of this corps w rejoin Lieutenant- General Grant at Petersburg, It was the intention that it should proceed through Manassas gap to Piedmont east of the Blue Ridge— to which point the Manassas gap raQroad had been completed, and from thence to Alexandria by rail; but on my recommendation that it would be much better to march it, as it was in flue condition, through Ashhy's gap, and thence to Wnshingioo, the former route was abandoned, and on the twelfth the corps moved t« the Ashby gap ci'ossing of the She- nandoah river ; but, on tlie same day, in consequence of the advance of the enemy to Fisiier's Hill, it was recalled to await the development of tlie enemy's new intentions. The qiieslion now again arose in reference to the advance on Oordonaville, as suggi^sled iu the following despatch: ,1 Google MAJOU-0ENEBAL (Clnaer.) W/SHiBGTON, October le, 1884, 12 K. Major- General Sheridan: Lleiiteiiant-Generfll Grant wieliea a position taken far enough south, to serve as a base for further operations iipoD Gordons- Tille and CharlotlesTille. It must ^e Ktrongly fortified and provisioned. Some poinl in the vldnitj- of Manassas gap would seem best suited for all purpoaea. lEGir^- Colonel Alexander, of the engineers, will he sent to consult ■with yon as soon as you oonnoct with General Augur. H. W, Halleck, Msjor-Genetsl. This plan I would not endorse, but, in order to settle it defi- nitely, I was called to Washington by the following telegram: Wabhisotob, OcMbor 18, ISSt. Major-General Sheridan, through Gener/il ^ugar : If you can come here, a consultation on several points is ei- tremely desirable. I propose to visit Genera] Grant, and would like to Bee you first. \j.\i,tiM B. M. Stanton, SeorBiarjot W»r.1 On the evening of the fifteenth I determined to go, believing that the enemy at Fisher's Hill could not accomplish much; and as I had u)ncluded not to attack him at present, I ordered the whole of the cavalry force underGenoralTorbert to accompany me to Front Royal, from whence I intended to push it tiirougll Chester gap to the Yirginia Central railroad at Oharlotlesvilie, while I passed through Manassas gap to Piedmont, thence hy rail to Wflshingloii. Upon my arrival with the cavalry at Front Itoyal, on the night of the sisteenth, I received the following despatch from General Wright, who was left at Cedar Creek in command of the army ; HB*nqUiMlB9, MtMlE MlLITJliT DmaioH, 1 MttjoT-Generel P. H. Sheridan, commanding Middle Mili- tary Division : Gbnesal — I enclose you despatch which explains itaelf (see copy following); If the enemy should be strongly reinforced in cavalry, he might, by turning our right, give lis a great deal of trouhle. I shall hold on here until the enemy's movements are developed, and shall only fear an attack on my right which I shall make every preparation for guarding against and resisting. Tery respectfully, your obediont servant, H. G. WBiaHT, ,1 Google 9HiatH>AS'a REPORT. To Lieuienant-General Early; Be refidy to' ntove' as"' sObHas my forooa join you, and we wilt crush Sheridan. LOHGSTRBBT, Lleutennat-OeaeraL This measage waatakeii Off the rebel sfgnal flags, on Thraef Top mountain. My first thought wna that it was a ruso, tout;- da reftictiotf, deemed it best to abandon the cavalry raid, and give to General Wright the entire strength of the arCny. I therefore oMefed the cavalry to returd and report to hicn, aad addressed the following note on the subject : Froht RoTiL, October 16, JS6t. JUaJer-Generat 3, G, Wrigkl, commanding Sixlk Army Genbeiai. — The cavalry is all ordered back to you ; make position strong. If Longstreet'a lieapatch is true, he is under the impression that we have largely detached. I will go over to Augur, and may get additional news. Close in Colonel Powell, who will be at tliis point. If the enemy should make an advance, I know you will defeat him. Look well to your ground, and be well prepared. Get up everything that can be spared. I will bring up all I can, and. will be up on Tuesday, if not Eooner. P. H. Shebidan, Mi^or-QeneitO. Ailer sending this note I continued through Manassas gap- and on to Piedmont, and from thence by rail to W ashington, arriving on the morning of the aevenleenth. At twelve o'clock M. I returned by special train to Maitinsbui^, arriving on the morning of the eighteenth at "Winchester, in company with Colonels Thorn and Alexander, of the Eo^neer corps, sent with me by Oeneral Halleek. During my absence the enemj" had