The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-08

served in Berdan's sharpshooters. He was
mortally wounded in the next battle of his
regiment-Hawe's Shop, May 2s-and
Stuart's fate, like that of other great SOL
diers, shows how death is matter of
chance in war; as elsewhere. After the
First had broken up the Baltimore bat
terry, Clusters whole line ceased firing and
advanced. The Fifth regiment was on the
flank of the First, and a mounted Confed-
crate officer was seen riding past it's line,
about eighty rods away. A trooper shot at
him and missed, and Huff, who was watch
ing the luckless attempt, said to his lead
er, Col. Alger, II can fetch that man."
"Try him." said the colonel. One shot did
it, and then Huff coolly said to Alger.
''There's spread eagle for YOU"
After the fight at Yellow Tavern, Sheri-
dams corps rode on to James river and
then returned to join the main army at
Cold Harbor. A severe battle was fought
May % at Hawe's Shop ON the return
march. The Fifth and Sixth suffered
heavily in a charge against breastworks.
the Fifth losing ) officers and so men
killed and wounded out of 151 engaged
The Sixth lost 16 killed and II wounded
out of 40. Custer fought against Buffers
South Carolina brigade, and the contest
between these two was extremely hot. The
dead Carolinians literally covered the
ground in front of the Fifth and Sixth.
Another fight in the region northeast Of
Richmond, between Sheridan's and Stu
arts old divisions, took place June II at
Trevillian Station. 1t was heller SHELTER
affair-guns, trains, officers and soldiers be-
ing captured and recaptured on both sides.
The brigade was transferred to the Shen-
andoah valley few weeks later, and Gus
ter led it personally in the last battle at
Opequan, Sept. 70, 1854. On that field the
entire cavalry column was marshaled in
one line. The field was unobstructed.
Bands played, banners waved, troops luz
Zahed, and for once there was promise of a
lordly combat between mounted squadrons.
But the enemy was not in mind for it, and
the boys in blue and yellow wasted good
enthusiasm chatting their saddle seats I'M
til the fight between infantry was well
under way on a distant part of the field.
Then the charge sounded on Clusters
front; the Wolverines went forward, all
abreast for once, right into the enemy's
ranks, sabering all who resisted and cap
turing man for man and more. The brig
ade charged 500 strong and lost about 100
killed and wounded. 1t captured 700 pris-
oners and three battlefags Two flags
were taken 10y the Fifth and one by the
Sixth. After that battle Custer was pro-
NOTED to a division, but his Wolverines
staid by him To win at Cedar Greek and
Five Forks, and on the plains fighting
hostiles after Stuart, Hampton and Lee
rode their raids no more.
The First, Fifth and Sixth Michigan
hold, respectively, second, third and fourth
place in list of nine cavalry regiments
which lost over 100 killed in battle The
First Maine heads the list with Ia The
First Michigan second. 1874; the Fifth, al:
the Sixth 1876 The killed and wounded
of the First reached 5S4; of the Fifth, SOP
and of the Sixth, 496. The First regiment
lost its killed in thirty-six different engage
ments, the Fifth in thirty -iive and the Sixth
in thirty-two. So it cost hearts blood to
follow the standard of the golden haired
hero and be as brave as he was daring.
GEORGE L. kILMER