The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-30


THE CHARGE WAS SUCCESSFULLY MADE.
plefe victory than this The enemy was
driven more than 20 miles at breakneck
speed"
From Toms Brook we went through
Woodstock to Mount jackson. The
First Division captured five pieces of
artillery Call but one piece that they had
on this road, their ordnance, ambulance
and wagon-trains, and go prisoners.
Gen. Merritt invoices the captures as AZ
C. S. and T.. S. Wagons, with ordnance
and Ouartermaster stores, three ambu-
lances, five pieces OF artillery with
Iin1bers, four caissons, five forges, %
mules. SO horses, % sets of harness, %
prisoners of war, three commissioned
officers, one c. S. wagon loaded with
Enfield rifles. On the 10th moved to
Fishers Hill, and marched to Middle
town On the 18th and remained until the
18th, except scout to Front Royal
The picket-Iine was assaulted near
Gums Ford on the 10TH The First
Brigade VAS at once thrown forward to
repel the attack, but the infantry, cavalry,
and artillery started by order of Jubal
A. Early for the Potomac, and were all
under wav when the news spread through
the command that the impulslVe, mag
netic, and only Sheridan had come upon
the ground. The command sent up a
prolonged cheer and had grave doubts
If they had been whipped at tall Every
man felt there was d victory at hand.
They all had full confidence in him who
had so often led them
When the order c.ime for the advance,
everv veteran of the Michigan Brigade
rode fearlessIy to the conflict The
charge was successfully made. The
First Brigade" SAYS Gen. Merritt, in
column OF regiments In line moved for
ward like an immense wave, gathering
strength and momentum as it progressed,
overwhelming a battery and Its support,
although desolating fire of canister was
poured into them at short range, and a
deadly blaze of nlusketry from part OF
Kershaw's Division OF infantry. Never
has the inettle of the brigade been put to
a sexerer test, and never did it stand the
test better The charge was made upon
an enemy well formed to resist them, and
with their guns Goub533s-sho hotted with cam
ister The charge was reslstless, and
moved on to Cedar Creek This regi-
ment has added another trophy to It's
honor by taking battlefiag. From 4
o'clock until dark this CONSERVATION in
the ranks of the enemy prevailed, and a
Ike exhilaration in the First Brigade,
and, In fact, throughout the whole army
sending the enemy like whirlwind uF
the Valley, leaving but wreck behino
them to be gathered up"
There has been some dispute about
the plunder of this fight, and our olc
brigade commander was asked to ex
plain when he claims 45 Of the As gun
captured Ia this fight. Gen. Merit
SAYS the First Division was In no neet
of the glory, but emphatically state
that the First Division did take am
bold % guns, s caissons, 81 ambulances
90 wagons, 80 horses, with the harness
141 mules, with the harness; 3S9 pri:
oners; and y army wagons, % ambr
Iances, 81 stand Of arms, and 2 caisson
were DESTROYED, and 3 battlefags take
and preserved at Cedar Creek. He say
further that the First Division, sine
the present Valley campaign opened
August, had taken, and his Proves
Marshal held receipts for, Ia battlefag
20 pieces of artillery. Is eaissons, oy'
100 wagons and anibulances, 2,0e0 pri
oners, including 122 commissioned of
GERS, and since May had captured al
turned over 1904 prisoners of war.
And we believe and know that We,
regiment, were
ENTITLED TO OUR PROPORTION,
being third ia losses in killed in the e
tire cavalry service, only the 1st N
and lst Mich. standing above us.
/ will not detail the moves and G
counters after this, but on the 18th
started on an expedition up the Valle
reaching within two miles of GordoI
vile, returning by way of Madison, q
peper, Fauquier, Rappahannock, al
Loudoun Counties, covering 100 mi
going and returning, if in a straig
hne, and occupying 10 days in the wo'
weather in the year.