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[188] sides in the dense darkness, and rushing into the camps with a fearful yell, just before daylight, October 19; and in less than a half hour, this Federal corps was fleeing, panic-stricken, having lost 24 guns and 1,200 prisoners. Sheridan was at Winchester on his return when the disastrous tidings met him, and, riding at full speed, reached his beaten army at 10 o'clock, A. M. He spent two hours in reviving the spirits of his men, and after repulsing a fresh attack on his left, ordered at 3 P. M. a general advance, which was successfully made, followed by a second charge, which was still more successful,—though the Confederates opposed to them nearly all the cannon of both armies,—facing the foe to the rear and driving them through Staunton, recovering the 24 guns lost in the morning and taking 23 others, with 1,500 prisoners.

The following sketches, which we believe to be authentic, were contributed, the one in 1878, and the other six years earlier, to the history of the Shenandoah campaign. We regret that we cannot give the names of the authors, but are pleased to present them here, as descriptive of the action in which our comrades, Charles Appleton and Joseph Marea, were killed.

...

‘The Federal Army of the Shenandoah was encamped October 19, 1864, on Cedar Creek; during the absence of its commander it was surprised at daylight at Alacken, by the Confederate army, under Gen. Early, its left flank turned and driven in confusion, the remainder of the army retiring, yet in good order. Gen. Wright, in command at the time, after having succeeded in restoring something like order among the surprised troops, seeing that the position they had fallen back to was an exposed one, ordered a general retreat to enable him to restore communications. The retreat was conducted in good order, and Gen. Wright had halted and restored his lines, when, at 10 A. M., Gen. Sheridan, who had heard of the disaster at Winchester, arrived on the field. He was informed by Gen. Wright of the dispositions made by him, of which he approved. The pursuit by the Confederate army had ceased, the men being occupied in plundering the camps of the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps. Gen. Sheridan arrived there to find that his army had been surprised and routed, but he found that the worst was over, the line reformed, and the army not demoralized. His presence lent an inspiring effect, so that, ’

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