The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-11-10
CUsTER's FIRST CHARGE.

Slttlng Bull, when, without waiting
to determine the number of Indians
opposed to him, he charged with
500 brave men to an almost i'm
mediate death. But this very i'm
petuosity on Custer's part was what
won for him the most of his victor
les and no little of his fame. Even
in the Civil war it was much in evil
dence, as the following account by
Lafayette McLaws in Harper's Week
ly will show. McLaws a few years
ago was spending a month with Mrs.
Jefferson Davis at her Lake Erie
home. A Southern veteran was visit
ing her one day and informed the
two that he had been in the battle
OF Yellow Tavern, where Custer,
young fellow just out of West Point,
had gained his first bit of praise.
Said he:
They call it Clusters most bril-
liant charge. Some people claim it
was the most brilliant charge of the
whole war;" he went on. " saw it
ALL"
" Do tell us about it, ! begged,
impulsively.
How easily you young folks ask
things like that" he replied after a
little, with wry twisting of the lips
too pathetic to mistake for a smile,
though he meant it for me. why,
for years l couldn't even mention
\ Yellow Tavern. l don't suppose you
can understand that"
Yes, she does understand Mrs.
Davis assured him. And I'd like
her to know just how it happened
Were you in the cavalry?"
No, I was with the battery that
day-Wickham brigade, Gen. Fitz
Lees division.
1t was near the beginning of
what your histories call the Wilder
ness Campaign" the veteran went
on, speaking directly to me. Phil
Sheridans troops were hanging on
us like a pack of hungry wolves,
nipping us at every turn we made.
We had been marching and fighting
pretty steady for days with mighty
little chance for rest. One night we
left Hanover Junction about one
O'Clock and arrived at Yellow Tavern
little before ten the next morning.
But we hadn't more than halted at
Yellow Tavern when up comes Sheri-
dan and tries to drive us out. 1t
was a pretty tough struggle, hand
to-hand fight in some quarters. We
fell back from the tavern, but we
held our position on the Telegraph
Road leading to Richmond"
Here the veteran stopped and,
resting heavily on his stick sat gaz-
ing straight ahead. After a time he
went on, speaking directly to Mrs
Davis:
q remember it all as though it
happened yesterday" he told her.
" | was with the battery on a little
hill at the extreme left of our left
wing, FitZ Lees division, Wickham's s
brigade. 1t was around two o'clock
when orders came for the whole di- /
vision, excepting the First Virginias,
to dismount, but hold their position. |
1t seemed mighty good to stretch out
on the ground and take a smoke. |
After a while some fellow wished for
a drink of water.
You know how it always is. Just |
let one man wish for a drink and |
within few minutes the whole COM
pany will be swearing they are dying
of thirst. Finally Saunders, my
comrade, said he'd located a spring |
that morning during our scrimmage |
with Sheridan's troops. l took my
canteen and went with him over the |
hill to fetch what we could.
4 was on my hands and knees |
over the spring when l heard Saund-
ers give an exclamation of surprise !
He pointed through the trees.
There, only few hundred yards
away, was large body of cavalry
Making sure it was our right wing,
| wondered to see them mounted |
and in ranks so soon after leaving
them resting in position. Before |
could speak my surprise to Saunders
the officers voice rang out:
Cavalry Attention! Draw
Sabers!
The entire line moved forward
at quick walk AS the officer
wheeled his horse l saw his face.
My God!' Saunders exclaimed
It's Custer
The situation came to me like a
flash of lightning. / flung down my
canteen and started back to the bat
terry on dead run with Saunders
hard behind me.
g Trot!' Clusters voice rang out
again. 'Charge!'
With wild cheers his cavalry
dashed forward in a sweeping gal
lop, attacking the entire right wing
at the same time. The next moment
we saw our line broken and our men
running like sheep.
g The next was like some great |
red blur l never can remember
just what happened. 1 only know
tnat L neld TO the thought that we |
, must join our fleeing company, and
both me and Saunders did our best !
to reach them. AS we reached the
Telegraph Road l heard an officer
shouting orders.
~ was Jeb Stuart's voice.
Il turned toward that voice
There he was, making a stand in the |
road with a handful of men around |
him. Thank God 1 had sense enough |
left to stop my running and join that
little band.
Almost the next moment, it !
seemed, Clusters men were coming
back as fast as they had gone for
ward. They had met the First Vir-
ginias and had been forced to re-
treat. We greeted them with wild
yells, rebel yells, and drove them
across the road.
can hear Jeb Stuart's voice
now as he cheered us on. / gave