The Cairo bulletin., 1908-07-12
GALLANT JEB'S
LAST FIGHT
SERE EsaAasAA
AaEgaERE
Esa
TannuuunuHnnMEE y q NM

THE most brilliant charge FNV'
witnessed was made by Custer AT
the battle of yellow Tavern, said
al old Confederate cayalryman at
the recent reunion in Richmond to a
reporter of the New York Sun. II
was near the beginning OF what MS
torians now call the Wilderness cam
paign.
Il was with Jeb Stuart Gen FIJI.
Lees division. Wickham brigade
and Phil Sheridan's troops were
hanging on us like pack of nun
fry wolves. nipping lis at every turn
I'VE left Hanover Junction about
/ o'clock one night and reached le!-
| low Tavern before 0 o'clock the neM
morning.
I'VE hadn't more than halted II
the tavern when up comes sheridan
ard trys to drive US out. 1t was
| rretty tough struggle. hand-to-
! hand fight, and We fell back from
! the tavern but held our position on
| the telegraph road leading to Rlch-
mond. was with the battery on
/ the extreme left wing, and 1t was
about 2 O'Clock in the afternoon
when orders came Tor the whole d.
vision excepting the First virginia
/ to dismount bat hold their positions.
/ You know low il is, wnen one
| man wishes for water the hole COM
! pany begins to swear they ere dying
/ CT thirst Jack Saunders and TOOK
bunch of canteens and started over
the hill to a spring that he had seen
that morning during our lcrimmAse
with the Yanks.
II was on my hands and knees
over the spring when l heard Saun-
ders grunt of surpr Sc. He was
staring through the trees.
There only few yards away was
q considerable body of cavalry. Max
ing sure that 1t was our right wing
wondered to see them mounted and
IL ranks. Just IN IN the yoio" OF an
oficei called out:
Cavalry! Attention! Draw sab
err"
The entire line moved forward at
quick walk, and as the officer
wheeled his horse saw his face. 1t
was Custer
THE situation came to Saunders
ard me like flash. We threw
down the canteens and start-d back
to the battery on the deaG run.
"'Trotr Clusters voice rang out
again. The next instant he shouted
'Charge!'
with wild cheers his cavalry
dashed forward In a sweeping ealiop,
attacking our entire left wing at the
aame time. We saw our battery
taken, our line broken, ana cur men
running like sheep
Saunders and I had but one
thought, to join our fleeing company.
AS we reached the telegraph road
atove the din of the battle, heard
Jeb Stuart's voice.
There he was making a stand
with a handful of men arou nd 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
! greeted them with the rebel yell and
our Lass round.
''Jeb Stuart swayed In his saddle.
! how he Cheered us! | gave them
/ my last shot and was following with
/ my weapon dubbed when | saw
/ man, who had been dismcuntei and
was running out, turn as he passed
our rally and Ere his pistol
"Jeb Sturat swaye din his SD 3.
/ 1t was ouly for a moment and then
his voice rang out cheering his strug-
/ Cling troops.
The enemy rallied just across the
! road and fred a volley into the lit
tie band gathered around Jeb Stuart.
His horse sprang forward with
scream Of agony and sank down up
on his knees. AS we lifted the gen.
eral 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 Gen. Stuart answered. I
will not leave until victory is assur-
ed Get me another horse.
when / returned with the horse
~ was seated with his back against
a tree, and when he tried to get up.
weakened by loss of blood, he sank
lack again.
Go, he commanded US. 1 am
done for. Fitz Lee needs every man.
order you 20 go
We cannot obey tn: t order, gem
eral, the .-oung Officer told him, and
I'll never forget the look that came
over his face when be faced the gen.
eral We must carry you to
place of safety, however the battle
goes
1t must not go against us,
Stuart replied, and the though; seemf
et TO put fresh vlgor into his body.
I'VE lifted him up on his horse,
and. mounting our own. We held him
in his saddle. When the tide Of
battle turned. supported between us.
be made a last effort to rally his
fleeing troops.
Go back. men, he cried. Co
I H. do NnHr