The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-10-17
sHERIDAN's LAST RAID.
Inciaents nf CLOSING pays cd the civil war.

at Waynesboro. Va, March ,, 1865, 10y Gen.
Custer, which destroyed Early's army, a.
narrated in former article, was the gnu
ming of trouble on Sheridan's last raid.
Clusters success left Sheridan TO select his
own route, either TO join Gems Grant or SheT-
man. Grant had given Sheridan no positive
orders. but intimaied that 10 join Sherman
and the Western army might be practicable.
However leaving Sheridan to choose his own
line of march. Sheridan considered the
war of the rebellion nearly over, aud he
wished to have his cavalry and himself pres
ent at the close.
Hence. he decided to join Grant at City Point
via the vicinity OF Richmond. During March
the column plodded on through mud and
rain TO Charlottesville, Va, where we went
into camp for a few days t0awalt the arrival
of our wagon-train and rest up the horses
and men Our horses were getting sore
backs and feet. During our stay at Char
lottesville The men were employed in tearing
up the railroads in all directions, also search
ing the city for contraband of war.
Sheridan's staff, in making themselves at
home, ran upon a printing-ofiice, and
straightway began the publication If a
daily paper in the Yankee dialect. When
Sheridan found out what was going on he
paper, saving they could not get out paper
at that time without giving some hints Of
his contemplated movements.
Sheridan was anxious to keep this in
formation to himself at that time. 1t
proved wise precaution, and when we left
Charlottesville Lee was equally ignorant with
Grant of Sberidans movements.
Our teams having arrived and the rail-
roads well destroyed, we again took up our
line Of march. The morning of March our
brigade went on the Lynchburg road 10
within Is miles of that point, burning
large railroad bridge. After dark the col
umn counter-marched, and by quick move
Rnent followed the main column to the James
River where we joined them at New Mar
ket. Here Sheridan found his pontoons too
short TO cross the swollen river. He was
compelled 10 change his plans somewhat,
and we moved down the north bank of the
James. using the canal tow-path for road,
and breaking the embankment IN many
places and blowing up valuable locks. At
Columbia the column rested one day. On
March II we left camp at 6 a. ~, moving
in two columns. We struck the Virginia
Central Railroad at Frederick Hall. March
13 was mostly spent in tearing up the rail-
road and some slight skirmishes with the
enemy, who were anxious to find out our
whereabouts and intentions. The latter
part Of the day we moved to the next sta
ton on the railroad, where We camped. The
enemy was here also.
warm and pleasant day was March Il,
a change fron constant IAN. We started
from our camp at a. IN. and marched TO
Ground Squirrel Bridge, on the North Anna
River. This bridge was held by Pickett's
Corps of Infantry, sent out from Richmond
TO intercept Sheridan and make him trouble.
1t looked as if Trouble was NJ ar, as we were
In a precaricus position. A portion of our
command, under Merritt, began skirmish
with the enemy, as If intending 10 cross that
bridge. Then Merritt gradually withdrew
down the river, hoping TO get the enemy 10
follow him. They were not slow in SO doing.
This movement was one IN which Gen.
Sheridan showed brilliant strategy.
Picketts men were drawn on across the
South Anna River until Sheridan was sure
they could not get back in time on foot to
intercept his crossing. Our brigade now
quickly moved back 10 camp TO be lost to
the enemy and to breathe our horses for the
next move. Remaining in camp something
like half an hour we again struck out boldly
on the Richmond road, and kept on 10 with
i'm is miles OF Richmond.
Again the enemy was puzzled as TO our
intentions. All OF a sudden we took quick
eounter-march back through Ashland, cross
ing the North Anna River at Hanover juno
ton, going into camp at 10 p. m.
The next morning at we continued our
march on the road to White House Landing,
going into camp in the afternoon
In the meantime Sheridan had communi-
Gated with Grant at City Point, with his
scouts sending one man through Richmond
and Lees army and one down the river
They both succeeded in getting through, and
Gen. Grant, pursuant TO Sheridanis request,
sent rations and forage 10 White House
under escort OF gunboats and infantry. We
broke camp March II, marched 10 KING
william Courthouse, where we again 4
camped late in the day. The next morning |
We again took slow and easy march to /
White House Landing, passing through |
LawrenceVllle, and camped on the west bank |
Of the river at White House We saddled
up at break Of day and crossed the Pa
mnDkey River and again went into camp |
outside OF the infantry lines. Rations and |
forage were awaiting us here, and we drew |
i've days rationE and one days forage.
Our brigade, under Col Wells, started |
from Camp at p. IN. March 80, and made |
reconnaissance TO Bottoms Bridge and Cold |
Harbor. The next day We returned TO camp, |
remaining five days. We then went TO
Joness Bridge, where We went on picket The
next day we marched to HaTris0n's Landing
passing through Charles City Courthouse |
and camping on the banks Of the James
River, near the old works OF Mcclellan dur |
ing his Peninsular campaign; and Bermuda |
Hundred, passing over Malvern II II and by |
AHtell Landing. We crossed the pontoon |
bridge over the Appomattox River March |
% passing over the hill in rear Of our Peters
burg line on TO Meade's army railroad, camp |
ing near Hancock Station. Our infantry |
lines greeted us with cheers.
The enemy, not TO be outdone by onr
men, began tossing their compliments at us |
in shape Of shells. Their range was very |
wide of the mark, and quite a banterng of |
words took place between the cavalry boys |
and the enemy.
BY the time we had reached broadsde TO |
the enemy they had obtained far range Of |
MS but moving out Of their range We went |
into camp.
This was the wind-up OF a great raid. We |
had been In the eDemy's country for 81 DAYS |
and marched more miles within the lines of |
the Confederacy than Shermans march from
Atlanta to the sea.
Gen. Sheridan says there perhaps never |
was a march where nature offered such inn |
pediments and shrouded herself in such |
gloom. lncessant rains, deep and almost |
lmpassable streams, swamps and mud was |
overcome with constant cheerfulness on |
the part OF the troops that was truly admit |