Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-22

ett's assault. Tho commands were led by
Gen. Fitz Lee and Wade Hampton, and
Coils Chambliss and Ferguson. t. meet them
Gregg had tho brigades Of Custer, Irwin
Gregg and Mcintosh. After s)mn .kirmsh-
ing "A stubborn battle was begun 10y the des-
peratc advance of Gregg to carry n ridge
crowned with Stuarts batteries All the
scattered troopers are soon drawn in The
field in front of the batterieS-on Rummels
farm - is perfectly free for horsemen.
Fences have been removed, the surface
is smooth, and horses may gallop ut will.
The first mounted charge was made by the
First Virginia, and Custer led tho Seventh
Michigan against them, crossing the whole
cleared field to fence left standing, and
meeting them at ssbers length This was
principally n carbinc fight, and the Micli-1n
boys were soon hanked and thrown back
But the work was becoming cxciiing AID
both sides stood ready to das.l in al the most
advantageous point Capt Wilham l..
Miller, of the Third Pennsylvania cavair--.
Mcintosh brigade, describes what roy took
place About half a mile from the fence
whore tho First Virginia stood there APP
peared moving toward us a largo mass of
cavalry, which proved to be portions Of Fitz
Lee's and Hampto1's brirados They were
formed in close column Of sqdalron5 and di-
rected thc!r course toward the Spang-
Ter house ton the Union right flank
A gran.er spectacle than their advance
has rarely been behell. They marched
with well aligned fronts and steady
reins. The polished sabcr blades gltt"red in
the piercing rays Of the bri int summers sun.
Erect in their saddles. dctcr,alutd in pur-
pose, onward the COME icrata5 come. All
eyes are turned upon them, AMI it seems like
troops rose % tho situation. The batteries If
Chester on the right Kinney in the center
and Pennington on the left Union guns
opened with well directed aim. Shell and
shrapnel met tho advancing Confoderates
and tore through their ranks. Closing up
the gaps, on they marched, and IS they drew
nearer, canister was substituted by our
artillerymen for shell, and horse after horse
staggered and fell. Still they come on. Our
mounted slirmishers rallied and fell into
| line; the dismounted men fell back, and
! few of them reached their horses The
| First Michigan, drawn up in close
! columns of squadrons near Penning-
tons battery, was ordered by Gregg to
| charge. Custer, who was near, placed him
telf at its head and Off they dashed AS the
two columns approached each other the
PAGES were quickened, when suddenly a crash
| betokened the crisis. SO sudden and violent
was the collision that horses turned end over
end and crushed their riders beneath them
The clashing Of sabers, the firing of pistols,
the demands for surrender and the cries Of
wounded combatants now filed the air"
FIGHTING MAN FOR MAN
This was the supreme moment, and McIn-
tosh gathered up some fragments and with
them, and his headquarter guard and staff,
charged in beside Clusters men. Sim
ultaneouSy two battalions of the Third
| Pennsylvania and one of the First New
Jersey were hurled down the TANKS
of the Confederates and all fell upon their
nearest opponents single handed, and grad
ually the ASSISTANTS were forced back to
their old position, the ridge behind Rum
mel farm house.
The shock of this battle was such that every
participant, and all within sound were
startled by the strange and terrific camor
The owner of the farm, Rummel, WAS in his
house, and with an army and It's horses and
cannon invading his yard and garden, was
fully prepared for startling experiences, but
when the charging columns met he was so
aston shed that he rushed out to SEE what
new thing under the sun had happened
An incident of the severe ti5hJtas Is given
in Cant MlilerS narrative, In the midst of
the engagements, and Immediately IA front of
Rummel', house, Z. g. Eyster,ot Company II,
Turl Pennsylvania, captured a ilsnount d
Confederate and covered him with his
cartiuc. Eyater's attention becoming 'ira"r
OH by the firing around him, the ,1utereratt
drew his revolver and shot Ev,ter s 'or5e ano
now he held Eyster prisoner Theu Sergt
Gregg OF Company a, came up ani witt
his .4ber cut the Confederate to the ground
Bef5r. Gregg could turn around another
e Confederate came up aud with fierce rlGh