2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Autograph Letter Signed, “R. Guyton” 139th Pennsylvania, 4p. octavo, Camp near Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 20, 1864, and reads in part: “...We were waked up yesterday morning shortly before daylight by the sound of the picket firing both on the right and left...musketry and cannon on our left told us that an attack had been made on the 8th and 19th Corps which lay on our left...When we got there we found the 8th and 19th Corps lines broken and flying in every direction as teh Rebs had crawled around the side of the mountain and come in on their left flank and rear. Our division was quickly formed in line of battle to check the Rebs but our line was not long enough and they got a flank fire on us and we too had to fall back...When Gen. Sheridan came up as fast as his horse could carry him. He had been at Washington and was juston his way back when he heard that the Rebs were driving us. They captured all of the 8th Corps train and artillery and pretty near all of the 19th Corps artillery...They captured from the 8th and 19th Corps as near as I can find out 26 pieces of artillery. But as soon as Sheridan came up I never saw a change in men. They seemed to be inspired with new vigor and cheers rang from one end of the line to the other. He said as he passed our brigade ‘Fall in here boys and we’ll whip them like hell in less than half an hour.’ He told some of the officers that he could drive the Rebels to the other side of Cedar Creek before night with none but the 6th Corps. Accordingly about 4 oclock we were ordered to charge on the Rebs and we advanced under a perfect hailstorm of shells, grape and cannister and Minnie Balls driving the Rebs from their hastily constructed works and driving them clear to the other side of Cedar Creek when the cavalry followed them to Strausburg capturing all their trains and about 50 pieces of Artillery including what they had taken from us...” Brief casualty list concludes the letter. VG.
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