Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-11-15
LAST GREAT BATTLE.
Sheridan's Ride from Winchester,
Twenty Miles Away.
II Marked the End of the Confed,
eracy-lnterestinE Comments BY
Leaders ON Both Sides of
the Connict.
Especial Washington letter.


w yHEN the distinguished soldier
wv statesman and orator first an
~ nounced his lecture, Gen. Dan
Macauley, of the treasury department,
said: 80 Gen. Gordon is going to lee
ture on The Last Days of the Con-
federacy,' is he? Well, l must surely
attend. 1t would never do for me to
miss it. / heard the first part of that
lecture on the morning of October 10,
1864; and it was exceedingly interest
ing and eloquent. although little loud
at times, and also very narrowing.
81 was commanding brigade in the
Nineteenth army corps that morning,
| when there was sound of rafting
musketry away off on the left which
surprised me very much, because
knew, or thought / did, that the con-
| federates had been so badly defeated
at Winchester that they would never
dare attack us. Soon, however, there
was booming of cannon also that
sounded like business and battle. l
had dandy on my staff-Lieut. Rund-
lette-who was always the best
dressed officer in our brigade. No mat
ter where we marched, nor how long,
Lieut.. Rundlette was always free from
dust, because he carried wisp broom
with him and used it. He was brave
enough, but always scrupulously neat
in appearance.
well, l sent Rundlette off in hot
haste to find out what all the firing
| meant. He soon came back excitedly
telling me that the confederates were
attacking in force. mounted, had the
long roll sounded, and said: GO back,
lieutenant. form line of stragglers,
make them stand their ground, and do
not report to me until that has been
thoroughly done Inside of is minutes
] was shot into the midst of the big
gest pension roll on earth and awak-
ened to find myself cared for by rela-
tives and friends in home, sweet home
at indianapolis. That was the first
part of this lecture, and must surely
go and hear the conclusion of it.
Seven years later, while was hold
| ing court as mayor of Indianapolis,
proceedings were interrupted by the
appearance of handsome young man,
slight of figure, fanltlessly attired,
! who came up to the bar, saluted in
true military style, and said. Gen.
Macauley, have come to report that
there is nothing over there on the left
but Gordon's whole division, fighting
like devils
"'Court is adjourned said I, imme-
diately,. 1t was Lieut.. Rundlette,
whom had not seen since that morn
ing of October 10, 1864. Court re-
manned adjourned for three whole
days while Indianapolis was painted
redder than it had ever been painted.
The little cuss had been shot in seven
| places, left for dead, but finally was
picked up and nursed back into life and
henltl."
The recurrence of the anniversary of
that battle which was made memor-
able by the gallant soldier and bril-
! liant poet, because of the ride from
| Winchester, 90 miles away" caused
Capt. Patrick O'Farrell, of this city, to
say: 81 remember good many things
about that battle. remember that
| Grant was commander in chief of all
our armies, but he was not present in
that battle. He claimed no credit for
the great victory, bnl gave all praise
! to Sheridan. He telegraphed gallant
little Phil, saying: Il have ordered a
| shotted salute off 100 guns at the enc
my's lines at Petersburg, in honor OF
your glorious achievements That was
what Grant did.
81 remember how our army was scat
tered and almost shattered before or.