Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

ed by a dense woods on the north side,
tho side toward the enemy There was
sudden connection among the headquar-
tiers escort and on looking around ] ~
some Of our men dashing up 10 a horse
man In full Confederate Uniform who
had suddenly appeared IN the road. and
they were in the act ~ selling him az a
prisoner.
recognized him Al once as one 81
Sheriean's scouts. who had before
brought us important dispatches, and said
to him How do yoa do - mpSell2 and
told our men he was all right and was
one OF our own people. lie told rs ne
had had a hard ride from Sheriians
camp. and had brought a dispatch for
Gen. Grant.
BY this time the general had recog-
niJed HIM and had stopped In tho road
to see what he had brought Campbell
then took from his mouth a wad Of to-
bacco. broke il open and pulled out .
little bali OF tinfol Rolled up IN this
wa. a sheet Of tissue paper on which
was written the famous Dispatch, so Wide
ly published At the time in which Sheri-
dan described the situation at letters
Vile. and added Il wish you were hero
yourself"
The general said he would go at onca
TO SneTlu3n. ana lToll
black pony JEFF Davis. which be hal
been riding. and called For his big bay
horse Cincinnati. lie stood In the road
and wrote dispatch, using the pony .
back for a desk. and then. mounting the
fresh horse, told Campbell To lead ths
way.
Ii was found we would have to skirt
the enemys lines and IL VAS thong he
prudent to take some cavalry Nth us,
but there was none near al hand, ana
the general said he would risk il with
our mounted escort of fourteen men.
Calling upon me and two three other
officers to accompany him, he started OF.
1t was now after dark. but there was
enough moonlight to enable us to see
the way without difficulty. After riding
nearly twenty miles. following cross roads
through a wooded country. struck
skleridan's pickets about haif-ga4st 10
o'clock. and soon after reached h $ head
quarters
Sheridan was awaiting us. blinking the
general would come after getting his
dispatch. \ good supper Of coffee and
cold chicken was spread out and il WAS
soon demonstrated that the night ride
had not impaired any ones appetite.
When the general-in-chief had learned
fully the situation in Sheridan's front
he first sent a message to Ord 70 watch
the roads running south from Burke
vile and Farmville. and then rode over
to Meade's camp nearby. Meade was
still suffering from illness. His views
differed somewhat from Gen. Grants re-
garding the movements Of the Army or
the Potomac for the next day. and the
latter changed the dispositions that were
being made so as to have the army unite
with Sheridan's troops in swinging around
toward the south and heading of Lee in
that direction.
The next day. the 9th, proved decided
field day in the pursuit. Ii was found in
the morning that Lee had retreated dur
ing the night from Amelia Court House,
and from the direction he had taken, and
the information received that he had or
dered rations TO meet him at Farmville. II
was seen that he had abandoned all hope
of reaching Burkevile and was probably
heading for Lynchburg. ord was to try
to burn the High bridge over the Apo
mattox and push on TO Farmvile. Sheri-
dams cavalry was TO work around on
Lees left flank. and the Army OF the
Potomac was to make another forced
march and strike the enemy wherever II
could reach him.
/ spent a portion OF the day with
Humphreys Corps, which attacked tho
enemy near Deatonville, and gave his
rear guard no rest. / joined Gen. Grant
later. and with him rode to Burkevilles
getting there some time after dark.
Ord had pushed out to Rices station
and Sheridan and wright mad gone In
against the enemy and had fought the
battle of Sailors creek, capturing six
general officers and about seven thousand
men (Ewells corps). and smashing
things generally.
Ord had sent Col. Francis Washburn OF
the 4th Massa chusetts Cavalry, with two
infantry regiments. to destroy High
bridge and return to Burkeville station,
but becoming apprehensive for their
safety, he sent Col. Theadore Read OF his
IN N 4 %
command.
Read ad iced as far as Farmvilie. ana
on his return found Washburn's troops
confronting Lees advance, The enens
were now between ord and this httie
command of less than six hundred infan-
try and cavalry
Finding himself thus cut OFF, the gallant
Read resolved TO sacrifice the command