fight because it was seen of all men.
Stuart's dash upon the Second division far out on the right flank was
hardly heard of for years after. It would have rung the world over
but for the Michigan men. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, New York and
the little contingent of Marylanders had been fighting for days, were
scattered, dismounted and exhausted when the plumes of Stuart came
floating out from the woods of the Stallsmith farm, Hampton and
Fitzhugh Lee at his back. It was Custer and the Wolverines who flew
like bull dogs straight at the throat of the foes; who blocked his
headlong charge; who pinned him to the ground while like wolves their
comrade troops rushed upon his flanks.

"It may be, perhaps an out-cropping of the old trooper spirit now
but, as I look back upon the momentous four years' struggle, with all
its lessons of skill and fortitude and valor incomparable, it seems
to me that, could I have served in only one of its great combats,
drawn saber in just one supreme crisis on whose doubtful issue hung
trembling the fate of the whole union, I would beg to live that day
over again and to ride with Gregg and McIntosh and Custer; to share
in the wild, fierce charge of the Michigan men; to have my name go
down to posterity with those of Alger and Kidd, Town and Trowbridge,
Briggs and gallant Ferry, whose dead hand gripped the saber hilt and
the very grave. To have it said that I fought with the old Second
division of the cavalry corps that day when it went and grappled and
overwhelmed the foe in the full tide of his career, at the very
climax of the struggle, and hurled him back to the banks of the
Rubicon of the rebellion, to cross it then and there for the last
time, to look his last upon the green hills of Maryland--nevermore to
vex our soil until, casting away the sword, he could come with
outstretched hand and be hailed as friend and brother."

CHAPTER XII

FROM GETTYSBURG TO FALLING WATERS

When the battle of Gettysburg was ended and the shadows of night began
to gather upon the Rummel fields, the troopers of the Michigan cavalry
brigade had a right to feel that they had acted well their parts, and
contributed their full share to the glory and success of the Union arms.
They had richly earned a rest, but were destined not to obtain it until
after many days of such toil and hardship as to surpass even the
previous