The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-07-27
Clusters
Alexandra Wa.) sentinel.l

The fate of General Custer has brought
yiyidly to mind a circumstance con-
nected with that weary and seyere cam
paign which, commencing on the Upper
Rapidan in the syringe of 1854, stretched
out in one long, sweeping battlefield
around through the jungles of the will
derness, the slashes of Hanover, the
pines of the Peninsular and the Dinwid-
die forests, up to the Amelia, Farmyille
and Appomattox. When active move
ments commenced in May, 1854, and
Grant had commenced his swing to the
left, Lee facing him in a parallel arc,
with Richmond as the object of uncover
ing to one, and of protecting to the
other, the first few days were ~signalized
by some of the closest cavalry fights of
the war. Grants cavalry had been
thoroughly recognized, and under
Sheridan, with such Lieutenants as
Custer, Torbert and Wilson, was a for
midable body. The Confederate cavalry,
too, wa in the flower of its strength AID
confidence. Each was feeling for the
enemy's lines in the dense forests of
Spotsylyania, and frequently sudden en-
counters were the result. In one of
these a regiment of Rosser's command
became suddenly engaged with a portion
of thatof Custer, at very close quarters,
necessitating a charge through a narrow
open space, up to the edge of a wood in
which Clusters men were posted, and
from which, being partly protected by a
fence, they delivered a destructive fire,
which, with their visible knowledge of
the enemy's superior position and
strength, made the Virginians falter.
Rosser, as was his won't, dashed into the
open field to rally them. OF command
ing and striking figure, he did not
dream that over that line of foes, direct
ing and controlling their fire, flashed an
eye like Mars to command, but impress
sive asa woman's to the claims of friend
ship, and which, even in the moment Of
bloody strife, recognizing him as an old
friend of West Point, was beaming upon
him in kindness and love. There was
many a horseman who wondered, that
day, why the enemy's fire SO suddenly
ceased, when Rosser, recognizing the
uselessness of afurther attack, withdrew
his men. But the next day, as they
kept moving by the flank, following the
Federal cavalry and the line of the
"swing," a farmer, whose house they
passed, handed a Confederate trooper a
note addressed to General 7. L. Rosser,
which had been left with him by a
Federal officer. The note was delivered
as addressed and read somewhat thus:
Dear -: THE name used was the old
familiar nickname of West Point, not now
remembered by this writer You expose
yourself too much o. the field, old fellow.
1 recognized you, yesterday, and with diff
iculty saved your life by stopping my fire.
Don't do so again, but live to laugh over
old times after the wal with your friend,
G. A. CUSTER.
P. ST. whipped Fitz Lee on Wednesday,
and intend to give you a good dressing the
first chance / get in a fair field.
AS Rosser rode along at the head of
his column of bold riders in gray, his
dark face lighted with a pleasant smile
as he read the letter, and he broke into
a hearty laugh when he reached the
postscript, remarking that "Fanny"
1.-THE nickname given Custer by his COM
rades for his fair complexion and waving
blonde hair, always was a good fellow,
but a little too fond of Dragging. Yethe
came near making good his intention, a
short time after, when he made a gallant
dash through Rosser's line at Trevillian's