The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-12

How Custer Saved the Flag and How His Brigade
was Helped 0at OF Tight Pace

How Custer Saved the Flag and How His Brigade
Helped Cat OF Tight Pace
To THE EDITOR: In THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE Of May ~ Conrade Trotter has an item
relating TO Custer at Treyillian Station, which
brings back yividly 10 my mind the exciting
scenes OF that memorables 18th and 18th Of
June, 3D. at that place. As that was my last
fight, anything relating TO il greatly interests
me. III was Clusters greatest delight TO charge
mounted at the head of his gallant Wolverines,
and many rebel battery fell into their hands,
or had 10 Timber up in haste 10 get beyond their
reach. The rebel prisoners used to say TO our
/ boys; Oh, we uns amt bit afraid TO fight
| you Regulars but gosh dern those fellows that
go down on their knees aud fre all day with
out waiting 10 load" meaning Custers's men,
who were armed with seven shooting rifles. At
Trevilliau Station the rebs had them appar-
entity hOpelessly penned up sure enough-sur-
rounded by fully four times their number, in
closed within living triangle, and apparently
determined TO crush them out Of existence;
and although the Spencer rifles and Penning-
toms wicked little guns were making fearful
havoc in the rebel ranks still their lines grew
thicker and shorter to prevent possibility of
their foes escaping
The Regular brigade, which the day before
had received a terribly rough handling, was
now held in reserve, but within plain view of
Clusters position. The brigade consisted of the
LIST, I'd, 9Th and 9th lRegular) Cav. and the 9th
Pa Cav, the whole now reduced TO less than
one full regiment. The excitement now be-
came intense as our men sat in their saddles
and watched Clusters men charge wildly
against the rebel lines, which had formed in
his rear, and falling there wheel and charge TO
the right; baiiled again, they would reform
and dash off TO the left, in the vain endeavor
10 break through the lines or beat them back.
As these movements were repeated time and
again without success our boys began TO idget
in bpir sud- md Lar L. in. he
recti0n Of Sheridan's headquarters for the ex-
pected order 10 go 10 their assistance. But no
such order came, and for troops held in reserve
! TO leave their appointed station without orders
might result IN a court martial for the officer
| In charge. As the dust aud smoke of bat
tie arose and hung above the combatants, we
| could determine the progress OF the battle only
| by an occasional glimpse of the little blue
headquarter-hag Of Casters as it waved now in
one direction and again in another, wherever
the battle ragged most hercely. At last the flag
went down, and every eye again turned in the
direction of headquarters. still no messenger
came; few moments and the flag was raised
again. And now, regardless Of that strict dis
cipline which is usually maintained in the
! Regular Army, our men gave vent 10 their feel
1 ings ia profanity and criticism. Why don't we
go in and win !" Awaiting orders be DID,"
Custer is being cut TO pieces T" " Its I'D
shame!" They'll all be gobbled up in few
minutcs!" . Headquarters be hanged !" etc,
etc. The flag goes down a second time; it is
not raised again above the heads Of that des-
perateiy struggling band Of heroes. Is il cap
| turedf No, il cannot be; those four glorious
| Michigan regiments would die TO a man 10 save
! il from disgrace. With set determined fea-
lures our men look at each other,-a suppressed
| exclamation seems 10 treInble on every lip.
They are silent now, watching intently; the
/ flag does not appear; the cOmbatants are en-
veloped i'm a cloud Of dust and smoke, and we
realize that the crisis has come. Short, sharp
and decisive must be our action or we will be
too late.
Reader, IL you can imagine yourself stand
| ing upon the rivers brink aud beholding some
near and dear friend drowning, going down for
the third time and being yourself utterly pow
erless 10 render him any assistance without the
cooperation Of others, and you will be able TO
form some idea OF our feelings at this critical
moment
Our brigade commander, turning troubled
anxious look in the direction of headquarters
and seeing no messenger in sight, thus adj
dressed his command: Men, we must cut open
a way 10 let Custer out Of that scrape!" And
never did more willing band go forward into
action than did that handful Of veterans 10 the
rescue Of those boys whose dashing, brilliant
fighting qualities they had ere now learned 10
admire and 10 envy.
The command was Immediately given "Trot
march, gallop!" The trumpets rang out the
stirring notes Of the charge, when, with a wild
Indian war whOOp Ia trick the boys learned on
the Western frontiers in anti-bellum days, our
lines bounded forward in a sweeping charge
The rebs had not the time opportunity to
change front 10 resist our charge before we
were upon them, when they broke 10 the right
and left and fed precipitately for the timber,
hurTying of a few Of Clusters men with them.
Some Of these we recaptured, together with the
guns which they Lad got temporary possession
of. This WAS the charge alluded 10 by Comrade
TrOtter as having saved Custer and his guns
at Trevillan.
One regiment IL think il was the 9TH Mich }
was almost annihilated in this engagement,
and when the two brigade commanders met
Custer exclaimed: Merritt, they had inc in q