The National tribune., 1902-06-05

The cavalry of the Army of the H0to>
mac Fever set out upon campaign in
lighter marching order than that of 1864.
when it took up the march toward Rich
mond. One wagon TO regiment ana TWO
led-horses to each company. constituted
the transportation equipment. 1t was
generally realized by the troops that a
campaign of unusual severity was before
them: hence. every man put as little bur-
den upon himself and horse as possible.
CARRYING nothing that he could do without.
If one had preference for a blanket. he
left behind his overcoat; or. if the over
coat was thought indispensable, the
blanket was thrown out. Cooking uten>
sils were commonly reduced TO a pint tin
cup and q half of Il canteen, which latter,
with spIit stick at one end for a handle.
served for a frying and stewing-pan. Yet
some, who were likely to mourn for The
flesh pots of Egypt in the Wilderness,
clung fondIy to light skillet and coffee
pot.
On the 4th of May, 1864. the camps
around CulpepeE Court House We're
broken and the columns were set IN mo-
ton for the Rapidan. Quietly the march
was conducted; conversation was not in
dulged i'll to any great extent. every one
being apparently occupied by his own re-
fections. The soil moved over had been
the scene of many n conflict, to which
recollection REQUIRED, and fresh ell
counter was momentarily looked for,
where the foe had been so often met.
Bivouacking for the night at Stony Noun
tain. the march was resumed at ) o'clock
upon the morning of the 5th crossing the
Rapidan at Ely's Ford.
OUR FIRST MEETING WITH BLACK TROOPS.
Upon reaching the high ground in the
vicinity of Charlottesville number of
colored regiments were overtaken. the first
ever seen by the Army of the Potomac.
They had tents pitched arms stacked, and
were dispOrting themselves in their bare
feet. Their pedal extremities and the
army brogan did not seem to be exactly
natural afiinities. Their union produced a
most uncomfortable chatting of protuber-
ances. so that. while the colored brother
cherished his shoe-leather and suffered the
pains of martyrdom with ii upon show oc-
casiOns, he much preferred to carry it up
on his back during the steady piodding of
q campaign.
To judge from expressions, these fell
lows meant business" They were very
the whereabouts of the enemy. They had
been earnestly seeking him without sue
cess. They had an impression that the
enemy. apprised Of their coming. was rap
idly getting out OF the way, and they were
fearful that they might not be able to
catch up with him. II was suggested that
we, being mounted. could, perhaps, sur
round and head him off. in which case
they would come up and make short work
Cf him This wa rlrnntiSpd RI dn ta their
evident delight, and they were left in the
rear.
The poor fellows found the Johnny
rebs'f many times, often to their sorrow,
before the campaign was over, and upon
some occasions. too. they found that they
turned up when they were not being hunt
ed for.
A BRUSH WITH FITZHUGH LEE.
A halt was made in the evening near
the slope of the high plateau overlooking
the Wilderness. not great distance in
advance of Gen. Grants headquarters. At
2 O'Clock on the morning of the 9Th we
were again in the saddle, and pressing to-
ward the front by the way of the Furnace
Road. A position was taken up at the
intersection of the Brock Pike and the
Furnace Road, upon the extreme left of
the Union line of battle, joining on to the
Second fHancockst Corps. Morning had
not long dawned when the ball opened by
the driving in of the pickets established
upon the pike. The thunder of artillery
and the continuous, vibrating roll of heavy
musketry heard upon the right told that
the infantry was already hard at work.
Passing from the woods into an opening,
We were brought up front into line." to
arrest the progress OF a regiment which
was falling back in great confusion before
an onslaught of the enemy, the officers eff
forts and shouts of Rally! Rally! Halt!'
and Right about wheel!' being of no eff
feet. With few expressions of good
natuFed raillery they were halted and re-
formed. And they went back right gal
lantly, in splendid form, pushing the enc
my before them.
The battle-ground was a clearing over q
surface slightly rolling, including an area
of perhaps 40 acres, surrounded by woods
on all sides. On the Confederate side
Of the field were two batteries of light
artillery, which were opposed by eight
pieces of artillery on our side. The ac-
ton of that day, as far as IT pertained to
the First Cavalry Division CTorbert's) and
the enemy in its front, consisted of an ar
tillery duel, charges and countercharges
Of mounted cavalry across the field. and
fighting dismounted in the woods. Even
Ing found us masters Of the field, the enc
my, under Fitzhugh Lee, having been fore
ed TO retire with heavy loss, leaving his
dead and wounded and many prisoners in
our hands.
A PANIC IN THE LED-HoRsE CARAVAN.
An episode Of the day was a panic in
the led-horse caravan, which had been left
upon the side of the road in our rear
When the cannon-balls and shells began to
crash through the woods in great abund-
ance the contrabands and skulkers who
were interested in the welfare Of the led
horses deemed it incumbent upon them
selves 10 get these beasts Of burden into
safer quarters.
- They were led off by one named Ma.
lachi. but more Familiarity known as
Bones" sad-cyed contraband, whose
bullet-head, not much larger than pint
measure, was surmounted by coon-skin
covering of rare design. He was mounted
without saddle or bride. upon lame ami
NAL, which went upon three legs and he
steered him by means of a hickory club
carried in his good right hand. They. were
just getting started when a shell wen,
screaming through the tree-tops. over the
cavalcade, and sending down upon it 8
shower Of small twigs.
Zones uttered wild xxi vi" turned
his eyes toward heaven, so that only tn,
whites were visible, belabored his poo
beast into run, and, with the rest Of tn,
procession in close pursuit, struck out TO
the rear Of Hancock's Corps. This wal
but rushing from ''the frying-pan into tn,
fire" and they soon turned back, more ter
ror-stricken than before, in mad galloI
to their previous location, only to fly OF