Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-18

The official dispatches which have been pub
lished from Major Generals Humphreys, Wright
and Sheridan are sufficient to show how vxoI-
oua was the attack, and how glorious the vic
tory. The fight commenced on the lett near the
BRIDGE on the Watson farm. The two regi-
menta sent out found themselves surrounded.
Col, Washburn, with his Massachusetts, cavalry
accompanied the force, Universal praise is ac-
corded to him and bis command, who fought
against superior numbers with great perlinacity
and endurance. But the force was not able 10
reach the bridge, which the rebels held, and
which they finally destroyed.
The forenoon passed with constant skrmish-
ing on the part Of the cavalry. The rebels
all the while--were throwing up iutrenchments,
working like beavers to hold the posron till
they could slip their trains past the point, for
an army in retreat must keep ita trains in the
advance. Lee was still holding on to the hope
that be could reach DanvIe, and this was tho
point where the final trial was to be made. lie
had pready been forced len miles out Of his
direct line of march. and II he failed here, he
must give up Danyille and strike west toward
LJnchburg From early morning till past noon
be held his ground against the skitmishers, while
the trains were hunying on
The attack by the "a corps upon Lees left
lank, or rather upon the rear of the retreating
army was bold and vigorous. The rebel line
was forced back, and foothold gained acrors
the creek The attack Of the Gsh corps was at
four o'clock in the afternoon. Gen Wright
was near Pierces church. Seymours division,
being IN advance, began the attack. To get an
idea Of virgins movements, trace the line Of
march from Dealonville along the road leading
TO BurkesVille, toward the south Suddenly
the enemy, in line Of battle is discovered on the
west bank Of the creek. Seymour troops come
TO halt, face west, move from the highway
into the fields, while Wheaton's division, whcn
has been second in the order Of mar hing, moves
down the road and takes position on The left Of
oeymour's. The remaining division, coming
up later, was III reserve.
The charge which Seymour and Wheaton
made ens irresistible The troops went down
the steep bank into the rayne, across the creek,
up the hillside beyond, dashed upon the lntrel ch
ments, leaped over them, capturing prisoners
by the thousands, and gun, and flgs, and fore
ing the rebel line back to second position,
half mile from the first.
The part which the cavalry had 10 this co.
gagement was most brilliant. They operated
on both tanks. Ewell, with the troops which
had been withdrawn from Richmond, received
the full force OF the attack. There has been
no cavalry charge during the war which has
surpass sed that Of Custar's in this attack, in
energy and power. twas terrible to the foe.
With sabres drawn, with horses upon the run,
goaded by spur and quickened by shouts till
they caught the wild enthusiasm Of their riders
TIL horses and men became frey centaurs, the
line sRept on The earth trembled beneath the
tread OF thousands Of hOOls; the air rang with
bugle blasts and soul-thrlllIng cheers. There
was the roar Of the cannonade, the fiery streams
Of grape and canister, the flashes OF thousands
Of mu,kets. Riders and horses went down, but
on, still on, with louder shouts, wildly, madly,
without fear of death, bent only upon breaking
the enemyS line-ot crushing it by one ponder
Gus blOw-they drove, leaped the intrenchments
shouting and sabrelng all who resised-gather-
Ing up thousands Of prisoners, who stood seem
ngly without power TO run away-amaIed,
astonished, supplied by the audacty OF the IT.
resistable charge which swept all beloro il. Il
was like the grinding and crushing Of ice IN
swollen river whom dam gives way. Privatss,
Lieuenants, Captains Colonels, Major Gene
rails, Infantry and artillery, all were over.
whelmed n an instant Miles Of wagons, sals-
sons, ambulances, forges, arms, ammunition
all that belonged to that portion oil the line
were lost to the enemy in moment. Generals,
Ewell kershaw, Deioe, BArtor, Gusts Lee,
Borden aud Corse were prisoners almost before
they knew it, Ewel and staff were captured
BY Captain Stevens Of the lst New York.
Ewell requested to be taken to Gen. Custar, to
whom he rendered the sword. Custar refused it.
The other officers rendered theirs, but Custar
refused to take them. 1t is reported that Ewell
SAID " Further fighting is useless lE is
wsnton waste OF lille. 1t white flag were to
be sent out, the thirty thousand men 10 our
army would surrender" lie asked that his
stal officers might accompany it, Gen. Cnstar
said that he had no authority to send out flag,
Corporal Lsmare Vi the "a Chic captured Gen.
kershaw, who was taken to Gen. Custar and 10
whom he offered his sword, but which Custar
declined TO accept. " | have met you on several
occasions in battle, and know OF no officer to
whom would rather surrender my sword, sad
Kershaw, wh1 rtqu. sted that 1t might be given
TO the corporal as an appreciation oi his gallant
ny.
| Karshav when taken to the rear remarked to
an officer that TIL within year he had believed
their cause was Just and that Providence was on
their side, but now he thought differently.
Sheridan rode up to Custer, and in the pres
ence Of ALL compimented him not only for his
gallan,ry but for the faithful performance Of his
work
Il was the combination Of circumstances, the
corporation Of the other cavalry dUi ions,
Crooks and Deven's and Merrt,s Of the 9Th
corps which euabled Custer TO strike such a
crushing blow, and the merit and honor should
be shared by all. Custer had his horse killed 10
the charge Lieut. Harwel, Capt Bamhart,
Lieut.. Narvall, Lieut. Main and Lieut. Custer,
all belonging to his staff, had their horses shot
10 that charge, which Of itself is enough TO
show how desperate aud terrible Il was how
officers aud men alike rushed reckless upon the
enemy's works.
Young Cuseg led tho 81 brigade of bis
brother DIVISION. lie dashed over the insreuoh.
ments and demanded BATHS flag from the as.
tonished rebels Guns were fired at him. 0ne
bullet passed through his face, but though bleed.
ing, blinded and almost stunned by the concus-
sion, he shot the man who had wounded HIM,
seized the dag and bore il off in triumph 1t is
the second he has captured since the cam
! paign commenced.
Detachments Of Pennington brigade dashed
upon the wagon trains and cut them out from
the rebel line. This charge, aad the attack oI
the 9Th corps and that Of the 81, given only ia
outline, sunihilate1 L.e's right wing, forced him
TO give up all hope of reaching Dinsle, aud
compelled him to make hassy llsht toward
Lyncbburg
One Of the prisoners subsequently captured
said Of IL;
You came round and fl US on 10Th ends, ana
dmks us, aud zee had 10 gii
LsEs sSC)ND RkTREAr
After receiving ,hi, terrible blow, loosing