The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-09-05
THE BOOMING CANNON
REClTAlS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-


ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
''The most brilliant charge 1 ever
witnessed was made by Custer at the
battle of Yellow Tavern" said an old
Confederate cavalryman at the recent
reunion in Richmond, who is quoted in
the Washington Post. at was near the
beginning Of what historians now call
the wilderness campaign.
al was with Jeb Stuart, Gen. Fitz
Lees division. Wicham's brigade and
Phil Sheridan's troops were hanging
ON us like pack of hungry wolves,
nipping us at every turn We had been
marching and fighting pretty steadily
little time for rest
1--WE left Hanover Junction about 1
o'clock one night and reached Yellow
Tavern before 10 o'clock the next morn
ing. You know Sheridan was not one
to let grass grow under his feet when
there was any fighting to be done, and
when he was matched against Jeb
Stuart 1t was nip and tuck.
I'VE hadn't more than halted at the
Tavern when up comes Sheridan and
tries to drive us out. 1t was a pretty
tough struggle, hand to hand fight,
and we fell back from the Tavern, but
held our position on the telegraph road
leading to Richmond. I was with the
battery on the extreme left wing, and
it was about 2 O'clock in the afternoon
when orders came for the whole divi-
sion, excepting the First virginians, to
dismount, but hold their position.
1t did seem good, / can tell you,
after so many hours in the saddle, to
stretch on the ground and take a
smoke; that is, all who had anything to
smoke. There was just one pipefrl
among that whole battery, and the boy
who owned it passed it down the line,
and each man took his turn putting at
it.
when it was gone we all began to
speculate on what deviltry Sheridan
would be up to next. and how Jeb
Stuart would head him off, 1t wasn't
long before some fellow wished for
drink of water.
You know how it is, when one man
wishes for water the whole company
begins to swear they are dying of
thirst. Jack Saunders and / took a
bunch of cantsens and started over the
hill to a spring that he had seen that
morning during our scrimmage with
the Yanks.
II was on my hands and knees over
the spring when / heard Saunders
grunt of surprise. He was staring
through the trees.
'There only a few hundred yard j
away was considerable body of cav
airy. Making sure that 1t was our
right wing, 1 wondered to see them
mounted and In ranks. Just then the
voice of an officer rang out:
Cavalry. Attention! Draw saber =
1.-The entire line moved forward at
a quick walk, and as the officer wheeled
his horse l saw his face. My God! 1t
was Custer!
1.-THE situation came to Saunders and
me like flash. We threw down the
canteens and started back to the bat
terry on dead run.
"'Trotr Clusters voice rang out
again. The next instant be shouted !:
Charged
with wild cheers his cavalry dashed
forward in sweeping gallop, attack
ing our entire left wing at the same
time. We saw our battery taken, our
line broken and our men running like
sheep.
saunders and l had but one thought
Ito join our fleeing company. As we
reached the telegraph road above the
din of battle heard Jeb Stuart's voice.
There he was, making stand with
a handful of men around him. Thank
God, I had sense enough to join them.
ct seemed but moment before Gus
ter's troops were coming back as fast
as they had gone forward. They had
met the First virginians. We greeted
them with the rebel yell and the last
charge In our weapons
"Jeb Stuart cheered us on, ali, how
he cheered US! / gave them my last
shot and was following with my
weapon dubbed when / saw a man,
who had been dismounted and was run
ming out, turn as he passed our rally
and fire his pistol.
"Jeb Stuart swayed In his saddle. 1t
was only for a moment, then his voice
rang out, cheering his struggling troops.
road and fired volley into the little
band gathered around Jeb Stuart. His
horse sprang forward with a scream
of agony and went down on its knees.
AS we lifted the general off, the young
officer who was helping me exclaimed:
"'My God, general, you are wound
ed! Your clothes are soaked with
blood! You must leave the field, sir"
"'No,' Gen. Stuart answered; L will
not leave until victory is assured. Get
me another horse
when 1 returned with the horse he
was seated with his back against a
tree, and when he tried to get up,
weakened by loss of blood, he sank
back again.
"'Gov he commanded us. 4 am dcne
for. Fitz Lee needs every man. / or
der you to 60
"'We cannot obey that order, gener-
al the young officer told him, and I'll
never forget the look that came over
his face when he faced the general. We
must carry you to place of safety,
however the battle goes
cit must not go against u.s. Stuart
eplied, and the thought seemed to put
fresh vigor in his body. You must put
ne on my horse and keep me there. My