Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-17

my's cavalry. and pushed on 20 Hanover
Town where he bvoucked. having cap
.tuled sixty prisoners.
Having secured the desired position,
Grant directed sheridan 10 regain the
touch with Lees main army.
ON the 18th a reconnaissance in force
was ordered 10 locate the enemy's line.
We could easily ind his caralry-too
ca silly sometineS-but the main army OF
northern Virginia seemed 10 have hidden
itself, and Grants infantry moved eau
tiously to the left and front. sheridan
charged with the protection OF our
left while the general movement lasted.
ON the 3oth Hancock and Warren dis
covered the enemy in position Torhert
was attacked by the Confederate
AIRY near Old Church. AT : pm. and
fought until > pm, when lie succeeded
in pressing the enemy toward Coid flar-
Dor. ON the 3lst Torhert saddled up at
= am. he moved toward old Cold iar-
Dor AT : am. found tho enemy cav
airy In position. and drove them three
miles upon their infantry. Retiring
leisurely in search of a suitable camping
ground, Sheridan was directed ny Grant
TO return to Cold Harhor and hold Il a.
all hazards Sn at ~ pm, weary and
disgusted. having been on duty Tor
eighteen hours. we moved back and
occupied the old ria, pits-at least. part
Of the force did. The remainder We're
massed III rear. lying down I'm front OF
their Jaded horses. hciile-rein arm.
and graciously permitted to doze.
At ; am. as things remained quiet In
front. coffee was prepared and served to
the men they stood to horse. Officers
packs appeared in an adjoining field. and
the mess-cooks managed to broi a bone.
butter a hoc-cake and boil more coffee
and although the command remained
massed the surroundings seemed more
peaceful. Ny fourth cup of coffee was
in hand when few shots were heard in
front, causing A general prickinS up OF
ears. Soon shirnishers' compliments be-
gan to come our way and drop among
the packs Our line in the rie-pits was
at once reinforced. An amusing scene
met the eye where the pack mules had
been standing: the ground covered
with the debris OF officers light bag
gage and mess-kits mules were brayinls
and kicking and drivers We're yelling.
when. suddenly. jackasses mules and
contraban made for the rear. encoan-
tering on the way the corps commander
and staff, who, only by turning into
convenient farm yard escaped the deluge.
Our brigade was posted on the crest
Of ravine. with timber In front and
rear. excepting opposite the regiment on
the left, where there was clearing, and OH
the right. which rested on a swamp. The
enemy kept up "A desultory fire until
am. when compact mass of infantry.
marching steadily and silently. company
'front.' reported moving through the
timber upon our position. This timber
consisted Of large trees, with but little
5 underground. our men We're not aware
of the character of the force about to
2 attack us. But the morale of the corps
good and their confidence in
Sheridan was so great that when the or
> der Ito hold at all hazards was repeated
they never dream of leaving the spot.
Foreseeing great expenditure of ammu
4 milton. Some of the cavalrymen piled even
:; their pistol cartridges by their sides,
where they would be handy. On came
the gray coated foe, armed with Austrian
muskets with sword bay onets. These.
!, flashing through the trees. caught the
= eye of the little Irish corporal of rhe
i I'd Cavalry. who exclaimed in astonish-
2 ment '.Howiy mother. here they come
wild sabers on fut,''
: For moment the skirmishers redou-
: bed their fire, the enemy took the dou-
: bie-quick and as they charged the
: rebel yell rang through the forest. Then
i a sheet of fame came from the cavalry
n line. and for three or four minutes the
d din was deafening- The repeating car
bines raked the flank of the hostile col
umn, while the single-loaders kept up
steady rattle. The whole thing over
in less than five minutes: the enemy, sur
prised. stunned and demoralized, with
: drew more quickly than they came. leay-
: ing their dead and wounded. who were
menaced with new danger. the woods
were on 1lre.
From prisoners We found that the at
tack was made by part of kershaw,s di-
< vision Geporfed to be l.Un strong and
|, that they had advanced confidently, be
: ing told that there nothing i'm their
front but cavalry The tremendous
racket made FASTENED the approach
of the 9th Corps its way to relieve
us To II We cheerfully gave place,
: having taken the initiative in what was
, destined to be. before the sun went down,
the bloody and historic battle of Cold
: Iiarbor.