The National tribune., 1906-02-01
WINCHESTER TO
APPOMATTOX.

CONTINUED from page ~

of disarmed Confederates and the dis
ordered ranks of our troops.
AS we press forward in pursuit the
rays of the setting sun fall athwart a
war picture of surprising interest. the
i outlines of which are still vivid. Broad
fields stretch before us. on the farther
side of which the disordered remnant
of the enemy's forces are disappearing;
some squadrons of his cavalry are COM
/ ing into line in the distant open ground,
as though resolved on some heroic act
of DEVOTION; our conquering forces, cav
/ airy and infantry, are pressing forward
on all sides: then the light fades the
| bold squadronS wheel about and disap-
pear, and purSuers and pursued are
swallowed up in the twilight shades of
| evening.
Blvouncking ON the battlefield.
| Effective pursuit in the darkness of
night, through an unknown region. is
| impossible, and the cavalry is entitled
| to a nights rest: SO our faces are turned
toward the battlefield. where we strip
the saddles from the backs Of our tired
horses and seek such rest as may be
possible in the midst of the confusion
which surrounds us. Trumpet calls IN
/ every possible combination of notes,
division calls. brigade calls, regimental
| calls: shouted inquiries for their regi-
ments by lost footmen and horsemen;
| shouted information by officers jealous
1 NM their missing men, shouted JESUS,
| rough but goOd-natured between the
captured Johnnies and the jubilant
Yanks; staff officers dashing about re-
CARELESS of incipient camps, or tin cups
of boiling coffee-all contributed to
produce a complete pandemonium. AT
/ length the excitement wears itself out;
| camp-fires grow dim and expire; sleep
comes to the tired soldier without much
wooing, and quiet reignS, except at
headquarters, where work for the NOR
| row is being laid out, and at the hospi-
tails, where the work of the day affords
| sOrrOwful occupation.
In this battle the Fifth Corps
and Sheridan's Cavalry had been OPP
| posed to five brigades of AndersOn's
Corps and Fitz Hugh Lees Cavalry, the
whole force being commanded by Gen.
Pickett. The victory for the Union
troops could hardly have been more
complete. Although the numbers en-
gagged were comparatively insignificant,
1T was the decisive battle Of the war,
| insuring, as it did, the evacuation of
Petersburg and Richmond, with the
| consequent surrender Of the most pow
erful army of the Confederacy.
| The MOmentOus April 2, 1865.
The troops were on the move prompt
! ly at daylight on April O. that memoir
able Sunday. so filled with dreful fate
| for the Southern Confederacy. The
fighting of the day at our end Of the
line fell chiefly to Miles's Division of
the Second Corps, which was sent to
Gen. Sheridan as soon as the news of
the victory at Five Forks had been re-
ceived He found the enemy in consid-
cradle force at the junction of the Clai-
| borne and White Oak roads, and at
lacking promptly, drove him off in the
direction Of Sutherland's Depot. The
Fifth Corps struck the South Side Rail-
| road at Fords Station, where a long
line of recently-constructed works was
found Abandoned; the cavalry, crossing
| the railroad further to the east, pushed
the retreating squadrons of the enemy,
with an occasional sharp skirmish, in
the direction of Namozine Creek.
/ During the day many stragglers from
the routed divisions of Pickett and
Johnson, who had evidently lost faith
| In the Confederacy were gathered In.
| Evening found us at SCOTS Corners
| near the crossing of Namozine Creek,
| where Fitz Lees Cavalry, reinforced
by infantry and artillery, and aided by
the advancing shades of night. had de-
| cided to risk q halt.
| Darkness covered everything, when
the Reserve Brigade was dismounted
and deployed in thick timber, on ground
/ entirely unexplored and unknown. An
( advance was attempted, but the deter
mined and destructive fire which was
ELECTED, and the difficulties incident to
the obscurity of the night soon brought
things to a standstill. The 1st u. S.
/ Cav. was then mounted and sent off to
the right. through the woods. to demon
strate against the enemy's left. Nov
ing quietly through the dense timber
and underbrush, an open field was at
last reached, and from out the dark
ness flashed two or three angry shots,
indicating that our closer acquaintance
was not desired. The leading squadron
was noiselessly deployed, with pistols
drawn, and in low and careful tones in
structed, at a given signal, to dash
across the field with yell. The signal
Ca pistol-shot and the command
"Charge") was given, and the squad
ron dashed forward At least It started
forward; but how many troopers reach
ed the opposite side will never be
known. The signal for the charge was
also signal for the enemy, and a blaze
OF light from the fire Of a long line in
our front, followed by the rapid dis
charges Of several pieces Of artillery,
convinced our men that they would not
be able to carry the position, and they
Immediately proceeded to rally to the
rear under cover Of the sheltering tim
Der. The reserve squadron (the regi-
ment at this time had but two) had
Il kept Its place in the woods at the edge
} Of the open ground, and as 1T was found
that the fire Of the enemy was passing
harmlessly above amidst the branches
Of the trees. 1t was thought prudent to
keep II quietly In It's place until the
alarm of our excitable neighbors across
the field should have subsidized. They,
however, kept up a great racket for
half an hour or more, their shells and
round-shot calling forth anathemas
from the men OF the other brigades In
!, rear, who were disturbed in their ef-
forts to make their coffee.
Things finally quieted down. camp
was made, everybody being well salts
. fled to postpone the settlement of the
dispute until daylight. This was one
of those little affairs which are hardly
mentioned In the reports in which no
glory Is won. but which are constantly
, falling to the lot Of the cavalry as a
, part Of it's legitimate work, and which
add continually to the aggregate OF Its
casualties In this affair the 1st u. 8.
Cav. lost it's Adjutant, Lieut.. A. s.
! Clarke. severely wounded, and several
men and horses.
The Fall OF Richmond.
. We were In the saddle bright and
early on the morning OF the Sd, and
found everything clear in our front.
AS the column moved out on the road
the joyful news was passed along that
Lees army was In full retreat, and that