The New York herald., 1876-07-25

OF General Custer. that shortly after he had com.
menced his charges upon General Kcrshaw's front,
General Divin, commanding the First division. same
corps, passed my temporary hospital then continued
on through the ravinc and communicates win Genera
Custer, aerward going into position some whcrcHa
len About half nour after General Dvn's u,aul
had passed General Merritt aud stan up and asked
me n had seen anything OF the FIRST division told
him what had seen. as stated hero Ho then inquired
OF what success General Chster had met with
reported all knew at that tniehc result of his nrsi
charge He seemed surprised and. as thought,
chagrined What afterward occurred told me by
Genera! Custer the day following The engagement and
IL was repeated in conversation bad last fall, pre-
cisely nrst related Mter lcsving me, General Mer
rit with his staff, rode where General Custer
was reforming his command, aftcr charge. and in
formed General Custer that he thought II advisable for
him to abandon that position. However he would not
insist upon IT, of YOU desire to remain here will
20 said ae o neig ng farm house, designating
the house, land await results. Nothing more
OF enerai Merritt until the following day Had the
result OF this days engagement proved disastrous u
General Custer who can tell under the circumstances
what m ight have happcnedr
Early morn Of the 9TH found US again IN our saddles
in hot pursuit OF tho enemy During the 9th and 7tt
captured small squads OF the enemy, who were
according to their Acknowledgements, getting hearth,
sick of the war. coming In OF their owf
volition. Nothing Of importance IN the way of sr
engagement occurred until the afternoon OF the sth.
Among the prisoners captured was one who seemed 10
be well posted and desired TO give information From
him the General learned that the enemy were loading
four trains OF cars at Appomattox station with arli
lery. ammunition &c. Just us VIC had learned these
staff officer came from General Merritt direct
ng General Custer to halt mass his mand and rest
BY the stnn officer General Custer sent his
piments and requested hin 10 state 10 General Merritt
what he had heard from this prisoner ana to Gen.
eral Merritt that 'unlcss get further orders from him
sha continue my march and capture those trains of
cars" immediately after the departure OF General
McrIitts stan Otcer General Custer espatched two OF
his own staff officers 10 reconnotre They quickly re.
turned reporting everything AS the prisoner had
stated We were now only two miles away from tho
station General Custer directed two regiments OF the
division to move forward at trot as advance guard
Tho balance OF the command followed at the same gait
The advance had orders 10 charge the station tho
men they came IN sight o 1t aud capture tho trains
As wc woro nearing the station and surely not mile
away,
AN EXCITING INCIDENT
occurred which must stop amoment 10 relate, as II
helps TO illustrate tho noble character of the man oI
whom am writing Two young ladies came rum ing,
screaming down the walk leading TO tho road, from
large and elegant mansion
ing to murder us!" They screamed with all their
might General Custer without saying word,
walk just in time catch In United States
form running from tho front door. With his hst he
almost annihated the miserable scaawag Then, rum
png through the house. he caught another making his
exit from the door Catching up he throw
it, hitting The brute IN the back of his head, thus
quickly disposing of the two wrctches In moment
he his saddle again, aud, alter hurriedly direct
ing Captain Lee, the Provost Marshal, TO place 3
guard on the premises, he charged down the road Al
terrific speed, capturing the iour trains less than
five minutes after TINS event Now commenced
brisk cannonadng from some rebel guns
near the station. General Custer through colorod
prisoners, learned Of their position, and, although be
was advised by one OF his brigade commanders and
other officers not to attempt their capture that night,
he at dsmountcd his command, rs he was
obliged TO 70 through the woods and heavy under
growth, caught up his headquarters nag, saying,
81 go; who will lolow9n They all followed, and the
result that, alter hard lighting, some thirty guns
were brought in by hand that night Tho next morn
ing General Lee surrendered The flag OF truce
towel pole--was brought TO :he command OF Gen.
cra George Custer and to him the desire OF General
Lee to surrender FIRST mmunicated. The towel
is still in possession OF the family, last tall,
along with many other relics OF that notcd event Re-
spectIuly, W. W. BowLBY,
formerly Surgeon Third Cavalry Division.