The National tribune., 1906-05-17

NO. 33-WHOLE NO. 1891.
once notified OF the movement. The as
sault was principally on the right, on
that part of the line occupied by the
Nineteenth Corps. 1t not now being
taken by surprise. IL gallantly repulsed
the enemy
Thank God for that" said Sheridan.
To one OF his staff he said: Tell Gen.
Emory IL they attack him again to 60
after them. Well get a good twist on
them, the tightest one they ever saw
Holding Back the Attack.
Sheridan delayed the general attack
for time, until the greater part OF the
men who had gone TO the rear I'm the
morning had returned. About this time
q report came I'm that Longstreet was
moving to the support OF Early. march
ing on Sheridan's left. on the Front
Royal pike, thus getting into the rear
Of our army. This caused some uneasi-
ness. giving color to the dispatch OF the
18th from Longstreet: BE ready to
move as soon as my forces reach you,
and We will crush Sheridan
At p. m. the order went out: THE
whole line will advance; the Nineteenth
Corps will move in connection with the
Sixth; the right of the Nineteenth will
swing toward the left" The attack was
gallantly made. The enemy sought pro-
lection behind stone fences and rail
breastworks, making a very determined
resistance, but Gen. Sheridan had FORM
ed compact mass of men across the
pike, Custer on the extreme right to
harass and worry the enemy until Sher-
idan should create a panic with the rest
Of the line.
This plan, so simple in its conception,
worked like charm, and was success
full beyond all expectation. The enemy's
left overlapped Sheridan's right TAX
ing advantage Of this they turned the
overlapping portion on Sheridan's flank.
causing momentary confusion in the
line. This, however was quickly right
ed by counter-charge of Gen. McMil-
lan's Brigade into the angle thus FORM
ed, the f1anking party were hurled back
and partly cut off.
Charge of the Cavalry.
At the same time Custer, coming in
from Middle Marsh Brook, formed for
the charge. his gallant troopers drawing
saber. hurling the entire "Red-necktie"
Division upon the rebel left, sabering
without mercy, trampling them under
foot. The boy General with the golden
locks, than whom no valiant knight Of
old ever rode more light-hearted into
battle, even out-Custered Custer; Mer-
ritt on the left with the veteran First
Cavalry Division; sturdy old Tom Devin,
with pipe in mouth, riding at the head
OF his gallant Saber Brigade, hurting
like a thunderbolt 1000 horsemen on
the enemy's right into the melee infer
nal
with the bray of the trumpet
The cavalry come;
Sharp clank the steel scabbards.
The bride chains ring,
And foam from red nostrils
The wild chargers fling.
One hand on the saber
And one on the rein,
The troopers dash forward.
AS rings the word 'Gallop!'
The steel scabbards clank
And each rowel Is pressed
To horses hot flank.
Charge" thunders the leader.
Like shaft from the bow
Each mad horse is hurled
On the wavering foe:
A thousand bright sabers
Are cleaning in air:
A thousand dark horses
Are dashed on the square,
Resistless and reckless
OF aught may betide,
Like demons, not mortals.
The wild troopers ride"
The Whole Line Advances.
At the same time Sheridan's whole
line went forward in grand style, driv-
ing everything before it. The enemy on
some parts of the line were strongly
posted behind stone fences and trees,
proving of but little avail. The Sixth
Corps sprang forward as if shot from
the cannons mouth, the other corps
vieing in impetuosity. BY this time
Crooks command had been reorgan-
ized, going forward with a hearty good
WILL fully proving that the reverses of
the morning were no fault of theirs. 1t
seemed scarcely credible that the men
who were beaten in the morning were
the same who charged so splendidly in
the afternoon.
The enemy were not idle. They open
ed upon the charging columns with so
pieces of artillery. Shells were hurled
with terrible precision into the solid
mass of advancing Union cavalry and
infantry. The Union batteries were no
bly, doing their duty: over the hills and
up the pike the blue closely pressed the
gray. Sheridan. seeing a battery favor.
ably posted. turned to one of his Aids
saying: ride down to Capt. Martins
and tell him to fire faster" The mes
sage delivered. the detonations were
without interval: once. and only onces
did our men falter. That was when
subjected to a murderous fire from be-
from our line, and the "Johnnies' were
on the run, though not all of them
the ground was StreWn with the dead
and the dying. The enemy now be-
came miserable rabble, throwing away
their arms, everything. to get away
from their pursuers. They were in
mortal dread of Sheridan's Cavalry.
Custer, with the Third Cavalry Division,
Cedar Creek at a ford west Of
the pike; Merritt, with the First Cavalry
Division, east Of the pike, just before
dark, pressed the routed mass of the
enemy into their strong position at Fish
er's Hill. having driven them about 10
miles. The cavalry were busy all night
In securing the trophies of battle. The
road from Cedar Creek to Fishers Hill,
a distance of three miles, was a perfect
jam of ambulances, artillery, caissons
and wagons.
An officer of the Second Brigade
First Cavalry Division, rode up to Sher-
dams headquarters, when the following
ensued:
Captured Guns.
Officer-General, I have come for a
brigade of infantry to hold the captured
of which / believe we have 20
pieces.