The Washington herald., 1914-08-29
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
August g. 1894 Spirited Engagement Between Federal Troopers
fedea Cavalry and Infantry Took Place 0pequn
ndOah Valley Where the Armies of Sheridan Early Were Facing
Each Other.



army. and here infantry supports, che
Third Division of the Sixth Corps. Gen.
James B. Ricketts,. drove the enemy Oack
over the ground they had gained
Red Field OF Battle.
A correspondent OF a New York news
paper, who witnessed the days fighting.
wrote striking description Of its close.
as follows:
The scenery of the field at this time
was thrillingly beautiful A magnificent
sunset tinge dwelt upon all The forest
shone In ii; the waving grasses were
dyed with IL: the arms OF moving bat-
talions cleaned red and angry on the
Crests. In the front, the fire Of musketry
trembled and slaCkened as the enemy re-
tired. Our batteries upon the ridge.
laundering al intervals. sent their Kissing
messengers through the woods and over
the meadows. after the retreating foe.
The graceful and sinuous movement
OF cavalry wheeling into position. the
steady march Of infantry down the
slopes; the sweet sound Of bugles. stern
voices OF command. the kissing Of bull
let's, the neighing of horses. the glad. re-
assuring look Of an advance pervading
all, were blended in a scene which haI
in 1t something Of the wild and savage
beauty OF great battle upon an open
field.
The enemy followed the sunset. NOV
Ing toward the west along the pike Our
advance. marching close upon their heels.
caught sight OF their skirmshers. about
Loo yards distant. and thenCefOrwaId
made their journey warm.
Through woodlands and COrnfelds
where the battle was indistinguisaabIe.
the echoes Of il sweIled along. until Just
as the sun rested on the horizon uGr
: Z FGh NJ he
ing Smithfeld. which the cavalry cad
lost at l p. m
Down the slope. and into the VALLEY,
like cattle before the drovers. the enemy
fed again, riding over the ridge and in
a still deeper red our advancing columns
swept on in support
Firing. at times. behind stone fences.
and in the edges of the woods, the
enemy made a scattered stand Our
skirmish line. unwavering. drove them
invariably, with now and then small
squads Of cavalry breaking from a dis
tant cover. plunging across the field.
and into the woods. again shattering
the already shattered Confederate lines
The glimpses of a cavalry charge were
among the most exciting and pictur-
esque I ever witnessed
Surgeon on Duty Killed.
Dying. dying. like the sunset. the
fight ceased at last. Our troops held
the town Of Smithfield: the enemy fell
back TO the OpeQUOn; the ground lost
during the day was retaken. As the
campfires slowly grew aglow with
lights. the generals and their STATS
who had ridden out to witness the en-
gagement. turned back to suppAr and
sleep.
The losses Of the cavalry during the
haV about -, It'll
wounded. Several officers fell. DR.. W.
H. Rulisen. OF New York. medical di-
rector of the Cavalry Corps fell shot
MORALLY by a bullet while attending to-
his duty upon the field. The cavalry
in this hard days work. which. never
reached the dimensions Of what is US
ually termed a battle. behaved in
always admirable, their com
mander setting a noble example Of ex-
posure and ,self-saCrifice. Both Gems. !
Merritt and Custer were upon the
skirmish line where the lighting was
personally directing the dis
position and charge of the troops.
One of the most gracious privileges
afforded us by the victory OF the even |
ing was that of bUrying our dead. Some !
OF the bodies were found stripped even
Of their finger-rings.
One body. slung across a hOrses's !
UeCh-d HlueOuS' HdppluE' sldlItu tOESO
was borne to the rear along the
roads by some friendly cav
alryman 10 be embalmed.
Under the trees at evening. as the
sun went down and the moon came up. |
burial parties were busy. The dead
were few, and all were decently inter-
red"
Tomorrow-Gen. Mcclellan nom
mated for the Presidency.
CcopyTiEht. IsLl