The New York herald., 1864-02-20


peoacAed ~ ROAD through thicket q pse a.s
cyprs ces end could ooly Be ceessc1 An ot9nsry -
sons ~ bridge which spanned IT, and which mkns oe
DESTROYED BY the enemy .if they should dc'er"'oe
We marched to Barbsr's house. within eighth Of q
mile o. the South fork Of the river a about eevca ooock
aud halted In front or his door o water our noss ana
TO them for q time before continuing our marca
party had been from the advance ~ the house TO
inquire whether OF the rebel force had recently 0eeo
the vicinity and gather such other Information Al
could be obtained relative to the movements. post'on
was not 70 i've found as be had taken leg ban on our ap
proaoh and with his negroes started Tor the Georgia DOR
der. But Mrs Barber, or some white woman VINO vas
keeping house for him found ,and she assured
that rebels had seen IN the vicinity for some
days. aud that not aware that any were in the
vicinity. The report received cum gr1a0 salts a. all
reports arc from the Inhabitants met on marches
and pushed forward after resting watering Our hor
and filing canteens
ru FIGHT AT rax soura PORK
Tue bugle sounded the call 70 mount and the advance
Of the Massachusetts, battalion under MAJOR stevehs.
thick impeuetrable underbrush and pine trees 70
the bridge across the 81. Marys The platoon Of
ua vance una naa us. s"e passs" sharp turn ~ the
road and had approached close the bridge.
without anticipating an attack when half dozen reports
heard three of the four fell from their saddles,
shot bv rebel force ambuscaded strong position be.
yond the stream The column Immediately came to halt
when the OF the enemy made known by the
explosion guns the advanced company pushed
forward under Captain Webster 70 ee them aud ascer-
tain their position II received wsh sharp voliey
or musketry which dropped their saddles several
brave men The hre instantly returnea, th but
little elect as the enemy were concealed behud bushes
and stumps from which they could ther guns with
deadly effect The company, and the next behind still!
pushed forward and they were soon under hot Ore.
effect 0n approaching the stream II discovered that
the bridge had been removed and that the enemy we're
by order Of Colonel Heury until he ordered up another
company. when all charged down the road aud attempt
ed to ford the stream AS the FORD could not be found
Just then they fell back and two companies OF the For
tieth Massachusetts, were dismounted and ordered
forward. with one company OF the FIRST Mas
sachusetts battalion, as skirmshers Leaving their
horses IN charge OF the proper number Of
the dsmounted men quickly advanced as skirmish
and pushed down towards river and engaged the
enemy sharply and effectively Meanwhile. the force
OF the rebels unknown to us, Elders battery was
Barber's house, which gently soped down to the river
bank and the cavalry and mounted infantry were placed
either side in line Of battle to support Efforts
made TO throw orce OF cavalry across the stream on
the LETT OF the rebel position but discovered that
the river at that point was not fordabe,
o. dismoruted men was, however. thrown down
the stream and placed 10 . line position where the river
rebel front. few vol,eys which did considerable dam
age TO the rebels in and MATERIAL induced them to
break and run IN the most manner leaving
two dead on the ded several wounded and about fifty
sixty horses most OF which were uulnured AS soon as
the enemy broke the cavalry dashed across tue
The rebels. aud captured some four five prisoners
Tue battery and mounted men soon IN column aud
across the river We halted on the other side and made
for instant pursuit OF the fleeing rebels
Those whom we found the ground wounded and those
picked up by some OF the cavalry the fight pre-
ended for the most part TO have been Union men,
cripts 10 the service, and serving against their will
)ne poor fellow, sergeant, named Ice, iu the rebel
'ery melancholy spirits Hc asserted that he had
'een forced into the rebel service, and that he
vas Union man q; heart, opposed TO the con-
eieracy and always anxious TO get out OF it's service
u that he could never Dd opportunity to escape and
eturn to his home Now he lay wounded and would de-
nd all that regretted that he did not risk death
)efOre
which be knew 70 be hopeless. His dying words were
nat he was At heart true TO bis country and to the old
lag.
