The National tribune., 1908-09-10

lieutenants. was still firing with fright.
ful regularity as fast as he could load.
Then Gregg rode over to the Ist Mich.
and directed Town to charge. Custer
dashed up with similar instructions. and
as Town ordered abers to he drawn
placed himself by his side. i'm front OF
the leading squadron.
With ranks we'll closed, with rui-
dons flying and bugles sounding. tho
grand old regiment of veterans. Ted by
Town and Custer. moved forward to
meet that host. outnrmbe-ing ii three
to one: first at a trot. then the COM
mand to charge rang out. and with
cleaning saber and flashing pistol
Town and his heroes were hurled right
into the teeth of Hampton and Fiszfugh
Lee. Alger. who with the 9Th Fad
been waiting for the right moment
charged in on the right flank OF the
column as it passed. as some of McIn-
toshs squadrons did on it's left One
company of the eth. under Lieut. Dan
Littlefield. also Joined In the charge
Then it was steel to steel and Greek
met Greek. For minutes-and FOR min
utes that seemed like years-tne gray
column stood and staggered before the
blow: then yielded and ied. Alger and
Mcintosh had pierced its fanks. bat
Towns impetuous charge in front went
thru it like wedge. splitting it i'm twain
and scattering the Confederate horse
men in disorderly rout back to the
woods whence they came
During this last melee the braznn
lips of the cannon were dumb. 1t wa,
fierce hand-to-hand encounter be-
tween the Michigan men and the flower
OF the southern cavaliers, led by their
tavorite commanders, in which the lat
ter were worsted.
Stuart retreated to his stronghold.
leaving the Union forces in possession
Of the field.
The rally sounded. the lines were
reformed. the wounded cared for, and
everything made ready for a renewal ot
the conflict. But the charge of the lst
Mich. ended the cavalry lighting on the
right at Gettysburg. Military critics have
pronounced it the finest charge made
during the war.
1T was a famous fight and a bloody
one. custer's Brigade lost one. officer
and % men killed, IL officers and 1f2
men wounded. G7 mcE missing; total
loss, 2l9. Gregg;s Division lost ono nam
killed, seven officers and 1 9 men woua5-
ed, eight men missing; total 35 In
other words. while Gregg's Division, two
brieades, lost 90, Clusters single brigade
suffered loss of 219."
Gen. Gregs's Report.
Gen. D. Mem. Gregg's official report
Of the battle says:
The Importance of successfully re-
sisting an attack at this point. which. il
succeeded in by the enemy. would have
been productive of the most serious
consequences. determined me to retain
the brigade Of the Third Division until
the enemy were driven back. Gen. Gus
ter. commanding the brigade, fully sat
isfied of the intended attack, was w1ll
pleased to remain with his brigade. The
1st N j. Cav was posted as mounted
skirmishers to the right and front in a
wood. the Sd Pa. Cav. depIoyed as dis
mounted sxirmishers to the left ani
front in open fields. and the 1st Md on
the Hanover turnpike, In position to
protect the right Of my line.
The very superior force of dismeunt-
ed skirnishers of the eneny advanced
on our left and front required the line
to be reinforced by enc of Gen. Clusters
regiments. At this time the ssirnisking
became very brisk on both Sides and
and ourselves. During the skirmfsh of
the dismounted men the enemy brought
upon the field a column for a charge.
The charge OF this column was met by
the 7th Mich Cav. of the First fSecond)
Brigade. Third Division, but not sue
cessfully. The advantage gained in this
charge was soon wrested from the enc
iHS Dy Tie SdHdht CDdISc VI t1c Isl
Mich, CT the same brigade. This regi-
| u1ent drove the enemy back to his start
ing point. Other charges were made by
the enemy's columns, but in every in
stance they were driven back. Defeat
ed at every point, the enemy withdrew
to his left. and on passing the wood in
which the 1st y. ]. Cav. was posted that
regiment gallantly and successfully
charged the flank of his column. Heavy
skirmishing was still maintained by the
Sd Pa. Cav. with the enemy, and was
continued until nightfall. During the
engagement portion of this regiment
made a very handsome and successful
charge upon one of the enemy's regi-
! ments. The enemy retired his colrrnn
behind his artillery, and at dark.-Yith-
drew from his former position At this
time was at liberty to relieve the First
(Coptinued on papa civ