gathered all his strength, and, in uie night of the eighteenthv. and early on the nineteenth, moved silently from Pishar's Hill, through Strasbni^, pushed a heavy turning column aerosa the Shenandoah, gn the road from SCrasburg to Front Eoyal, and agtun cecrossed iJie rivsr at Bowman's ford, striking Crook, who- held the lei^ of our line, in flank and rear, so unexpectedly and forcibly as to drive in hit! outposlf, invade his camp, and turn his position. This surprise was owing, probably, to not closing in Powell, or that the cavalry divialous of Merritt and Custer were placed on the right of onr line, where it had always oc-- curred to me there was but little danger of attack. This was foUowed by a direct attack upon our front, and the result was that the whole army was driven back in confusion, to a point aboat one and a half miles north of Middletown, a [e portion of infantry not even preserving a compaay- ,1 Google At about seveu o'dlocli: oii' the ntarsing' of Uie aineteentU' OeWbar, Bti officer on picket at Winchester repwted artillery: &liDg, but, suiipo^g it resulled from a recoDDoiseauce wUicB' Bail been ordered for this mortiiiig, I paid no attention to ie,and ■*ae uneonBciouB of the true position of aflyra unljl about niflft' U'clot-fc, when, having ridden through the town of Wincheatai-, the sonnd of the arliller}' made a battle unmistakable, and' otf reaching MUlcreeU^ one-half a mile south of Wiiiohester, the head of the fugitives appeared in Bight, tt'ains nnd men coming' to the rear with appalling rapidity. 1 immediately gave directions to halt and 'paek the trains at Mill Creek, and ordered the brigade at Winchester to BtrewvH acroSB the country and stop all stragglers. Taking twenty men ffom my escort, I pushed on to the front, leaving the balance, under General Forsyth and Colonels Thorn and Alexander, ttf do what they could in Btemming lie torrent of fupttves. I am happy to say that hundreds of the men, who on reflec- tion found tliey had not done themBelves jnetiee, came back 'With cheers. On arriving at the front, I found Mecritt'a and Custer's divis- ions of oavalry, under Torbert, and General Getty's division of the Sixth corps, opposing the enemy. I suggested to Genera! Wright that we would light oc Getly'a line, and to transfer Custer to the right at once, as he (Cuater) and Merritt, from being on the right in the morning, had been transferred to the left ; that the remaining two diviaionB of the Sixth corps, which were to the right and rear of Getty about two miles, should bo ordered up, and also that the Nineteenth corps, which was on the right and rear of these two divisions, should be hastened up before tlie enemy attacked Getty. I then started out all my staff officers to bring up these troops, and was so convinced that we would soon be attacked, tliat I went back myself to urge them on. Immediately after I returned and assumed command, General Wright returning to his corps, Getty to hia division, and the line of battle was formed on the prolongation of General Get- ty's line, and a temporary breastwork of rails, logs, &o,, tlirown up hastily. Shortly after this was done the enemy advanced, and froQi a point on the left of our line of battle I could nee his eolumna moving to the attack, and at once notified corps commanders to be prepared. This aasault fell principally on the Nineteenth corps, and was repulsed. I am pleased to be able to state that the strehgth of the Sixth and nineteenth corps, and Clock's command, was now being; rapidly augmented by the return of those who had gone to the rear early m the day. Eeports coming in from the Pront Royal ,1 Google 188 MAJOR-GENERAL STIEUTBAN'S REPORT; pike, on which Powell's division of cavalry waa posted, U} Uio effect that a heavy column of infantry was moving on that piko; in Hie direction of "Winchester, and that he (Powell) was retir- iag and wonld como in at Newtown, caused me great aniiety for the time ; and although I oonld not faily believe tint suclt a movement woulci be uudortaken, still it delayed my general attack. At four p. M. I ordered the advance. This attack was briU lianlly made, and, as the enemy was protected by rail breast- works, and in some portions of his line by stone feucea, bis- t ee was very determined. His line of battle overlapped gh f mine, and by turning with this portion of it on the fl k he ITineteenth corps, eauaed a slight momentary con- n This movement was checked, hovfever, by