The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-05-29
. VOLUME ".


back, himself 10 urge them on. Sool
after the enemy could be seen moving tc
attack from a point on Shelidan's left
| Corps commanders were at once notified
The assault being principally upon that
part of the line occupied by the Nine
| teenth Corps-it being now taken by SUI.
prisc-it gallantly repulsed the enemy
:'Thank God for that" said. Sheridan
"TeIl General Emory If they attack him
again to go after them and follow them
Well get good twist on them, tho
tightest one they ever saw
CUsTER's MEN DRAW sABEIs.
AT about p. n. the order want out
"Thc whole line will advance The
Nineteenth Corps will move in connec-
ton with the Sixth; the right of the
Nineteenth will swing toward the left. y
The attack was ,spIcndidly made. The
enemy was protected in some portions of
the line by stone fences, and made de-
tcrmincd resistance; but General Sheridan
had formed a compact mass OF men across
the pikc-Custer on the extreme left to
harass andvex the. enemy until Sheridan
should create panic with the remainder
Of the line. The plan, So SIMPLE u, It's
conception, 1worked like a charm, and,
indeed, was successful beyond all expec-
tation. The 'encmy's left overlapped
Sheridan's right, and, taking advantage
of this, turned the overlapping portion
on the flank of the Nineteenth Corps,
causing momentary confusion in Shcri-
dams line. This was, however, quickly
rightcd bya counter charge of General
McMillan's brigade into the angle thus
formed, and the hanking party Of the
enemy was cut off, and now 1t was that
the gallant Custer ordered his men to
draw sabcrs, hurting his entire division of
cavalry upon the rebel left, sabering them
without mercy and trampling them under
foot. Tho ''bov general with the golden
locks" even out Clustered Custer. The
Sixth Corps sprang forward as if shot
from the CannOn's mouth, the other corps
vylng in impctuosity. 1t seemed scarce
ly credible that the men who were beaten
50 badly in the morning were the same
who charged so splendidly in the after
noon. The enemy were not id:c. They
opened upon the charging column with
fifty pieces of artillery, shells were hurled
with terrible precision into the solid mass
of advancing infantry The Federal bat
teries were nobly doing their duty. over
the hills and up the'pikc the blue closely
pressed the gray. Sheridan, seeing Il
battery tavorahiy posted, turned to one of
his aids, saying: Ride down to Captain
- and tell him to fire taStcr,o The
message was delivered and the dctona-
tons were almost without interval Once,
and once only, did our men taltcr, and
that was when subjected to a murlcrous
fire from behind stone fence. A hearty
cheer from the line, and the
"Johnnics' were on the run, though
not all of thcm--the ground
was covered with the dead and the dying
The enemy now became a miserable rab
bic, throwing away thcirarms-anyt thing,
to get away from their pursucrs. The
cavalry were occupied all night in secur-
ing the trophies otbattlc. The road from
Cedar Creek to Fishers hill, a distance
of about three sniIcs, was a perfect jam of
ambuIances, artillery, caissons and wag-
ons. An officer Of the Second Brigade,
First Cavalry Division, rode up to Gen
eral Shcridan's headquarters, when the
following dialogue enused: General, |
come to ask for a bri gadc of infantry to
hold the captured artillery, of which |
believe we have at least twenty pieces"
Il don't believe it. Who are you?"
captain Britton, of the First New York
DragoOnS. General. ID if | don t
believe We have over forty picces.'
Captain, YOU shall have two b1igadcs.
Can any of my staff give this officer
to drink" well, General,
that would suit me bully"
Custer coming in, reporting his great,
success, Sheridan caught him in his arms
en- braccd him, and both danced around
for JOY. Other General officers came in,
each in his turn reporting his successes,
showing that the victory was complete,
and what in the morning looked so dark
WAS now turned into a splendid victory.
Rations were short, the supply train
twenty miles to the rear, but who cared
for rations: We were not hungry.
Doubtless had we been defeated we
should have been afflicted with vora-
cious appetite. Daylight showed that the
enemy,s transportation and artillery was
in our hands. They had left everything
behind them in their flight: their dead
Ilnburied and their wounded uncarcd for.
This battle ended campaigning IN the
Valley. The Confederate
Government had lost all confidence in
Lees ''bad old man." Artillery was sent
to this department labeled, General
Phil Sheridan vice JubaI Early"