Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-29
PHIL sHERIDAN,s RIDE.
Sheridan's Famous Ride and its Marvellous
ERect----Custer's ImpetuOus Charge.


a. ERect----Custers ImpetuOus Charge.
Major W. II, spera in the Phila. Weekly Times.
On the morning of October II, 1854, l
was ordered to report with my command,
consisting of detachment of 900 men of
the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry to
General Sheridan, who had arrived at
Martinsburg, Va, the day previous
from Washington. received orders to
escort the General and several members
of his staff to the front. About 8 a. IN.
the General, in company with Colonel
Thorn and Alexander and Major Forsyth,
left Martinsburg, arriving at Winchester
about p. m. Sheridan and staff stopping
for the night at post headquarters, Colo
mel Edwards Crhirty-seventh Massachu-
setts), commanding the escort, was order
ed to encamp for the night at Millcreek,
one mile south of Winchester, with Or
ders to be in readiness to move at five
O'Clock on the following morning.
Early ON the morning of the
10th brisk artillery firing was heard in
the direction of the front-it was reported
at post headquarters by the infantry
officer of the picket and was attributed
W OH 1CCOAAOISSttuSC lIldI I1bA
been ordered for that morning. About
8 a. IN. General Sheridan came riding
leisurely along, inquiring of us
whether We had heard firing in the di-
rection of the front. We re-
piled that we had, as early as 4 A. NJ.
He replied that it was doubtless from
reconnaissance that had been ordered for
that morning. The escort was formed
with advance and rear guard and tiankers.
After moving about half a mile the head
of a train was encountered whipping to
the rear, as also number of fugitives
from the front-giying different inter-
probation to the firing of the morning.
All trains coming from and going to the
front were ordered into the park at Mill
creek. General Sheridan ordered me to
take twenty of my best men and horses
and follow him, as he intended ''to move
to the front lively" The remainder of the
escort was ordered to report to Colonies
Thorn and Alexander to do "what they
could in stemming the torrent of fugi-
tiVes." The General then struck out at a
brisk gallOp toward the scene of action.
At times the pike was SO much crowded
with troops and wagons that the General
and escort were obliged to take to the
fields, over fences, stone walls and bitches.
He spoke to few, occasionally swinging
his cap, saying: "Face the other way,
boys! Face the other way! You shall
all be in your old camps before night"
"Men halted by the wayside as he passed,
and ON several occasions the General was
cheered by groups of soldiers, who seeing
the great haste with which he was gong,
Immediately retraced their steps. A
chaplain, mounted on mule, desiring to
speak to the General, beckoned him to
stop. The General told him he had no
time to spare, that he should face about
and ride along with him if he had any
thing to say, Chaplain and mule were
left behind in twinkling with the
story untold.
UNDER WHIP AND SPUR.
The race was headlong, the horses be-
ing put to their full speed, and never did
General and escort go over sixteen miles
in less time. Arriving on the field, the
General Immediately went to General
Wright's headquarters, eagerly inqurlng
after the situation, and received for an
answer from one of his staff: General,
/ fear the battle is going against us. ]
| suppose General Early intends driving
| you out of the Valley?" "Whatr ex-
claimed Sheridan, "Early drive me out
of the Valleys Whip three corps of my
infantry and all of my cavalry! He Cant
do it; I'll lick him like-before night
I'll give him the worst licking he evel
had" After short consultation with
several of his staff he rode along the
skirmish line. The men, seeing him
cried: SHERIDAN has GOMEZ" and shout
after shout went up. "Boys," said he
This never would have happened if
could have been here. Wen get thu
tightest twist on them they ever saw
| Wen get all those camps and cannon
back. The men were wild with enthusi
asm as he rode along the lines. Neve
before did SO much seemingly depenc
upon one man; all seemed confident O
success as soon as they heard of Sher
dams arrival, and, indeed, with hin
alone rested the safety of thousands o
lives and the preservation of his army
He Immediately began reforming
airy division to the right, Merritt's re
naming on the left, and the infantry
lines were established on Getty's line
By this time formidable body of mel
stood ready to dispute the advance of
victory flushed foe. For over two hour
there was a lull in the battle-struggler
were rapidly returning to their commands
While the lines were thus being re-estab
lished, and temporary breastworks o
rails, logs, &c, thrown up, it was eviden
that the enemy was preparing for an at
tack on Sheridan's lines. Two division
of the Sixth Corps being to the right an,
rear of Getty, as also part of the. Nine
teenth Corps, which was still further t
the rear, were ordered up. Sheridan
being very anxious to have these troop
up before the enemy would attack Getty
started out one staff officer after anothe
to hurry up those troops; finally he wen
back himself to urge them on. Soo
after the enemy could be seen moving t
attack from a point on Sheridan's left
Corps commanders were at once notified
The assault being principally upon tina
part of the line occupied by the Nine
teenth Corps-it being now taken by SUI
: prise lit gallantly repulsed the enemy
:eThank God for that, said Sheridan
''TeH General Emory if they attack hi1
again to go after them and follow then
Well get good twist on them, tn
highest one they ever saw"
D CUsTER's MEN DRAW sABERs.
AT about p. m. the order want out
. s'The whole line will advance. Th
q Nineteenth Corps will move in comes
9 ton with the Sixth; the right of I'll
. Nineteenth will swing toward the left
!, The attack was splendidly made. tn