The National tribune., 1883-09-27
First Lieut., Co. E, SD Ill. V. V. I.
ONEIDA, ILL.
SIXTH OHIO CAVALRY
And Their Brilliant Aohieyements-A Dash With
Custer.

Twenty years ago. when little more than
half as old IS now, was = member OF DarbeTs
company III the Sixth Ohio cavalry, which
served most of the time in the Second cavalry
division of the Army of the Potomac. Having
early in the war fallen out with Captain Bar
ber, could i'll brook being under his command
and more adventurous than really brave. WIS
ever ready TO volunteer in any undertaking
that promised to make my comrades believe |
had as much courage as they. Thus it was
that | and my friend Henry B. Bates, Of like
disposition, then of First Massachusetts cav
airy. bnt now, | am told, a prosperous druggist
in the Quaker City, were often under orders
from the division commanders of the Cavalry
Corps.
Many viii remember the hot work of my
regiment for the relief of another at Aldie.
June IL, 1868, and how the Sixth Ohio was
selected by General Kilpatrick to go through
that town and up the pike beyond under q
heavy artillery fire covering it. form at the
foot Of the hill on which the straw rckS stood,
with rebels on one side aud part of the Second
New York on the other and charge up the
hill. This it did nobly, and more, for when
the crest of the hill was reached and it received
the fire of many rebels in the ditch below,
Major Stanhope turned in his saddle, and, wav-
ing his sword, called upon his men to follow
him. Away the regiment went down the hill
and over the ditch. the survivors to victory,
but many to death, including our gallant
leader, who, as his horse leaped the gully,
received wound that gave him the honor of a
soldiers grave.
Oh never shall the land forget
How gushed the life-blood OF her brave
Gushed warm with hope and courage set
Upon the soil they fought to save !"
Next morning there was quite controversy
as TO who was most daring in the charge at
Aldie, and, to decide the matter of dash, Cor
poral Freeman and | made wager of five
dollars each, and the one who reached the
enemy first in the next charge was to have the
money next payday" Henry C. Gillette,
coming up about that time, proposed that we
make the pot F" fifteen dollars and let him in.
Well, we fought the Johnnies at Middleburg
on the 18th. but could make no charge, and
you may imagine our disappointment when,
just before the advance toward Smokers Gap,
on the 2lst, our regiment was assigned to duty
as support of the light battery, for such duty
was likely to prevent the charge We desired.
Don't imagine us bloodthirsty set of ruff
fans but every old soldier win remember days
when enthusiasm ran high and every man of
his command seemed anxious to "go in." This
was one of such days to the Sixth Ohio and,
going over the fields, we left the battery and
started to the front. Fitzpatrick now coming
up said: If you don't want to support that
battery, say so, and I'll find you hotter work"
This was greeted with many good loud cheer,
and he sent US on to make an immediate charge.
FORWARD THE LIGHT BRIGADEi"
Unacquainted with the ground, Colonel
Stedman formed the command IN line Of battle,
and we swept UP the side OF little hill, expect
ing to make grand rush when we reached the
top, but there we were halted, and, to our sur
prise, saw just below US the clear waters of
Goose Creek with ledges of rocks on either side
and three stone fences on the slope beyond, all
lined with rAhpf Wil5la nm fhp hill
above was battery of artillery, all pouring
their lead and iron hail into our ranks and all
around US Here was displayed as fine, calm,
soldierly, diSci ipilned action as ever was seen
in time of danger; action as brave, if not as
dashing, as the storied charge of the Light
Brigade at Balaklaya or Napoieon's Guard at
Waterloo. The general, seeing the position of
the command and its inability to do anything
there but die, ordered Colonel Stedman TO
wheel his regiment by platoons and fall back
to the base of the hill. Another officer at once
called out: FouIs, right about wheel, march 80
and his order was half executed, when Sted-
mans clear voice and the ORDER "As you
were!" We're heard. This order was immedi-
| ately executed, and the regiment dressed in
line Of battle. Then the BY platoons, right
about wheel was made, and down the hill we
came in as good order save for vacancies, as If
upon review IN the quiet Of camp life. But oh
the little delay had cost many good soldiers
life, and | shall never to my dying day forget
the appealing glance from the eyes OF Lester
Blood as he fell from gallant life in the saddle
to glorious death upon the field. Tell me, if
you please, about artillery practice! Our light
battery tRemington's, / think, but possibly
Tidball's) went at once into position, and, one
at q time, the guns were pushed to the brow of
the hill little Irish sergeant fred every
gun by detail and with six shots killed several
men and horses, blew up one caisson, and cut
| down one gun Call it short range ii you will,
| but the rebels were as near this single gunner
as he was TO them, and please remember that
the Sixth Ohio had made the movements above
described on the very same ground from which
this Irish sergeant sent his messengers OF
death.
DASH WITH CUSTER.
In the afternoon of that day we reached
Uppervilie. and here / first remember General
| Custer, then captain, and perfect type of the
dashing cavalryman. Our line was formed on
the right of the road, on the side of the hill on
whose opposite slope was the town of Upper
vile. Here, Custer, taking two companies
from our left, charged into the town TO draw
out the enemiy in pursuit. upon which the
! remaining companies were to charge his
! flank, and gain an easy victory. Soon back
came the two companies, Custer. with his
| long flaxen hair flying in tho wind calling
/ ont: Here they come, boys" Forward y
was the ORDER, anu on we dashed, Saber In
! hand, the three above alluded to some yards
| in advance. whenj turning the hills crest
We saw, not open space and rebel flank, but
a stone fence and brave Southern regiment
| q think Major Bailey's Sixth Virginia cavalry
| in line behind it, facing US and firing into oul
| line. Giilette's horse fell, then Freeman
| caught his deathshot in the face, and the sur.
viyor of the three dashed up to the fence
| under an apple tree, within twenty feet of the
rebel colors to his left, and nearer a fine, tall
| dark-eyed rebel on his right, who soon met his
| death. AT first advance only sabers were al
| lowed TO be carried and the regiment fell back
to draw revolvers, aud twice again to reload
them. At the third advance Lieut. Wilson
| rode under the tree beside me and asked what
| i was doing there? j replied: Firing while
the regiment fires, and keeping still while they
! are back" Are you wounded2" said he
"No; are your" "No," he replied and imme
diately clapping his left hand to his right arm
he added, Yes | am, by Georgel" and SO h,
was, pistol shot from the rebel next theiI
colors having passed through his arm Just be
low the shoulder. Soon after, the enemy wer,
| forced to retreat but they didn't do it in :
! hurried Or disorderly manner, you bet! but q
quietly as if no Yankees were in their rear
| fred a few shots after them as they left th,
fence, aiming at the roots OF their horses tails
| and yet etremember thinking the roots of these
same tails We're in as true row rs grow tn,
stalks OF corn in the broad fields of my ma
| tive State. Many time since have l won
| dered who was the tall rebel killed SO neal
me that dayf" Somtiines, upon q suddeI
startle, see his fine face, with its cruel wound
fash before me, and / often think of the sorrow