CHAPTER XVI.
The Pursuit—Congratulatory Order—Fisher’s Hill—Gen. Emory—Mount Jackson—Mount Crawford—Cedar Creek—Build Breastworks—Surprise—Battle of Cedar Creek—Fall back to Kearnstown—Martinsburg—Thanksgiving.
THE battle was won, and now came the pursuit. Col. McCauley assumed the command of the third brigade, which broke camp at daylight of the 20th, and began the march up the Valley, reaching Strasburg in the evening. The next day, congratulatory orders from the President and Gen. Grant were read to the troops; and in the afternoon, the regiment changed camp, and took a new position on the hills overlooking Strasburg. The enemy were strongly entrenched on Fisher’s hill, in a position considered almost impregnable; but they were not allowed to remain in undisturbed possession long. At daylight, on the 22d, the Nineteenth Corps moved up in front, and constructed breastworks, driving in the rebel skirmishers from their rifle-pits. The Eighth Corps, passing up the north side of the mountain, took the enemy completely by surprise, while the Nineteenth Corps charging in front, in three lines of battle, cheered on by Sheridan, drove them in confusion from their strongholds. It was near night, when the rebels fled; and the pursuit was kept up till morning, when Woodstock was reached.
In the heat of the pursuit, the advance forces were fired into by an ambush, and one man instantly killed. Some confusion ensuing, Gen. Emory rode up, and inquired what regiment it was. “Thirty Eighth,” was the reply. “Just the regiment I want,” said the old veteran; and he immediately formed the regiment in line of battle across the pike.
Soon after, it was sent forward to skirmish, and marched in that manner during the night, reaching Woodstock in the morning, and remained there till noon. Continuing the march, the brigade went into camp at night beyond the beautiful little town of Edenburg. The next day’s march (in column by brigade) was a fatiguing one, the Nineteenth Corps being obliged to make a flank movement at Mount Jackson, to drive the rebels from a thickly wooded hill beyond the Shenandoah River; and upon going into camp beyond Newmarket, the rear-guard of the retreating enemy was in sight.
On Sunday, 25th, the brigade reached Harrisonburg, which was then full of wounded rebels, and remained quietly in camp until the 29th, when the Nineteenth Corps and one division of the Sixth Corps marched to Mount Crawford to support a cavalry movement, the Thirty Eighth acting as flankers, and being detailed at night as picket. The next day, the entire force moved back to Harrisonburg, having destroyed a great number of barns and mills.
During this march up the Valley, rations were often short, the supply-trains not being able to keep up; and the army was obliged to live partly on the country. The fine apples were especially prized after the long abstinence from vegetables and fruit; and the premium sheep afforded rich repasts to the hungry boys, who seldom stopped to inquire whether they were of the long or short wool species. Indeed, some of the city boys of the Thirty Eighth were not adepts in agricultural matters, or one of them would not have approached a “lord of the herd” with a coaxing “So, mooly; so, mooly,” his dipper carefully concealed behind him.