Major DeForrest, aid on Gen. Emory's staff, in his letter published in Harper's Monthly Magazine, of February, 1865, gives the following:
"Lieut. Gray, Company D, First Rhode Island Artillery, galloped up to a retreating battery and ordered it to face about. "I was told to go to the rear as rapidly as possible," remonstrated the sergeant in command. "You don't seem to know who I am," answered Gray. "I am one of those d——d Yanks. Countermarch immediately!" The battery was countermarched, and Gray was leading it off alone, when a squadron of our cavalry came up and made the capture a certainty."
As soon as we had eaten our hard-tack, we made ourselves as comfortable as possible, and tried to get some sleep; but the night was chilly, and most of the men were up at daylight. We rather envied our officers, who had wall-tents and plenty of blankets (part of the contents of the captured wagon).
About nine o'clock in the morning we drew rations, and soon had hot coffee, which put us all right again; but it was nearly noon before we could obtain grain for our horses, by which time they were very hungry, having had nothing to eat for about forty-two hours.
Capt. Buckley arrived in camp at about five o'clock in the afternoon on the 18th, from his visit to Providence with the men that were mustered out. He did not take part in the proceedings of the battery on the 19th, and was mustered out Oct. 23d.
Nov. 7th Elmer L. Corthell, who had established an excellent military reputation by long service on various fields, joined the battery and took command, having been promoted from First Lieutenant of Battery G, to Captain of Battery D. We found him a very efficient and conscientious officer.
We remained in camp in our old position at Cedar Creek until Nov. 9th, when we moved to near Newtown, and went into winter quarters.
On the 9th Early, hearing that Sheridan had fallen back, immediately advanced, and the 11th crossed Cedar Creek. On the morning of the 12th Sheridan sent his cavalry out on both flanks and they had quite a sharp brush with Early's cavalry, and with the usual result. Dudley's brigade of the Nineteenth Corps, and a small force from the Sixth Corps, were advanced up the pike to assist the cavalry. Early soon found that Gen. Sheridan was still in the valley, and promptly retreated to his old camp at New Market. This was Early's last advance in the Shenandoah Valley.