The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-07-28
SHERIDAN'S RIDE.
PARTS OF 1T DESCRIBED BY ONE OF
THE GENERALS AIDS.

Signs OF Disaster and Retreat Greeted the
Plucky Resouer at Every Step IA He
Seared the Front t. Mounted ON His
BLACK Horse. Little rhn Inspired All.
We camo suddenly upon indubitablo |
evidence of battle and retreat. About IA
mile i'll advance the road WAS filled and |
the fields dotted with wagons and men
belonging TO the various brigade, diyi-
sion and corps headquarters, and IN
among them officers servants with led !
horses. and hero and there broken am
bulance, suffers supply trains, u bat
terry forge or two, horses and mules
hastily packed with officers mess kits,
led by their cooks. and now and then u
group Of soldiers, evidently detailed
enlisted mon attached to tho head
quarters trains In fact, this was the
first driftwood of flood just beyond
and soon to come sweeping down tho
road Passing this accumulation of
debris with n rush by leaving tho pike
and galloping over tho open fields on
the side of the road. we pushed rapidly
ON. but not so quickly but that we
caught an echoing cheer from tho en-
listed men and servants. who recognized
the general and shouted and swung
their hats In CLEO.
Within tho next few miles the pike
and adjacent folds began to bo lined
and dotted everywhere with army wag-
ons, suffers outfits. headquarters sup
ply trains. disabled caissons and team
sters with led mules, all drifting to tho
rear. and now and then wounded
officer or enlisted man on horseback or
plodding along on foot, with groups of
struggling soldiers hero and there among
the wagon trains, or in tho fields, or
sometimes sitting or lying down to rest
by the side of tho road, while others
were making coffee in their tin cups by
tiny campiires.
Soon we began to SEQ small bodies of
soldiers i'll the fields with stacked arms,
evidently cooking breakfast. As we do.
bouohed into tho fields and passed
around tho wagons and through these
groups the general would wave his hat
to tho men and point to the front, never
lessening his speed as he pressed for
ward. 1t was enough. One glance Mt the
eager fnce and familiar black horse and
they knew him, and, starting to their
feet they swung their Gaps around their
heads and broke into cheers as he passed
beyond them. and then, gathering up
their belongings and shouldoring their
arms, they started after him for tho
front, shouting to their comrades farther
out in the fields, "Sheridanl Shoridanl"
waving their hats and pointing after
him ms ho dashed onward, and they,
too. comprehendcd instantly. for they
took up the cheer and turned back for
the battlefield.
To the best of my recollection, from
the time we met the first stragglers who
| had drifted back from the army, his mp
| poaianuu ana his uhuory shout or Turn
back, men; turn back Faoe tho other
wayi' as he waved his hat toward the
front, had but ono roault--a wild cheer
of recognition. an answering wave of
tho cap. In no case as glanced back
did fail TO see tho men shoulder their
arms and follow us. | think IL is no ex-
aggcration TO say TINT ns he dashed on
to tho field Of battle for miles back the
turnpike was lined with mon pressing
forward after him to the front
After the whole limo was thoroughly
formed / rode over to my chief and
urged linn to ride down 1t, that all tho
mon might SEQ him and know without
doubt that no had returned and as-
sumed command. At first ho demurred,
but was most urgent. M | knew that
In some instances both men and officers
who had not seen him doubted his mr.
rival. His appearance WAS greeted by
tremendous cheers from ono end Of tho
line to tho other. many Of tho officers
pressing forward to shake his hand. lie
spoke to them nll oheerily and confident
ly, saying; "Wo arc going back TO our
camps, men, never fear. I'll got u twist
on these people yet Won raise them
out Of their boots before the day Is
over "
AT no time did hear him utter that
"torrible oath" 40 often alluded to in
both prose and poetry in connection
with this days work. -" Sheridan y
Ride" by General George A. Forsyth,
u. s. A., in Harper's Magazine.