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

hundred barrels of -four, eighteen
wagons loaded with grain and CON-
missary stores, seventy-five beef cat
tie, five hundred thousand rounds of
rifle ammunition, three thousand
pounds of fixed ammunition, besides
great quantities of wool. cotton, bacon
army candles, harness, blankets,
lshelter-tents, small arms and about
sixteen hundred prisoners of war
and several thousand contrabands,
who brought in with them all man
ner of transportation, from the bull
cart 10 the plantation carriage, with
.'massa'sn best blooded roadsters.
AS TO NEW MOUNTS.
The loss of horses on this raid was
terrible, but the Union cavalry man
had previously learned the art of
keeping himself horsed while in the
enemy's country. If his own steed
went down from exhaustion or other
cause, he carefully retained saddle
bride and blanket, while his COM
rades foraged for q new one, or
promptly dismounted eontraband
from horse or mule, it mattered not
which if well timbered, and he was
speedily back in the rank with his
comrades. This practical spirit OF
comradeship ran high among the
veterans of the corps.
NCANP NEAR HANCOCK.
Upon reaching the White House
Landing on the Pemunkey river a
thorough inspection of the command
was made. All condemned horses
were sent North for care ana neces-
sary attention at the large stables
then near Washington, fresh ones
supplied in their stead, absent Off
GERS ordered front forthwith and the
command on the 26th of March
crossed over the James river and on
the day following went into camp
near HanCeck Station on the militia
~ railroad in front of Petersburg.
Here the Second division joined the
First and Third. and the corps was
again united. In the subsequent
movements it was joined by the
small division of General Mckenzie,
making fully ten thousand mounted
men.
SHERIDAN AT DINwIDDIE.
The camp at Hancock Station was
of short duration. Orders to supply
the command were promptly issued
and officers provided for contIngen-
cies deemed by no means remote.
The experienced eve saw indications
Of q great movement impending at
all points along the line of Grant,
from City Point to the Boydton
road.
Early on the morning of March %
the corps was in the saddle. with
Dinwiddie Court house for an objec-
tive point. The clouds hung low
and by noon the rain came down in
torrents. The country through which
We marched was offs sxampy nature
The troops and artillery moved with
difficulty, while the trains, con-
voyed by General Clusters Division
mere stuck at point, after point
and when night came on
were several miles in the rear
much to the chagrin Of Custer, who
was obliged TO camp near Malon's
Crossing, on Rowanty creek, for
their protection. The advance reach
ed Dinwiddie Court house between
) and P. NJ. The outpost of the
enemy fell hack with but slight re-
sistance, and the First and Second
Division went into camp, covering
all public roads running south and
west converging at this point.
RAINS AND RAD ROADS.
The situation was certainly dis
couraging with reference to rapid
movements towards Sherman the
nature of the country, the condition
of the roads and the presence Of the
enemy in our front. his probable
concentration at FIVE Forks, where
converged all roads leading to the
Southside Railroad, the next step on
our march south, the destruction OF
which must be effected before We
could hope to swing off for Sherman,
the continuing rain and impossible
ty of getting up our trains without
corduroying miles upon miles of
roadway-these were difficulties con-
fronting Sheridan on the first night
out March 29). That all these ext
gencies were really shared by Cen
eral Grant. with whom Sheridan
had parted company only g few
hours before, is shown by the follow
ing extract from the official report Of
the latter officer:
From Dinwidde / was expected
TO make cavalry raid on the South
side Railroad and thence join Gener-
al Sherman. However
during the night (of the 90 the
Lieutenant General sent me instruc-
tions to abandon the contemplated
raid. to act in concert with the in
fantry under his immediate COM
mand and turn the right flank of
Lees myifpossible.n
GRANTS PURPOSE.
What circumstances induced Gen.
eral Grant to hold on TO Sheridan at
Dinwiddie and employed him in one
more effort to turn the right flank of
Lee does not appear in the official
papers Of either. That he had made
repeated and fruitless efforts to ac-
complish this object from the point
where he first confronted Lee in the
Wilderness in May, 1864 to and over
the James, and again to the left
of Petersburg, is well known. But
now, having Sheridan to execute
his orders. he concludes to make
one more effort and give to the Ar
my Of the Potomac one more oppor-
tunity to meet and destroy the Ar
my of Northern Va, before its escape
South or the arrival of Sherman, and
sharing with the army the honors
ofinvestnent and capitula.ion. Pos