The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-04-24

our battalion did more hard work that
year that we operated together than any
was scout, scout, scout, and sometimes
there would be dozen parties out ct q
time. The men of the New York regi-
ment owned their own horses and cot
double pay, and with all the chances for
getting horses in the Valley at that time
we were generally well mounted. We
always went lightly equipped, having no
rations or coffee. We carried our sabre
scabbards under our legs, thrust in the
eaddle-strap SO Gs not to rattle. A few
carbines would be carried by the best
marksmen.
When We went on long and dangerous
scouts, none but the lest horses were
taken. and what marches We used to
make! We thought nothing of sixty and
seventy miles in twenty-lolr hours; we
would ride out from camp usually about
day light. The first day We would go as far
as we could without using up the horses,
At shutdown we would 20 into the woods,
y"6 "AtA 10 l1uJ S(1A. Occl VI 1uuLLOu
from some farmyard; here after supper
and rest of two or three hours, during
which the horses were unsaddled and
| fed, loose shoes nailed on and arms and
equipments looked alter, 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 bridles With right hand for support.
After mile or so o!,tlis we would mount
| and gallop q mile or trot again, then Set
| tie down irto long swinging walk, each
man swinging his legs tAnd helping his
horse along. B, daybreak We would
probably be in striking distance of our
point of attack.
Then would follow the reconnoitre and
the charge. II su ceseiui We would re-
turn to camp full of honors; and II it was a
4 "water haul'' we would try somewhere
else. Sometimes we would be attacked
by superior force and would have to
run for it. Then the best men and fast
est horses and the carbine men would
cover the retreat. We would soon out
run all but the best mounted of the en-
envy, and while the main command were
making the best of their way to q place
| of safety the rear guard would be having
running fight with the advance OF the
pur yuers. Often a retreat would be
turned into 4 victory, and when we
could manage to pick up and carry off
| some adve lturous and risky officer or
daredevil " no got too far from mis- sup
ports with his fast horse and Ills arms,
which would be the spoil of his captor.
All! that was 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, footpaths, mountain gaps and
hiding places, our services We're in de-
| maud as scouts, advance guards, etc. At
first they called US lot of undisciplined
| guerillas and scarecrOWs, for there was
| not dozen men in either of the Fir st
| New YORK or our battalion who we're
uniformed and equipped according to
! army regulations. Eus we were brigad-
| ed with General Custer and he soon
found the metal we were made o! and
| from the time he took command of the
| division, after Wilson left, until the close
of the way the Old Valley cavalry we're
his main dependence in charging and on
the advance.
At Harper's farm or Sailors creek it
was one OF the valley cavalrvmen, Cap
tain Stevens, of the First New York,
who received General Ewell's sword; ;
| Captain Savacool, Of The same regiment
| was mortally wounded just rs he had
| captured q battle-hag in the same fight,
and the last cavalry officer killed in
| same regiment, who was killed at the
! fight at Appomattox Station, the night
before the surrender, while charging by
Clusters side. Ten OF our battalion and
one of the First New York enlisted in
General Clusters regiment after the war
and were with him in his last fights.
l never saw General Merritt exhibit
uncomfortable passion but once. Soon
af err he assumed command as chief of
cavalry he was sent by General St,eri-
dan into Luray valley to cross at New
market Gap and attack EarIy's rear
while General Sheridan attacked IN
front with his infantry. When the
cavalry got to Milford crossing, a mar
row pass in Luray Valley. where mar
row bridge over a narrow creek was the
by Wicker's brigade nearly all day until
too late to execute the movement con-
templated-like the king Of France, nav
ing marched up the hill, we marched
down again.
During the day young officer of the
regular army, Lieutenant Bernard, who
was an aid on General Merritt's staff
was seriously wounded and sent to the
rear in 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 OF Fort Royal and in
sight of the town. Mosby's men attacked
the guard with the ambulance, captur-
ing several of them aud driving off toe
rest. They took Lieutenant Bernard
out Of the ambulance, mounted him on
one of the ambulance horse, and were
getting away when General Merritt rode
up on the hill and saw them. He sent
some of his escort after them, and
whether the Lieutenant seem. help coul.
ing attempted resistance or whether
the horse was unmanagea BILE was never
known, but one of the enemy was seen
to draw a revolver and shoot him in the
head, killing him instantly.
Two of the murderer's companions
were captured and brought before Cen
eral Merritt, who had dsmounted the
command in town. He was in an over.
Whelming passion ami as soon as they
were brought before him, he called the
captain in command of the boiy-yuard
ard ordered him to take the men on the
hill and hang them and TO place on their
breasts statement that they Were exc
cuted for the murder of Lieutenant Der
nard. AS they were carried away one
of the staff suggested that perhaps the
prisoners would he glad to save their
lives by giving information that would
lead to the capture Of their leader, Colo.
nel Mosby, whom some one had report
ed as being the one who shot Bernard,
and the general agreed to spare their
lives if they would do this, as Mostly had
been giving General Sheridan consider
able trouble in picking mp small parties,
attacking pickets, wagon trains and
guards.
The staff officer rode to the hill,
where he found preparations were being
made to hang them to some oak trees with
| lariat ropes. The staff officer asked the of.
ficer in charge of the guard to wait a few
ments, and taking the eldest prisoner, a
| man about twenty-seven or twenty
eight years old, aside, told him what the