The National tribune., 1902-06-05

We soon overlook and liberated about 400
of our infantry. who had been captured
in the Wilderness, and were on the way
to Richmond as prisoners of war. The
greater part of the Confederate escort was
also secured.
Among the captives thus rescued were
many officers, from the rank of Colonel
down. Their joy at their release was I'M
bounded. They exalted the cavalry above
any other arm of the service. But we
paused + 1t to receive their adulatiOns.
DESTROYING TIE VIRGINIA CENTRAL.
The column hurried forward to Beaver
Dam Station. where, striking the Virginia
Central Railroad, three trains of ears. two
locomotives, and some prisoners fell into
our hands. Several hundred stand of
arms and supplies for Lees army, to the
value of several millions of dollars. were
included in the spoils. What the troops
could dispose Of was distributed among
them, and the balance, together with the
station and cars, burned. The railroad
was torn up in both directions from the
station, and we bivouacked for the night
in the immediate vicinity.
Several times during the night attacks
were made upon us, but they were met
with in such a manner as to discourage q
long continuance.
Early the morning of the 10th we were
on the move again, with 1ankers out upon
both sides. The country passed over was
for the most part well cultivated. ditched
and fenced The fields and houses had
apparently thus far escaped the ravages Of
war. The fankers had instructions to take
from the places along the route such grain
and provisions as they might chance upon
which were needed for subsistence, but to
commit no depredations. How they
CHANGED upon stores, which even the
proprietors assumed to know nothing
about, is a mystery which one may not
understand, even though he had charge of
the hankers on the right of one brigade.
1t is astonishing what a wide latitude the
needs Of human subsistence extend over.
The camp-ires that night just beyond the
South Anna River revealed that they COM
pretended at least biscuit, bread,
ham, mutton, various kinds Of poultry, but
I! ter, honey, preserves and dried fruits.
About daylight upon the morning of the
18th, in hot haste, we deDloyed, dismount-
ed into the woods on our left to repel an
attack. The enemy, however, seemed to
be satisfied upon finding where We were,
and drew off after firing 4 few shots. The
onward march was then resumed in leis-
urely manner along the Virginia Central
| Railroad, which had been torn up by the
Second Division (Gregg's), which now had
| the advance.
1t was lovely day; the air was mild,
the country charming, and. we thought it
was holiday time we were having as we
rode easily along, the most common topic
of discourse being Gen. Phil. Sheridan,
who had been assigned to the Cavalry
Corps but q short time previous to its
starting out upon the campaign. 1t was
the unanimous opinion that he had at
least demonstrated one thing-that he
knew how to march cavalry force with.
out exhausting it. He had already won
the hearts of the command by his simple
easy, transformations demeanor. His spe.
cial fitness, above all others. to be cav
but we were nearing the field where was
first established his title to the designa.
ton Of Cavalry" Sheridan.
YELLOW TAVERN.
The head Of the column had reached the
junction of the Telegraph Road with the
Brock Pike, near Yellow Tavern, when 6
rapid and well directed fire was opened uI
by rebel battery posted on hill to the
left. Gen. ]. e. b. Stuart, with his Con
federate Cavalry Corps, had thrown dowr
the gage of battle, and it was promptly
taken up. He was upon his chosen ground
well sheltered, with every advantage Of
position. In the action which followed oul
whole corps was engaged, and every poin
within our lines was under fire.
Here, again, even more than In the vii
derness, we were fighting an unseen enc
my. We could hear and feel. but not Sc,
him. The rebel line was stretched from
the pike along range Of hills skirted BY
woods, circling around and crossing thu
Telegraph Road. The pike and railroad
along which We had been moving, ran oyel
nearly level or only slightly rolling ground
and but for sorubby growth Of bushes t.
the left OF the sailroad. which afforded
some cohcealpept was entirely open Il
the ensmys vieN. Our ling was formed
With the Second Diyisipn tG.sgyp upor
t6s center, and tiD Third Division own
son'sl upop the lsd.
Skirhisher1 were thrown out, followed
iby hue9 Of mounted and dismounted men
who pushed across to the woods and %