The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-08-15
Clusters chiyalry.

The fate of Gen. Custer has brought
viyidly to mind circumstances connect
ed with that weary and severe cam
paign which, commencing on the upper
Rapidan, in the Spring of 1854, strech-
ed out in one long sweeping battlefield
around through the jungles of the Will
derness, the slashes of Hanover, the
pines of the Peninsula, and the Dinwid-
die forests, up to the Amelia, Farmyille
and Appomattox- When active move
ments commenced in May, 1884, and
Grant had commenced to swing to the
left, Lee facing him in parallel arc,
with Richmond as the object Of uncov-
ering to one, and Of protection to the
other, the first few days were signalized
by some of the closest cavalry fights of
the war. Grants cavalry had been
thoroughly reorganized, and under
Sheridan, with such. h..lieutenantsa as Custer
Torbert and Wilson, was formidable
body. The confederate cavalry, too,
was in the flower of its strength and
confidence. Each was feeling for the
enemy's lines in the dense forests of
Spotsylvania, and frequently sudden en-
counters were the result. In one of
these regiment of Rosser's command
became suddenly engaged with por-
tion Of that of Custer, ..at very close
quarters, necessitating e'charge through
narrow open space, up to the edge of
the wood in which Custer's men were
posted, and from which being partly
protected by fence, they delivered a
destructive fire, which. with their visi-
Die knowledge of the enemy's superior
position and strength, madeEthe Vir-
ginians falter. Rosser, as was his wont,
dashed into the open field to rally Them
OF commanding and striking figure, he
did not dream that over that line of
foes, directing and controlling their fire
flashed an eye like Mars to command,
but impressive as a woman's to the
claim of friendship, and which event in
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 enc
my's fire SO suddenly ceased, when Ros-
ser, recognizing the uselessness of a
further 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 Con-
fed6rate trooper note. addressed to
Gen. T. 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 on the field,
old fellow. recognized you, yesterday
and with difficulty saved your. life by
stopping my fire. Don't do so again,
but live to laugh over old times after
the war with your friend.
GA. CUSTER.
Psi whipped Fitz Lee ON We'd
nesday, and intended to give you a good
dressing the first chance get ON fair
field.
AS Rosser. rode along, at the head of
his column of bold riders in gray, his
dark face lighted with 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 way
ing blonde hair) always was good fel-
low, but q little too fond of Dragging.
Yet he came near making good his in
tention, short time after, when he
made gallant dash through Rosser's
lines at Trevillian's station, ,and impress
ed the Confederate boys with the belief
that he was the most spirited leader of
their enemies. Alexandria (Va.) Senti-
mel.