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farm, near Berryville, and moved with the division, marching in two columns, in a westerly direction across the country to the Winchester and Berryville pike, which we struck three miles from Berryville. At this point we could hear the cavalry engaging the enemy on the west de of the Opequon River. After a short halt on the east bank, we rossed the Opequon at a ford some 500 yards south of the road and arched with all possible speed to the support of the cavalry. We und the cavalry skirmishing with the enemy three miles from Winhester, and we went into position in two lines in the rear and threw orward skirmishers to relieve the cavalry: Our lines were formed on he edge of a woods and on high ground at the head of a ravine runing from the Opequon. The troops went into position in the following rder, the line being at right angles with and across the Berrryville and Vinchester pike: The Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, on the left f the pike; the Third Division on the right of the same; the First Division in reserve; the Nineteenth Army Corps on the right of the Sixth Army Corps. In this position we had some artillery practice, and ur skirmishers were successful in reaching] a crest 300 yards in our ront, to which our artillery was advanced. This position we held until wenty minutes of 12 m., when the entire line was ordered to move orward on the enemy. This our division did with a like gallantry and uccess for a distance of one mile and a quarter, under a heavy fire of infanry and artillery and with both flanks exposed, as the Second Division did ot keep pace with our rapid advance, but at one time halted and lay own, and the Nineteenth Army Corps did not succeed in advancing to he line we occupied until about 3 p. m. We were at one time obliged fall back some 200 yards from the position we had taken, but the men were soon rallied and reoccupied the same ground, and with the assistance of Colonel Edwards' brigade, of the First Division, were so enabled to extend our lines as to protect our flanks. Our position was a strong one, and though the enemy made repeated efforts to dislodge us, using their artillery with great accuracy, we yet held our Position until the Nineteenth Army Corps, re-enforced by the Eighth Army Corps, was successful in driving the enemy in its front, and by 4 P.m. they had turned the enemy's flank, so that his lines were at right angles with the lines in our front. At this time we were again ordered forward, when the enemy were routed and driven in great confusion from the field. Our division moved forward until we held possession of the heights beyond Winchester, the enemy having fled in the direction of Strasburg. We went into camp for the night on the left of the Strasburg road, on the outskirts of Winchester.

In this action our regiment had 1 officer and 7 enlisted men killed and 5 officers and 26 enlisted men wounded. Three times on this day Were the color bearers shot down, yet the colors never fell. Col. John W. Horn, while encouraging his men to withstand one of the enemy's assaults, was very dangerously wounded. Capt. Henry J. Hawkins and John R. Rouzer are supposed to be mortally wounded. Lieut. Demarest J. Smith, while leading his company gallantly into a charge, as badly wounded, and Lieut. William H. Burns, while bearing our olors forward, was struck with a shell, crimsoning our colors with his blood.

At 5 a. m. September 20 we marched via Strasburg pike, keeping on the right of the road; halted for breakfast beyond Newtown, from which we marched to Strasburg, where we found the enemy had taken up a strong position on Fisher's Hill, south and west of the town. Here our troops were massed in a woods on the right of

the road and remained until about 2 p. m. of the 21st, when our division moved in two columns toward the left of the enemy's line, when my regiment was detached from the brigade for the purpose of supporting a portion of the skirmish line of the Second Division, which had been broken and driven back in great confusion. I was successful in driv ing the enemy to a line of works he had constructed of rails. At dusk, on receiving orders from the assistant adjutant-general of Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, drove him from his works. In this charge my men acted with great gallantry, and the enemy was so entirely surprised that be offered but feeble resistance, though I have reason to believe he was in considerable numbers. In this action I lost seven enlisted men wounded.

At 12 m. the 22d my regiment was withdrawn from the skirmish line and joined the brigade and division as they moved off to the enemy's extreme left, where the division formed in two lines (Second Brigade in front) and moved on, driving their skirmish line before us for threequarters of a mile, when my regiment was detailed to go on the skir mish line; formed a connection on my left with the Second Division and on the right with troops of our division, commanded by Major Spangler, of One hundred and tenth Ohio Volunteers. In this movement I was entirely successful in driving the enemy and securing a good position, where I was ordered to halt. This position I held until about 6 p. m., when the Second Division, on my left, and the Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, on my right, charged the enemy and drove them in confusion. At this time I received orders, by Lieut. R. W. Wiley, from Colonel Keifer to form my regiment in the rear of Major Spangler's and await orders. Up to 5 a. m. 23d neither Major Spangler nor myself having received orders, and supposing they had been sent but failed to reach us (as has since proved to be the case), we marched via the Staunton pike and overtook our brigade at Woodstock, and after receiving four days' rations we marched to one mile south of Edenburg, where we arrived and at 4 p. m. went into camp. At 5 a. m. September 24 marched for New Market, three miles beyond which we went into camp for the night. Most of this day our cavalry were skirmishing with the enemy. Marched at 6 a. m. September 25 on the left of the road; arrived at Harrisonburg at 4 p. m. the same day. Our division went into position in two lines on the east side of the town, where we are at present encamped.

