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FROM THE SHENANDOAH VAL1EYVISIT TO TBS OLD BAtTLB FIELDS.Old Jfteper County Soldier Who Foufht With Sheridan Write* to Ool. Meyerof Ble Trip to Old Battle Orounde.: Saumville, Va , July 17, 1901.Col. John Meyer-Dear Comrade:—According to promise 1 write you to tell y u of my visit to the memorable Shenandoah Valley, In Virginia, where as soldiers we served our country in the dark days of war in 1864. I first visited the Union Cemetery at Winchester, where many of our comrades who were killed at Winchester and Cedar Creek lie buried. Comrade Savage, an old veteran, is superintendent of the cemetery, and over 4000 union soldiers who gave up their lives for this government, are sleeping In this beautiful city of the dead: 2.187 of the green mounds bear the sad inscription “unknown.*’ I examined the register closely and found the names of Mylln, our first orderly sergeant, who died at Halltown. and Baxter who fell at Winchester: but Fred Andreas and A. T. Bales, killed at Winchester, and Dan Connor and .John Ham* mack, killed at Cedar Creek are among the unknown. They were buried on the field where they fell and afterwards taken up and brought to Winchester when in some way their identity was lost and their graves had to oe marked as “unknown.*’ I found the graves of Capt. Honsworth of Co. D, Capt. Heimenschider of Co. I, and Robert Greenlee of Co. G.I did not visit, the battle field of Winchester as it was too hot that day, but last week 1 made a trip to Woodstock, Edenberg, New Market and Mt. Jackson. At Woodstock I met a number of ex-confederate soldiers, was introduced to them and we had a very pleasant time. All had done service in the Valley, opposing our advance. Yesterday, accompanied by a distant lady-relative of mine as a guide, we started from Tom’s Brook, a small town four miles above Fisher’s Hill, for a drive to Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek. My companion on the drive was a little girl of twelve years at the time we marched up the Valley in 1864, and her late husband was a captain in the confederate army. 1 found the breast works at Fisher’s Hill but very little changed from what they were when we drove Earley’s army out of them nearly thirty seven years ago. The reason of this is because the confederate soldiers bold their reunions, camp-meetings and picnics eyerv year on this historic ground. They have about twenty-five small buildings in the grove.You remember when we went into the Fisher Hill fight, Crook's command of the 8th army corps went ’round and came down on Earley from the rear while we engaged them with strong skirmish line in front. We left our knapsacks and went in on double-quick, down the hill and through the creek. This creek is called Tumbling Run. On our right was the 176th New York, commanded by a German captain who had a hard time to keep his men in line. Crossing Tumbling Run near old man Fisher’s mill, full of excitement, we charged up Fisher’s Hill towards the breastworks, the Johnnies retreating leaving 22 pieces of artillery and some warm bread—the latter C. P. Rose gobbled and divided with me. As we went back to get our knapsacks, I found five or six hogs hid in a pen near the mill, which was reported to Capt. Atwood who said “go and get them!” We were obedient soldiers. It was then dark, so we borrowed a tallow candle from Mr. Fisher. As we charged him nothing for killing the hogs, he could afford to furnish the light while we did it. Well, on this trip I called to see Mr. Fisher, but he had “crossed the river” years ago. The old mill burned down some time ago, and is now being rebuilt. The late heavy rains have washed out many ‘ minnie” balls, and I bought several of them from the children who had picked them up on the field.We drove to Strausburg and then to Cedar Creek. The old battle field at Cedar Creek don’t look so natural —lots of changes since that October day when Phil Sheridan made his famous ride and turned defeat into glorious victory. It is all under cultivation. . You remember on the morning of October 19, 1864, our brigade was in line ready to start out on. a reconnoisance, when Earley's army fired the volley into the Eighth corps, surprising them and killing many of the boys in their tents. We marched across the pike and formed on a ridge to check the advancing confederate hosts—but were outflanked, It was then just coming daylight,and we had left our breakfasts for the Johnnies to eat. Well, on that ridge was a warm place: C. P. Rose, on my left, had a ball pass through h'shat: Oldfield, on mv right, was shot in the shoulder. The line higher up on the ridge suffered more than we did. On this ridge is a monument erected to the memory of the 8th Vermont regiment, with this inscription:•‘The Eighth Vermont Vol. Inft.. Oes. Stephen Thomas commanding brigade, advanced across the pike on the morning ot October 19. 