Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-29
yartl 81 the Twelfth from Alabama to Eorth
Carolina.
correspondents Of the State Journal.

r1ents of this regiment since l left il in Octo |
Der last, until il arrived safely in this town,
few DAYS ago, in order that the records may |
be complete as set forth in the columns of
the Journal
On the 2eth Of October the regiment left
its camp on the Little River, Alabama, cross
ing the Coosa and camped near the Pasoo
river for the night, camping next night near
Cave Springs. On the lst November it
reached Cedar Springs, pressing through Van
Vert on the next day, and on the 4th the
command bivouacked near Lost Mountain,
going into camp near Marietta, Ga, next day
On the sth the boys delivered their votes and
on the 10th received pay.
They broke camp on the 18th of November, |
and moved to Atlanta, and on the 18th start |
ed out on the campaign, which ended at Sa- |
vannah so glOriously; passing through Nc |
Donald on the 18th, JacksOn-near where the |
command crossed the 0cmulgee river-on |
the 18th, Monticello on the 18th, and reached |
Gordon on the Georgia Central r. r. on the
22i, and ToOmbsborO on the oath, having de-
stroved 10 miles of the road and burned sta
tions No. Is and H. They crossed the Oc0
nee river on the 26th, its passage being slight
" disputed by the rebels, who seemed unable
to procure force enough to do anything more
than injure roads and bridges in our 'front.'
On the 3Oth the regiment crossed the Ohoo-
nee river. and on the I'd December camped
at Nilen, after having torn up several miles
more of railroad, destroyed Herndon Station,
aud done a general foraging business all over
the intervening country On the 4th Deem
Der the regiment reached Beaver Dam, hav-
ing destroyed more railroad track crossing
the Little Ogeeehee river next day,marching,
skirmishing, and fighting among the swamps
and rice fields sometimes nearly to their
waists in cold dirty, muddy water, until the
18th day of December, when they made their !
camn near the city of Savannah. Here Ma /
i7r-late captain-Price of Co. ID, was shot by |
one of our own soldiers, who evidently mis- |
took him for fleeing rebel, as he was on the |
lines and between our pickets, and unfortu- |
tunately didn't stop when halted by the sol /
der. On the night of the goth the rebels |
left the city, and next day our boys occupied |
II, much to their satisfaction The regiment |
was reviewed with others on the goth by Gen. |
Sherman, and on the 3Ist had its general /
muster for the month.
On the 4th of January the regiment moved |
To ThunderbOlt Landing, six miles from Sa- /
vannah, embarked on the steamer u. Il. /
SDalslding, sailing next day TO Beaufort, S. c.,
landing there at nine p. NJ, and going into |
camp one mile beyond the town.
The regiment left camp for another CAM |
paign January 18th, marching out some six or |
seven miles and next day engaged the enc
nv. The skirmish line drove the rebels some |
five miles, back to their works near the PO
cntalizO river, pressing close up the forts, /
v hose guns opened with grape and canister, /
IL which place Lieut. Chandler, of Co. X, was /
killed by a rebel sharpshOoter's bullet, and /
several men wounded. During the night the
rebels evacuated and our troops took posses
sion of the forts with the station and railroad,
where the regiment went into camp until the /
2Oth, when il was sent out to recOnnOitTe,
driving the enemy's skirmishers to and across
the Sslkehatchee river, engaging them there
for several hours in a heavy rain storm, be-
fore retiring to camp.
On the S0th inst. the Corps again began to
move, following il up day after day, with but
slight interruption from the enemy until the
Sd of February, when the LIST and 4th Di-
visions Of the 18th Corps found it entrenched,
charged, drove the force across the river,
taking its works.
On the 18th the command camped on the /
site OF the former battle of the COwpens,
fought during the first part of the Revolution,
or war for Independence. We crossed the
Charleston & Augusta Railroad at Midway
Station on the 9th inst, and the South Eiisto
river the next day, reaching North Edisto on
the llth, near Ordngeburg, where the rebels
had heavy works, and were engaging our LIST
Division very holly.
Next morning the old 18th was ferried /
mile below the town, formed line of battle i
in a swamp on the other side, marched /
through il, where in many places it was up to
the mems arm-pits, for a quarter of a mile,
then, having turned the enemy's works by /
this flank movement, the boys charged the
rebels, sending them out of their works and
the town in terrible hurry, so that but few
we're captured. In fact, train of cars was
at the depot, which started off as our boys
rbr
on TO it fleeing to the woods as fast as legs
could carry them. A large rebel garrison
flag, by Is feet, was captured by Warren, of
Co. ii of ours" in the Court House, and /
which is now in possession of Col Proudft. |
Our regimental cOlOrs took its place. proudly |
floating in triumph over the captured city, to |
welcome the troops advancing from other di
TectiOns to possess the prize.
As compliment to the regiment, 1t was /
detailed to act as provost guard of the town
it had captured, while the army remained /
here. Most of the town was burned, having /
been fred as the rebels were leaving and i
the wind was too high to allow of success to i
any effort made TO subdue the flames We /
left town next day, pushing on to Columbia, /
tearing up the railroad on the way, crossing |
the Saluda and Broad rivers, and reaching |
the city on the 18th inst. We found it on /
fire, and burning with a ierceness that de-
utu al OppOSillOu. We bptub Two udlS tear
ing up the railroad near the city, and then
marched to WinnsbOrO on the goth, bivouac-
ing on the banks of the Watoree river in
heavy storm of rain. We passed through /
Liberty Hill next day, almost stalling in the /
terrible mud of this region. Gradually push
ing forward, the army reached Cheraw, on /
the Great Pedee river, on the Sd of March, 4
capturing many cannon and large quantities i
of all kinds of supplies. The rebels had just /
moved it from Charleston, intending to keep
it from Gilmore's army; but, our cavalry I
having cut the railroad between Cheraw aud /
Chesterfield, the supplies were stored at the /
former place, and so fell into our hands.
Leaving Cheraw on the evening of the 4th, |
the command moved to Bennettville on the I
18th, camped at Rock Fish creek on the night z
of the 10th, and reached Fayetteville, on Cape .
Fear river, on the llth the foragers and /
"bummers," or corps de bum, as hear them /
styled, of the army having driven tie rebsLs out /
of the town before the troops got near it.
On the road the boys had been reduced to l
rations of corn, and to only two ears per day |
at that, at one time. Judge of their feelings /
when, in response to Sherman's order for /
supplies for his troops, two steamers came up |
from Wilmington loaded with oats These
we're sent back to the stupid fellow who dis
patched them, and the welcome "hard-tack /
and sOw-belly" soon made its appearance, to /
gladden. the hearts and I'll the stSfiachs of i