Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-20
CHAPTER TX

Grant himself was come to take COM
mand Of the Union army in Virginia. His
very presence sent thrill of enthusiasm
through the troops, who had now lain a
time at Fortress Monroe to recuperate.
After crossing the Rapidan. the Federal
ness.
Suddenly they drew near to the old bat
tle-ground of Charlottesville, where Just a
year before they had fought so 6ercely, and
here they struck the enemy.
No eye saw the carnage that ensued. The
dense forest forbade all strategy. The
ranks simply dashed into the woods, fought,
fell or retired only to form once more and
charge into those gloomy shades. Neither
side was victorious, but it was generally
supposed that Grant would retire across
the Rapidan, though he thought differently,
and pushed his army by the Confederate
right flank straight towards Spottsylvania
Courthouse. Lee hurried forward a
division to head him of, so it happened that,
when the Federals reached the spot, they
found the Confederate forces planted right
across the road.
For time it was dxel between sharp
shooters, who sheltered themselves behind
trees and picked off officers ON either side.
Then the storm broke in fury. With a wild
cry, Hancock and his gallant corps, hidden
by dense fog, charged into the Confed-
crate lines, broke the abattis, surrounded a
division, and captured four thousand pris-
oners and two Generals.
Again and again Harry Winthrop's brave
fellows threw themselves upon the foe. He
never flinched in the charge, but though
his comrades fell on all sides of him, he
came after each encounter scathless from
the fight.
Not so the gallant Sedgwick. Brave ever
to the verge of reckless daring, he had
just chided gunner for lodging a ball,
with the light remark: "Pooh! man, they
could not hit an elephant at that distance
when shot crashed through his body, and
he fell lifeless to the earth.
Thus with various successes the battle
ragged.
But the Prince Rupert of the Union lines
was Custer, that beau ideal of cavalry
leader-a man to whom fear was unknown,
one who never turned his back on an enemy
nor his face from friend, and chivalrous
to the verge of Quixotism. Caution he
knew not; 1t was with hum ever word and
a blow, but the blow always came first.
And this man was Harry Winthrop's COM
handing officer. So when one day towards
the end Of May the regiment got the order
to set out on a raid under Clusters personal
leadership, 1ntrammeled by the counsel of
cooler brains, Winthrop and his comrades
knew that hot work was before them. Nor
were they disappointed. The point Of at
tack was Trevellyan Station, on the Char
lottesville railroad. With a rush Custer
fell upon the foe, capturing big train CT
stores, burning the buildings and making
prisoners 1t was a sharp, brief, glorious
dash to victory! But--aye, these "buts, -
they spoil the best stories that ever were
told-as the victors rode out of the railway
cutting, they found themselves surrounded
by the enemy: Even Custer was appalled,,
but with fine strategy he got his men into
an open space with room to fight. Again
and again he charged now on this side, now
on that.
''For Gods sake, sir" said Surgeon Weir,
"we must have feld-hospital, tell me
which is the rear"
1.-THE front Is all around u.s." Custer cried,
waving hls sword. $50, doctor, you can take
yosr ptck.''
More periious grew the position every
moment. Custer formed his men for one