The National tribune., 1906-01-25
Early Would Fight.

mand being scarcely aware of any OBJ
Struction.
Early Would Fight.
On March 2 we reached Staunton.
where 1t was learned that Early was at
Waynesboro, 10 miles away. and had
declared his intention to fight there
The 1st u. S. Cav. was at this time on
duty at Gen. Sheridan's Headquarters;
but Clusters Division having been or
dered on to Waynesboro to accept
Early's challenge for fight, the Is,
Z. ). cav, through some misapprehen-
sion, followed in its wake and had the
good fortune TO share in the final over
throw of Early's forces.
Custer went at his task with his ac-
customed impetuosity. His DISPOSE
tions were made with hardly mo-
ment's delay, the regiments being as
signed to their positions as fast as they
came up. The 1st Cav. was ordered to
support the Sth n. Y, which was to
charge. in column, down the road and
through the town, when the general as
sault should take place. Soon the
trumpets sounded the advance; the
scattering shots of the eskirmish line
were followed by rattlng volleys of
musketry and some rapid DISCHARGES of
artillery, and as the dismounted line
with inspiriting yells and cheers, rush
ed to the assault, we broke into column
at gallop and went splashing down
the road after the 8th y. Y The rain
had been pouring down necessarily for
several days, and the roadway was a
sea of liquid mud, marked only by the
fences on either side. We were al
ready we'll splashed, but as we dashed
through this pasty mass, with heads
down to save our eyes. we were pelted
and plastered with the sacred soil be-
yond all recognition. Some unlucky
troopers of the leading regiment who
had been unhorsed, as they scrambled
out of the way, were suggestive of
nothing SO much as unfortunate flies
crawling from pool of molasses. AS
we gallOped through the town the firing
had almost ceased, and we heard off
to the right and rear the victorious
shouts of Clusters men. The complete
ness of this victory was only marred
by the escape of Early and Rosser, who
wisely made prompt and effective use
of their horsefiesh The captures in
this engagement were 1900 prisoners,
IL pieces Of artillery. II battle-fags,
and a large quantity Of supplies and
means Of transportation. The prison.
ers were sent back to Winchester with
an escort of 1900 men, by which the |
command was depleted to that extent |
it being impossible for them to reioin. |
The Confederates We're, Of course.
outnumbered in this affair; but the |
position was a strong one and could
not have been carried without severe |
loss had any serious effort been made |
to hold 1t. AS it was, our losses were |
SO trivial as hardly to be worth men,
tioning, while the moral effect of this |
first victory of the campaign was of
great value. Waynesboro appeared al |
most deserted, and. headquarters hav-
ing come up, We bivouacked in the
streets Of the town, making use of the
vacant buildings for shelter from the
rain.
At Charlottesville.
We reached Charlottesville on the
evening Of the Sd, and were, it is be-
lieved, the first Yankee soldiers to visit
that place. Being still attached to
headquarters, we bivouacked in the
town. and some Of us, following the ex-
ample of the staff, accepted the hospi-
tality which was freely and cordially
proffered by the people near our camp.
and song and the presence of fair wom-
en-, who showed their good breeding by
avoiding allusion to all unpleasant
subjects. still fingers in memory. The
comfort of that clean and seductive
bed: the surprise Of finding our cav
airy boots relieved of their load of mud
and neatly polished, by our chamber
with its bright silver, delicate china,
and snowy cloth and napkins, presided
over by a lovely white-haired old lady,
whose son "a Surgeon in the Confed-
crate army, on leave of absence( asked
. reverent blessing on the food set be-
fore US. All these pleasant remem-
brances are never to be lost, but cher
Ished in admiration for that nobility
OF character which could hold the
claims OF hospitality superior to all
sectional hats and b1ttes1eA