The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-28

us, for although the troops had learned of my
return but few of them had seen me. Fol-
lowing his suggestion l started in behind the
men, but when few PAGES had been taken
/ crossed the front and, hat In hand, passed
along the entire length Of the infantry line;
and II is from this circumstance that many
of the officers and men who then received
me with such heartiness have since supposed
that was my first appearance on the held:
But at least two hours had elapsed since l
reached the ground.
[The confederates made their attack on the
Nineteenth corps and were handsomely re-
pulsed by General Emory. From some con-
federate prisoners General Sheridan ascer-
tanned that Longstreet had not reinforced
Early. the dispatch to that effect being de-
coy.l
Between half-past and o'clock L was
ready to assail and decided to do so by ad-
vancing my infantry line in q. swinging
movement, so as to gain the Valley pike
with my right between Middletown and the
Belle Grove house; and when the order was
passed along the men pushed steadily for
ward with enthusiasm and confidence. Gen.
Early's stroops extended some little distance
beyond our right and when my flank neared
the overlapping enemy he turned on 1t with
the effect OF causing momentary confusion,
but General Mcmillan, quickly realizing the
entering angle by counter charge with his
brigade, doing his work so well that the
enemy's thanking troops were cut of from
their main body and left TO shift for them
selves. Custer, who was just them moving
in from the west side Of Middle Marsh
Brook, followed McMillan's timely blow
with charge Of cavalry. but before starting
out on IL, and while his men were forming,
riding at full speed himself to throw
his arms around my neck. By the time
he had disengaged~ himself from this
embrace, the troops broken by Mcmillan
had gained some little distance 10 tkeir rear,
but Clusters troopers sweeping across the
Middletown meadows and down toward Ce-
dar Creek took many OF them prisoners be-
fore they could reach the stream-so l for
gave the delay.
My whole line, so far as the eye could see,
was now driving everything before it, from
behind trees, stDne walls and all such shell
tering obstacles, so l rode toward the left
to ascertain how matters were getting on
there. As passed along behind the advanc-
ing troops, first General Grover and then
Col. Mackenzie rode up to welcome me.
Both were severely wounded and told them
to leave the field, but they implored permis-
sion to remain till success was certain.
When reached the valley pike Crook had
reorganiZed his men, and as / desired that
they should take part in the fight, for they
were the very same troops that had turned
Early's flank at the 0poquon and at Fishers
Hill, | ordered them to be pushed forward !;
and the alacrity with which they moved on
for Midle town demonstrated that their ill
tune of the morning had not sprung from
lack OF yalor. :. The direct result of
the battle was the recapture Of all the artil-
lery, transportation and camp equipage we
had lost, and in addition "a pieces of the en-
emy's artillery, 1900 prisoners, and a number
of battle-fiags.