The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-02-22
CHAPTER XVI.
Al the Eleventh Hour.

A SMALL boy hanging about III
~ front OF the Logan House IT.
"A Winchester watched for Gen
eral Sheridan 90 make his mp
pearance and then asked
please tell me. general for my
grandma. where you are going?"
With his mind full OF the trouble
caused by Confederate spies and III.
formers Sheridan replied grufIly:
Tell her that am going to Rich
mond or Petersburg or heaven or hell"
The boy ran away, but came back
half an hour later and called out from
the sidewalk:
General Sheridan. my grandma says
you can't go TO Richmond because Gen
eral Lee Is there. and you can't go 10
Petersburg because General Beaure-
gard Is there. and you cent go to heay-
en- because General "Stonewall' Jack
son Is there
IL was the evening OF Oct. Is. Sheri-
dan. on his way back from Washington
via Martinsburg 10 rejoin the Federal
army nc Cedar Greek, had arrived In
Winchester late that afternoon.
The couriers who came up from the
front to meet the general reported ev-
erything quiet at Cedar Greek and the
adjacent Fishers Hill and. further
more. that General Haverills brigade
of the Nineteenth corps was TO make a
reconnaissance on the right early next
morning This was sufficiently reas-
surfing. Tho commander decided to
take the nights rest ia winchester and
proceed TO the front next morning.
When lie was called at a. m, faint
sounds OF irregular firing were heard
In the distance TO the southwark.
doubtless the result OF General Haver-
Ills reconnaissance The firing did
not cease, however, and after awhile
il was more distinctly heard. aug
mented by cannonading Breakfast
was ordered and Sherldan's bold
black. Rienzi. together with the horses
or the stan officers ana couriers, stood
paving aud champing before the door.
IL was nearly o'clock when the gen
eral got away. Then he hit the pike
at fairly good clip. not liking the
sounds ~ sudden hattie ahead. and
somewhat nettled at the jeers and
taunts OF women In the doorways
along the route. IL was plain they had
heard something by grapevine tele-
graph" What they heard soon be-
came apparent as the horsemen went
over the rise az MIL creek. couple OF
miles south OF the town.
There, as far as the eye could reach.
up the long line OF the valley pike.
stretched and struggled the appalling
spectacle OF an army In broken re-
treat. Baggage wagons. wounded men.
riderless horses and soldiers without
guns told al too plainly tale or panic
and rout
Where are you going:" shouted
Sheridan, You should be facing the
other way. What has happened?'
They told him the army had been
surprised. defeated and all broken 40
and WAS In full retreat
Sheridan did not rip about swear
and tnreaten-ns yet lie was the
calmest man OF his party az he rode
forward, slowly at FIRST. thinking what
he should do. The signal message.
1--WE VIII crush Sheridan's army" re-
CURED 20 his mind with stunning
force. But would the army suffer H.
self to be crushed. even in his tempo
rary absence7 lie could not and would
not believe Il. The stragglers. being
hurriedly questioned. described the sit
uation as awful"
That means nothing from a pack OF
towards who were the FIRST TO run
away from tho battlefield" declared
Sheridan. Comet Wen soon 1nd out
for ourselves This retreat would new
err have happened II had been here.
What ! want 20 tind out now Il where