Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-08-06
SHERIDAN.S RIDE.
PARTS OF IT DESCRIBED BY ONE OF
 THE GENERALS AIDS.

ssgns of Disaster and Retreat Greeted the
 Plucky Rescuer st Every step He
 Neared the Front Mounted on His
 Black Horse, Little Phi Inspired All.
 We came suddenly upon indubitable evidence of battle and retreat About q mile i'll advance the road was filled and the fields dotted with wagons and men belonging to the various brigade, divi- sion and corps headquarters and ill among them officers servants with led horses, and here and there | broken am hulance, suffers supply trains, a bat tery 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 flood just beyond and soon to come sweeping down the road Passing this accumulation of debris with rush by leaving the pike and galloping over the open fields on the side of the road, we pushed rapidly Cus Dub AOb sO Qul&AiY bhb tLelb WN caught all echoing cheer from the en- listed men and servants. who recognized the general and shouted and swung their hats ill 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 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 tie side of the road, while others were making coffee i'll their tin cups by tiny eampfires.
 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 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 lie passed beyond them, and then, gathering mp their belongings and sheuldering their arms, they started after him for the fTont shouting to their comrades farther out i'll the fields, Sheridan. Sheridanw waving their hats and pointing after him as he dashed onward, and they, too, eomprehended 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 dIifted back from the army, his ap- pearance and his cheery shout of Turn 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 I fail to see the men shoulder their arms and follow us. I 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 the whole line was thoroughly formed 1 rode over to my chief and urged him to ride down it. that all the mon might see him and know without doubt that he had returned and as sumed command. At first he demurred, but 1 was most urgent, as 1 knew that ill some instances both men and officers who had not seen him doubted his ar rival. His appearance was greeted by tremendous cheers from one end of the line to the other, many of the officers pressing forward to shake his hand. He spoke to them all cheerily and confident ly, saying: We are going back to our camps. men, never fear. I'll get twist OH these people yet. We'll raise them out of their boots before the day is over.
 At no time did 1 hear him utter that terrible oath" so often alluded to ill both prose and poetry in connection with this day s work =" Sheridan $ Ride" by General George A. Forsyth, U. $. A., in Harper's Magazine.