The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-08-03

TO the band. 1t was ordered to the |
front, stationed where bullets whizzed |
past their ears, and the General remark
ed: 'iriih-.3 50
"When you see me draw my saber
do you strike up Yankee Doodle, and
play for all she's worth"
He put himself at the head of the
brigade, drew saber, and, as the band
struck up, the troopers charged the
ford, crossed it, and routed the sharp
shooters in no time at adj.
"oUT OF TINE
At Bristow Station the gunners of a
field battery received such a vigorous
reply from another in the hands of the
enemy that the men wavered little.
Where's my band?" shouted Cusr
ter, and when the leader had reported
he was ordered to take position beside
the battery and give the gunners some
thing lively. The band went down, /
every man wishing he was his horn or
back in Michigan. The guns kept roar
inc, and while there is no doubt that
ever be found who heard a note. BY
and by a shell came screaming over
their heads, and they all squatted, y
the base drummer went one better and
STAYED down. The very next missile
went plump through his abandoned
drum, taking out both heads.
"That beat was out of time" laugh
ed Custer, and he permitted the band
to retire.
''I'LE DIE TRYING"
Trevelyan Station was probably the
fiercest cavalry fight of the war. Men
on both sides charged and cut and
hacked as never before or after. 1t
was man to man and horse to horse,
and a charging squadron had no sooner
reformed than they were compelled to
meet charge The Confederates had
infantry to back them; they were supe-
rior in numbers, and while the day was
drawing to a close Custer found his
command surrounded. The Confeder-
ates counted onubagging the entire
force, and they had good reasons for so
believing. There was only one way
out; that road was to be cut with sa-
beers. In council with his brother-off-
GERS Custer pointed to battery which
had Just opened fire and said:
''There is our road, right over that
battery" s-r-..-.-
Ordering up the band, he asked for
s''Yankee Doodle, the best you know
how" and history tells how the troop
ers followed their leader out of the trap.
1t was years ago, but if one were to
look over the list of men reported with
s'saber cuts on the head" his blood
would Jingle as he realized how hot 1t
was.
RETALIATION.
1t was strict Justice, judged by the
old Persian law, but no soldier of the
brigade can recall the affair at Front
Royal without feeling of regret that
it should have happened. Quite large
number of Michiganders were detailed
to guard property belonging to Confed-
crates, and, while in the exercise of this
duty, about score of them were killed
by Mosby's troopers. 1t is claimed on
the one side that these men we're caught
foraging, and On the other side that they
were shot down on their posts of duty,
or snatched off and hung by the inhu-
man portion of the ire ular cavalry.
At any rate they were killed, and their
| taking off aroused the Indignation of
both men and officers. At Sheppards-
town we captured twelve or thirteen
| Confederates, who were identified as
| belonging to Mosby's command, and
there was fierce cry for retaliation.
The prisoners were turned over to the
men, five or six of them were at once
swung up, and the rest, after being
| turned free in field, were shot down
as they ran for their lives. II was san
eye for an eye and tooth for tooth;"
| but retaliation is terrible thing.
JAUNTY AND JOLLY.
There were few officers in the army
who had such a bright side for every
thing. A reverse stung him for mo-
ment, and then, to use his own words,
'sThat's all right; they haven't seen me
for the last time!" His hearty laugh,
floating back to weary men, seemed TO
revive them, and there was new reason
for loving him. While he was a strict
disciplinarian, he was neither a mar
tinet, nor did he regard it necessary to
shut his jaws together, scowl tiereely
and seek to make his men tremble with
awe in his presence. Some generals
pursued that policy, and some troops
were whipped every time they formed a
battle line. General Custer could hold
his dignity and distance and yet speak
personally with rank and file.
when men have pounded the saddle
for days at time without any g let
up" when horses are worn down,
riders clear tagged out, and no pros
pect of rest, then a good man may do a
desperate thing in his despair. Such
an instance came under the writer OBJ
servation one day in the Shenandoah
Valley. Custer was killing men and
horses in his desire to locate each and
every one of Early's outposts, when, as
we rode along turnpike, a hungry
soldier suddenly spurred his horse to
the front, rode up beside Custer, and
drawing a.slice of pork from his haver-
sack, thrust it out, and tiercely asked:
General Custer, where in - :
your Commissary?''' it
! "Here she is!'' shouted the General
in reply, fishing up rusty g hard tack
from his pocket. "Here she is, and
I'll trade you some of my hard tack for
some of your pork -
That trooper is still living, and when
he heard of Clusters death ne wept like
a child.
An Inquiring Husband.
| - -. d. = LTD h., 4Ia Ce,,t;93eJ