The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-04-22

pfUpoccu tcIIlS OF lie HaOcS COtcluel-
ate and honorable character to all
that was left Of the Army of North
ern Virginia at Appomattox-
THE LAST PURSUIT.
By daylight Of April 2 the cavalry
were well in hand, in bright spirits
and now felt that while the road was
open TO Shermanis army, there was
better game nearer at hand. The
weather was fine. the roads were
ldrying up, the country open and OF
a character that rendered the move
ment of large bodies of mounted
troops and artillery comparatively
easy. The Southside Railroad, for
whicE Lee had staked so much
ltwenty-four hours before, was now
yielding to our passage without a
hostile shot. It's value to the enemy
was not now worth the labor Of its
destruction, and we left il in our rear
without drawing spike or remoy-
ling a rall. We now wanted Lees
Iarmy before he could possibly reach
Johnston in North Carolina. The
day closed by forcing the enemy's
advance or right wing to the north
iside of the Appomattox, the cavalry
being but slightly engaged during
the day, with a sharp fight at SCOTS
cross roads about dark, while NOV
ing on the left Of CrawfordIs Division
which pressed the enemy, forcing
thousands of the enemy over the
AppomattOx in fight, with consid-
erable loss of material.
CUSTER IN THE LEAD.
On April Sd the cavalry started
by sunrise, General Custer having
the advance. The pursuit was Wig
orous and the troops following his
advance moved rapidly. The young
officer keenly realized the post Of
honor on this day and he did not
] stop to gather up his captives.
Abandoned artillery, wagons, jaded
horses and mules were counted as
nothing /; only prisoners of war and
battle-hags were trophies Of war
worth accounting for now, and Gus
I ter scented a surrender in the very
air.
/ We recall I sad scene as We hur-
riedly passed a fine old mansion
near the roadside. A splendid
young Confederate soldier bad been
Iataiiy shot (as be was making his
ESCAPED directly through the back.
He fell in front of the house, where
he seemed to be well known, bed
was spread for him on the lawn,
where he was surrounded BY the
plying family, old and young, at
tended by distressed and sympathiz-
ing ladies and commiserated with
by a score OF coiored people. They
seemed to be waiting for his death
every moment and paid but little at
i tsntion to our visit TO his bedside,
( though no unpleasant word was
said. We thought a silent prayer
in the hope that the gallant fellow
might live, and have often wondered
if he was among the miraculous who
could not be killed or would not die.
UP THE RIVER.
The cavalry encamped on the
night Of the Sd on theNamozine road,
near deep creek, wnere slight skir-
nish had taken place towards the
close of the day. On the 4th both
armies moved along the Appomat-
tox, Lee on the north and Sheridan
on the south. The enemy's line of
march could be distinctly seen from
every eminence by the smoke Of
burning fences and pine trees. incau-
ltiously set on FIRE by the ''coffee-mak-
er.n who will forage, cook and eat
under the most adverse circnmst2n-
ces, and whose fires are. left burning
while he hurried on, often blown by
the wind to fences by the roadside
and from thence TO forests of pine
and evergreens, sending up black
clouds of smoke, denoting the lines
of march for many miles in every di-
rection. Jettersville was the obiec-
tive point on this day, and II was
reached. We were now up to and
really south of the retreating army.
and across the Danviile Railroad.
Dispatches between Lee at Amelia
Court House and the quartermaster
at LynehDurg were here intercepted,
wires cut, infantry up, earthworks
hastily made and also preparations
TO resist an attack, should it be at
tempted; the night passed without
serious trouble.
\ On the 9th the Second Division OF
/ Cavalry. under Gen Crook. put in
some very efect1al work in the d.
rection Of Pains cross roads, Gener-
al Davies destroying a train Of one
hundred and eighty wagons, and
capturing a large number of prison
ers. The Second Corps came up and
went into position and all now felt
doubly assured that We could sue
cessfully resist any attack that might
ne made. By sunrise on the 9Th
the entire cavalry moved 70 the left
in the direction of DracOnsville.
/ From this point the trains of the
enemy Fastening southwark could
be plainly seen from an elevation
and at once became the objective
point. The attack was made with
( yigor. but the point was ably defend
/ ed by artillery and infantry. The
mounted troops could not reach the
road Our cannoniers planted their
shot and shell into the wagons and
teams and at times seriously inter-
fered with their passage, but the
/ long train still moved on its fight.
Troops multiplied on both sides.
This attack brought ON the battle Of
Sailors creek and ended, az all
know. in the defeat of General Ew-
ell and capture of about ten thous-
and prisoners and trophies of war
enough to keep provost marshals
busy all the following night to elas-
sifv and care for. On the 7th Gen.
eral Crook pursued in the direction
of Farmville, where be met with "a
warm reception, General Gregg Cross
ing to the north side Of Appomattox,
where a sharp fight ensued In an at
tack upon the trains, during which
.Lo La a.tar general uasscaDfurad Ner-