The New York herald., 1876-07-25
CUSTER AT APPOMATTOX.
THE PURSUIT OF LEES CoLUMNs-rHE DASH
AND DARING OF TIE YELLow-HAIRED LEADER
ILLUSTRATED.

THE PURSUIT OF LEES CoLUMNs-THE DASH
AND DARING OF THE YELLow-HAIRED LEADER
ILLUSTRATED.
NEW YORK, July 81, 1876
To THE EDITOR rHE HsRALD:--
AT this time. VIXEN the nation, pausng in the midst
OF heated political campaign mourns tho loss Of the
brave man who though young in years, was old IN tho
service Of bis country, "reminiscences of his gal
lantry and daring displayed during the final effort of
General Leo to hold up the tottcrng OF the Con-
tedcracy may prove unintcresting. or thom can
only say l saw that OF which write.
rHK cAPruRg OF KKRsHAw
Late In tho afternoon Of March 81, 1865, after a
fatguing march through the mud, arrived at Din
widdie Court House Here we learned of the disaster
that hal befaen the First cavalry division. They had
met the enemy Infantry and had been repuscd with
severe loss. In iact may say thoy were in q some-
what domorazed condition when arrived Gen.
eral Custer, with his band playing the
tional airs, rode forward to the front and
placed hts commend in position. Tho enemy
reireated within their fortications at Five
Forks, leaving q strong skirmish line in
front We learned aftcrward from prisoners taken
that the enemy hearing our band play supposed the
infantry had arrived to the support Of cavalry.
Early on the morning OF the LIST of April the COM
mand moved forward slowly, skirmishing with tho
About sundown, the Filth corps having arrived and
been placed position by General Sheridan himself,
the charge made and the encmy's works carried.
Tho loss Of the Third cavalry division, killed and
wounded, was quite considerable.
HEADED ny CUSTER,
they were FIRST In tho cnemy's works. lcvying upon
the guns small arms and battle flags Richmond was
evacuated that night Nothing OF Importance oc.
Cured until tho morning OF the 5th oil AtsiL pro.
pose going little INTO detail regarding this most u-
portant engagement We had been in constant pursuit
OF the enemy day and night occasionally coming up
with their guard at nighfall and after little
skrmsh would merely bivouac for the night and
dawn would find again alter them. Early ON tho
morning above mentioned our command was water.
ing aud massing when a sad officer from General
Wesley Merritt, then commanding the cavalry corps,
with orders directing General Custer
move forward at once with his command and
attack the enemys wagon train at certain point
which he, the stat officer, would designate General
Custer, turning his stan, selected convey the
order watering the command and direct the
different brigade commanders 10 forward their
msnds at a roL When reached the road again. after
having delivered the ORDERS found General Custer at
the head OF hts column returning. learned from him
aftcrward that he mad gone forward, directed but
did like the position designated as the attacking
point and seeing 10 tho distance position, IN his
|
the rebs placing battery Of nine guus posi-.
ton He immediately
CHARGED TIE BATTERY
capturing the guns before they could he placed in
position, aud with tie guns he took 500 PRISONERS
Sun charging milo beyond be cut The cnemy's wagon
tram. capturing aud destroying nearly LOCO wagons
Returning he took up his position IN sort OF
Here he reformed hts command tor tue very active
work that was TO follow. just over the brow OF ho
hill the enemy bad thrown up ear,hworss, behind
which was stationed the rebel General Kersnaw, one
OF tho best generals commanding the nuest dl,
| nj
dark, General Custer was charging these
works, always retreatng 10 ana reforming
He knew they must give way sooner later, the
sixth corps was doing exceiicnt execution Just beyond
would bave their nank turned About i've
O'CLOCK the afternoon rode out toward battery,
which had been ~ position all day sheiIiug he enemy
Ny attention attracted to large batch OF prisoners
on The left oi position and my curiosity being
somowuat excited. rode up To tho guard Tor the
pose OF nqulrns whether there we're any distinguished
officers among the cap 5ut short from
me- mounted n thoroughbred marc saw what at
knew to be rcDeI officer OF dist stIngulshed rank
In moment MS eye caught mno, and lie beckoncd mo
to come within the enclosure. as he desired ak
with me- | did SO, aud tue following conversation
cnsued:-
"Arc you not enc of General Custcr's STAFF"
IL am SIR; surgeon. however,
"-ir, desire 70 surrender my sword to General
Custer A non com oned officer continually de-
manding II. but consider tbat have the right l. re
quest he privilege OF surrenderns It to commits
s,oneJ Oliccr."
.wnon have | tho OF addr ssing," / asked
"My name" said he, us Kcrshaw-t;cneraI Kcr
shaw SIR
"GencraL " I said, IL am glad 10 meet you | assure
you sir always bad grcat respect tor you aud
comm and when you confronted Us in The valley "
II lcok upon Genera custer rs one Of the best
airy officers that this any other country pro-
duced. SHALL indeed, consiaer II an honor
render my sword him.n He continued. sever sinco
the battle OF cedar Creek, when he aud Gen Sher
dan embraced each other alter the battle, have had
must perfect admiration Tor the man read "A iuii
account Of II the NEW YORK HERALD some days
after tho engagement. All through to-day's battle
directed my men 10 concentrate their Dre upon his
hAIfu mari ntQ In Iul fhA
front While should hsve deprecated tnc idea OF
kiilnga man so brave. good aud efficient yet knew
1t my only hope. b"
General ~ said, "you merely succeeded In killing
his best horse. Now, II you will accompany
side oi tho guard. will take you TO woodruns
Battery and leave you charge OF It's commanding
officer who communicate your desires TO GeucraI
Custer"
lu company with two or three other rebel generals
OF minor Importance he followed me- As General
Custer then making another charge, awaited the
result IL was ths last. and proved TO be the grandcst
oi the day the balance oil the ehemy's COM
mand surrendered.
THE CAPTAIN or the DAY
has upward OF 700 prisoners thiryseven battle flags
and large number OF guns The Third cavalry divls-
ION time during the day had more than GOO
gagged against the enemy As General Custer
iags &c. rode forward and met him After
graduating him communicated tne desires OF General
Kcrshaw The General seemed very much pleased
and rather accelerated his movement in drcotio
OF the oatery. In presenting his sword General Kcr-
shaw exceedingly complimentary In his remarks.
After the surrender genera Kcrsbaw and friends,
invitation, spent the nigh, with Custer and his stan
and IN the morning they wcro sent TO the with
the rest OF the prisoners
viii state here. in order tnat deserved and WE'LL