18*4. Engaged the enemy near and beyond this point. before sunrise. Lost In killed and wounded 110 men: icolor-bear-ers shot down, and 13 out of 10 commanding officers fell. Number of men engaged. 104. Dedicated. Sept. ms. Gift of Herbert E, Hill.I think the 28th Iowa was formed right where this monument stands, and no doubt the 8th Vermont was higher up on the ridge where the loss was greater. About this time or soon after, our brave Col. Wilson was wounded and you took command. I do not remember the position or what part of the line the Twenty-Second and Twenty-Fourth Iowa Regiments occupied, and am sorry I could not have a comrade from each of those regiments with rne^on this trip, .lust above, on the same ridge, a farmer has built a new house and barn.After leaving this point, my guide said we would call on her brother, Albert Saum, about one mile from our camp and the ridge, and half a mile to the right of the pike as we go towards Middletown. So we pulled in for dinner—a feast good enough for a king—and a storm coming up, we remained also for supper. Then I said to them, “This pays me for the breakfast I lost on the morning oi October 19, 1864, and we will now call it square.”The ground we fell back over and fought on when the confederate army made their last stand is all under cultivation which makes it hard now to locate anything; but the point of the mountain where our signal light was, is just as high as it was when we camped on or near the banks of Cedar Creek so many years ago. And now I am reminded of the poetry written in camp by Comrade J. H. Smith: here is a part of it:“Old Earley came from Fisher's Hill With troops all he could rally;And thought. In absence of our Phil.To drive us down the Valley.Most cautiously he formed his lines To carry out his plans.Although he played It very line.It soured on his hands.Around our flank they slyly crept And opened ere 'twas light Upon the 8th Corps while they slept,And Curious was the light.After enjoying our visit with Albert Saum and family we started up the pike through Strausburg and Fisher’s Hill to our starting point at Toms Brook. I am sorry I did not get to visit old man Snicker at Snicker’s Gap. You remember we formed his acquaintance just before we waded the Shenandoah River at midnight years ago, in making our way from Washington City to Berryville, Va., to join Gen. Sheridan’s army in the Valley.Thirty-seven years have passed since the scenes which I have mentioned occurred and a majority of our old comrades have fought their last battle and passed oyer to the other shore: but this may be of some interest to the old boys who survive and who took a part in the great campaign in the Shenandoah Vailey in 1864, under the brave and gallant Gen. Phil. Sheridan. Hoping to see you soon, I am very truly your comrade and one of your old boys.Stephen a. Saum.Buffalo Bill Show and the Press.The newspapers of Newton have anything but a kindly feeling for the Buffalo Bill show which was here last Saturday. The story of their treatment is one of continued discourtesy from first to last. The promise of Major Burke, the advance agent, was not kept, and the usual and customary courtesies of all shows were not extended. They seemed to have the same feeling for the press as Vanderbilt is supposed to have had for thepublic, “The press be d -d.” Weadvise all newspapers doiug business with the aggregation to save time and trouble by getting their pay for advertising and tickets in advance.A Popular Pastor.The Christian church people at their annual meeting last Sunday, by a unanimous vote, extended an invitation to Rev. E. F. Leake to continue his pastorate here for another year, and emphasized the call with a substantial increase of salary. This is a compliment wTeli deserved. Mr. Leake is one of the ablest and most eloquent ministers in Newton, and during the year he has served as pastor of the Newton church he has won the esteem and friendship of all our people regardless of denominational lines.BRIOA1PenflflDiMrsstreFridfatsdelitak!hebana bionerig!knosenlt;Httlup,wal as i prei U Jess fax grei Bot sas. Bat tern Sta are one tior the to thei Nar ned “1 Ion* of fi L,whi saul Wa whe Gat you whi offe: Jc Nev wee whi Din in N Hat see Sun left Mor Ci wee thai bus! late mer was two etei Mrs Wa D for Pat a bo jure stri troi eve will pre J. you cla: bly was Eni Fis Pe? and D welt; lan intlt; tha ot are pec T has at 1 loai shij er i fur ern L M. Oil My Ha:lot$65(J,hadersForins»Aninfirudies
Newspaper Details
Newton Record
Newton, Iowa, US
Thu, Aug 15, 1901
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Scott P.
USA 08 Sep 2023
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