The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-01-10
CHAPTER X

CHAPTER TX.
CUSTER.
Grant himself was come to take com
mand Of the Union army in Virginia. Hi
very presence sent thrill of enthusiasm
through the troops, who had now lain
time at Fortress Monroe to recuperate
After crossing the Rapidan. the Fedora
forces plunged once more into the Wilder
ness.
Suddenly they drew near to the old bat
tle-ground Of Charlottesville, where Just
+ year before they had fought so fiercely, ant
here they struck the enemy.
No eye saw the carnage that ensued. Thu
dense forest forbade all strategy Thu
ranks simply dashed into the woods, fought
fell or retired only to form once more ant
charge into those gloomy shades. Neither
side was victorious, but it was generally
supposed that Grant would retire acros;
the Rapidan, though he thought differently
and pushed his army by the Confederate
right flank straight towards Spottsylvanit
Courthouse. Lee hurried forward .
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 duel between sharp
shooters, who sheltered themselves behind
trees and picked of officers on either side.
Then the storm broke in fury. With wild
cry, Hancock and his gallant corps, hidden
by a dense fog, charged into the Confed-
crate lines, broke the abattis, surrounded o
division, and captured four thousand pris-
oners and two Generals.
i Again and again Harry Winthrop's brave
fellows threw themselves upon the foe He
never fiinchcd 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 ball,
with the light remark; pooh! man, they
could not hit an elephant at that distance"
when o shot crashed through his body, and
he fell lifeless to the Garth
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; it was with HIM ever word and
blow, but the blow always came first
Anu lllS uldu WAS i1drEy UiutuIOp o OOm-
manding 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, untrammeled 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. It was sharp, brief, glorious
dash to victoryl But-aye, these butts
they spoil the best stories that ever were
told-as the yictors 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,
1--WE must have a feld-hospital, tell me
which is the rear"
s'The front is all around u.s." Custer cried,
waving his sword. "So, doctor, vou can take
pour pick @
More perilous grew the position every
moment Custer formed his men for one
grand charge to break through the opposing
ranks.
Hardly had the command escaped his lips,
than his color-sergeant, Canadian, fell
wounded, grasping the flag he
loved SO dearly in his death-stiffened hands;
and even at that supreme moment of peril
Custer tried to snatch it from his grasp, but
with the tension of wise, the fingers OF the
corpse chung to the flagstaff In vain he
quick as flash, he tore the
silk flag from its pole, pushed it into his |
bosom, and dashed forward to the charge.
And they got free. They rode right |
through the ranks Of the enemy, crushing |
by the very impetus Of their mad career |
the lines that stood IN serried ranks before |
Them. 1t was q glorious feat, but, as the |
Frenchman said of Balaklava, it was not |
war; and, moreover, had it not been for his |
success, Custer would have had to pay the |
Of his recklessness; for he had i
rivals in high places, who would have been |
oy no means sorry to catch him tripping.
That month Harry Winthrop was gazetted
IS Major.
He saw nothing, however, Of the bloody
light in the swamp at Cold Harbor, where
irant beleaguered Lee. and when, Losing |
lsserts, ten thousand Union men were
tilled or wounded in the brief space Of
WCuby uluuDCo. 1lC was doluB OaCPOos
luty on the banks of the Chickahominy |
liver; and, while thus engaged, met with
mother adventure which wove a few more
inks in the chain OF my story.
They had camped on the left bank Of the
liver under shelter of small wood, which
tretched from the uplands to the edge of
he stream. Suddenly there was great
among the men.
10 ufr- rs anIlehf
ne of his troopers, by way of explanation,
and the BOYS Pm afraid are like to handle
i'm little roughly"
Bucl1ling his sword on, Harry ran to the
Gene Of the disturbance.
81 caught him, Major, sneaking behind
he brush yonder,r cried one brawny fell
,w, whose gnarled fingers clutched the
ollar of the trembling wretch.
"l've seen him moro than once hanging
round, an knew he was after no good,n
laimed another.
s.Shoot himp
"No, hang him Shooting's too good for
UGH villain" were the cries that resound-
d on all sides.
The victim of this clamor had been
ragged through the mud Of creek, and
nth disheveled hair, torn clothes and
ruised features, it was no wonder that
Winthrop did not at first recognize in the
ilapidated scare-crow before him the
Idonis-like figure OF his would-be rival,
lphonse Lecroix. But the Canadians
right eyes cleaned with hope as he saw
is former friend.
"Mr. Winthropr' he cried, appealingly,
for the love OF God save mel Tell these
len who am. What you do not speak
Viii you see me torn to pieces before your
yesln
"Do you know him, Majori" asked the man
Tho hold him.
AYE, l know him, boys,n Harry said, re-
for he was by no means pleased
t the role he was compelled by circum-
tances to assume.
/" IL I'VE had known he was friend of ,
ours, Major" began one, with rough at
smpt at apology, but Harry cut him short.
"There, loose him. / will be responsible
Or his doing no harm" he said. +" Now,
foil r.xrr to- fart | {,