The National tribune., 1902-06-05
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON D. o. THURSDAY

cured a Judgment. From the offensive the
foe was compelled TO assume the defen-
Sive. No time WIS gwen him to arrange
his sauadrcns for assiuft.D II was an en-
liven;ng spectacle to beheid. in all direc
tionS over the fed. reginsnts or brigades
uron the tot or gallnp. in columns of
fou;s companies, squadrons or battalionS.
with batteries gal,opipg into position, and
here and there raGarr-.'s drnwn up in line
as straight and motiopless5 stone walls.
All this WIS observed while the First Bri-
ga,!c Of the First Division was moving M.
under Il brisk artillery fire. to engage in
desc combat. ,-a.J.
Passing by long line Of Confederate
prisoners and over grosBd strewn with
the wrecks of battery wagons. dead men
and horses. cvidcncing hat and effective
work on the Part Of the Second (Alcrritt'sl
and Third nDevinSi BrigadeS. we struck
the cover Of the woods Into these the
9TH and 9th Mich. were sent dismounted.
the 18th was formed in line of battle fac
ing the woods while the lst was formed i'll
column of Squadrons. fronting to the right.
This latter was a fmll regiment of 1000
men. having recently veteraniZed and re-
turned with ranks filed.
The woods formed Il reversed l.. behind
the lower short arm of which the two resi-
ments were sheltered. AT the upper end
of the l.. upon high ground at the edge of
tile timber. was II Confederate battery of
artillery. which had got the range of our
position and was sending in its shots with
most annoying accuracy. Placing himself
n the head of the 1st Mich. Gen. Custer
led it in Il charge against the battery. As
the squadrons wheeled to the left. around
the angle of the woods. at the gallOp. they
preserved their alignment perfect, and
with lusty cheers launched out upon the
charge over Il surface broken 10y ravines.
but open to the clean sweep of the cncmys
guns Fierccly roared the battery; never
wee pieces served with greater CELEBRITY.
Solid shot and shell. grape and canister
tore through the ranks, making gaps but
the column never paused or faltered for
an instant. The cheers swelled into
shout of triumph. The rebel guns were
limhcred mp, and away they went on the
run: but two were overtaken and cap
tnred together with two limhers filed with
ammunition and many prisoners. What.
however. was of more Importance was the
fact that this brilliantly executed move
Incnt had secured an cmincncc command
ing the rebel position and practically set
tied the Issue of the battle. Its success
would hardly have been possible had it
not been for the vigorous attacks of the
9TH and 9th Mich. dismouEtcd. in the
woods. and the Second and Third Bri
cadcs. and the rest of the troops all along
the line. giving the enemy full employ
ment and preventing him from insti,uting
n coUnter-moyemcnt to render nusatOry
the effect of the charge. And herein was
first manifested the special military genius
ra,a',, Ill =; ~ =. s,r;,-n ~ Co."
tooth ana nail ''horsc. foot and
Dragons" put him on the defensive. force
him back. and. when once started. keeping
him going, hitting him blow upon blow as
The 1th Mich. in columns of fours
upon the trot. followed i'm the wake of the
1st. AS the former regiment passed along
n house. situated about 100 wards to its
right hurst into flames. ignited by the
cnemy's shells. The oct,pnapts. consisting
of women and children. who had probably
been hiding in tho ceIlui. fdr security. rIsh-
ed out in n state of tho most frenzjcd ter.
r0r. Their frantic cries and actions were
most nitinblc. They w,rc certainly brought
TO n full realization Of tba horrors of war.
\ wall of fire was behind item. a tramp
ling mass of cavalry in front. while deadly
missiles wore fIyinr an a1aupd Some com
passionate souIs ralh,ucd ont from on
column and shouted to them that ravina
near by afforded tho ,bost secure retreat:
but this was all in the way of succor the
ayipencies of the occasion )nermitted They
were probably TOO cr;Zcd 10 heed the kind
IL suggestions offered They were lost TO
view in the onward movement. hut they
hold n pIacc in memory No one of tbe most
striking features of thar DAYS memorable
engagement. ) sIla7 -
~
CHANGERS LAST CHARGE.
Gen. Custer was upon the summit of the
hill. from which he had dislodged. the Con
federate battery. his graceful figure erect
in the saddle and his face flashing with
successful charge but just concluded. With
outstrctched ann he pointed with his saber
toward road at the base of the hill and
said: Mai Granger, charge that road
with your 18th Mich" Instantly rang ont
the Majors command. Front rank. sa-
ward-trot-march! Gailop" Charge"