The National tribune., 1909-10-14

It is evident that each of the many
writers in this free-for-all discussion
fixed his time OF Sheridan's arrival as
the time he first saw him on the field.
] am sure that ] did, and think that
Griffin. did. and likewise all the rest
who have given their opinions.
The attack was Ilade upon us very
early. in the morning. before it was fun
daylight. / have been an early riser all
my life. and that morning was up some
time Before daybreak, and in the quiet
ude of tflat hour heard the slow and
careful tread of the rebels forming in
line very near and in front of us.
Immediately awoke Col Wiides, the
cofilmandant of our brigade lie read
fly eonTprehended the situation, and in
the fewest minutes we had our brigade
under arms in line of battle. This done
Wiides directed me to notify Cen. Har-
ris. the commander OF our division. My
horse having already been saddled, ]
hastened To Gen. Harris, and found him
asleep in his ambulance more than half
a mile from his command Upon arous-
ing him and giving him the information
that the rebels were forming line OF
battle IN our immediate front. he raised
himself slightly in his bed, and an
swered: THAT cannot be-"
Being somewhat irritated at his sim
gular reply, j answered firmly and enl-
pflaiicaily: General. that is so, and
you, must not doubt or dispute me in
such an emergency. but had better stiI
yourself. know what 1 am reporting,
and il does not become the General
half q mile from the line to doubt the
correctness of the information of an
officer who is right on the line of bat
tle1
The Battle Opens.
At that moment a little volley OF
about dozen muskets was fred on our
extreme right. ] said: did you heal
that. GeneFal?'' Knowing that he did
without awaiting his answer, I said;
That Is a fefnt, General, to lead us t.
believe the attack is to be made of
there. but not SO. You win hear the
rattle. OF n1usketry and the rebel vel
In our front in less than 10 minutes:
and. turning my horse. ! galloped back
TO my brigade, which / had barely
reached when the rebel firing and yell
ing began.
Our brigade stood its ground, and
handsomely reputsed the attack in from
OF US. and held the enemy at bay unit
the brigades at our right and left haC
been surprised and driven back, leav
Ing our brigade almost surrounded, al
which time Col. Wildes directed nj,
force to keep up the fight and at tn,
same time slowly fall back just suffi
ctently TO escape being surrounded
Wfides'y Brigade kept fits formation
fighting as IT retired, and not a man O
It stamDeded.
The engagement soon became gen
eral, and our whole army was presse,
back some distance. but by half-past
or O'Clock they had completed
checked The rebels and established
new line, which they were holding an,
continued TO hold tn Sheridan's ar
rival The firing had very much dimin
ished on both sides. tho some muske
firing could be heard.
During this lull IA the battle Capt
Bier, Gen. Crooks Adjutant-General
and / were In our saddles, aide by side
when a fssai bullet came, rsnss.x thr-
.hs Sody 81 Capt. Bier near the hear
j heard the deadly thug as IL strucI
him, and heard him address me, sCap
tain. am shot" and seeing him star
to fall from his horse. I caught him b
the back OF his coat collar and ease,
him to the ground. and directed som
of Iay own company men who chance,
TO be near by TO bear him to the real
] at once reported his death to Ger
Crook. and have not forgotten Tn
expression of grief and sorrow tina
passed over the Generals countenanc
snt the time. He stood in silence mo
znent and said 10 me: Captain, yol