The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-08-06
SHERIDAN'S RIDE.
PARTS OF 1T DESCRIBED BY ONE OF
THE GENERALS AIDS.


Signs of Disaster and Retreat Greeted the
Plucky Rescuer at Every Step as He
Neared the Front - Mounted His
Black Horse, Little Phil Inspired All.
We came, suddenly upon indubitable
evidence of battle and retreat. About a
mile in advance the road was 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 am
bulance suffers supply trains, bat
! terry forge or two, horses and mules
j hastily packed with officers mess kits,
! led by their cooks, and now and then
group of soldiers, evidently detailed
enlisted men attached to the head
quarters trains. III 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 rush by leaving the pike
and galloping over the open fields on
the side of the road, we pushed rapidly
Nn, 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
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 traips, diSahled caissona and team
sterg Titb6 Jed mules, al drifting to the
rear, and nov an then 4 Wounded
officer or enlisted man Oh horseback OF
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 the side of the road, while others
were making coffee in their tin cups by
tiny camptires.
Soon we began to see small bodies Of
soldiers in the fields with stacked arms,
evidently cooking breakfast. AS we de.
bouched 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, neve,
lessening his speed as he pressed for.
ward. II vas 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, and then, gathering ut
their belongings and shouIdering theil .
arms, they started after him for the
front, shouting to their comrades farther
out in the fields Sheridan! Sheridan!"
waving their hats and pointing afte,
him as he dashed onward, and they,
too, comprehended instantly, for they
took up the cheer and turned back fo1
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
wayP 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 | glanced back
dlu L Ltl1I w DCC blO lDCIl SuOuluCI JHS4I
arms and follow us. | think it is no ex.
aggeration 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 y
After the 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 wiUhou,
doubt that he had returned and as
sumed command At first he demurred,
but was most urgent, as | knew that
in some instances both men and officers {
who had not seen him doubted his ar
rival. His appearance was greeted by
cheers from one end of the
line to the other, many of the officers l
pressing forward to shake his hand. He
spoke to them all cheerily and confident. t
y, saying; 1--WE are going back to ou1 |
camps, men, never fear. I'll get twist
IN these people yet. Well raise them S
nut of their boots before the day is /
)ver. " q
At no time did hear him utter tina, -
terrible oath" so often alluded to in t
both prose and poetry in connection
With this days work. -" Sheridan's S
Ride" by General George A. Forsyth, a
j. S. A, in Harper's Magazine. l.