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Very respectfully, &c.,

Lieut. JOHN A. GUMP,

CLIFTON K. PRENTISS,
Captain, Commanding Regiment.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 63.

Report of Maj. Joseph C. Hill, Sixth Maryland Infantry, of operations

October 19.

HDQRS. SIXTH REGIMENT MARYLAND VOLUNTEERS,

November 4, 1864.

CAPTAIN I have the honor to transmit to you a detailed report of the operations of this command in the recent engagement at Cedar Creek, on the 19th of October, 1864.

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Before daybreak the command was aroused by heavy firing on our left, and without awaiting orders the command was soon under arms. It soon became evident that the enemy had surprised and completely routed the troops on our left. Orders came for us to fall in immediately, wich ich order was promptly obeyed. We moved off by the right flank ar nd formed line of battle on the hill in rear of our camp and advanced ross the run, accompanied by the One hundred and twenty-sixth Ohio lunteers. We began ascending the hill, but soon found that the oops 01 our right had been flanked and were falling back, which also mpelled us to fall back across the run, which we did in good order, nder a heavy fire from the enemy, to the point where our line first Ivanced from. Here we halted. The enemy still advancing, we were gain compelled to fall back some 400 yards. In doing so two guns of aptain McKnight's battery were abandoned and fell into the hands of e enemy. We again advanced and retook the abandoned guns. The hole line then fell back opposite Middletown and there formed line, my ommand being on the left of the brigade. We then moved to the left, d after being in line a short time we fell still farther back, again oving by the right flank, and formed line one mile east of Middletown, onnecting with the Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, on our left, here we remained until the order was given to advance, about 3 p. m., hen the whole line advanced and drove the enemy from the field, my ommand following to Cedar Creek. Here we received orders to reocapy our old camp for the night.

The command went into the engagement in the morning with 9 officers 1500 men, and sustained a loss during the day of 4 officers wounded, enlisted men killed, 37 enlisted men wounded, and 1 enlisted man wounded and missing.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

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Capt. JOHN J. BRADSHAW,

J. C. HILL,

Major, Commanding Regiment.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade.

No. 64.

Report of Maj. Charles Burgess, Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, of operations September 19.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH NEW YORK ARTILLERY,

September 27, 1861. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that this regiment took an active part in the engagement on the Opequon Creek on the 19th stant, with the loss of 2 officers wounded, 6 enlisted men killed, 36 Wounded, and none missing, the nominal list of the same being inclosed. I have the honor further to report that the regiment took no Part in the engagements on Fisher's Hill, having been detailed as a Suard at the hospital.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Lient. JOHN A. GUMP,

CHAS. BURGESS,
Major, Commanding.

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., Third Div., Sixth Corps.

"Omitted,

No. 65.

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Report of Maj. James W. Snyder, Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, of operations October 19.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH NEW YORK ARTILLERY, October 26, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the following operations of the Ninth New York Artillery in the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864:

