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238 The Bloody Sixth
Wharton who threw their divisions across Cedar Creek and drove into
the Nineteenth Army Corps. A Confederate observer described the
scene:
A more brilliant victory has not been achieved during the
\\'ar; it exceeded Chancellorsville. The eighth and nineteenth
corps, which Gordon struck first, were entirely routed, great
numbers slain in their camps, twenty pieces of artillery captured,
fifteen hunched prisoners, small arms without number, ivagons
and camps, everything on the ground. Everything worked like
a charm. Two-thirds of their amiy routed, nothing left to cover
their disorderly retreat but the Sixth corps and their cavalry,
which had not as yet been brought into action.
The Confederate cavalry had captured Sheridan's headquarters,
although the Union commander \vas absent in AVashington in con-ference
with General Grant. Everything pointed to a brilliant victoi7
for the Confederates.//^
At 10 o'clock Early arrived upon the battlefield and assinned direct
command of his army. Gordon resimied command of his own division.
For some unkno\\-n reason. Early ordered the successfid attack to
cease and an immediate concentration to begin. Although there was
some looting in the Union camps and some straggling and scattering
among the several Confederate divisions, no satisfactory reason has
ever been given for Early's action. The Confederates "reorganized"
^\hile Sheridan arrived upon the field and assumed command of his
army. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a Union counterattack was
mounted against the Confederate left. Despite the efforts of Ramseur,
Pegram, and other officers, the Confederate left flank was broken
and an utter rout ensued. Ramseur fell mortally wounded from his
horse Tvhile the "glorious fruits of the morning's vigor were turned
to ashes by the evening's delay." The guns which the Confederates
had taken Avere recaptured, along with thirty of their own. Many
ambulances, ordnance wagons, and military stores, together ^vith
hundreds of prisoners, were captured. The mortally wounded Ram-seur
was captured, carried ta-^T5elle Grove," Sheridan's headquarters,
and died the following day.M^
Early's army had lost over 1,500 casualties during the battle,
although Early would write Lee, "My men ran without sufficient
cause. . . ." Possibly no unit suffered more terribly than did the Sixth
Regiment. Colonel Tate was severely wounded in the left ami, a
wound i\hich put him out of action until the regiment returned to
Petersburg. Lieutenant D. Z. Hardin of Company A was wounded in
the right arm; Private Green Roberts of Company B was mortally
wounded in the head; Corporal C. Craige of Company G was killed;
Lieutenant G. R. ^faynard of Company K, the good friend of Private
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| Title | Page 258 |
| Full Text | 238 The Bloody Sixth Wharton who threw their divisions across Cedar Creek and drove into the Nineteenth Army Corps. A Confederate observer described the scene: A more brilliant victory has not been achieved during the \\'ar; it exceeded Chancellorsville. The eighth and nineteenth corps, which Gordon struck first, were entirely routed, great numbers slain in their camps, twenty pieces of artillery captured, fifteen hunched prisoners, small arms without number, ivagons and camps, everything on the ground. Everything worked like a charm. Two-thirds of their amiy routed, nothing left to cover their disorderly retreat but the Sixth corps and their cavalry, which had not as yet been brought into action. The Confederate cavalry had captured Sheridan's headquarters, although the Union commander \vas absent in AVashington in con-ference with General Grant. Everything pointed to a brilliant victoi7 for the Confederates.//^ At 10 o'clock Early arrived upon the battlefield and assinned direct command of his army. Gordon resimied command of his own division. For some unkno\\-n reason. Early ordered the successfid attack to cease and an immediate concentration to begin. Although there was some looting in the Union camps and some straggling and scattering among the several Confederate divisions, no satisfactory reason has ever been given for Early's action. The Confederates "reorganized" ^\hile Sheridan arrived upon the field and assumed command of his army. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a Union counterattack was mounted against the Confederate left. Despite the efforts of Ramseur, Pegram, and other officers, the Confederate left flank was broken and an utter rout ensued. Ramseur fell mortally wounded from his horse Tvhile the "glorious fruits of the morning's vigor were turned to ashes by the evening's delay." The guns which the Confederates had taken Avere recaptured, along with thirty of their own. Many ambulances, ordnance wagons, and military stores, together ^vith hundreds of prisoners, were captured. The mortally wounded Ram-seur was captured, carried ta-^T5elle Grove," Sheridan's headquarters, and died the following day.M^ Early's army had lost over 1,500 casualties during the battle, although Early would write Lee, "My men ran without sufficient cause. . . ." Possibly no unit suffered more terribly than did the Sixth Regiment. Colonel Tate was severely wounded in the left ami, a wound i\hich put him out of action until the regiment returned to Petersburg. Lieutenant D. Z. Hardin of Company A was wounded in the right arm; Private Green Roberts of Company B was mortally wounded in the head; Corporal C. Craige of Company G was killed; Lieutenant G. R. ^faynard of Company K, the good friend of Private |