a eonnter- h ge General McMillans' brigade upon the re-entering g h formed by the enemy, and his flanking parly out off. ■w t this stage of the battle that Cnster was ordered to h ge wi h his entire division ; but, although the oi-det waa promp obeyed, it was not in time to capture the whole of the e cut off, and many escaped across Cedar oreek. S m taneous with this charge, a combined movement of the w drove the enemy in confusion to the creek, where, w g to he difficulties of cnrasing, hia army became routed. C te finding a ford on Oedar creek w^t of tlie pike, and D f Merritt's division, one to the east of it, they each m h crossing just aiter dark, and pursued the routed mass he my to Pisher'a Hill, where this strong position gave b m som protection against our cavalry ; but the most of his nsp rt tion had been captured th i f m Ced eek Pah Hill, a distance of ov th ee m 1 b g 1 te lly b ock by wagons, ambulance rtill y ca a. s, & The n my did not halt hia »i f ee t Fi h H II b t continued the retreat during th gl to IT wraark t, wh re his army had, on a similar prev cca mm t g h by means of the numerous toads tbtco geth] t Tiiis battle practically eniied h camp gn tl bh d h valley. When it opened we f p d y b tf 1 nd confident,, unwilling to acknowl Ig h t th 11 ra f the Union were their equals in co ge 1 1 wl t closed with Cedar creek, this i 1 d be rem d from his mind, and gave place to g d nd a t g desire to quit fighting. The very best troops of the T fed ra h d t ly b n defeated, but had been routed cess g I their spirit and esprit were d yd b g tl se results, however, our loss in officers and men was severe. Practically all territory north of the James river now belonged to me, and the holding of the lines about Petersbui^ and ,1 Google MAJOR-GKNEEAL SHEBIDAN'S BZPORT, 189 BJchmond, by tli& enemy, must have heen embarrassing, and inyited the questioa of good military judgment. On enlering the valley it W!S not my otgect, by flank move- tnenCa, Co make Lhe enemy change his baae, nor to move as far up as the James river, and thns give him the opportunity of making me oiiange my baae, thereby converting it into a race- course, as heretofore, but to destroy, to the bast of my ability, ^hat which was truly the Confederacy — its armies ; in doing *hi9, so far as the opposing army was concerned, our snccesa was eueh that there was no one connected with the army of the Shenandoah who did not so fnlly realize i^ as to render tlve issuing of congratidalory orders unnecessary; every officer «nd man was made to understand that, whea a victory was .gained, it was not more iJian their duly, nor less than tlieir country expected from her gallant sons. At Wimiieeter, for a moment the contest was uncertain, but the gallant attack of General Upton's br^adeof the Sixth corps restored the line of battle, until the turning column of Crook's *nd Merrltt's and Averill's divisions of cavalry, under Torbert, " sent the enemy whirling through Winchester." In thus particularizing commands and commanders, I only «peak in the sense that they were so fortunate as to bs available at these important moments. In the above-mentioned attack by Upton's brigade, the lamented Russell felt. He had been previously wounded, but refused (o leave the Held. His death brought sadness to ever/ heart m the army. At Fisher's Hill it was again the good fortune of General Crook's command to start the enemy, and of General Hicketta' -division of the Sixth corps to first gallantly swing in and more fully Initiate the rout. At Cedar creek, Getty's division cf the Sixth corps, and Werrltt's and Custer's divisions of cavalry, under Torbert, eon- fronted the enemy from the first attack in the morning until the battle was decided, still none behaved more gallantly, or exhibited greater courage Chan those who retiu'ned from the rear, deWrmined to reoecupy their lost camp. In this engagement, early in the rooming, the gallant Colonel Lowell, of the Regular brigade, was wounded while in the ad- vance en echelon of Getty's division, but would not leave his command, remaining untU t)ie final attack on the enemy was made, in wJiIdi he was killed. Generals Bid well of the Sixth corps, and Thorburn of Crook's command, were also killed in the morning, while behaving with conspicuous gallantry. I submit the following list of the corps, division, and brigade inmmanders, who were wonuded in the campaign, the killed ,1 Google ,1 Google