Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-20

White Oak road. The enemy moved out Of
their works in large force, and, though q stub
born resistance was made by the federal troops,
nothing could resist the impetuous onset Of the
enemy and the boys fell back. When the enemy
had driven Warren back they turned their at
tention to Sheridan's cavalry, who were now
badly exposed.
Warren was relieved Of his command after
the battle for being dilatory. The poor fellow
died broken hearted. In my opinion Gen.
Sheridans action was cruel. Warren was a
brave soldier. He had been ordered to have
his men at a certain point by o'clock. The
fierce fire OF the enemy made it impossible of
accomplishment. Gen. Sheridan might have
pardoned the fault when the battle was won.
He did not relieve Warren when the battle was
going on, but when the victory was fully ours.
The boys in the fifth corps viii remember the
intrepid Warren rushing up and down the line
after the first repulse shouting, Wen get them
this time, boys! Let us try them once morer
and he did try them again. The fifth corps was
again rallied with Warren st their head, and at
least lOO feet in advance, the boys went for
ward aud forced their way to the desired posi-
ton.
The events Of the 1st Of April began at 4
O'Clock in the morning. Gen. Grant had placed
Sheridan in command not only of the cavalry,
but of the fifth corps under Warren. When the
time for the decisive struggle had arrived the
NTH corps was moved forward in u straight line
and the cavalry came up Mt the same time in an
oblique line from the left. The corps had to
engage in one Of the most fearful contests Of
the war. The enemy poured a terrible fire into
our Iines from the edge of the woods. There
was terrible execution on both sides.
"A horse had been shot q short distance from
me. / saw the rider dismount and jerk his sad
die off and then the maddened animal rushed
toward me and prancing on its hind feet bore
me to the ground and rolled over squarely upon
me. / was unconscious for several minutes
and when was able to appreciate my position
gave John Palmer up for dead There was
terrible pain in the small of my back as though
my spinal column was being gouged out. The
dying horse, writhing with agony, with his every
movement increased the agony of the unfortu-
nate beirg beneath him. 1 had fallen upon a
basket-handled sword and the horse was graf
ing my back on its hard edges. 1t must have
been fifteen minutes before ! was dragged out
from beneath the horse. -Four or five Of the
boys carried me to the rear.
was unable to move and the doctor
afterward said that he feared the injury to my
spine would result fatally. and had all the en-
couragement of being told that if l should re-
cover l would never be able to move around
freely. We went into camp for several days
ard for three days | was unable to leave my
bed. Then began to improve slowly and was
able to walk about when we were sent to Alex
andria to be mustered out.
From that time." said Gen. Palmer, 81 have
suffered from the injury to nv spine received
at Five Forks. l have visited the best surgeons
In Europe and America for treatment, been OPP
Grated upon several times, but still have the
old pain in the back Of my head and back and
guess will always have It,"