The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-10-20

was after. To retreat was to run the gauntlet of that terrible cross-hre. To advance was to meet the confederate army. but the bugles blew forward " Squadron and company and regiment pushed for the train. A fire of musketry followed, and musketry and artillery opened from right and left and ahead. The rush from the second fence to the train vas one ofthe most desperate things ever attempted by cavalry. l. was too desperate to be successful. The concen- trated ire broke up all formations. and the command separated into small bodies, each one to look out for itself. Some of these squads pushed through the train and beyond the rear of Lees army. while others bore 10 the nght or left and circled back. Farnswor,h was killed-his body i fairly riddled, and the loss in men and horses, considering numerical strength, was appalling. The First Vermont lost i abou, one man out of five, and out ofthe whole command not more than twenty horses came out without wound. Some of the men had five bullet-holes in their clothing. and one had four in his hat one.
 While Fitzpatrick was holding one po- siton Custer was holding another on his Jeff. which covered the York and Oxford highway. Soon after noon the conted- crates began pushing forward on both roads, driving in Custer's picke,s, and al I o'clock the advancing lines were in sight 69tonel Alger's Fifth Michigan was dism6unted, pushed to the front. and, having the shelter of stone walls and nat ural ritie-pits this one depleted regiment held at least S.ooo men in check until the men had fired their last cartridge and were obliged to fall back. Being armed with the Spencer seven-shot earbine, the firing of this regiment was so rapid and well sustained as 10 create the belief that large force of infantry was posted be- hind the walls
 When Alger fell back he was followed by both infantry and cavalry. and now Colonel Mann,i Seventh Michigan was ordered 10 form and charge. With a yell ard harrah the Seventh rode down upon four times their number. The high way was the only clear route. Those advancing over the iields were obs,ructed by dltches, fences. hedges and walls, and the line was sometimes almost triangle. Mann pushed on until q heavy stone wall ianked by stake and rider fences barred his way. and here his regimen, hated and fought the confederates on the other side. 1; was eonfic; l, such close range ,ha. almost every man shot was burned by the flame of the powder The seventh had 10 fall back from the position upon the suppor, of the Fifth. and while these two had their hands full an oficer Tn the First. which regiment WAS then in reserve. suddenly cried out:
 Great Heavens we will all be swal- lowed up.''
 Us: coming over the ridge in their front was a whole brigade of cavalry formed Tn column of regiments. To mee, this new force custer had single battery and the one regiment. The old First did not number over 800 men. and when ordered up for the charge and formed Tn column of bai,alions i, seemed as if every man was riding 10 his death.
 AS the First advanced a, trot with drawn sabres they were greeted with shouts ot derision. Then the little com. mand closed up. the horses passed from tro, 10 gallop. and as 1t hurled i,seli asains, nve 10 one l, opened wide lane , liC CuttiC lnlAC. nCtC were tlNt minutes of smoke and flash and tury. and 10 when the smoke lifted the Old First held the tield and the confedera,es had been driven. Custer said of this charge Tn his official report,
 Il cannot find language 10 express my high appreciation of the gallan,ry ana daring displayed by the officers and men of the First Michigan. They advanced to the charge of a vastly superior force with as much order and precision as ii going upon parade, and ichallenge the annals oi warfare 10 produce 4 more bril- liant or successful charge ot cav dry Many writers upon military ali hrs have secuted the idea of sabre-cuis and cav airy charges. Le, such men hunt up the reports ot company commanders after the Gettysburg nsht and see how they read. Over seventy men in the Michigan regiments engaged during a single day are reported: sabre cut on the head" In the cavalry lights of ,ha, even,ful week the sabre killed and wounded al leas; I .ooe men. and the troopers pistols may be credited with as many more. Cusiers loss IF one brigade in this action was s+e being as grea; a number as any single regiment contained. The Sixth was supporting the Il inks and the bat ,ery, and though making no charge its loss was severe. and Colonel Gray re- celved especial mention in official re-