The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-08-09
SHERIDAN'S RIDE.
rAR7S OF iT DESCRIBED By ONE OF
THE GENERALS AIDS.

Signs Of Disaster and Retreat Greeted the
Plucky Rescuer at Every Step as He
Neared the Front Mounte on His
Black Horse, Little Phil Inspired All.
We came suddenly upon indubitable
evidence of battle and retreat. About q
mile in advance the road vas filled and
the fields dotted with wagons and men
belonging to the various brigade, divi-
sion and corps headquarters, and in
among them officers servants with led
horses, and here and there a broken N
bulance, suffers supply trains, a bat.
terry forge or two, horses and mules
hastily packed with officers mess kits,
led by their cooks, and now and then q
group Of soldiers, evidently detailed
enlisted men attached to the head
quarters trains. In fact, this was the
first driftwood of a food just beyond
and soon to come sweeping down the
road. Passing this accumulation of
debris with a rush by leaving the pike
and galloping over the open fields OF
the side of the road, we pushed rapidly
on, but not so quickly but that we
caught an echoing cheer from the en-
listed men and servants, who recognized
the general and shouted and swung
heir hats in glee.
Within the next few miles the pike
and adjacent fields began to be 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 the
rear, and now and then a wounded
officer or enlisted man on horseback or
Flooding along on foot, with groups Of
Struggling soldiers here and there among
the wagon trains, or in the fields, or
sometimes sitting or lying down to rest
by the side of the road, while others
were making coffee in their tin cups by
tiny campfires.
Soon we began to see small bodies Of
soldiers in the fields with stacked arms,
evidently cooking breakfast. AS W. de.
bouched into the fields ard passed
around the wagons and through these
groups the general would bis hat
to the men and point to the front, never
1essening his speed as he pressed for
ward. It was enough. One glance at the
eager face and familiar black horse and
they knew him, and, starting to their
feet, they swung their caps around their
heads and broke into cheers as he passed
beyond them, aud then, gathering up
their belongings and shouldering their
arms, they started after him for the
front, shouting to their comrades farther
out in the fields, Sheridan! Sheridan!"
waving their hats and pointing after
him as he dashed onward, and they,
too, comprehended 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 ap-
pearance and his CHEEKY shout Of Turn
back, men; turn back! Face the other
way!' as he waved his hat toward the
front, had but enc result-a wild cheer
of recognition, an answering wave OF
the cap. In no case as l glanced back
did I fail to see the men shoulder their
dTU0S dUU lOl1CN uS. / lullA IL Is liz ca
aggeration to say that as he dashed On
to the field Of battle fer miles back the
turnpike was lined with men pressing
forward after him to the front. = : i
After the whole line was thoroughly
formed / rode over to my chief anC
urged him to ride down it, that all the
men might see him and know withou,
doubt that he had returned Il as
suned command. At first he demurred
but | was most urgent, as l knew tina
iii some instances both men and officers
who had not seen him doubted his ar
rival. His appearance was greeted by
tremendous cheers from Il end of The
line TO tue other, many Ct the Officers
pressing forward to shake his hand. H.
spoke TO them all cheeriIy and confident
ly, saying: I'VE are going back to on,
camps, men. mover fear. I'll get q twis
On these people yet. Wen raise then
o2t Of ohcir boots before the day j
over
II ut tirnr did | bear hl1n utter tha
">e9.iiio cath so often alluded to ii
bctta l1ts, i.:ni poetry n connection
vii tins C>'~ work. --"Sheridan'l
Ea&>." jg >.ta1r.I G~o.gc =. Forsyth
L. :, =, 80 .~!asIur's Magazine,
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