The National tribune., 1910-09-15
THE CAVALRY AT CLOSE QUARTERS.

Eighth Corps and Averilrs Division of
Cavalry, was commanded by Gen.
Crook After defeating the rebels at
those two places we destroyed the Vir-
ginia & Tennessee Railroad for a con-
siderable distance and destroyed the
bridge over the New River at Dublin
Station on that road.
We then went to Lewisburg, W. Va,
where our supply trains met us, and
after rest of three weeks We went to
Staunton, Va, where we met Gen.
Hunters force, which had advanced up
the Shenandoah Valley, and had met
and defeated a force of rebels at Pied
mont, Va, the day before. Gen. Hunter
was then in command of all our forces
after we met him, which then was
about $4,000 men, infantry, cavalry and
artillery. After one days rest we start
ed for Lynchburg. Our line of march
was then almost due south, by way of
Lexington in Rockbridge County, Va.
We mad a sharp little fight there with
McCausland's cavalry. There / lest
horse. We drew three days rations,
ard the wagon train was sent back to
Harper's Ferry. Our next stop was at
Buchanan, Va, where we of the cav
airy had another little brush with the
rebels. They had fired the bridge over
the James River, and were in line of
battle on the opposite side, at the out
skirts of the town.
They did not stop us. They took to
the mountains. From Buchannon the
road starts up the Blue Ridge Noun
teins. At Otter Gap the peaks of Otter
are located just west of the south side
Of the gap. From the top of them a
splendid view of the country south and
east is had. Lynchburg from there was
three days march. On the second day
we went into camp at New London,
Va. little place about Is miles north
Of Lynchburg.
The Rebels Opened Fire.
Just as we were turning into our
camp the rebels opened fire on our
camps from hill which was hidden
from Us by a strip of timber land. The
I'd w. Va. Cav, to which l belonged,
was ordered to throw out a line Of
skirmishers and advance thru the
woods and drive off the rebels. which
we found posted on a long, low ridge in
our front. Paul Crowley and I, both of
Co. F, I'd w. Va. Cav. were ordered to
the right as flankers to watch the rebel
line, which extended to our right a con-
siderable distance. After we got to our
position we advanced to the edge of the
timber, and could then see the rebels
line, which consisted of cavalry and
four pieces of artillery. AS soon as
they saw us 1 suppose they thought the
woods was full of our men. Anyway,
they opened fire on our part of the line,
and one of the shells exploded close 10
my head and just in front of me. / was
put entirely out of business for 10 or
Is minutes when ] regained conscious
ness. Comrade Paul Crowley had come
to me My nose and ears were bleeding
and my horse and saddle in front was
all bloody, but on examination we
found that neither / nor the horse had
received any serious wound. / was told
afterward by the Surgeon that il was
caused by the concussion of the she'll
The next day our division of cavalry
came upon the rebel lines about mile
north of Lynchburg. 1t was then about
D. m. The balance of the army was
some distance back. Gen. Averill de-
ployed a line of cavalry as skirmishers
and the company / belonged to took a
position On the left of our line. The
rebels occupied position in a cave
and along a ridge. which formed almos,
half circle around two sides OF the
cove. Just in front of our skirmish
line a good-siZcd ravine ran almost
parallel with our line, and beyond il
was a kind of breastwork, with logs
and brush, occupied by the rebel in
fantry, tho we did not know it at tho
time. Their skirmishers were just in
front of this line, and all of their artil-
lery was stationed along the ridge, but
well screened by the woods, and which
we could not see until they opened fire
They had at this time two cannon
which they opened against us. They
were stationed in the road where Il
crossed over the ridge to the town A
little church stood there.
The Eighth Corps.
When the Eighth Corps came up Cal
the infantry that took part in the bat
tie that day) they formed in line. The
18th, 23d. 36th and 44th Ohio and the
9Th and 18th w. Va. formed the divi
sion just TO our right. The balance OF
the Eighth Corps was to their right
Our batteries were In the rear of oul
lines on high ground
When all was ready Gen Crook or.
dered the whole line to advance Wher
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