Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-01-20
Vol XVI Whole No. 7S1. No. 3.

i
an opposite course to the crowd
through the thick of which he was
making his way. The glance of 9th
ers may have been momentarily ar.
rested, as was mine, by the sight OF
this solitary horseman but it was 50
unimportant a matter that no one
thought Of calling a comrad's atten-
ton to it. The firing in our front had
now become exceedingly severe, and
we expected every moment that the
enemy would show themselves, charge
and attempt to dislodge us from our
position. But they did not then, nor
ever afterward in that valley. Their
opportunity OF ''drivlng" us ouS of the
Garden Of Virginia was lost, fo:. it
was open only about ten minutes lon
ger. While we lay waiting for them a
dozen or more voices in our rear whin-
ed out second feeble, disjointed ..Ua-
a-ay hoo-ray." and there was some
change IN the aspect of the crowd
Struggling along the road ana the fields
nearest Newton. | noticed that the
rider already mentioned had turned off
the hard. dusty causway. and was gal
iopinS along the road-margin upon the
brown turf. But he was still coming
toward us, while the groups as he pass
ed either halted or turned and followed
by twos and thrces, i'll his wake, rs if
returning 10 the army. The horseman
could be seen ut intervals to take off
ms hat and wave it above his head.
while the stragglers cheered in res
ponsc. Some one in our ranks remark
Ell, That fellow has got heavy load
oil commisary inside his shirt he has"
Still at gallop his horse came on,
with long sweeping lunges, though he
was not galloping fast, his pace being
more noticeable for its stretch than quick
movement. a great number of our
troops now noticed him, but still paid
him only the attention that might be
given TO n drunken man making a show
OF himself on horseback At this time
second horseman appeared upon the
hills just emerging from Newton. and
n full haif-mile to the rear of the first.
lie, too, seemed to be riding at a hard
gallop. as if trying to overtake the
other. Just then attention was called
to the front by Il spluttering fusilade
from the enemy's sliirmish line that
was being thrown forward. and as they
came slowly on we gave them 4 yollcy
IN return. Then single shell from
the battery on our right dropped aud
burst IN their midst, causing them u
retire, and as they Withdrew two or
three more shells passed over their
heads and exploded behind little
ridge. under cover OF which we beliey-
ed them to be massing.
y cheer again rising in our rear. but
this time stronger and more continuous,
caused hundreds OF u> to look back.
The solitary hor>cman was within five
hundred yards of H.. and the herd, of
stragglerS were still Struggling, but they
struggled to the front, u manuruvrr -
unexpected ~ to a-tou>h the oldest Of
our veterans. And cutting through
among them down the Newton slope
came iiaIi-a-dozcn other hor>cmcn strung
OUT ~ racc-cour-e order bur no two OF
them widely separated, A. they urged
cr, aloug the gray roadway The
second rider was nearly Il mile ahead OF
these, " hile himself II good halt-milr
behind the foremost, Who was now rap
idly approaching our lines, ~ Inc came
close enough for hi, feature, to bc dis
tlngui,hcd, we could see they were ami
mated to the highest pitch OF anxiety
and carncstncss, and with hi, body
ri lao. ,.I
his horses ribs couvui-iycly between
his knees. The horse, a splendid black
charger. was evidently laboring, ~ the
long swinging gallop and di,tendcd neck
plainly testified.
In another instant the strange horse
man came sweeping up to our lines, Il
dozen yards to the left OF where | and
my comrade stood. As he approached
he once more raised his hat and waved
it i'll the air We could see his lips
move with great apparent energy; but
we could not hear his voice amidst the
firing and confusion. There was moth
ing III his dress or appearance To have
attracted particular attention. lie Wore
the uniform of an officer-thc coat
double-breastcd. with the buttons in
thrces; while his hat was the full dres.
army one with the folded crown. His
attitude was that of a man crouching
forward and half kneeling on the ribs of
his horse, his left hand clutching the
bridlercins with a grasp OF iron. AS
he looked right and left from under the
broad slouchcd brim OF his beaver. the
remarkable expression of his features
was that OF "A severe energy. But as lie
swept athwart our line. once more rails
ing his hat and waving il in the air that
bright dark eye that seemed to flash up
on everything al once made him re-
menbercd. That man had been seen
scores OF times by that army. surround
ed by Il glittcring staff and followed by
"a '>wallow-taiP' pcnon-his head quar-
ters flag of red and white, with two
stars. The troops recognized him now
and thousand voices shouted as from
one throat:
..lr's Sheridan-lIooravn p
a cry ejaculation rose quickly along
the lines As he wheeled back through
them, and swept on over hillock and
down the hollow to the right. That
staunch Gordon of the Sixth, that but
moment before had not heart to give a
single cheer in the face of the over
whelming foe, hammering at them for
five long hours, now found outlet for
their feelings in mingled shouts of JOY,
defiance and revenge. Had Michael
with his legions come sweeping from
the clouds to sustain us in that fearful
fray, his advent could not have inspired
greater confidence and enthusiasm into
the ranks OF our faltering line.
Away to the right went the sweating
black steed, and both he and his rider
were soon lost to our sight, bnt the pro-
longed cheer, louder at interval, told
how they were greeted till the shouts of
sautation grew fainter and fainter, at
length dying away in the distance