The Battle of Cedar Creek,Va.
After Hampton's Battery and other union support sent the rebs reeling back into Virginia,
licking their war wounds on the way,
Hampton's again met up with the Main Union army that was now called the Army of the Shenandoah,
under General Phil Sheridan. Hampton's encamped and sent out reconnaissance near Cedar Creek for the enemy and
ascertained from the main force that the enemy had been whipped at the battle of 3rd Winchester,Va.
and the reb threat in the Valley of the Shenandoah was all but exhausted.
What a relief it was to finally know that we could sit back on our heals and enjoy a camp again
without worrying about the reb beggars death call to arms. Soon the whole army was headed our way to encamp also
as we were now ordered south to help with the stalemate at Petersburg,Va. Many of fine boy had already lost
their lives there in the past 6 months and many more were ready to defend the country to the last.
There is something heroic to our men it seems, as the lure of battle is now so natural that it
is expected. Thousands of bullets of every destruction whizzed by our heads so regularly that
without it, was to be seen as strange. Hampton's knew the valley like the back of their hands as we
marched some 3 thousand miles over the past 3 years and how many more we may yet tell.
We now have a 100 percent turnover ratio of men in the ranks on average from the carnage of war.
So many brave artillery men fought to the death to defend the guns and still today defend it with dying honor.
Our brave Captain Hampton looks down on us from the heavens at every battle, i surely know he must, and at the same time
is procuring our almost dead men to fight another day making them stronger as they go on.
The Union cavalry and more infantry arrived on the field and camped beside us and their presence felt as if they were sent by God
himself as a cushion of comfort for the men. The army had pushed the rebs way down the valley and dispersed Early's
army into a tangled mess and captured hundreds of men and many stand of reb battle flag was seen in camp.
If the rebs condition resembled the flags we saw, they surely had enough for good as the flags made better rags
than staff material. The army was so relaxed that we called back many scouts and Sheridan was heard
to be in D.C. dining and chatting to Lincoln over end of war details. It is said that Sheridan had to use a stool
to stand on, to look Lincoln face to face in conversation so they usually remained seated.
Men went around camps with captured reb flags and told of a gallant victory
soon and they could not wait to get to Richmond to be a part of the historic event. The army was now strong enough to cut off the rear of the army
and chase then from their very own front no matter what direction they retreated to.
All camp was quiet and the men got a good nite's rest after the long journey south. Suddenly before daylight,
shots could be heard, and then that dreaded rebel yell began the ball again! It was not even daylight and
and that dam Gen. Early was at deaths work again! He caught us before daylight sleeping, and men were running in their
sleep and all men were soon seen retreating and losing more men and equipment as the morning light approached.
This army was destroyed soon, and with no reenforcements near it, seemed a hopeless situation. Our guns were left on the field for the enemy to use as needed,
our very own guns! turned upon us quickly and firing away. A taste of our own medicine was soon seen as men began to fall.
Suddenly the cavalry began to reform and refused the line, they were heard screaming, you will retreat when the order is given...
that order will not be given... foreward....MARCH!
The army was then seen overrunning the unions old camp as the rebs were seen stopping to eat lisa's food.
The tide of the battle had now turned because a hugry reb cannot fight with the sweet smell of camp food
in the air. The coffee was the champion of this battle as the rebs were seen standing single file waiting their turn for the first cup of hot java in months.
Sheridan was seen riding toward us as his horse was foaming, yelling to dress the line and press foreward as we had more men than they and
we now had our leader at hand to finish this ball. We now swept them from all that was gained and it was seen that Hamptons Battery recovered all of the guns they lost earlier in the day.
The cavalry rode on saying that this time he would pursue Early's army unitil its total and unconditional annialation was witnessed in person.
The bugle of battle was echoed down the valley all that nite, and it became fainter and fainter until it was gone, hopefully for good.
Now we know first hand why Early was know to all as "Lee's mean old man" The Valley is saved!
Cedar Creek,Va. October 18, 1864
Hampton's Battery members Mike Gherrity and Joe Topinka...
many more Cedar Creek Pictures click here
Rememberance Day Parade, Gettysburg,Pa.