The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-08-14
A AMEM0RYOF THE WAR
An Old Soldiers Story Of the Bat
tie OF Yellow Tavern.
JEB STUART'S LAST FIGHT.
The Wounded Generals Heroic Brsv.
cry In the Face Of Oeath-Custer's s
Brilliant Charge as Seen by a Con-
federate Csvalrymsn.

Brilliant Charge as Seen by a Con.
federate csvalrymsn.
"The most brilliant charge 7 ever
witnessed WIS made by Custer at the
battle of Yellow Tavern" said AN old
Confederate cavalryman. ut was
near the beginning of what historians
now call the Ni!derness campaign
81 was with Jcb stuart. General
Fitz Lees division. Wickhams bri-
gadc and Phil Sheridan's troops were
hanging on us like pack of hungry
wolves, nippng us at every turn
I'VE left Hanover Junction about I
o'clock one night and reached yellow
Tavern before 10 o'clock the next
morning. We hadn't more than halted
at the Tavern when mp comes sheridan
and tries to drive us out. II was a
pretty tough struggle. a hand 10 hand
fight, and we fell back from the Tnv-
ern. but held our position on the tele-
graph road leading to Richmond
was with the battery on the cXtre;u.
left wing and It was about > o'clock
In the afternoon when orders came for
the whole division. except the First
guinns. 10 dismount
at did seem good. can tell YOU
after 50 many hours in the saddle. to
stretch out on the ground and take
smokc-that IS. all who had anything
10 smoke. There was just one pipcfu
among that whole battery. and the
boy who owned II passed II down the
llnc aud each man took his turn pun
ing at 1t. When 1t was gone we all
began 10 speculate ON what deviltry
Sheridan would ue up To- next and
how Jeb Stuart would head him on
II wasn't long before some fellow
wished for drink Of water
you know how II is. When one man
wishes for water the whole company
begins to swear they are dying Of
thirst. Jack Saunders and | took n
bunch of cantccns aud started over the
/ hill To n spring that he had seen that
morning. | was ON my hands and knees
over the spring when heard Saun.
ders' grunt ~ surprise
There. only few hundred yards
: away. was a considerable body of cav
airy Sure that II was our right wing,
] NblhlfIfl W ste lltlll lflollIlf1 ullu
in ranks. lust then the voice of an of.
ficcr rang out:
"'Cavnlry! Attention! Draw saber.'
"Thc entire line moved forward at n
/ quick walk. and as the officer wheeled
I his horse | saw his face. My God, II
was Custer! The situation came to
Saunders and me like 4 flash. We
threw down the cautccns and started
back TO the battery on dead RIM.
"'Trot" Clusters voice rang out
again Then he shouted. Charge"
"With wild cheers. his cavalry dash.
ed forward iu swccrug gallop. at
tnckng our entire left wing at the
same time. We saw our battery taken.
our line broken and our men running
like sheep. Saunders and had but ono
thought join our fleeing company
As we reached IN" telegraph road
/ above the din of the battle | heard Icb
Stuart's voice There hc was, making
Il stand with a handful of men around
him.
1T seemed hut moment before Gus
tor's troops were coming back as fast
as they had gone forward. They had
met the First Nirginans. We greeted
them with the rebel ycll and the last
charge IN pur weapons. Icb Stuart
chcorcd ~ on-ah. how he chcercd rs,
gave them my last shot and was fol
lowing with my weapon clubbcd when
saw Il man who had been dismountcd
ana was running out turn as he pass,
cd orr rally and fire his pistol.
'lch Stuart swaycd in his saddle II
was only for n moment: then his voice
rang out, cheering his struggling
troops, The enemy rallied lust across
The road and fired n vollcy into the
little band gathered around Jcb Stuart
His horse spraug forward, with
scream of agony, and sank down on It's
knees. - we lifted the general OF
the young officer who was helping me
exclaimed:
My God, general, you are wounded.
Your clothes are soaked with blood,
You must leave the field, sir"
"'No,' General Stuart ansV cred; 1
will not leave until victory is assured
Get me another horse.
"Whcn returned with the horse
he was seated with his back against
tree, and when he tried 10 get up
weakened 10y loss Of blood, he sank
back again.
"'Go" he commanded us. 1 am done
for Fitz Lee needs every man. !
order you TO go' NJ
1--WE cannot obey that order, gen
eral,' the young officer toll him. and
I'll never forget the look that came
over his face when he faced the gen
cral. We must carry you TO n place
OF safety, however the battle goes
1t must not 20 against us Stuart
replied and the thought seemed 10 put
fresh yigor in his body. You must
put me ON my horse and keep me there
My men must not know that | am
wounded
eve lifted him ON his horse ana
mounting our own, we held him in his
saddle When thp tide Of the buttI,