The National tribune., 1907-07-11
Victory.
ly j. D. MULLIHAN. Co. T. 10Th Pa Cav, Webb City Mo.

and fiankS were thrown out at Bunke
Hill. IL miles from Martinsburg. The
horses of the command were watGret
from a brook running across the pike
arriving at Winchester. % miles. at
o'clock p. m. The column moved slow
ly, Col. Alexander being a very heav,
man and Col. Thom being directly th'
opposite. regular featherweight. Meth
er of them being accustomed to mount
ed service. A sharp lookout was KEEP
for .eving bands of Mosby's guerrillas
who claimed this section of the countr!
as their field of operations.
The General and his staff remained
for the night at post headquarters a
Winchester, Va. Col. Edwards, of the
31th Mass, being in command of the
post. The escort was ordered into
bivouac at Mill Creek or Milltown. a
mile south of Winchester. with orders
to be in readiness to march at 5 a. m
next morning. At 4:30 on the morn
ing of the 18th Boots and Saddles was
sounded for the escort. Shortly after
wards firing was heard in the direction
of the front, which was attributed to a
reconnaissance that had been ordered
for that morning, tho we could plainly
hear that the firing was coming our
way, ard if it was due to a reconnois-
sance our troops were certainly getting
the worst of II,
Sheridan Comes Up.
About a. m. Sheridan came riding
leisurely along. He inquired of us about
the firing. We replied that we first
heard it between 4 and o'clock. The
escort moved out with a strong advance
and rear guard and fankers. About a
mile south OF Milltown the head of a
train was encountered whipping to the
rear; also q number of men from the
front. giving u different Interpretation
to the firing of the morning. All trains
coming from and going TO tie front
were ordered into park at Miiltown. My
command was ordered to form to right
of road. Here an officer from the
Chief Commissary. giving the startling
that the enemy attacked
carly in the morning. driving our troops
at every point, our left being first at
tackled and driven in confusion, every
thing captured and the Generals head
quarters gone, and troops dispensing i'm
all directions. 1t was plainly to be seen
that the lion in the General was fully
aroused; his every action gave evidence
of quick, determined action.
l was ordered to take 20 cf my best
men and horses and follow the General,
as he intended to move to the front
lively | ordered out three sets Of fours
from the right, Maj. Geo. A Forsyth
and Capt. Jos. O'Keefe accompanying
the General. The remainder of the es-
cort was ordered to Col. James w. For
syth who, with Coils. Thorn and Alex
ander. We're left behind to form a cor
don across the country to stop the fugi-
tives.
The General struck out at brisk
pace towards the scene of action. AT
times the pike was so much crowded
with troops and wagons that the Cen
eral and escort was obliged to take
to the fields over stone walls and
bitches. After the greater part of the
wagons had been passed he again took
the road, along which crowds of men
were moving. They did not seem panic
stricken. seeming scarcely to know why
they were going to the rear. Groups
were halted, preparing rations or get
ting coffee, the General occasion
ally speaking to them. tho never
stopping, telling them, Face the
other way. boys. If 1 had been there
this morning This would not have hap
pened. but you shall all be in your old
camps before night"
Men in groups halted and cheered the
General as he passed, and seeing the
great haste with which he was going
Immediately retraced their steps. We
passed a group who We're busy getting
coffee. When they saw the General
they gave three cheers for Sheridan, -
applied a vigorous kick to their coffee
cups. shouldered their guns and faced
the other way
The First Halt.
The first halt was made near New.
town, where Chaplain mounted on 4
mule was met. The General hailed
him, asking him how things looked a,
ia ha t,av foiv
himself in a very hopeful manner, "Oh
everything is lost and gone, but it will
be all right when you get there" at tbs
same time pressing the rowels of hi.
spurs into the fianks of his mule en-
deavoring to get to the rear as rapidly
as possible. Notwithstanding his conf.
dence in Sheridan. Newtown was Sc
crowded with fugitives that the Gen
eral was unable to keep the road, bu
passed to the left of the village. A.
the General passed officers who were
near the road waved their hats
informing their men that Sheri.
dan was going to the front
A short distance beyond Newtowr
Maj. Mckinley (since President of the
United States) carried the news of Sher
idan's arrival. The race was headlong
the horses being put to their full speed
and never did General and escort 60
over Is miles in less time. Shortl,
after leaving Newtown a body of troop:
west of the pike had halted-Ricketts'
and Wheaton'S Divisions of the Sixth
Corps. A short distance west and IL
the rear of those was the Nineteenth
Corps. The General did not stop. eyi
IDENTITY desiring to get 40 the front a:
soon as possible. About midway be
tween Newtown and Middletown h,
came upon the rear of Getty's Division
of the Sixth Corps west of the pike. TIL,
cavalry and this division were the onl,
troops in position opposing the enemy
more as a rear guard than a line o
battle.
Gen. TOrbert.
The first officer Sheridan met wa
Gen. Torbert, Chief of Cavalry, VIII,
said: My God, General, I'm glad you'v,
come" Getty's troops, now command
ed by Gen. Louis A Grant, of the Yer
mont Brigade, Getty commanding th
mile, north of Middletown, on a ris,
of ground, posted behind a rail fenc,
| barricade.
Skirmishing was going on with tn,
enemy's pickets. The General jumpe,
| mis- horse over the barricade, taking of
his cap and waving it. Cheer after chee
went up from the men, who exclaimed
Sheridan has comet Sheridan ha
come" Sheridan replied, Boys, wei
1 get the tightest twist on them they eve
saw; we'll get all those camps and can
non back" The men were wild wit
enthusiasm as he rode along the lines
Never before did so much seemiHgl
| depend on one man. All We're confiden
Sheridan's arrival, and, indeed, wit
! him alone rested the Ga fpty of