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393 Series I Volume XLIII-I Serial 90 - Shenandoah Valley Campaign Part I

Page 393 Chapter LV. THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGN.

I understand the predicament and told him we must withdraw to where we could do something, and he agreed to it, and carried out the order first given to withdraw. The regiment then marched double-quick to the foot of the hill below fortifications, where it was formed and advanced to a favorable position to await the pursuit of the enemy; finding, however, all the other troops had withdrawn and were out of sight, the regiments was then ordered right about and commenced a rapid retreat. Finding we were flanked all along down on our right and subjected to a heavy fire, we bore to the left and fell back upon the Nineteenth Army Corps, with which the regiment co-operated in checking the advance of the enemy. by this time the regiment was very much broken and scattered, and myself entirely exhausted and unable to walk, I loosed an old horse, and by the assistance of a friend made my way back until I found a small squad making a stand opposite lower end of Middletown. here I stopped and aided in stopping stragglers, until a considerable portion of the Army of West Virginia arrived. We were not actively engaged in any other part of the operations of the day. respectfully submitted.

HENRY H. WITHERS,

Major Tenth West Virginia Vol. Infantry, Comdg. Regiment.

Lieutenant W. H. H. KING,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Third Brigadier, First Infantry division.

ADDENDA.


HEADQUARTERS TENTH WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS,
Cedar Creek, October 23, 1864.

Lieutenant WILLIAM H. H. KING,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Third Brigade, First Infantry Division:

LIEUTENANT: In obedience to circular order dated headquarters Third Brigade, First Infantry Division, Cedar Creek, Va., October 22, 1864, requiring a statement respecting the conduct of officers of the different regiments of the brigade, in the late battle of the 19th instant, I have the honor to state: That Lieutenant Colonel M. S. Hall was in command of the Tenth West Virginia and I was acting in my legitimate capacity as major of the regiment. Owing to the suddenness of the surprise I was left without a horse, and, from the distance the regiment retreated, I was completely exhausted, and was taken by the lieutenant-colonel commanding to the top of the hill on which the Nineteenth corps was encamped, from which point I made my way to the rear with the mass that seemed to be making in that direction, and by the assistance of an old horse, led by Captain Williamson, succeeded in getting to the rear until I saw the first squad who had determined to make a stand, and there I stopped and aided in collecting stragglers. I was thus prevented from seeing the conduct of the officers of the regiment after the regiment became scattered and broken. Up to this time all seemed to do their duty alike. I know of but two officers of the regiment who went far to the rear, one was Lieutenant Thomas Hess, who was excused from duty by the surgeon of the regiment, and the other, Lieutenant I. C. Burbridge, Company A, both of whom got as far as Winchester, Va., and returned to the regiment the following morning. The history of Lieutenant Burbridge is a follows: Being left sick at Summit Point, W. Va., on the 19th of September, and afterwards on the 21st of same


Page 393 Chapter LV. THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGN.