Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-09-28
SABRE TO SABRE.
An Excellent Instance at Brandy Sta.
ton of Il Pure Combat Between Cav.
airy Men.
T Il Ill

ton of Pure Combat Between Cav.
airy Men.
]. Esten Cooke in the Philadelphia Weekly
Times.
General Stuart reached this part of the
field at the critical moment when Gener-
al Gregg was advancing to seize the road.
The whole face of things had changed in
what seemed single instant. The
fields. and woods directly in front OF
Fleetwood, recently so deserted, had
suddenly become scene of agitation, oil
hurrying columns dust, uproar; every
thing was concentrating toward the
range which was virtually occupied by
the Federal cavalry; while. four hundred
var Is southwark was, the, threatening
line of General Gregg, about
to close in like vice. With his cavalry
scattered and apparently having no time
to concentrate at the point where the
Stuart was certainly in imminent dan
ger. General Bulord was pressing hard
at Beverly's and General Gregg was, on
his flank and rear. A confused combat
was going on in every direction, mixed
with shouts and the gallop ofjaded horses
altogether it was such u melee as Ihave
rarely witnessed. % insisinlp. g,j,.I, .u,:
nj The fate of the fight was decided, as |
have said, as far as my ObseryatiOnw went,
by an incident, whiehnI will now. de-
scribe. "A lam able to- speak of it with
accuracy, as it made a strong impression
upon me. When | found General Stuart
again near his artillery at the eastern
foot of the range he was in ia state OF
great excitement, his fine face wearing a
very different expression from that /
had noticed in it when he gave me the
iocose orderto 60 and bag the artillery
of the inconsiderable demonstration, in
his rear. His face WIS flaming and vein
in his forehead had turned black. ]
never saw eyes more like red hot Goals
TheIfederal cavalry within three OF
four hundred yards had already, moved
to charge and he chad but one gun in
battery This he aimed III person, ihav,
| ing thrown himself from the saddle for
| the purpose, and 81 shelly fired Iat the
charging line burst within a few feet of
| it. The men had not broken into trot
and the fire created some confusion; the
line paused for d moment and when an.
other shell was fired the 1lipe Ihlas,ll halted
Quite astenished, daty this ], looked, fol
A column of cavalry was advancing from
the direction Of Beyerley's toward, the
night flank of General Gregg, and it was
no doubt, the appearance OF, this force
which induced the hesitation, in charg-
| ing the artillery. When / pointed to the
approaching column, which { could not
see plainly from the dust it raised, and
asked Stuart what cavalry it twas was, he ex'
1T is Hampton! '1 5rHing; hhimni up like
'ireac6hed tn, coe,luiimnini 5i in a. few mo.
ments and finding the COBB! Legion in
front gave the orderto my friend Cen
l. eral P. NJ 3. Young, who com ajanded
| It was not necessary to explain to him
| what he was expected to do, and Ger
| tainly as unnecessary to doubt his doing
/ it,. One Of the greatest pleasures of the
| gay and gallant youny Georgian was a
4 charge, and he turned in his saddle and
| whirled his sabre with the order to- gal.
| lop. AS he had been advancing almost
directly upon the right tank of the fed
| eral column the advance brought him in
| front of it, and it was only necessary to
=. face the column to the left, where they
| were in line of battle. i"jH."rfi 40
| The order to- charge was then giver
! and this was done without firing. The
| movement had been made so rapidly
| that the Fedral line received it standing
Thus the impetus carried all before
and the Fedraf force, after offering
brief resistance, gave way and scattere
over the large field, pursued by Young
| The engagement was from first to last al
unmixed fight with sabres, and some O.
| the dead were cut through to the chin
Neither carbine or pistol was used in the
fight, and probably the whole affair die
not continue five minutes. Calculating
| that it took ten minutes to form a line
and charge, this would give quarter O
an hour, in which time the event of the
battle Of File etwood III was decided
General Gregg retired to the woods
in his right and,rear to form junction
with General Buford, under heavy
Smelling from tie artillery on Fleetwood
and General Hampton followed, steadily
pressing him back toward the river. 2"