Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-28
JEB STUART'S LAST HOUR.
Gallant Old Soldier a Hero to the

Gallant Old Soldier a Hero to the
Last.
The most brilliant charge / ever
witnessed was made by Custer at the
battle of Yellow Tavern" said an ole
Confederate cavalryman at the recent
reunion in Richmond to a reporter OF
the New York Sun. 1T was near the
beginning of what historians now cal
the Wilderness campaign.
II was with Jeb Stuart, Genera,
Fitz Lees division, Wickham's bri-
gade, and Phil Sheridans troops were
hanging on us at every turn. We had
been marching and fighting pretty
steadily for more than two weeks
18th mighty little rest.
We left Hanover Junction about
o'clock one night and reached yellow
Tavern before 10 o'clock the next
morning. You know Sheridan was
not one to let grass grow under his
done and when he was matched
against Jeb Stuart it was nip and
tuck.
I'VE hadn't more than halted al
the tavern when up comes Sheridan
and tries to drive us out. 1t was g
pretty tough struggle, a hand-to-hand
fight, and we fell back from the tav-
ern, but held our position on the tel
egraph road leading TO Richmond.
was with the battery on the extreme
left wing, and it was about o'clock
in the afternoon when orders came
for the whole division excepting the
first Virginia to dismount but hold
their positions.
"It did seem good, 1 can tell you
after so many hours in the saddle to
stretch out on the ground and take q
smoke; that is, all who had anything
to smoke. There was just one pipe.
full among that whole battery, and
the line and each man took his turn
putting at it.
when it was gone we all began
to speculate on what dewitry Sheri-
dan would be up to next and how Jet
Stuart would head him off. 1t wasn't
long before some fellow wished for 9
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 I took a bunch OF
canteens and started over the hill tC
a spring that he had seen that morn.
ing during our scrimmage with the
Yanks.
II was on my hands and knees over
the spring. when I heard Saunders
grunt of surprise. He was staring
through the trees.
There only a few hundred yards
away was considerable body OF cav
airy Making sure that it was oul
right wing, I wondered to see them
mounted and in ranks. Just then the
voice of an officer rang out:
"'Cavalry! Attention! Draw sa.
bret
THE entire line moved forward al
a quick walk, and as the officer wheel
ed his horse I saw his face. 1t was
Custer!
"The situation came to Saunders
and me like flash. We threw down
the canteens and started back to the
battery on a dead run.
"'Trotr Clusters voice rang out
again. The next instant he shouted
'Charge!'
with wild cheers his cavalry dash.
ed forward in a sweeping gallop, at
tacking our entire left wing at the
same time. We saw our battery ta'
ken, our line broken and our men run
ming 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 I heard Jeb Stuart's
voice.
There he was making a stand with
a handful of men around him. Thank
God. l had sense enough left to join
them.
ut seemed but a moment before
Clusters troops were coming back as
fast as they had gone forward. They
had met the first Virginia. We greet
ed them with the rebel yell and our
last round.
"Jeb Stuart cheered US on, ah, how
he cheered us! 1 gave them my last
shot and was following with my wea-
pom dubbed when l saw man. who
had been dismounted and was running
out, turn as he passed our rally and
fire his pistol.
"Jeb Stuart swayed IN his saddle. II
was only for a moment, then his
voice rang out cheering his struggling
troops.
The enemy rallied just across the
road and fired volley into the little
band gathered around Jeb Stuart His
horse sprang forward with scream
of agony and sank 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.' General Stuart answered,
L will not leave until victory is assur-
ed. Get me another horse.
when l returned with the horse
,t,l, L.. Lnn ,S.t
a tree, and when he tried to get up,
weakened by loss of blood, he sank
back again.
"'GO,' he commanded us. I am
done for. Fitz Lee needs every man.
I order you to go
I've cannot obey that order gen
eral,' the young officer told him, and
I'll never forget the look that came
over his face when he faced the gen.
eral. We must carry you to place
of safety however the battle goes
Or n n