Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-09-14
"JEB" STUART'S
LAST BATTLE.


crate cavaIryman at the recent reunion
in Richmond, vino is quoted in The
washington Post IL. was near the be-
ginning of what historians now call the
Wilderness campaign.
II was with Jeb Stuart, Gen. Eitz
Lees division. Wicham's brigade and
Phil Sheridan's troops were hanging on
us like pack of hungry wolves, nip
ping us at every turn. We had been
marching and fighting pretty steadily
for more than two weeks, with mighty
little time for rest.
1--WE left Hanover Junction about l
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
it 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. | 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 division.
excepting the First VIrginians, to dis
mount, but hold their position.
1T did seem good, | can tell you, after
so many hours in the saddle, to stretch
out 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
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 Smart
would head him off. 1t wasn't long be-
fore some fellow wished for a drink of
water.
You know how it is, when one man
wishes for water the whole company be-
gins 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
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 few hundred yards away
was a considerable body of cavalry.
Making sure that it was our right wing,
| wondered to see them mounted and in
ranks. Just then the voice of an officer
rang out:
Cavalry! Attention! Draw saber!
"The entire line moved forward at
quick walk, and as the officer wheeled
his horse | saw his face. My Godl it
was Custer!
THE situation came to Saunders and
me like flash, we threw down the
cantc ems and started back to the battery
on a dead run.
"'Trot!' Clusters voice rang out again.
| The next instant he shouted: Charged
with wild cheers. his cavalry dashed
forward in a sweeping galIop attacking
our entire left wing at the same time
| We saw our battery taken, on" 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 a stand with
| a handful of men around him. Thank
God, | had sense enough to join them.
1T seemed but moment before Gus
ter's troops We're coming back as fast
as they had, gone forward. They had
met the First Nirginias. We greeted
them with the rebel yell and the last
charge i'll our weapons.
"Jeb Stuart cheered us on, all, how
he checred us! | gave them my last
shot and was following with my weapon
dubbed when | saw man, who had
been dsmounted and was running out,
turn as he passed our rally and fire his
pistol.
"Jeb Stuart swayed in his saddle. 1t
was only for moment, then his voice
rang out, cheering his struggling troops.
The enemy rallied just across the
road and fired a 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 of
ticer who was helping me exclaimed;
My God, general, you are wounded
Your clothes are soaked with blood A.!
You must leave the field. sir!"
/ No Gen. 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 a tree
and when he tried to get up, weakened
by loss of blood he sank back again.
Got he commanded us. 1 am done
for Fitz Lee needs every man. l order
you to go
I'VE cannot obey that order, general.
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 a place of safety, however
the battle goes
1t must not go against us 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
linen must not know that am wounded
1--WE lifted him ON his horse and
mounting our own, We held him in his
saddle When the tide of the battle
turned. supported between us, he made a
last effort to rally his fleeing troops
Go back, meu!' he cried. Go back
men! Go back and do Your duty!
We felt him sway in his saddle. The
Young officer turned our horses heads