The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-03-28
rnE la TTAE oF AYERAsgoRO.

by handful OF our army at Ayerasboro,
N. O., Thursday, the l6thof March. !
Since the evacuation of Charleston, Cen
Hardee has been hurrying forward to
effect junction with the remainder of
the troops under Generals Johnston and
Beauregard, and since the LIST Of March,
the enemy have been close upon his
rear. More or less Of skirmishing has
attended his progress since leaving
Cheraw, and able generalship alone
enabled him to avoid q battle in which
the superior numbers of the Federals
would give Sherman every advantage.
On Wednesday last however, the bad
condition of the roads, the proximity Of
the enemy, their evident intention to
force fight, and other circumstances
combined to induce Gen. Hardee to make
a stand His army was then about four
miles from AverasJoro, i'll the vicinity
of what is knowp as Smiths farm. Col.
Rhctt with his brigade of South Carolina
Regulars Consisting orlhc lst Artillery,
Ist Infantry, and Lucas battalion Of
Heavy Artillery, but acting as infantry,
and portion of the Beaufort and de
Gardeaux Light Artillery constituted
the rear guard.
SkirmiShing and sharp.shooting COM
menced about noon, and our troops at
once set to work in throwing up such
slight entrenchmcnts as the means at
hand permitted a (ow rails here, logs
there, and n bunch of limbs sprinkled
with dirt was all that could be had to an
swer the temporary purpose. On this
day no determined advance was made
by the enemy. Our army, however
lost one of its bravcst and most prom.
ising officers. Col. Rhctt, comman--
ding, the rear guard Impcllod by that
restless energy which characterized
him while in command of Fort Sumter,
and desire to know personally the con-
dition of affairs, In his 'front.' he made q
personal reconnaissance beyond our
picket lines, and near those of the foe.
Thus fearless exposure may have provok-
ed a fatal shot, or led to his capture.
He never returned, and the word "mis.
sing" now written against his name,
calls up the most painful apprchcnsons,
Daylight, on Thursday, revealed the
enemy in position, and evidently about
to give battle. Our own troops were
also in line behind their workS--if they
may be digmicd by sucli y uame-and
with enthusiasm awaited the onset.
! Opposite our right front was n large
field opposite our left dense under
| growth of small pines limited the view.
Col. Butler OF the lSt infantry, was in
commanl of the brigade, and Lieut.. Col.
Detrcville commanded that regiment.
Skirmishing commenced ut an carly
hour along the entire line, and about
seven o'clock the enemy attacked our
left in force. The men met it splendid
| ly, Disciplined like the regulars of the
old army, and for more than year and
ahalf daily and nightly under the fire of
the Federal artillery on Sumter and on
Sulhvan's and James Islands, they had
become Injured 6 danger and hardship ;
but thus was their old advcrsarics on tho
open field, and one for which they had
longcd without ccasins The manner
in which they availcd themselves of this,
the first opportunity to prove thnir eclat,
testified their earnest purpose. The
Fcdcrals might as well have struck a
solid wall. Until ordered to fall back,
the men stood in their places, receiving
and returning the battle fire, with cheeks
mhlanchcd. Two divisions Of Slocum's
corps, Kilpatricks cavalry, and superior
numbers OF artillery were in tho front,
pressing with all their might, but our
lines remained intact. Three of our
light l2.poundcr guns added to the eff.
! fcctivencSs OF our defence. One of these
belonging to lie Garlcux's battery,
planted on our right, assisted to cheek
the enemy there, but in n short time tho
/ latter brought up battery, and within
five hundred yards opened npon this sin
Glc piece, what Is described to us as a
perfect ''hcll storm of fire." Horses and
men went down before the tornado until
but one of each remained, aud the gun
was then abandoned to its fate.