Life and Military Career of Major-General Philip Henry Sheridan (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1865. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 5; depots burned, 3; towns visited, 25; contrabands liberated, 150. General Stoneman was within the enemy's fortifications, and gave Richmond such a fright as never before spread paleness on the faces of the chivalry of the Confederacy. Among the curious incidents which marked the course of the raid, the following is very striking: '.' In the movement of Stoneman's cavalry the advance was led by Lieutenant Paine, of the First Maine cavalry. Being separated by a considerable distance from the main body, he encountered unexpectedly a superior force of rebel cavalry, and his whole party were taken prisoners. They were hurried off as rapidly as possible, to get them out of the way of our advancing force, and in crossing a rapid and deep stream Lieutenant Henry, commanding the rebel force, was swept off his horse. As none of his men seemed to think or care any thing about saving him, his prisoner, Lieutenant Paine, leaped off his horse, seized the drowning man by the collar, swam ashore with him, and saved his life, thus literally capturing his captor. He was sent to Richmond with the rest of the prisoners, and the facts being made known to General Fitz-Hugh Lee, he wrote a statement of them to General Winder, the Provost-Marshal of Richmond, who ordered the instant release of Lieutenant Paine, without even parole, promise, or condition, and, we presume, with the compliments of the Confederacy. He arrived at Washington safely. This act of generosity as well as justice must command our htghest admiration. There is some hope for men who can behave in such a manner. "But the strangest part of the story is yet to come. Lieutenant Paine, on arriving in Washington, learned that the officer whose life he had thus gallantly saved had since been taken prisoner by onr fo...