Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-02-22

occasion to mention before the close OF |
the present one But the stories that
were current about the man during the
the Shenandoah campaign Of the sum-
mer and fall of 1864 ascribed to him
not only great skill in handling and
great bravery in loading cavalry but
also certain boyish love of fun-a
kind of natural exuberance of spirits, !
that would break out in the midst of
the sternest scenes of war; This was
we'll illustrated by the story of the
meeting of Sheridan and Custer at the
close OF the battle Of Cedar Greek,
when the Confederates were in disor-
derby retreat, our cavalry in pur-
suit, and our infantry reoccupying
their camps. Custer was SO full Of ex-
ultation that he caught up the COM
handing General in his arms, and,
being much the taller of the two,
swung him about, with the exclama-
tion, "We've got 'em, old fellow =
We've got 'em" And Sheridan was
in just the mood to take such horse
play without exception.
/ lately met at his home at Auburn,
n. Y, Gen. William III. Seward, q son
of the distinguished statesman of that
name. Reminding him of the early
days Of 1865 when met him on duty
at Martinsburg, Virginia, our CONVEX
sation easily passed to the stirring oc
currences Of the preceding months in
that vicinity. He was wounded at the
battle Of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, and
on his recovery was placed in command
of the post of Martinsburg, very i'm
portant point, as it was on the
Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad, and
but few miles from the
Potomac. He remained here till
near the close of the war; and here he
emit rtained General Sheridan on the
18th of October, when he was on his
way back to the front from Washing
ton, and to the memorable "ride" that
has passed into story and song.
Did you," General Seward asked
me, ever meet General Custer person
ally during that campaign?"
I told him how, about the LIST of Oc-
tober, near Harrisonburg, I had occa-
sion to find him, to deliver message
sent by some of his relatives in the
State of New York, with whom I was
acquainted; how I found him alone in
his tent, introduced myself, met with
cordial reception, and had an inter-
esting half-hour's chat.
General Seward smiled. II had
rather different experience with him, :"
he said. II will relate it to you"
A very remarkable experience it
turned out to be- and something per-
fectly characteristic of Custer. I will
put the narrative in General Stewards
Language.
It was early in that campaign-at
least, it was before the first of it's
great battles had been fought-that
received notice direct from Washing
ton that the Confederate General
Rosser was on . raid, and likely to
strike the rails,ad at Martinsburg.
The enemy were continually trying to
disable this railroad, and often sue
eeeded in doing SON fact, it was
never freed from the danger of raid
until Sheridan's first great victory re-
lieved it. Rosser had made name for
himself as q daring and dashing cav
airy leader, and upon receiving this
warning I promptly bestirred myself.
My force, believed, was large enough
to repel any attack that was likely to
be made, and was determined not to
be taken unawares. I visited the
troops, ordered them to remain under
arms, rode out to the pickets, eau
toned them as to the expected attack,
and satisfied myself that the place
was covered so that it could not be ap-
preached from any direction without
an alarm.
Well satisfied with everything, 1
rode into town and to my quarters,
which were in building. Leaving
orders below that I should be aroused
on the slightest occasion Of danger, 1
went upstairs, wrapped myself in my
blankets, and laid down. The day was
warm, I was very tired, and I was
quickly asleep.
An hour or so later awoke; sup
pose the man standing over me made