Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-03-06

ers to amount to y-two regiments and ever road and
pessble of departure were cut off, with che certain
of supply by the river would soon De
by enemy batteries placed upon the liver above
us u,,c M
was unanimously determined to give the enemy bate
day daylight, to cut open route Of exit for
cur troops the interior of the country and thus
army We had knowledge that the principal portion of the
enemy forces massed in ment in front of
left commanding the two roads leading INTO the
Interior Of which take in ing position.
We that he had massed in encampment another large
left wing and another of the left of right wing
fresh arrival OF troops being sncamped on the bank OF
the and half miles below from which latter
encampment of fresh troops continually psur
lug around his line of investment and THUS strength
ening his general eneampment the extreme right. At
each of his and each road he had in posi-
ton of field artillery, and twenty pound
guns siege carriages Between these eneampments on
the roads was THICK underground of brush and black
Jack making impossible to advance or maEGuvre any
considerable body of troops.
Floyd be executed was that with the maip body of the
forces of our left wing should attack the right wing OF
the enemy occupying and resting upon the reaching
to the bank Of the river accompanied by Col Forrest
the forces under his command and defending Ire right OF
line, should strike tie enemys encampnent and
the WINS Ferry oaa that the forces under COL 3ei
man. should hold his position, and that each command
should leave i'll the Trenches troops to hold them.
In this order of battle it easy to be seen that my
attack successful and the enemy routed that his
would be along his line of Investment toward the
"nns Ferry road and thence toward his reserve at the
gunboas below In other words would roll the
force in retreat upon Gen. Buckner when by
his tack in flank and rear we could cut up the enemy and
put him completely to rou Accordingly dispositions we're
made to attack the enemy At five O'Clock a. NJ, Of the
18TH moved out of position to engage him In less
Than ball hour forces engaged. He
pared to meet in advance of his encampment and he
did before Lad assumed line bat,le aud while
aganst hm without formation for the
gagement. For the first half hour OF the engagement was
much embarrassed in getting the command in position prop
eriy to meet the te. Having exrcaed myself from the
position fairly engaged him, fought him for nearly
Two hours before made any decided advance upon him
this field stubbornly The loss of both
armies this portion Of the field heavy The enemy
particularly as discovered by riding the field after
The battle with Gen. Floyd. The enemy having been forced
yield this portion of the field retired slowly toward the
"nns Ferry road, BBckners point Of attack. He did
but fell back fighting as, conesng every inch Of
ground
The fight was hoty and subbornly contested on both
sides and consumed the day till twelve o'clock to drive
him back far the center where Gen. Buckners
mand was to flank him. While my command was advanc
ing slowly driving him, was apxisusy expecting to
hear Cen Buckders command open fire in his rear, which
rot taking place feared Misrepresentation of ORDERS
and from the field of battle within the works
hat the matter there fouud the command of Gen.
Buckner maased behind the ridge within the work taking
shelter frem the enenys artillery the Winn's road
having been forced to retire baere the battery, lsarn
ed from him. bly, force still slowly Advancing driving
the enemy towards he battery directed General Buck
the battery turning It's et' keeping in the hollow and at
tack and carry IT,
the attacking party The right with Forests regiment
(cavary gallantly charged the battery, supported by
body OF infantry driving and forcing the battery retire.
taking Elk pieces of artillery four brass and twenty four
iron guns IN pursuing the enemy falling back from this
and engaged the enemy in hot contest of nearly hour
with large forces OF fresh troops that had now met This
position of the enemy being Carrisd by joint forces
called Oft farther pursuit after and half hours Of
continuous and bloody conflict After the troops were
called of orders were Immediately given to the different
commands to form and retire to their original positions
the entertainments
The operations of the day lad forced the entire command
CT the enemy arcund TO cur night wing and IL front OF Gen.
Buckners position in the inenchmens and when hs
mand reached his position he found the enemy rapidly adj
vancng to take possession of this portion his work
had stubborn conflict lasting and half hours
gain it. and the enemy actually got possession Of the
tTeme right OF hs position and held it so firmly that he
could not disloge him. The position thus gained by the
enemy most commanding one, being Immediately in
the OF our river battery aud field work for its prOtsc
ton. From it he could readily turn the inrenched work
occupied by Gen. Buckner and attack him in
advance under cover OF an intervening ridge directly upon
our battery and field work. While he held this position it
manifest could hold the main work battery
Such the condition Of the armies at night fall after nine
hours Of conflict the 18th inst in which was
aud leaving not less than 5000 the enemy dead
and wounded the field. We left upon the field nearly all
his wounded because could them We le.f
his dead uGhured because could not bury them Such
conflict and HIS perhars before occurred
upon this continent We took about go prisoners and
large number of We had fought open the Way for
our army and relieve US from an Investment which would
necessarily reduce US and the position by famine We had
occupied the whole day to accomplish object, aud be
fore we could prepare to leave after taking in the wound
ed and the dead enemy had thrown again
the night immense force of fresh troops and reoccuped
his original position in the line of Investment thus again
cutting cit cur retreat We had ouly about COO troops
all tod OF these large proportion had lost in the
three battles The command had been in the trenches
ice water without shelter and without covering and with
out sleep.
In this condition the general officers held consultation
to determine what We should do Gen. Buckner gave it
his decided opinion could not hold his position one
half al hour against assault of the enemy and said
enemy would attack HIM GeXt morning at daylight. The
p1 OPPOSITION then de by the undersigned again
fight through the enemya line and way out Gene
raj BuckGer said bis command aud cut to
pieces and demorazed that he could make another
fgh that would the command threequarters its
present numbers to cut it's way through, and wrong
ter that officer had righ such a sacrifice
Gen. Floyd and Maj Glmer understood to this
opinion.
then expressed he opinion that hold out anoh
day. and that time could get steamboats, and set
the commsnd over the river ard probably large
portion of t. To this Gen Bucdner replied that the enemy
weSd certainly attack him daylight and tia. he could
hold his position half hour The alternative of the
was surrender of their position and
mand nor would he surrender himself prisoner. had
taken the same position. Cen Buckner said he salts
would surrender, placed in command Gen. Floyd said
that would the command him if he could be
allowed TO withdraw his Command to this Cen BncEner
consented. Th3reupou Gen Floyd turned the command
over to me- passing instantly Gen. Buckner saving
would neither surrender the command myself prison
err directed Col. Forrest 10 cut his out. Under
these circumstanees Gen. Buckner accepted the command
and sent flag of truce to the enemy for armtce of SIX
hours to negotiate Tor terms of capituaton. Before
flag and communcatioawas delivered retired from the
garrison.
at Doneson must in justice to the officers and forces
dsr my immediate command, say that harder fighting or
ressed In the absence of official reports of brigade and
regimental commanders (ef which deprived by the
circumstances detailed In this repot not be able
do usse to the different corps. will say however that
the forces under my immediate command bore themselves
most calamity throughout the long and bloody conflict.
speak with special of the brigades COM
maaded by COTS Baldwin, Wharton, McCausiand Simonon
and Drake and Captains Nancy and Greene, who fought
their under the constant and annoying fire
nys sharp-shooers aod the concentrated fire from his
field batteries sm which beth commands suffered severely
Capt Nancy himself wounded had several ieute
nants and many of his company killed and wounded