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第28章

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detailed two regiments to make a detour southward to strike the

railroad some distance beyond and break the track。  These regiments

set off at a gallop; and in short order broke up the railroad enough

to prevent the escape of the trains; Custer meanwhile taking

possession of the station; but none too soon; for almost at the

moment he did so the advance…guard of Lee's army appeared; bent on

securing the trains。  Without halting to look after the cars further;

Custer attacked this advance…guard and had a spirited fight; in which

he drove the Confederates away from the station; captured twenty…five

pieces of artillery; a hospital train; and a large park of wagons;

which; in the hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day; were

being pushed ahead of Lee's main body。



Devin coming up a little before dusk; was put in on the right of

Custer; and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the

other two held in reserve。  I then forced the enemy back on the

Appomattox road to the vicinity of the Court House; and that the

Confederates might have no rest; gave orders to continue the

skirmishing throughout the night。  Meanwhile the captured trains had

been taken charge of by locomotive engineers; soldiers of the

command; who were delighted evidently to get back at their old

calling。  They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro;

creating much confusion; and keeping up such an unearthly screeching

with the whistles that I was on the point of ordering the cars

burned。  They finally wearied of their fun; however; and ran the

trains off to the east toward General Ord's column。



The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house

just south of the station。  I did not sleep at all; nor did anybody

else; the entire command being up all night long; indeed; there had

been little rest in the; cavalry for the past eight days。  The

necessity of getting Ord's column up was so obvious now that staff…

officer after staff…officer was sent to him and to General Grant

requesting that the infantry be pushed on; for if it could get to the

front; all knew that the rebellion would be ended on the morrow。

Merritt; Crook; Custer; and Devin were present at frequent intervals

during the night; and everybody was overjoyed at the prospect that

our weary work was about to end so happily。  Before sun…up General

Ord arrived; and informed me of the approach of his column; it having

been marching the whole night。  As he ranked me; of course I could

give him no orders; so after a hasty consultation as to where his

troops should be placed we separated; I riding to the front to

overlook my line near Appomattox Court House; while he went back to

urge along his weary troops。



The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal

generals; when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon

should undertake to break through my cavalry; and when I neared my

troops this movement was beginning; a heavy line of infantry bearing

down on us from the direction of the village。  In front of Crook and

Mackenzie firing had already begun; so riding to a slight elevation

where a good view of the Confederates could be had; I there came to

the conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than

that necessary to give Ord time to form; so I directed Merritt to

fall back; and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so

as to make room for Ord; now in the woods to my rear。  Crook; who

with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left

covering some by…roads; was ordered to hold his ground as long as

practicable without sacrificing his men; and; if forced to retire; to

contest with obstinacy the enemy's advance。



As already stated; I could not direct General Ord's course; he being

my senior; but hastily galloping back to where he was; at the edge of

the timber; I explained to him what was taking place at the front。

Merritt's withdrawal inspired the Confederates; who forthwith began

to press Crook; their line of battle advancing with confidence till

it reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them。  From this

ground they could see Ord's men emerging from the woods; and the

hopelessness of a further attack being plain; the gray lines

instinctively halted; and then began to retire toward a ridge

immediately fronting Appomattox Court House; while Ord; joined on his

right by the Fifth Corps; advanced on them over the ground that

Merritt had abandoned。



I now directed my steps toward Merritt; who; having mounted his

troopers; had moved them off to the right; and by the time I reached

his headquarters flag he was ready for work; so a move on the enemy's

left was ordered; and every guidon was bent to the front。  As the

cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line; and in

toward its left; a heavy fire of artillery opened on us; but this

could not check us at such a time; and we soon reached some high

ground about half a mile from the Court House; and from here I could

see in the low valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of

Lee's army。  The troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order;

but on the other side of the bivouac was a line of battlea heavy

rear…guardconfronting; presumably; General Meade。



I decided to attack at once; and formations were ordered at a trot

for a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading

to the camps。  Custer was soon ready; but Devin's division being in

rear its formation took longer; since he had to shift further to the

right; Devin's preparations were; therefore; but partially completed

when an aide…decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer; 〃Lee

has surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up。〃  The enemy

perceiving that Custer was forming for attack; had sent the flag out

to his front and stopped the charge just in time。  I at once sent

word of the truce to General Ord; and hearing nothing more from

Custer himself; I supposed that he had gone down to the Court House

to join a mounted group of Confederates that I could see near there;

so I; too; went toward them; galloping down a narrow ridge; staff and

orderlies following; but we had not got half way to the Court House

when; from a skirt of timber to our right; not more than three

hundred yards distant; a musketry fire was opened on us。  This halted

us; when; waving my hat; I called out to the firing party that we

were under a truce; and they were violating it。  This did not stop

them; however; so we hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as

to throw a ridge between us and the danger。



We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth; and thence

by a gentle ascent approached the Court House。  I was in advance;

followed by a sergeant carrying my battleflag。  When I got within

about a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line; which was

immediately in front of the Court House; some of the Confederates

leveled their pieces at us; and I again halted。  Their officers kept

their men from firing; however; but meanwhile a single…handed contest

had begun behind me; for on looking back I heard a Confederate

soldier demanding my battle…flag from the color…bearer; thinking; no

doubt; that we were coming in as prisoners。  The sergeant had drawn

his sabre and was about to cut the man down; but at a word from me he

desisted and carried the flag back to my staff; his assailant quickly

realizing that the boot was on the other leg。



These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return

of a staff…officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from

the group of Confederates for which I had been heading。  He came back

in a few minutes with apologies for what had occurred; and informed

me that General Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers

in the group。  As they wished me to join them I rode up with my

staff; but we had hardly met when in front of Merritt firing began。

At the

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