M, in,, ,;/ <>/ (i< a. . iuh.it . i. /;///!/. 319
more than once brigades were disbanded to get horses, while their remnants fought dismounted. When Sheridan mustered a cavalry corps that reported over sixteen thousand for duty, finely mounted and equipped, with sabres, pistols, and repeating rifles, our troopers had to procure any kind of weapons they could, while their half- famished steeds reminded us of the poor jades of Henry the Fifth at Agincourt.
" The gum down roping from their pale, dead eyes, And in their pale, dull mouths the gimmal bit Lies foul with chewed grass, still and motionless; And their executors, the knavish crows, fly over them All impatient for the hour."
It must be remembered Early's first chief of cavalry, General Rob- ert Ransom, was compelled to retire from ill health, and that he also lost the valuable services of General Fitzhugh Lee by his wound at Winchester. That Rosser and Lomax, McCausland, and their subordinates did so well under the circumstances is wonderful, and I wish I had time to refer more at length to their various exploits. Rosser's movements at New Creek and Beverley where he lit up the closing scenes of disastrous war with signal victories deserves espe- cial mention.
Many splendid deeds and names have I left out of my recital which well deserve historic praise. What a glowing page might be made of the brave partisan Mosby's remarkable movement in Sheri- dan's rear, where with less than 500 men, he kept many thousands occupied guarding communications of the Federal army and the approaches to Washington. But these will not be overlooked or forgotten. They would adorn but they would not vary the thread of my story.
OUR ARTILLERY DID WONDERS.
Our artillery distinguished itself everywhere. At Winchester, says Early, "it did wonders." It overdid itself in tenacity at Fisher's Hill; it strove desperately at Cedar creek. Its chief, Colo- nel T. H. Carter, who was wounded at Winchester, but again in battle at Cedar creek, knew his business. In Braxton and other bat- talion and company commanders, he had able assistants; and though Sheridan had 100 guns and Early never had 50 on any field, they were never overmatched on any field.
