The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-09-17
stuart,s Last Battle.


asked an old Confederate cavaSyman
what was his most thrilling memory of
the War of the Rebellion Tie New
York Sun records his reply.
1T was near the beginning of what
historians now call the Wilderness
campaign" he began. Il was with Jeb
Stuart. General Fitz Lees division.
Wickham's brigade, and Phil Sheri
dams troops were hanging OH US like
pack of hungry wolves, nipping us at
every turn.
Eve had been marching and fighting
pretty steadily for more than two
weeks, with little rest. We left Han
over Junction about / o'clock one night
and reached Yellow Tavern before 10
o'clock the next morning. We hadn't
more than halted at the tavern when
up came Sheridan TO drive us out.
at was tough struggle, a 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 ? o'clock
In the afternoon when orders came for
the whole division, excepting the First
Virginia, TO dismount, but hold our
positions.
1T seemed good, after so many hours
In the saddle, to stretch out on the
ground and take smoke. There was
just one pipeful among that whole bat
terry. and the boy who owned it passed
it down the line, and each man took
his turn putting at 1t.
1T wasn't long before some fellow
wished for n drink OF water. You
KNOW how 1t is, when one man wishes
for water. the whole company begins
TO die of thirst; SO Jack Saunders and
| took a bunch of canteens and started
over the hill TO a spring he had seeIi
that morning during our scrimmage
with the Yanks.
Il was on my hands and knees over
the spring when l heard Saunders
grunt of surprise. He was staring
through the trees
There, only q few hundred yards
AWAY, was q considerable body of cav
airy. 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 sa-
berv
''The entire line moved forward at
4 quick walk, and as the officer wheel
cd his horse, 1 saw his face. 1t was
Custer,
The situation came to Saunders and
me like a fash. We threw down the
canteehs and started back TO the bat
terry on n dead run.
'Trot" Clusters voice rang out
again. The next instant he shouted,
Charge
With wild cheers, his cavalry dash
Cd forward in 4 sweeping gallon, at
lacking 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
y.
AS we reached the telegraph road,
above the din of battle | heard Jeb
Stuart's voice. There he was, making
a stand with handful OF men around
him. Thank God, had sense enough
left to join them.
1T seemed but a moment before Gus
ter's 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 last
| round.
'Jeb Stuart cheered us on. ah, how
he cheered us! / gave them my last
shot, and was following with my
weapon dubbed, when / 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
4 of agony, and sank down on its knees
AS we lifted the general off, the young
officer who was helping me exclaimed
| General, you are wounded. Your
clothes are soaked with blood. You
must leave the field, sir =
mo General Stuart answered. q
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, anu when he tried to get I'D
weakened by boss of blood, he sank
| back again.
go! he commanded us. Il an
lone for. Fitz Lee needs every man
order you to GO
I'VE cannot obey that order. gen
eral,' the young officer told him, and
III never forget the look that came
over his face when he faced the gen
eral. We must carry you to a place
of safety however the battle goes
1T must not go 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 | an
| wounded
I'VE lifted him on his horse. and
mounting our own, we held him i'm his
saddle. When the tide of battle turn
cd, supported between us. he made 9
last effort to rally his fleeing troops.
"'Go back, men" he cried. Go back
men! Go back aid do your duty
I'VE felt him sway in the saddle
The young officer turned our horses
heads to the rear, and we carried oul
fainting general from the field. still
holding him upright In the saddle.
THAT was Stuart's last battle and
Clusters most brilliant charge"
Resented tho Insult.
Many were the thrilling episodes ant