The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-23
AMEMORYOF THE WAR
~, Y Old Soldiers Story Of the Bat
Tie Of Yellow Tavern.
jEB sTuART's LAST FIGHT.

Il
witnessed was made by Custer al the
battlc OF Yellow Tavern" said an old
Confederate eavalryman. 1T was
near the beginning OF what historians
now call tho Wilderness campaign.
u was with Jeb Stuart, General
fltz Lees division. Wickham's bri.
gade and Phil sheridan's troops were
hanging on US like pack OF hungry
wolves. nipping us at every turn.
I'VE left Hanover Junction about 1
o'clock one night and reached Yellow
Tavern before 10 O'Clock the next
morning. We hadn't more than halted
At tho Tavern when up cornes Sheridan
and tries to drive IN out. IL was a
pretty tough struggle. hand to hand
fight, and we fell back from the Tav-
ern. but held our position on the tele-
graph road leading 10 Richmond. /
was with the battery on tho extreme
left wing. and II was about 2 o'clock
In the afternoon when orders came for
the whole division. except the First
| klhlhnA. 10 dlHmount
1T did seem good, can tell you.
after 10 many hours In the saddle, TO
stretch out on the ground and take
n smoke that Is. all who had anything
TO smoke. There was Just one pipefui
among that whole battery. and the
boy who owned II passed II down the
line, and each man took his turn pun.
Ing at It. When II was gone we all
began TO speculate on what deviltry
Sheridan would be up 10 next and
how Jeb Stuart would head him on.
II wasn't long before some fellow
wished for drink Of water
You know how It H. When one man
wishes for water tho whole company
begins TO swear they are dying Of
thirst Jack Saunders and took
bunch OF canteens and started over the
hill to a spring that he had seen that
morning. ! was on my bands and knees
over the spring when ! heard Saun.
ders' grunt Of surprise.
There. only few hundred yards
away, was considerable body OF cav.
airy. Sure that !. was our right wing.
I wondered 10 see them mounted and
In ranks. Just then the vc.ce OF an Of.
ficer rang out:
Cavalry! Attention! Draw saberr
'The entire line moved forward at a
quick walk, and as the ofticer wheeled |
his horse I saw his face. Ny God, Il |
was Custeri The situation came to |
Saunders and me like n fash. We
threw down the cantcens and started
back to the battery on dead run.
"Trotr Clusters voice rang out
again. Then no shouted. Charger
with wild cheers, his cavalry dash.
Cd forward In sweeping gallop, at.
tacking 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 the battle heard Jeb
Stuart's voice. There he was, making
stand with handful OF men around
him.
ut seemed but momert before Gus
ter's troops were coming back as fast
as they had gone forward. They had
met the First ylrginians. We greeted
them with the rebel yell and the last
charge in our weapons. Jeb Stuart
cheered us on--ah. how he cheered usl
1 gave them my last shot and was fol-
lowing with my weapon clubbed when
I saw n man who had been dismounted
and was running out turn as he pass
cd 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. The enemy rallied Just across
the road and fred volley into the
little band gathered around Jeb Stu@t.
His horse sprang forward, with a
scream Of agony, and sank down on its
knees. As 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, sirl'
"No.' General Stuart answered; 4
will not leave until victory Is assured.
Get me another horse
"When returned with the horse
he was seated with his back against q
tree. and when he tried to get up,
weakened by loss OF blood, he sank
back again.
"'Gov he commanded us. 7 am done
for. Fitz Lee needs every man.
order you to go |
eve cannot obey that order, gem
eral,' the young officer told him, and
I'll never forget the look that came
over his face when he faced the gem
eral. We must carry you to a place
of safety, however the battle goes
1T must not 60 against u.s. Stuart
replied, and the thought seemed to put
fresh vigor in his body. You must
put me on my horse and keep me there.
My men must not know that I am
1--WE lifted him on his horse, and,
our own, we held him in his
saddle. When the tide OF the battle
turned, supported between us, he made
q last effort to rally his fleeing troops.
"'Go back, menp he cried. Go back,
men! Go back and do your duty!'
I'VE felt him sway In his saddle. The
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