Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-30
custer at the Surrender.


Expsrseases - . Thrilling Mature.
Custer at the Surrender.
Every war has its ideal hero, and the
conflict between the States was no ex-
ception to the general rule, for there
was not only one, but many heroes,
writes a Confederate soldier in the
New York Sun.
There were, however, two, one wear
ing the blue and the other the gray.
around whom clustered a halo of chival-
rous daring and romance, which will
ever cling to the names of Custer and
Stuart. 1t Is of the former of these two
that we propose to relate a characters
tic incident.
The night Of Sunday, April 2, 1865,
will never be forgotten by any ex-Con-
federate who vas encamped in front Of
Fort Harrison, on the north side of the
James River, eight miles from Rich
mond, Va.
For several days before a heavy can
nonading heard in the direction Of
Petersburg had indicated that some
thing unusual would o break the
monotony wIlich had reigned supreme.
~ In the Confederate camp on the
north side for nearly four months. But
whether another bloody struggle to cap
ture the fort named would be made or
whether another retreat would be
sounded was soon decided in favor Of
the latter.
About sunset on the day Of which we
are writing orders were issued to cook
three days rations, and be in readiness
to march at midnight. Orders We're
also given for the strictest silence, as a
whole corps lay in front of Is only a
quarter of a mile distant, and for it to
have been apprised of u departure
would have meant disaster to the small
force Of only 5000 men in their front.
Silently but quickly at the appointed
hour the line was formed and the
march taken up in the direction of
Drewry's bluff, about two miles distant.
This point was oon reached. and here
a pontoon bridge was laid, and the
troops marched over by twos to the
south side.
Day was now at hand and Of course
sleep was out of the question. Also, it
was now become a question of speed
between the two detachments of the
Union and Confederate armies respec.
lively, the former straining every
nerve to prevent the C%onfederates from
overtaking the main army under Lee,
and the latter using their utmost en-
deayOrs to do so.
The race was kept up without inter-
mission for three days and nights. Our
troops never slept over two hours at a
time during that period. Their rations
were exhausted and they devoured ev-
erything eatable which came in their
way, without so much as subjecting it
to the suspicioA Of fire.
But In spite Of every exertion the
boys in blue gained upon and at last
overlook us about II O'clock a.. m. on
April 6. 1t was not the infantry. how
ever. but a detachment OF cavalry I'M
der Gen. Custer.
Preparations were It once made to
receive the charge which We knew
would follow.
The battle began by a vigorous shell
ing of our wagon train. to which no
reply could be given, as we were with
out artillery. The Confederate infantry
was massed behind a hill which COM
pletely shut 1t out from the Federal
commander. A heavy skirmish line
was thrown out on the hill in order to
deceive him and allure him into the
trap.
As everyone knows, Gen. Custer new
err would take a dare" He at once
formed his lines for a charge and on
they came. How gaily the trumpet
sung. How merrily the boys rode to
their death as they came on at a swift
trot. amid the booming Of cannon, the
rafting Of sabers, and the heavy thud
Of their horses feet.
Arriving at the top Of the hill they
We're set by an appalling infantry fire,
and many a gallant trooper ''bit the
dna1" The action was short, sharp and
decisive, and Gen. Custer soon recalled
his troops. 1t was in vain to throw a
small body Of cavalry against a solid
mass of veteran infantry.
But the end was near-only a matter
of a few hours-for at 5 p. M. the Union
infantry arrived. the battle of Sailors
Greek followed. and Gen. Sheridan
took 5000 prisoners.
So much as background to the pic
ture; SO much al a setting for the Incl
dent we now give, and which ever after
endeared the memory Of Gen. Custer
TO every one who was a witness to it.
The morning after the battle the pris-
oners were ordered to fall In line. Soon
Gen. Custer and his staff appeared on
the scene. and this was the signal for an
outburst Of uproarious applause. The
sky was fairly darkened with caps
thrown in the air, the band played
yankee Doodle" and altogether 1t was
a sight to sadden the captive Confeder-
ates, more especially as they beheld
eighteen Of their battle flags. which had
ben torn with shot and shell on a hum
lred battlefields, now adjoining the
train Of the conQuerer.
L-k - ZZ-M