CASUALTIES on rHE UNION SIDE
The Following are tue names OF our men killed aud
Wounded IA tue skirmish the South fork OF the ST.
ilry's-
In the Independent battalion OF Massachusetts, cavay
richard Burns, Co G, killed; Thomas cahni Co g. leg
nortaly since dead. Corporal Bartlett, Co A. wounded
u bowels T. 2 Howand, Go. A. 10 arm, George Z. Fer
and, Co. B, in leg mortay. Corporal Cram. CO. c. in
rm, Geo. ". Hawkins Co. c, 10 arm: - Riddle, Co. |
!, in arm 10 the Forteth Massachusetts, Sergeant Bais
ell, Co B, wounded Sergeant Conkiin. Co A. killed
has Il. Lee, Co. D, wounded in thigh Corporal a.
lark CO. ., slightly Ia side few others we're slightly
Wounded but did not obtain their names, was
aot have another opportunity TO visit tue hos
p.al @ ,,, Surgeon +, W. Mercer: Of the indepsnd @
charge OF the wounded at Barber's house, which had
been takea possession Of hospital aud he would at
the dual moment send them into Jacksonville to be sent
to the Hilton Head Geoerai Hospital Those who
not moriaiy wounded doing well when last hoard
from.
The ReBKrs PuRsuED.
AZ soon as the wounded were picked up and sent
horses and equipments complete TO the number OF fy
sixty and the sabres and guns cared tor the column
noved forward agan Lieut. Holt 10 the front skrmishing
We did noe ge sight of any rebels and the pace OF the
ol umn was Increased 10 frot.
The appearances of the country SeyoLd the river
i'm lar 10 that We had been travelling through since we
al sft Jacksonville. The roads we're perhaps a little
lofe open. and passed several beautiful and extern
i've sivannahs, covered with saffron coored grass and
oil was more moist than common Through the lofty
ranches and green foliage OF the arrow like plnes the
un poured its golden upon these golden fields, aud
'armed them into GENIAL lie, sof'enng tue
arsh mono,ony OF tue barrens. ana sending |
n additional charm TO the broad country around on
vhicn grazed droves of Wild cattle aud hogs
Our movements 10 pursuit the rerea'ng rebels were
lot rapid enough to he effective. We compelled to
iat at house 10 gain Information. and always
ound tae rebels had passed ahead half before
,aged at the st Marys were reteiug On the road be-
ore U.s. The balance had scattered and takco TO the
woods ,.thorough's frightened and demorai7ed Abon.
ifty OF the hundred aud hy who had opposed our
advance were ahead OF dying fast AS their horses
could carry them. Our column pashed on rapid'y,
aud nnay reached a railroad crossing Under the i'm
preston that train might be the way down, com
pany dsmoune and piled ties and .os the track
and awaited Developments The smoke had taken
for that OF locomotive proved TO be something and
the column again started forward On approaching san
derson an immense column of SMOKE was seen rising
its vicinity aud II was apparent that the rebels werc
Of and hal rereatc1. hrrt applying
the torch 70 the stores and supplies at tue ates point
what could and pick up, possible the gard OF
the rebel force there.
We reached Sanders0n, small hamlet and a railroad
station twenty three miles from Baldwin, at four O'Clock
and Immediately threw out pickeis and made prepara
ous to pass the Dight there The village consists OF
rarosd depot, ns1t storehouse by Major Baldwin
or Noyes, rebel comm,ssary Of sabsatcace hotel and
half dozen OF smail, diap,dated houses. Ia which
found only women and children, the men having
away. carrying with them all the slaves except the old
and in6rm. who could travel. The little ham.
let evidently q place OF s0me importance
the rebels had established large supply depot aud
placed It officer with the rank u MAJOR The
clearing about the station extended oniy few rods aud
then the usrmiDable pine forests again. through
which the sand roads branched out
CONDITION Ov AfrAIRs
when halted In the centre OF the hamlet, BY the
railroad depot, might have disturbed the nerves OF
stronger and more healthy people OF the genter sex
than those met in that squaIid town.
Next the depot furiousy burning three thou.
sand bushels OF corn, aud beyond that, up the
track thousand barrels OF urpentne and ros'n,
10 turpentne dstery, in flames, and rolling out huge
volumes OF dense black smoke like the crater OF vol
cano. O course any effort 70 subduc the names would