Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-24
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-


Confederate cavalryman at the recent
reunion in Richmond, who is quoted in
the Washington Post. ut was near the
beginning of what historians now call
the Wilderness campaign.
Il was with Je5 Stuart, Gen. Fitz
Lees division. Wieham'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
for more than two weeks, with mighty
little time for rest
I'VE left Hanover Junction about
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.
we hadn't more than halted at the
Tavern when up comes Sheridan and
tries to drive us out II 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. l was with the
battery on the extreme left wing, and
1t was about O'Clock in the afternoon
when orders came for the whole divi-
sion. excepting the First Vlrginians, 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 pipeful
among that whole battery, and the boy
who owned 1t passed 1t down the line,
and each man took MS turn putting at
ii.
when 1t was gone we all began to
speculate on what deviltry Sheridan
would be up to next, and how Jcb
Stuart would head him off. 1t wasn't
long before some fellow wished for a
drink of water.
You know how 1t Is, when one man
wishes for water the whole company
begins to swear they are dying OF
thirst. Jack Saunders and l took
bunch OF canteens and started over the
hill to a spring that he had seen that
morning during our scrimmage with
the Yanks.
Il was on my hands and knees over
the spring when / heard Saunders
grunt of surprise. He was staring
through the trees.
There only few hundred yards
away was a considerable body Of cav
airy. Making sure that it was our
right wing, | wondered TO gee them
mounted and in ranks. Just then the
voice Of an officer rang out:
Cavalry Attention Draw saber =
'"rhe entire line moved forward at
quick walk, and as the officer wheeled
his horse l saw his face. My God 1t
was Custer!
THE situation came to Saunders and
nfe-like flash. We threw down the
canteens and started back 10 the bat
terry on a dead run.
"Trot" Clusters voice rang out
again. The next instant he shouted :
CHARGE
with wild cheers his cavalry dashed
forward in a 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 had but one thought
to join our fleeing company. As we
reached the telegraph road above the
din of battle heard Jeb Stuart's voice
There he was, making a stand with
a handful Of men around him. Thank
God, had sense enough to Join them
1T seemed hui q moment before Gus
ter's troops were coming back as fast
as they had gone forward. They had
met the First Virgnians. We greeted
them with the rebel yell and the last
charge In our weapons.
"Jeb Stuart cheered us on, nh, how
he cheered us! gave them my last
shot and was following with my
weapon dubbed when | aew a man,
who had been dlsmounted and was run
ming out. turn as he passed our rally
and fire his pistol.
"Jeh Stuart swayed In hig saddle 1t
was only for a moment. then big voice
rang out, cheering his struggling troops.
"The enemy rallied just across the
road and fred a volley into the little
band gathered around Jeb Stuart His
horse sprang forward with II scream
Of agony acd went dow on its knees
As we lifted the general Of, tine Young
officer who was helping me exclaI lined
my God, general, you are wound
ed. Your clothes are soaked with
blood. You must leave the field sir 2"
NO Gen. Stuart answered I Will
not leave until victory Is assured. Get
me another horse
when / 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