Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-17
TO THE GATES OF RICHMOND.

known force: while in a northerly di-
rection, in rear of the main column,
Gregg was standing of a force under
Gordon. 1t was the tightest place III
which the corps ever found itself
Fitzhugh had just ordered his Gals
sons TO go down near the bridge
he could get our only avenue Of es-
cape appeared 70 be in that direction.
when upon the scene came the sturdy
presence of Sheridan. He hailed Fitz-
hugh, 'Hullo Charley, What are you
doing with your caissons?"
Fitzhugh explained that IL hard pressed
he wanted them out Of the way.
With hearty laugh Sheridan replied,
Pushed hard, Why, what do you sup
pose have in front Of us? A lot of
DEPARTMENT clerks from Richmond, who
have been forced into the ranks. | could
capture Richmond, If I wanted but [
cant hold it, and the prisoners tell me
that every house in the suburbs is loop
holed, and the streets harricaded. Ii
isn't worth the men it would cost. but
III stay here all day to Show these fell
lows how much i care for them, and go
when I get ready. Send for your caissons
and take ii easy
The enemy had torn up the bridge
and We're in some force on the opposite
bank. Merritt dis1noEnted all but three
regiments and Custer charged his men
over the railroad bridge to cover the
reconstruction. driving the enemy back
some distance As soon as the fiooring
was down the mounted force under
Col. Gibbs crossed Gregg and Wilson
covered the crossing of the ammunition
and ambulance trains. and after a bris X
affair with a brigade of infantry and
cavalry under Gen. Gordon. followed
Merritt to their common satisfaction
4 small but enterprising Virginia
newsboy had managed to slip into our
lines with the morning papers. full OF
alleged barbarites of the vandal horde
He seemed utterly Indifferent to the
horrors of war crossed the bridge with
the cavalry, and found his first Yankee
customer in Lieut.. Whitehead. who
eagerly exchanged a quarter for a Rich
mond Inquirer which he sent to Gen.
Sheridan.
AS soon as the head of our column
turned toward the James it lost inter
est objective for the enemy
They were glad to watch us at a re-
spectful distance. now that their he
loved capital once more safe. BN
way of Bottoms bridge the corps moved
to Malvern Hill and Haxalfs landing. OF
the James. where much needed supplies
were procured from Buffers army: many
of us exchanged our mud-stained gar
ments for blue flannel shirts from the
gunboats lying in the James, and for the
nonce became horse marines.
On the 2lst Sheridan. continuing hi:
march to reioin Grant. crossed thu
Pamunkey near White House, on tn
ruins of the railroad bridge. after 81,
hours work at repairing 1t. two regi
ments at a time working as pioneers
The only incident of the crossing wa
the fall of a pack mule from the bridge
from height of thirty feet. The null
turned somersault. struck an abutment
disappeared under the water. came u
: and swan ashore without disturbing hi
: pack.
t On the 23d the corps encamped a
9 Aylett's. and at pm was sent wit
0 my regiment. Cd United States Caviar,
5 accompanied by Capts. Wadsworth an
a Goddard of the staff. to open communi
t cation with the army, the sound of who's
d guns had been heard early In the day
After a forty-mle night march we ha
the good fortune to find Gen. Grant nea
: Chesterfield station where on the .5t
s the cavalry corps also reported, haVin
v fully performed its allotted task II ha
: deprived Lees army for the time, of II
c eyes and ears. damaged his commun
cations. destroyed an immense quantit
> of supplies, killed the leader of his cav
: airy. saved to our government the sui
, Sistence of 10000 horses and men TO
:, three weeks, perfected the morale Of TIL
q cavalry corps. and produced mora
, effect of incaIcGiabl e value to the tnio
: cause. Sheridan's casualties on the raj
q were so men killed or wounded and -
;. horses.
The cavalry corps returned in time {
: take part in an important thanking move
1 ment by the army. which i'm the mean
time had fought the battle of Spotsyl
$ vania and had moved by the left to tn
North Anna river. On the nfth of Ma
the army was posted on the north BAN
of that stream. Our infantry was no.
cautiously transferred from the right b.
the rear around the left of the line soutl
of the river crossing by Hanover ferry
[ Sheridan. with Greggs and Torbert's di
? visions was to precede the infantry OF
/ the left. while Wilson's division threat
I ened the eneiny's left at Little river. Or
the 9TH Torbert crosse! at HanoVe