The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-31
WITH CUSTER
At yellow Tavern and in the Raid Around Rich
mOud.

At yellow Tavern and in the Raid Around Rich
mond.
To THE EDITOR: / read with interest the
articles relating the scenes of different battles,
and think that in THE TRIBUNE we shall have
/ the most authentic history of the war that can
| ever be compiled. Clusters brigade. of which
/ j was member, have good reasons for remem-
! boring the engagements referred to. At Todd's
Tavern Gen. Custer led his brigade with drawn
sabers, driving the rebel line and taking their
/ position battery in our right front, behind
knoll and near the woods, made terrible
havoc with our horses Gen. Custer ordered
our regiment the 5th Mich. Cav TO the right,
/ into the woods, where we 6ismounted and
/ charged the battery. They succeeded in draw
ing the guns away, but left u dead and wound
ed; among them, / think, the Captain of the
battery. After two DAYS we started towards
the rear wondering What next?" Along in
/ the afternoon we were cautioned against loud
talking and our coffee pots had TO be adjusted
! so that they would not rattle. About this time
we were passing around in rear of Lees army,
| when, between sundown and dark, we struck
Beaver Dam Station, gobbling up among the
rest, about 800 Of our men who had been
taken prisoners. Yes they were happy lot
OF men and were glad to see the cavalry. They
went to work and armed themselves from the
captured arms that had been sent back there.
and took up the line Of march towards Rich
/ ElODu Will us. just Nnab VI
opened the fight at Yellow Tavern | do not
know, our brigade being in the rear of the col
umn. / well recOllect the column being halted
and our standing in the road, while some fight
ing was going on in front, and that some shells
came over our heads rather too close for CON-
fort Finally our brigade was ordered TO the
/ front, where we found a large field with rail
fence running east and west through the mid
die. with woods mostly on three sides We
supposed that some of our troops had been
] driven out of this field. We found several of
Sharpe's carbine cartridges lying on fence rails
and concluded they We're left there when our
men fell back. Our regiment and the 9th
! Mich. were moved down on the north side of
the field ia the woods, where we were formed
and dismounted for charge across the field.
| well remember that when we were about to
leap the fence into the field for we were I'M
der fire at the timel the Colonel said: Now,
! boys, keep a good line. for Gen. Sheridan is
watching US" Gen. S. and quite body of
| troops were on an elevation TO our right, over
looking the feld) ! well remember that my
tent mate aud friend daniel +. Miller) re-
marked: Now. Trip, let's keep together"
We had not advanced over 20 rods, / think,
before murderous cr0ss-fire was opened upon
us out of the woods On our left and rear
Words cannot picture the scene that followed
out there in that level field, without any
chance Of cover We were trying TO return
Poor Miller received his death wound while on
one knee shooting in the direction that the
left of our line had come from. Our brave and
noble Custer rode up on his horse into that field
among us-always cool-wiih the words: Lie
down. men-lie down Wei fix them / have
sent two regiments around on the flank" His
words OF cheer and sympathy to the wounded
were deeply appreciated Ali of this was of
short duration, but it seemed like an age then
Right there in that field ! think Gen. Custer
decided Oh taking that battery. Clusters bri-
| gade 1.-THE Ist, 5th, 9th and 18th Mich Cay)
were now all engaged but the LIST Vt had
/ formerly belonged TO our brigade, and to it
Custer went for help. Won't some of the 1st
! VI tell us about their part in this scrimmage?l
The story went at the time. that Gen. Custer
went over and told the lst VI. what he wanted,
and it, of course volunteered 10 go but the
commanding General objected 20 have Gen.
Custer fighting his troops. and then Custer APP
peaied to Gen Sheridan. who told him TO take
any regiment that was willing to go with him.
The LIST VT. went. and there was an ad vance
all along the line. The battery was taken
Gen. Stuart received a death wound while en-
deayoring 10 rally his men. Although on the
next day part Of our forces were among the
defenses of Richmond, where we were once
/ before on the Fitzpatrick raid, } don't think
we were IN force enough 10 capture Richmond.
/ lComrade X. SAYS he could never conceive why
l.
/ written this, but the comrade seems 10 have
the impression that the first troops that crossed
went over on the corduroy bridge In the
early part Of the day Clusters brigade was or
dered down toward the railroad bridge, (which
the rebels had not des royed our regiment in
the advance. We met the Regulars coming from
there-sOEne Of them wounded They said we
wonld find some work down there" This
bridge was covered by the rebel battery and
line Of works spoken Of We dismonnted and
4 picked our way along under cover until We
reached the stream and railroad bridge Then
came the tug Of war as the saving is To get
across the bridge, few of US nearest the bridge
resolved that while Others kept up the FIRE
/ with the Spencer's) TO try and cross it. So, q
few at time. We crossed our whole regiment
and worked of 20 the left, in the swamp and
were skirmishing there for hours while the
corduroy bridge was being built We had
worked around on their flank so far, that when
/ the charge was made we could shoot length
I wise of their line Of works How they sue
+ ceeded IN getting that battery away | don't
/ understand, but it was race for dear life
4 they occasionally turning about and returning
4 our FIRE They had established hospital at a
/ house about half mile in rear of their works.
showing that they must have had some
/ wounded. We, Of course, felt reiOiced when
we had broken through the trap in which they
/ bOasted of having us. Their papers stated that
/ the city officials were coming out TO look us
I over; but We couldn't wait. I feel sad when |
4 think OF our brave comrades who laid down
I their lives IN these engagements, and there
were many who were the gray equally brave,
though ia mistaken cause. / hope some of
my comrades will tell as more about this expe-
dition.-L. e. TRIP, LIST Serg't, 9Th Mich,
Cicero, N. Y.