Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26

| turnpike. Stuart, however, was still conf
dent, and reformed his line few hundred
yards TO the east Of the pike, where he could
annoy us with his artillery and make Yellow
Tavern an uncomfortable place for the weary
horsemen. Devcns and Merritt chung to the
advantage they had gained until they were
reinforced by Clusters brigade, which formed
on their left, connecting with the right OF the
8d division.
The enemy was strongly posted on rise Of
ground behind thin curtain OF timber, his
battery being concealed from our view by
| the woods. The edge of the woods nearest
| Clusters front was held by the enemys dis
mounted men, who poured heavy fire into
our line. The 9th and 9th Michigan were
dismounted and ordered TO drove the enemy
from this position, which they did IN
the most gallant manner. While this
movement was In progress the First
Vermont which was in line In an open
field, was exposed to hot fire from the
rebel battery, which sent the shells around
us In a most uncomfortable manner. Our
boys were beginning to feel somewhat FESTIVE
at this kind of business, when Gen. Custer
rode by from the edge of the woods, where
he had been experimenting the operations
OF the skirmish line, and as he passed in
formed Col. Preston that he was about to
make charge on that battery, and asked if
he would like hand in the affair? The col
onel replied that he was agreeable, and was
directed to wheel the regiment to the right
into column Of squadrons. Gen. Custer then
formed the LIST Michigan in the same order
under the cover of the woods, for the purpose
OF charging the battery on the flank, while
the LIST Vermont made direct attack on its
front. AS soon as the Michigan boys moved
from the cover of the wood, the enemy OWNED
st.n,- t,,t. htio Ern fro,
his guns. Before the battery could he reach.
ed, there were fences to be cleared and Il
broad ditch 10 be crossed, which threw our
column into some confusion, but notwith-
standing these obstacles the Vermont aud
Michigan boys advanced boldly to the charge
aud when within two hundred yards of the
battery charged it with yell that spread
terror before them. Two guns, with lmbers
filed with ammunition, and number of pris-
oners were the fruits of this charge, and the
enemy was forced from his position and
driven back, one portion toward Ashland
and across the north fork Of the Chickahom-
my, the other toward Richmond. Among
the killed was 1t. Col. Pate, while Gen.
j. +. b. Stuart was MORALLY wounded. Our
own loss was comparatively light. The
cn,mys total loss during the day was over
200 in killed and prisoners, together with the
two guns before spoken of, which, by the
way were &c first guns captured by our
army during this campaign. But their
greatest loss was in the death of Gen. Stuart, |
who was by far the best cavalry general in the |
Confederate service. A graduate of West |
Point, in the class of "a, he had seen consid. |
cradle service ON the plains, had resigned his
in the old army to join the rebel
cause, and had greatly distinguished himself |
in many battles. lie was particularly sue
cassful in conducting bold raids on the TANKS |
and rear of our army, but he had now met |
more than his match as raider, and his |
death at the hands of raidipg party.
At daylight on the 18th the Governor is
sued the following proclamation:
TO tie Citizens Of tie State and tie People O. !
Richmond:
The enemy are undoubtedly approaching |
he city and may be expected ut any hour,
With view to its capture, its pillagc and It's |
destruction. The strongest considerations of |
'clf aud duty to the country call every man |
o arms; n duty which none can refuse to |
perform without dishonor. All persons |
therefore, able to WELD musket, will i'm. |
assemble upon the public square,
where regiment will be found in arms, and |
lround which all can rally; and where the |
eqnired direction will be gwen for arming |
md cquipping those who respond to the call. |
The Governor confidently relies that this ap- |
zeal will not be made in vain. VIM. Smith.
Governor of Virginia
Referring to this proclamation the Erdn,-
aer remarked editorially as follows: "Nor
vas the appeal in vain; in short time the
entire arms bearing population Of the city
urned out and repaired to Capitol square,
where they waited information from the enc.
ny before marching to the field"
They were not long compelled to wait.
During the entire night our cavalry had been
n motion. Passing between the outer line
If defences We had penetrated to the inner
inc Of the euemy's works aud there day
light found portion Of us at least, where
we could plainly hear the ringing of the
alarm bells in Richmond, from our position
IN the high ground overlooking the Virginia
Central railroad and Mechanicsville pike
Starting from Yellow Tavern at about II
o'clock on the night after the battle, the
hree divisions had been marched over high
Dads and by-roads and no roads at all, until
daylight found them on the high ground, to
he south of Meadow bridge. The. enemy was
10 thoroughly routed as to offer no resistance
% our night march, except by placing torpe-
iocs in the road, number of which ex-
,loded killing several horses.
The First Vermont aud Third Indiana,
iaving the advance OF the third division, en-
'ountered the batteries of the enemy Just be-
orc daylight near the Mechanicsvillc pike
which opened brisk fire of grape before we
we're aware OF their proximity. AS soon as
jen. Sheridan was informed that Wilson
'ould not pass these batteries, Gen. Custer
vas ordered to make the crossing to the
lorh side of the Chckahominy at Meadow
bridge, but the bridge having been destroy
ed, and the enemy's cavalry strongly posted
IN the north bank, lie was unable TO per-
orm the task assigned him. Merits en-
ire division was then ordered to repair the
bridge and make the crossing at all hazards
At this time our situation seemed extremely
critical. The Chickahominy, without u
bridge and unfordabe, with its muddy bot
ION and swampy banks, and II strong force
OF the enemy, was in front; to turn back
upon Richmond without the support of in
iantry aud artillery was impossiblu-to turn
toward either flank would bring upon US a
force equal, II not superior TO our own,
which would cause a fatal delay before any
1t the distant crossings of the Chickahominy
could be reached. Through tickets for
''Libbey' seemed to stare us in the face.
Such was the position at noon on the 12th
lay of May, and the rebel commander, Gen
Bragg, believed that he would be able to
destroy Sherldan's force so completely, should
Il attempt the passage of the river that not
one would escape Ia tell the tale. Indeed, so
firm was his conviction Of his ability to ami
hilate us that, as | was afterward told by a
rebel officer, he invited jeff. Davis and his
cabinet to come out and see him "bag the
Yankee raiders" But fortunately. Little
Phil" was not the man to be bagged SO easily.
lie had determined to rebuild the bridge and
cross upon it, and he did.
The enemy's guns causing great inconven-
ence to Gen. Merritrs working party, he
crossed two or three regiments dismountcd,
attacked and was repulsed; but still the work
Of rebuilding went on, and when the bridge
was completed he crossed nearly his entire
division dismounted, drove the enemy out of
his works, and having crossed his horses,
his men and continued the pursuit
10 GalueS' mills. In the meantime Brapp