Our regiment was aroused at daylight by musketry on the extreme left of our line and in front of the Eighth Corps. I immediately ordered the men under arms. Lieutenant Wiley, of Colonel Keifer's staff, commanding Second Brigade, rode up and ordered the regiment into line. We formed line in front of our camp, stacked arms, struck tents, and slung knapsacks. The sick were sent to the rear, and, as the sailor would say, the "decks were cleared for action." We immediately moved off by the right flank by file right, forming a line perpendicular to the first line, and faced to the rear. At this time Colonel Keifer, commanding brigade, succeeded to the command of the Third Division, General Ricketts being wounded, and Colonel Ball took command of the brigade. I was then ordered to move the regiment by the left flank to the ground in front of our camp, and after halting a few minutes. I was ordered to countermarch by the left flank, and moved out and formed a line parallel and some 150 yards to the right and rear of our first line. From this position we opened fire and held in check the rebels who were advancing upon the knoll near our camp. At this time we were on the right of the brigade, with no connection on our right, and after a few volleys we were ordered to fall back and take a position on a knoll some 200 yards to the rear of this line. Here we again opened fire upon the enemy, whose colors could be distinctly seen be tween us and our camp, as they advanced. At this point their fire was very severe, but we returned compliment for compliment in the shape of leaden bullets. The ground was literally covered with our killed and wounded, but we contested the ground inch by inch until an aide from the brigade commander ordered us to fall back below the crest of the hill, which we did in good order. At this moment General Wright, commanding the army in the absence of General Sheridan, rode up and ordered me to advance and hold the crest. The command "forward" was given. The men responded with a cheer, and advanced with enthusiasm, under a galling fire in front and upon our flanks. The balance of the brigade having fallen back, and there being no connection on our right, our flank was left exposed to a severe cross-fire from the rebel columns, which had got almost in our rear.

Captain Dudrow, on the brigade staff, rode up again and ordered me to fall back. I pointed him to General Wright, saying, "The general has ordered me to hold this crest, and I shall obey his orders." Our fire, in the meantime, being delivered with so much spirit, had checked. the advance of the rebels, and gave the troops in our rear a chance to form a line. The line being formed we were ordered to fall back, and marching by the rear rank at a left oblique we joined the First Division on our right. We then halted, faced to the front in a road or lane, and immediately moved by the left flank into a piece of woods about half a mile to the left. There we halted, faced to the front, and sent forward about seventy men as skirmishers under command of Lieutenants. Flynn and Parrish. Again, under orders, we fell back and marched by

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the right oblique nearly a mile, when our brigade joined the Second Division on our left. We then faced to the front and the whole line advanced, taking position about one mile and a quarter north of Middletown. There we threw together a breast-work of rails, which we Occupied from 10.30 a. m. till 3.30 p. m., when the whole line was rdered to advance through a piece of woods, which we did in good order, he One hundred and twenty-second Ohio being on our left. When we were nearly through the wood and about to emerge into an open Held on our right a heavy fire of musketry and shell was poured into us and caused our whole line to waver. At first a portion of our left fell Dack, but they were soon rallied, and pushed forward and drove the rebels about three-quarters of a mile, until they, taking position behind stone wall, disputed our advance for more than an hour. A portion of my command, having gained a stone wall running perpendicular to the wall behind which the enemy was posted, delivered an enfilading fire, which threw them into confusion and finally into a perfect rout. Their officers tried in vain to rally them, while my men, cheered with the prospect of victory, pressed on after the retreating foe, driving them down through the ravine on the north side of the pike, and halted not till our colors were planted first upon the parapet of the rifle-pits in front of the Nineteenth Corps.

Mention of individual bravery would seem superfluous, for both officers and men did their duty, with one exception, Lieut. Weston E. Allen, Company F, who, having claimed to have been wounded in the early part of the engagement, left his company and went to Winchester, where he was found two days after, not having reported to any surgeon having any appearance of a wound upon his person.

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Some 400 men, recruits, who were never under fire before-in fact, never had arms in their hands only from Harper's Ferry to this place— fought splendidly and behaved like veterans.

It is due to the memory of Lieut. Orrin B. Carpenter, Company D, Who was killed in the early part of the engagement, to say that although Suffering long from fever, and but just able to walk, and having been repeatedly urged for weeks before to go to hospital, invariably requested to remain with his company, and when the battle commenced was found in line with his men. He was shot through the heart by a rebel sharpShooter while doing his duty, and now fills a patriot's grave. Peace be to his ashes.

Lieutenant Oldswager, Company M, but just promoted from the ranks three days before, was killed by a cannon ball when we advanced upon the crest. He was a noble and brave officer, and never flinched from duty.

Captain Howard was instantly killed by a cannon ball, the last shot that was fired from the rebel guns as we made the last advance near the Middletown and Strasburg pike, and when victory had crowned Our efforts. He died as all brave soldiers die, with his face toward the enemy, and will long be remembered as one of America's bravest sons. The corrected list of killed and wounded is as follows: Killed-officers, 3; enlisted men, 40; total, 43. Wounded-officers, 5; enlisted men, 160; total, 165.

I have the honor, sir, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. W. SNYDER,
Major, Commanding Ninth New York Artillery.

Captain BRADSHAW,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

17 BR-VOL XLIII, PT I

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