The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-04-26

would ride out from camp usually about
daylight. The first day we would 20 as far
as we could without using up the horses,
At shutdown we would 90 into the woods,
carrying with us hay and beef or mutton
from some farmyard; here after supper
and rest of two or three hours, during
which the horses were nnsaddled and
fed, loose shoes nailed on and arms and
equipments looked after. we would start
out for night trip. If the roads were
good we would trot few miles, then
the men were dismounted and would
trot by the side of the horses. holding
the brides with right hand for support:
After Il mile or SO OF this we would mount
and gallop mile or trot again, then set
tie down into long swinging walk, each
man swinging his legs aand helping his
horse along. BY daybreak we would
probably be in striking distance of our
point of attack.
Then would follow the reconnoitre and
the charge. If successful we would re-
turn to camp full Of honors; and fit wasa
"Water-banP we world ~" ec'ra"''o-"
else. sometimes we would be attacked
by superior force and would have to
RIM for it. Then the best men and fast
est horses and the carbine men would
cover the retreat. We would soon out
envy, and while the main command we're
making the best Of their way to place
of safety the rear guard would be having
running fight with the advance of the
pursntrs. Often q retreat would be
turned into victory, and when we
could manage to pick up and carry OFT
some adventurous and risky officer or
daredevil! who got too far from his sup
ports with his fast horse and his arms,
which wDnld be the spoil Of his captOr.
Ali that WAY glory, indeed.
When Sheridan came into the Valley
the men Of the First New York and our
battalion being we'll posted about the
woo Is, ,fOotraths, mountain gaps and
hiding places, our services were in de-
maud as scouts, advance guards, etc. AT
first they called us Il lot of undisci plined
guerillas and scarecrows, for there was
not dozen men in either Of the First
New York or our battalion who were
uniformed and euniuped according to
army regulations. But we were brigad-
ed with General Custer and he soon
found the metal we were made OF and
from the time he took command Of the
division, after Wilson left, until the close
of the way the Old Valley cavalry were
his nI:in Dependence III charging and on
the advance.
At llarper's farm or Sailors creek it
was one o! the vallet ,'av;llrvncn, Cap
tain Stevens, of the First New York,
who received General Ewc!i's sword,
Captain Savac3oi. Of The -ane regiment
was mortuiy wounded Just 81. he had
captured Il tia: in the Same fight,
and the last cavalry officer killed in
the war was Lieutenant Walter, Of tho
same regiment. who WAS killed at the
fight at Appnu,lttox Station, the night
before th;. surrender. while. charging by
Clusters side. lei. ut ok battalion and
one of the Frs. NV lula enlisted in
General Cnstrr> t@isnc,it after the war
and were with him III his last fights.
| never saw General Merritt exhibit
uncomfortable: passion but once. Soon
after he assumed command as chief of
cavalry he was sent by General Sherl-
dan into I.uraT Valley t. cross at New
market Gap and attack Early's rear
while tsen..r,I Sheridan attacked IN
front witt, bis Infantry. When the
cavalry got to- Milford crossing. a mar
row ,:,ss in l.uray Valley, wIere q mar
row bridve over Il narrow creek was the
only pass way, they were held III check
bv Wickcr's briy;sl" nearly all day until
too late to txerlitc the movement con-
emplatcd-llc the King Of FRINGE, hav-
ing marched W, he illli. We marched
down again.
During the day !" Young officer Of the
regular army, !.'rliIs.,lnnt E.riiaru, who
was IN aid on ticnrrli M.rritts staff,
was seriously wpun,!,n! and Sent to the
rear ia an ambulance. Tie command
started on the return marched soon af-
ter the ambulance started for Winches-
ter. As the head Of the column reached
| the high hill west rt Fort Royal and in
| sight Of the town. Mrsl'ys men attacked
| the guard with the ambulance, captnr-
| ing several Of them ;.Ild driving off the
| rest. They took Lieutenant Bernard
out Of ID" ambulance, mounted him on
| one Of he ambulance hDrsc; and were
getting away when General Merritt rode
III on tflr hill and saw them. lie sent
some OF his escort after them, and
whether the Lieutenant "'cIng he p COM
! ing attcinutt.! resistance or whether
| the horse was unIlana"ca lle was never
| known, but ON" IF tn" enemy was seen
! to draw rcvnv"i and shoot him in the
head, killing him instantly.
Two Of TIN: Inur.lc,trs cOnpaniOns
| were raptlrcI and brought before Cen
| craI Merritt, who had 'lsnrunted the
command town. Ne was in an over
| WllcInIng passion ami az soon as they
were brought before him, he called tho
| captain in cD,nIunI ~ the kohy-guard
ard ordered him t. ttl.r the men on tho
| hill and hang them and ~ place on their
| breasts Il statement that they were exc
cllted for the mlIrdcr Of Lieutenant Eer-
nard. AS they were carried away ono
| Of the staff s,IpgrH'ri THAT perhaps tho
prisoners would he CAD to gave their
| 1iycs 10y giving iuf,rmation that would
| ...1d to the capture nf their I"ad"r, Colo
ucI Mostly, whom come one iiA'l rcpOrt~
en as being the one who shot Bernard,
and the general agreed tn spare their
lives If they wn'ili do tI,is, M Mostly had
been giving General Sheridan ccnsider-
| able trouble in picking up small parties,
attacking pirkcts, wagon trains and
guards.
The staff officer rode to the bill,
where he found preparations were being
made ~ hang hen, IT, a',;nc oak trees with
IArIat ropes. The siaH nDircr asked the Of
ljrcr 10 cl,arst; Of tI,': guard ~ wait u few
Jnc'ts, and taking tie: nI'Icst rrisoner, a
man about t~cnty-Hcvcn Or twrnty-
eight year, Old, n;.iir, told him what the
General had rai!, "Ti,at If he would be-
tray Mostly his life should be. rparcd;"
but he Indignantly rriIIr"d to rave his
life on any rrrl, trrn-. III: other pris-
oner, who waH Il yruny f"lInw NJ sevcn-
teen or eighteen. alaD r"ltIHnd and eaid
nc WAY AZ gfjlO man az Inc DLIEf, ana
tic. staff ohi.:cr vert again To the older
one and urged bin to make the prom
isc, ittinjatinp That if he would do 10 1t
would trrb,Lly rcNiit in his getting
clear witIrlt fulfilling his promise, ~
General Merritt wHs very angry, but
would not carry on! hi. intentions when
| he got over his fit -! passion.
But the man sAid "Nr.' If he made
| the prrlniHc that it wruli be known all
over Virginia in a few days. that it was
hard that IHnD:Et men should suffer
fon the I,aHty action Ola young recruit,
but there was no disgrace i'm dying for
bis country, and il the General would
| not treat THEM as prifnncrSof war, "God's
| will be donc," ana u have it over at
| once and not worry them. The staff
officer went back ~ III" General and re-
ported the result ~ his interview and
| eaih it ~as a pity ~ han" such brave
men. The General simply si'i: "Bu-
| pler, sound u HD,at.,' and til. command
| were mounted and rode along at the
foot Of the hill as the two men were
strung up.
The next day after this affair Mosby
| captured seven Of our men and cut their
| thIOats from ear t. ear, leaving them bv
the roadside viii, pia'Mrds on their
| breast stating the were cyccutcd for the
murder Of two II his men by General w.
| Merritt. For gone time after that
many a e'rag2;cr was Furntnarilv shot by
| MDsby's men and men got to be careful
| now they left camp. heard Mosby was
| very sAvage when he learned the fate Of