Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-18


 dams path.
 After resting the horses a few hours at Hanover Junction, Stuart took up the march to Yellow Tavern, a point on a road called Brook pike Out merely a continution of the telegraph road from Fredericksburg to Richmond). Sheri- dams course was now west of this line, but 1t was the only through route open to him, and during the forenoon of the 11th Stuart's outposts met Sheridan's leading brigade, under Devin, and, falling back, drew him on to Yellow Tavern. Stuart now sent an aid to Richmond to consult with General Bragg, who was now chief of staff. of the Confederate armies. Bragg was confident that he could hold the Rich mond Qualifications with the irregular troops (militia and minutemen) then in Richmond.
 Sheridan pressed on his whole lead ing division under Torbert and at tempted eO clear the telegraph road of the Confederates, but was repulsed. As soon as Stuart heard from Bragg he placed his two brigades across the road at right angles, Wickham on the right and Lomax on the left, with two cannon in the road and the remaining guns of battery on a hill commands ing the field. Torbert's whole division of three brigades confronted Stuart, and Wilson's division formed on his left in support. Clusters Michigan bri- gade of Torbert's division was in front of Wilson and was opposite to the cannon which Stuart had planted on the hill
 Stuart's men were all dismounted ex- cepting the First Virginia cavalry, which was held in reserve The Fifth and Sixth Michigan regiments, also dismounted charged on foot and drove Stuart's men, but there was a stub born Confederate battery in the way of complete success, Johnston's Balti- more light artillery. Custer sent in the First Michigan cavalry to take the guns by saber charge.
 There were three fences between the charging troopers and the battery, also a deep stream having but one bridge but the Wolverenes rode out i in squadrons, filed over the bridge and through gaps made in the fences, lin ing for the charge within 200 yards of the guns. The advance squadron dashed upon the battery with yell and took two of the pieces, the leader, Major Howrigan, reaching the guns first. He was shot in the arm. Stuart's men retired after this disas- ter to a new position stronger than the first. Custer then threw in the Seventh Michigan to support the First, and the line charged to the very mug zles of the cannon. Stuart in person now rushed to the scene to save the day. Rallying around him about 100 of his men, he opened fire with pistols upon Busters line At the same in stant the First Virginia cavalry charg ed upon Clusters men, driving them back abreast of Stuart's little band. Tn the confusion of this melee Stuart was shot from his saddle He died next day.
 Stuart's fate, like that of many a great soldier, shows how death is a matter of chance in war as well as elsewhere. Tn the annals of the Michi- gan brigade it is said that the fatal shot was fired by Private John A. Huff of Company E. Fifth regiment. When Busters line moved forward, following up the victorious charge of the First and the capture of the guns, the Fifth marched on the flank of the First Stuart was then eighty rods away One of the Michigan troopers shot at the Confederate leader and missed him. Huff watched the luckless at i tempt and said to his commander, Colonel Alger, 'I can fetch that man."
 'sTry him. said the colonel One shot was enough, and Huff said coolly to Alger, There's spread eagle for you''
 ! Huff was prize marksman and ear Her in the war had served with the fa- nous Berdan's sharpshooters. He was mortally wounded in the next battle of his regiment, May 28, 1864.
 Nerved to desperation by the fall of i their leader, the Confederates who had rallied around Stuart held their ground 1 against Custer, although other brigades of the division, moving around the flank, reached the pike in their rear. Meanwhile the Confederate brigade led | by General James B. Gordon came down Tn rear or Sn0F1QanS 5 pOSlIlOH and charged boldly down the pike, where Gregg's division was guarding the trains. Gordon was killed in the charge, and his command was scat tered. Fitz-Hugh Lee withdrew his troops toward Richmond during the night, followed by Sheridan up to the outer line of Notifications.
 The objects attained by Sheridan's movement thus far were that he had drawn off three brigades of cavalry from Lees army and prevented the re- 1 currence of those raids in the rear of the Federal army operating against Lee, for which Stuart's command had long been famous. Stuart was an able | cavalry leader and had made a great l reputation for daring and effective work. His soldiers were eastern men, l from Virginia and the Carolinas, and they were good horsemen and supplied l their own animals, exchanging worn out horses for fresh ones at the end of every hard campaign. At this time I