The National tribune., 1900-08-30

cisive. The rebels had n line Of breast
works-that is, the rebel infantry-across
n swamp from where we We're, and their
shots were coming thick and fast. On the
right Of their line stood an old negro shan
ty. Two of Clusters men, with their
seven shooters, made their way across the
swamp. got into the shanty and COM
mcnced peppering the lead into them. The
rebels thought they We're outflanked and
commenced to make tracks" for the rear,
while we made Il break for them, over
hauled and took large number of prls-
oncrs They were badly whipped, both
cavalry and infantry, although they out
numbered us two to one. This was on
Saturday.
Next day we rested, and Monday start
ed on the raid to Trevilian and GOrdons-
vile. At Treviian we had sharp fight,
lasting nearly all day. We drove the enc
my. tore up the railroad and burned the
ties and twisted the rails. We lost quite
number of men killed and wounded,
among them Lieut.. Ogden, Adjutant of the
regiment, shot in the forehead. He was
not over six feet from the writer when
he fell Every man in the regiment de-
plored his loss. Had he lived there is no
doubt he would have risen rapidly in his
profession.
Here Custer got in Wade Hampton's
rear, corraled and brought in a large num-
Der of horses, but lost his headquarters
wagons in return.
The writer had the good fortune to ride
one of Wade UamptOn's horses the bal
ance of his time. until wounded; his horse
having been shot. he had the first pick Of
the lot brought in by Custer After the
selection, as | stood holding the horse,
young mulatto came up to me and said,
Dat am Mass Hampton's horse. L asked
him how he knew, and he said: "kase
Massa Hampton riz me and he riz dat
horse" / injured why he left the Cen
eral "Oh," he said, "kase l want to be
free" He had come in with Custer.
After we had done what damage we
could at Trevilan we moved on up to
Gordonvile. There we found infantry
cavalry and artillery. After developing
their forces and fighting them in the open
field, we were forced back to the edge of
the woods, where we held them until dark,
when we got out and started on our re-
turn to the army. Our Orderly-Serseant,
John Fogarty, was wounded in the thigh
at this battle, and | never saw him after
ward. although / heard few years ago
that he was in the Surgeon n-Generars Of
fee at Washington.
Another personal incident happened at
that battle that left an impression on my
mind never to be forgotten. | was on the
extreme right of the firing line, and back
of and near me stood large pine. Hav-
| ing fired away all of my cartridges, |
| started up the line to get more. l secured
| them and returned. What was my con-
sternation to find in the short time was
away that a solid shot or shell had sew
cred a branch from the tree, leaving a
| sharp point, which had come down and
stuck in the ground in the very spot IN
which l had lain not over three minutes
before. However, thought it would not
occur the second time, so resumed my po-
sition. On our return the second day we
passed through where the battle of Spott-
sylyania had occurred. If cyclone had
passed through there could have been no
more destruction than was caused by shot,
shell and bullets amongst the trees and
bushes through which the battle ragged.
Once seen. it could never be forgotten.
| We made our way across the Peninsula
with Gregg in the rear, but others can
tell of that part better than l. we were
ordered back to help him out, but had not
gone far when we met his forces coming
| in.
Our next engagement was Mt Deep Bot
| tom against infantry, giving them so warm
a reception that they were glad to get
back under shelter. This was the only
time while in the cavalry that | was No.
4. holding the horses, and l thought at
| the time if that were sample OF Deihe
No. | would rather be on the firing line
for we were in an open field, exposed to
the rebel fire. A good many men and a
number Of horses were disabled from thelI
fire, but after awhile Capt Sanford, who
was in charge ordered us to withdraw to
the timber.
| Our next move was to the Blackwater
| to help Wilson out. On our return oil
who were there will remember the ex,
cessive heat of that July day and the great
number of men of the infantry that were
overcome by the heat.
| After our return we were soon on oul
way to the Shenandoah with sheridan
Everyone knows that it was push ahead
and fight under his leadership. With such
able lieutenants as Custer, Merritt, Gregg
| and Torbert of the cavalry, with an In
fantry force that We're the equals of any
in the field, it was no wonder that he
sent the Confederates flying up the val
ley" A.,
| At the battle near Newtown, on Aug
7, 1864, / was knocked out from any fur
| ther service for Uncle Sam and had my
last ride on Hampton" to the rear, es
corted by my bunk mate, Frank Richard
son, and if this should meet his eye
would be very glad to hear from him.-A
+. PERKINS, Co. G, 1st Mimi, and Co. 3
1st u. S. Cav, Colville, Wash.