Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-08-03
SHERIDAN.S RIDE.
PARTS OF IT DESCRIBED BY ONE OF
 TIE GENERALS AIDS.

l sfsi'f V VT - GG2CHiDCO Of OlNE UT
 TIE GENERALS AIDS.
 PIueky Reseuer at Every step as He
 Seared the Front Mounted on His
 Black Horse, Little Phil Inspired All.
 We came suddenly upou ind6bitable evidence of battle and retreat About a mile ill advance the road was filled and the fields dotted with wagons and men belonging tothe various brigade, diyi- sion and corps headquarters and in 1 among them offieels' servants with led horses, and here and there broken am hulance, suffers supply trains, q bat ] tery forge or two, horses and mules hastily packed with officers mess kits led by their cooks, and now and then d ] group of soldiers, evidently detailed 1 enlisted men attached to the head 1 quarters trains In fact, this was the 1 first driftwood of flood just beyond and soon to come sweeping down the road Passing this accumulation of 1 debris with rush by leaving the pike and galloping over the open fields on the side of the read, we pushed rapidly on, but not so quickly but that we caught all echoing cheer from the en- listed fnen and servants, who recognized the general and shouted and swung their 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 wounded officer or enlisted man on horseback or plodding 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 tEe side of the road, while others were making coffee in their tin cups by tiny campfres
 Soon we began 10 see small bodies of soldiers in the fields with stacked arms, evidently cooking breakfast. As we de. bouehed into the fields and passed around the wagons and through these groups the general would wave his hat to the men and point to the front, never lessening his speed as he pressed for ward. It was enough. One glance at the oager 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, and then, gathering up their belongings aud shonldering their arms, they started after him for the front, shouting to their comrades farther out ill the fields. Sheridan! Sheridan!" waving their hats and pointing after him as he dashed onward, and they, too, compfehended instantly, for they took up the cheer and tulHed back for the battlefield.
 To the hest of my recollection, from the time we met the first stragglers who had drifted back from the army, his ap- pearanee aud his chee1y shout of Yum back, men; turn back Face the other way" as he waved his hat toward the front, had but one result--a wild cheer of recognition, an answering wave of the cap. In no case as l glanced back did fail to see the men shoulder their arms and fellow us. 1 think it is no ex- aggera,ion to say that as he dashed on to the field of battle for miles back the turnpike was lined with men pressing forward after him to the front *
 After tho whole line was thoroughly formed ] rode over to my chief and urged him to ride down it, that all the men might see him and know without deuht that he had returned aud as sunled command. Al first he demurred, but 1 was most argent. as 1 knew that in some instances both men and officers who had Eet seen him doubted his ar- rival. His appearance was greeted by tremendous cheers from one end of the liue to the other, many of the officers pressing forward to shake his hand. He spoke 10 them all cheerily and confident. ly, saying: We are going back to our camps, men, never fear. Pll get twist on these people yet. We'll raise them out of their boots before the day is sover. ;"
 At no time did I hear him utter that terrible oath go often alluded to ill both prose and poetry ill connection with this days work. =" Sheridan s Ride" by General George A. Forsyth, b. $. A, i'll Harper's Magazine.