The Portland daily press., 1897-04-10

Mead's command and given charge of
the central military department With
the cavalry Sheridan was to have an in
fantry force, and he wanted the Sixth
Army Corps because he didn't like War
ren who commanded the Fifth Corps
But he was obliged to take as his infan-
try force the Fifth Corps, and it was un-
| fortunate for the Fifth that he did. The
Army of the Potomac under Mead was
following up the rear of Lees flying
troops and 1T was Sheridan's business,
with his flying column of infantry and
cavalry to out march Lee and head him
off. There were two things that Lee
wanted to do. 1t was his plan, when
Petersburg fell, to follow the Danville
road into North Carolina, effect juno
tion with Joe johnson and by this COM
binatlon crush Sherman. Then the
COM bined armies of the confereracy were
to turn north again and strike Grant be-
fore he could change front.
By hitting the junction of the Dan
vile road before Lee did we had cut off
all his hopes in that direction and then
like hare hard pressed, he sought to
escape with his army up the Lynchburg
pike and into the mountains of Virginia.
tains the command of Sheridan with its
infantry and cavalry must 90 at gallop
across the country. So We started,
Sheridan ahead with the cavalry and the
Fifth Corps behind. but keeping up
as close as we could.''
In graphic language Gen. Cham berlain
told of that wonderful 29 miles of
marching through the mud to catch up
with Sheridan and head off Lee's flying
troops. All day long the Fifth Corps
tramped through tbs mud and owing
to delays ON accont of the blockaded road
the corps was obliged to MAKE a greater
part of thissrnaroh on the double quick.
cat 2 O'Clock in the morning after 81
miles of this terrible work we arrived at
the point where we ought to be-. The
moment the halt was sounded the tired
men threw themselves into the mud on
| the road, into the ditch, dropping where
they stood to catch few hours OF rest
and sleep. Feyered by the heat of that
long march and lying on the rain soak ed
ground the tired mon fell off into a ner-
vous, troubled sleep.
sWith my arm through my bride rein,
my head pillowed on the rain soaked
ground Gozed into feverish sleep.
Suddenly there came splashing through
the mad bedragaIedA and rsin-soaked
oavalryman bearing in his hand a
orumbled note from Sheridan. The sem
tinel strikes match and with burn
ing eyes read:
"Appomatox Station, April 9,
o'cIock-I have cut across the country
and captured five of the enemies wagon
| trains. 1t you can push immediately to
the front, by night glorious results M ay
be accomplished.
Z" SHERIDAN -" Z
"Horn out by that terrible march,
my men lay sleeping around me. But
almost before the echoes of the halt had
died away the bugls sounded the gen
eral. and an instant after the men came
tumbling ito their feet by the STIR
II
to take coffee and we were OF, not in
good humor must admit, but . wereion
the chase for the last time Three
hours later we reached Appomatox sta
tion and had cut off the rebels line OF
retreat Away to the right We heard
and ever and anon the graver boom of
the rebel cannon. Then comes the rat
tling of the oarbine followed by the roar
of rebel musketry. Sheridan was square
across the line of retreat and his glorious
cavalry were holding in check all that
remained of the Sou thern Confederacy.
"We pushed on to the front, right in
the humor for fight and aching to get
into the thiokest of it. Suddenly through
a winding wood path staff officer
| comes rialng full tilt.
g Where is the commanding officer of
this detachment, !" he demands.
81 am pointed out to him and with
wild gesticulation he commands:
:" Gen. Sheridan is holding the rebels
| in check with the cavalry. He ia in dan
ger of being driven from the field.
Break off from this column and com e
| to his rescue. -
"We cut across the woods following
| the aid-de-camp at doutle quick. As
we came out into the open / saw
that well-known headquarters flag OF
Sheridan, yellow and white swallow
tail with two stars, waving amidst the
battle smoke ms a streak Of moonlight
breaks through black storm cloud.
By this flag sat Sheridan on his coal
black charger, his eyes blazing with the
| fire of battle, his face flushed with ex-
| oitement, veritable Incarnation of the
spirit of war. Calmly fighting afoot
were the cavalry, holding bank that
| fighting corps of rebels, the old com.
mand Of Stonewal Jackson. l rode up
| to Sheridan and in two words, accom-
panied by an impetutous gesture
! received my orders. Into the battle liue
sprang my brigades. relieving the cav
airy, who, with precision and alaority