The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-21
THEIR LAST CAMPAIGN.
Movements of Sheridan aud Lee I'm the Old
Dominion.
CONTINUED from last sreek.l

l day and all night crossing Deep Creek and
| down the Appomattox to Jetersyille, on the
Danville Railroad, having gene beyond Lees
army and between him and Burkes juno
ton, which point Lee was trying to reach
We were in line-of-battle all day, expecting
the enemy's advance. In the evening we
were relieved by other troops, and moved
to the right, where we camped for the night.
April Sheridan, Wright, and Humphrey
were fighting Ewell and Anderson at Sailors
Creek Wells's Brigade was now sent back
10 Amelia Courthouse, but found no enemy,
Lee having passed on, leaving 100 limbers
and cassons, with large amount of ammu-
milton. The brigade joined the division
again that night beyond Sailors Creek,
crossing the battle-ground of the day before,
| which showed q most desperate fight. The
ground was covered with dead, and in many
places they were piled on top of each other
as they fell in their desperate effort to get
| away from the Sixth and Second Corps.
During this movement of Wells's Brigade
we had no fighting to speak of, but were the
| eyes Of the army.
| April the cavalry, under Merritt, con-
sisting of Clusters and Deyens's Divisions,
started to the southwest to Prince Edwards
Courthouse. We marched all day, but found
no enemy.
April 8 Custer, leading the column, had
| halted two miles frsm the point where, at
sunset. he learned several trains of cars were
being loaded at Lookout Station with artil-
lery and ammunition, which were apparently
unguarded. We started thther at once, and
speedily surrounded the trains Suddenly a
cannonading opened upon him from guns of
Lees reserve artillery, which had been sent
there to load on the cars, who, when they
| saw Clusters advance, went into battery on
the hill near by. Custer at once started in
| the direction of the flash of the guns. A
| portion Of Wells's Brigade was dism0unted
and sent against the enemy through piece
| of woods while the Vermonters, with other
cavalry, advanced in front, returning pistol
| and carbine shots for the canister which the
enemy were distributing freely. The result
was the capture of 80 guns and wagon
| train. Eighteen of She guns were taken by
| Wells's Brigade among them being the ia
! nous Washington Artillery of New Orleans
The men worked until long after midnight
in small and separate squads, bringing In ar
tillery, wagons, etc. We now drop to sleep
almost in our very tracks, men and horses
| almost exhausted.
April 8, at $50 a. M, we saddied up and
| got ready fer move, but did not leave
| camp until about o'clock.
/ we JnOuSnI, WDen we mOFeu OUT,
the end was so near. Lee had not quite
given up the hope of forcing his way West
and his orders to Fitzhugh Lee and Gordon
were to attack Sheridan's cavalry at day
light and force way if possible; but if
they found infantry support, to halt and
| report TO him.
Skirmishing began at daylight and lasted
until about o'clock, when GOrdons in
| fantry made an attack On Crooks cavalry
! in front and flank, and they were driven
back. During the night the Twenty-fourth
| Corps Of colored troops had come up and
| taken position on the left of the Fifth Corps
upon the appearance of Crooks cavalry.
Gen. Custer brought forward his division,
Weiss Brigade leading, and the 1st Vt. the
leading regiment in column of squadTOns.
As we started out at a trot, it was a grand
sight. At the head was Sheridan and staff,
Custer and staff, and Wells and staff. AS
we came through brigade of the colored
troops, they were deployiDg on the double
quick, in fine shape. Wells formed a line
in front Of Gordon, but had net stood long
before orders came from Gen. Sheridan TO
unmask the infantry lines In this move
ment Custer moved to the right, across the
enemy's trent, breaking into column of fours.
We were alse in front of the Fifth Corps,
WHICH were Oh IlRnt; WBlls ~ our leu
was Lees army. We were actually on re-
view by both armies; and never did men
keep better line OF make better appear
ance than did the 1st VT, the leading cav
airy regiment, although the enemy were
shelling Us at a lively rate.
As we came around upon the left flank Of
Lees army, we came in sight of Lees Head
quarters train, with confused mass OF men
about the wagons.
Custer, who never could see a wagon
train without capturing 1t, gave orders to
charge. Gel. Hall, of the 1st VT, had given
the order to his men, and the first battalion
had broken into gallop, when a staff officer
came up on the run with orders to halt, as
a flag of truce had arrived in Sheridan's
lines.
The regiment was brought int line to
await events. We were standing with ad-
vance carbines, when Col Whitaker, of
Clusters staff came up, escorting two Con-
federats officers with flag OF truce riding
along our lines, saying: Lower your car
bines men; you will never have to use
them again in this war"
Then the men threw up their caps and
gave a good cheer Later OH we were moved
farther 10 the left, where a portion of Mer-
ritts cavalry were preparing to resist an at
tsSh lioh OEdy % DfiBduc Oh DOutn SdTO-
linians, who refused to surrender.
Gen. Sheridan, at the Mclean house,
heard OF ii, and in presence of the C0nfed-
crate officers said he would send Custer
down to see them"
Custer started on the trot, but the South
Carolinians quickly surrendered when they
saw Custer coming at them on the charge.
This was the last final move of the Poto-
mac Army.
We dismounted in line, and remained
until later in the day, when Gen. Custer
rode along the lines and announced that the
surrender of Lees army was complete. We re-
manned in this position until the next morn
ing, with very short rations for the men,
and less for the horses. Although we were
short of rations, the Confederates, now our
prisoners, were in worse shape, they having
eaten nothing for three or four days. Our lit
tie supply of coffee, sugar, and bareback were
freely shared with our late enemy. MANY
were the little squads OF Yanks and john
mics eating and drinking around the same
campfire, freely talking and chatting. all
glad the end was reached at last. 1t was
hard to realize that the war was so quickly |
ended; that all our hard work, short rations. |
and constant fighting was over. But the |
next mOrning-April love began our |
backward march to Washington. Gen.
Grant and staff moved with our column for |
some distance.
On the 18th Of April we arrived at Peters |