e down on his rear. Hayes
galloped down a ravine, flanked by mountains, until he came right upon
the enemy's guns. He rode back, ordered his division to charge with a
yell, and the enemy, seized with a panic, fled. The charge was one of
great impetuosity, each man trying to reach the entrenchments first.
Every gun was captured. The brilliancy of this victory consisted in
flanking the enemy from the side of a mountain, where Early said only a
crow could go. But Colonel Hayes climbed there on horseback, at the head
of his command.

CEDAR CREEK.

On the 19th of October, 1864, was fought the battle of Cedar creek, so
memorable in the annals of war. It wiped out Early and his army. It gave
the rebel general Gordon a seat in the United States Senate. It made
Sheridan lieutenant-general. It made Colonel Hayes a brigadier-general
and Governor of Ohio.

Sheridan, supposing Early's army too much broken by recent defeats to be
dangerous, had gone on a visit to Washington, leaving his force in
command of General Wright. It was posted near Middletown, in the rear of
Cedar creek, and on both sides of the Winchester pike. Ten miles to the
westward, beyond the creek, were the enemy's camps. Two things induced
Early to risk one more battle--the absence of Sheridan, and his own
reinforcement with twelve thousand men. Early left camp on the night of
the 18th, and, passing round with his entire army between Massanutten
mountain and the north fork of the Shenandoah, forded the Shenandoah at
midnight, and noiselessly formed in line of battle in the rear and on
the flank of the Union army. The plan of attack was a bold one, and
seemed the inspiration of genius. The ford that gave the enemy a
crossing, which should have been well guarded by cavalry, was stupidly
left exposed. At daylight, while Thoburn's division were sleeping in
their camps, Early's onslaught was made. Generals Gordon, Pegram,
Kershaw, and Wharton charged with the rebel yell upon the left rear of
Crook's entire command. The assault, under the circumstances, was
inevitably successful, and the whole Union force was hurled back on the
Nineteenth corps and the Kanawha division, commanded by Colonel Hayes.
The enemy overlapped both flanks, and pushed forward with irresistible
impetuosity. Crook's command had already lost seven pieces of artillery,
and was in rapid retreat. The men meeting the enemy's charge, knowing
that they were outflanked and the enemy had gotten in their