Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-06-02
CAVALRY.

y MQLh1I ACHAaE
The whistliDg Of svery ballet almost literally
causes some distant heart string to vibrAte not
\ drop Of blood is split on these consecTated
hills bat there tricklss forth = corresponding one
from some sympathising, though far distant,
Almost every man in this army, in every
fight, acts 50 heroicsliy that were his IA iso-
lated case, or we're he not such q small part of
tl4e great whole, his name would be written high
on the scroll Of fame. As it Is, the name only
Of The commander Of the organization TO which
he belongs is mentioned. Even the individu-
atty Of regiments and brigades Is lost IN that OF
division or corps. There isa necessity for this
veil understood by those who sre familiar with
the organisation Of armies, or to whom the
music of spheres (leaden) is not discOrdant
In passing from one corps or division to an
other, seeking to gather facts for the information
Of the people, 1 have been fOrcibly impressed
with the great change which has taken place
With reference to the precise estimate of the val
ne to be placed upon the three arms Of the ser
yics, infantry, cavalry and artillery. FoTmsrly
each arm was exalted by those belonging to it.
At The expense Of the others. Nov the tendency
ia to the Other extreme, or rather, either srm
seems entirely willing to do justice to the others.
This Is more apparent with reference to cavalry.
We AL remember how fashionable il was 20 dis
parsgs this arm by phrases and expressions
which, when translated into plain English,
showed that the infantry and artillery regarded
the cavalry % the holiday arm of the service,
good for show, but not much to be depended on
in "a fight. I confess, myself, ones 10 have en-
tsrisined and given expression to such views.
But 8 close observer of the movements Of this
army since the mastery retTograde movement
begun ct Dsltcn, and the sccHrAts compiler Of
the returns Of the various skirmishes and en-
gsgements which have taken place in the mean
while, must acknowledge that to the cavalry are
we, to = very great extent indebted, for the slow
movements of the snemy's advancing columns.
And the returns of the killed and wounded Of
the regiments who have been on the enemy'sim m
mediate 'front.' and flank, proves conclusively that
cavalry will fight, and if the occasion demands
it, SIGHT desperately.
But Of course this Is expected in this crisis Of
every Confsdersls soldier. yesterday heard 3
statement made by one high in authority, which
shows the spirit sctuating this entire army, End
which reflects peculiar honor upon the brigade
commander. Il was, in substance, this: That
Frank c.. Armstrong; cavalry brigade bad au-
thoriEsd their general to say to our ebisfiain
that they were willing to serve in any capacity,
whether as infantry or cavalry, on foot or on
horseback, in the open field or behind the breast
works, any wsy and every way in order to in
sure q complete and decisive victory. Il seems
be took them at their word, for on Saturday,
the 2sth May, as 1 was passing down the left
Of our line, 1 found the brigade dismOunted
aud holding eur extreme left. Il was 8 very
important p~ositios, for sn attack was momsnta-
My expected. I noticed that the infantry on
the night Of this brigade wers very merry at the
idea of cavalry beipg putinto b~resstworks, and
holding them against the snemy's charge. The
cavalry boys gave them the only answer they
coul5-"tEy rs, and see" Sure enough they
were tried, and we all did see to our entire salts
faction what stuff the 4" butter milk " men were
made Of Gen. Armstrong wss ordered to move
out in front Of his b~resstworks, advance for
ward until he discovered the enemy's force, and
then charge them.
Precisely st 4 P. NJ the brigade moved for
ward, and began to execute the right wheel,
necessary to get in the enemy's front While
the line Was swinging round, the enemy deliv-
cred = heavy FIRE from their entire line. Then
the charge was ordered, and under, by far the
heaviest fire / have heard on any portion of the
line, they charged CALAMITY forward. Fist
PinsOn, who was on the right, and Of cOurse
the pivot regiment, then BAllsntine, mex. the
% Mississippi, and then the 28Eb, reached the
works. It was soon over. The crack Yankee
brigsde-Lows's Iowa infantry-was driven
back with considerable slaughter. Prisons
regiment captured the four pieces Of artillery
which we're in their front, but as the horses were
81 killed, and the roads in their rear so thickly
studded with unde7R awtb, they could rot
bring them Cd. In twenty minute the brigade
lost enc hundred and twenty-five men. They
held the position until ordered to fall back, and
did so in as good order as could be expected Of
men who have been drilled only as cavslTy.
Forty Yankees came back with them, acting
/ suppose, as an escort for them. I cenveEsed
afterwards with several of the Yankee prisoners,
and witnessed their utter astonishmeRs on bSrg
told that the four lglments Of their brigade had
bsea driven out of their intTenchmsnts by a
brigade of cavalry.
Nothing would conVinee them of this until
their attention vas called to the fact that tie
men all wOrs spurs. This feat cecmplishsd
by ArnstroRg's brigade, ELECTS general COM
mendstiOn along down the line whenever it is
mentioned.
1 heard yeBterday when the enemy were pres
sing forward at Adsirsville on the l7lh instant,
too rapidly fer our comfort, the same brigade,
ColonelR A Pinson, commanding, in absence
of General Armstrong, was moved rapidly to
the front and right, dismOunted and ordered TO
hold the position at all hazards. They did so
and fought 50 well, that the commanding gene
raj sent q staff officer three times, with an or
der mot to 6ght so hard; not to make an in
fAntTy fight Of it." Their loss on this occasion
was thirty. Since the I7tb, the day the brigade
reached the main army, their less has been enc
hundred and Hsyeniy-One men.
have no doubt that every brigade Of cavalry
with this army viii do equally Is well when
ever called upon. The truth Is every man in
this army, rem the private to.ths general, seems
to be, and is, in earnest, and is determined to
whip the SIGHT. 1 have not heard in this entire
arny as nue. grumbling and fault finding as 1
used to hear in a regiment while at Columbus
and Bowling Green. Let the citizens do their
duty-sse 70 II that we have tho necessary sup
plies, and depend upon it we win do ours.
MEMPHIS.
= GaIIsai AchIsvemsas
From ths Macon Telegraph