Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-06
SApn,rn MnnN,nn 1AM

OF us, which fact accounts for our de-
lay. General Sherman's Headquarters
were close by last night. He was
walking down the road last night with
Brig Gen. Vandeveer of our first Bri-
gade. 1 met him on rail bridge
across little stream and came very
near running against him beforeII no.
ticed who 1t was. It was amusing, q
few minutes afterwards, to see him
helping a soldier to get his mule, which
had got mired, out Of the mud. A few
minutes after he was saying to Gen.
Morgan, "You will push right ahead
on the main road to Goldsboro' with
your command. Well shove General
Howard off to the right"
If nothing serious happens us Isup-
pose we will be resting by the middle
of this week, and may have letters by
that time. Idon't hear anything from
Schofield, but suppose he is up here
some place, and will turn up in the
right place IT the rebels are going
to do that terrible thing which will
surprise the world" and "totally ruin
Sherman's army" they had better com
mence soon or we'll have that new base
which was "never going to be permit
ted according to the Richmond papers
The lst Division is going by now
The bands (brass are playing and the
gay banners flying. 1t Is as pretty n
morning as ever saw. Every body
is glad at the thought of our being
where we can hear from home in few
days. This is the first Sabbath we have
had to march for five back.
MONDAY, March 90.
now have to record another battle
AT ten A. NJ. yesterday we came up
with the enemy in position and en-
trenched. The 1st Division being in
front, drove them from small line of
works. Our Division then came up
and took position on the right of the
road and Immediately Mrew up works-
If the first Division had done the same
we would have saved good many
men, and the rebels more
The 2Oth corps came up at noon, but
before they got into position the rebs.
massed and charged our 1st Division,
which gave way. This threw our left
flank open, and the rebels poured in at
the gap and attacked our Brigade on
three sides. Then followed as hard
| fighting as ever occurred. Our regi-
ment was nearly surrounded, but they
fought with desperation, never giving
an inch. Col Pearce stood up among
them, hat in hand, and encouraged the
men, telling them to "Give it to them,
boys. Fire from all sides. Stand
your ground. They can't whip the 9Sth.
Gen, Mitchell says our Regiment saved
the Brigade. While this was going on the
lst Division was rallied, the Goth corps
went into the enemy on the left, several
batteries were put into position, and for
three hours the roar Of artillery and mus.
kerry wa. awful; the former being almost
drowned by the latter. We had the advan-
ture Of the ground, being unable to use
theirs.
At night, Duff, of our company, was carry
ing box of ammunition down when he met
Gen. Morg,n and inquired, "Whore will
find our Division ?" The General re piled,
',just where it was before the fight. 1t
didn't gire an INCH" And it's we'll it did not.
There would have been a bad state Of affairs
if it had given way in the least. The I'd
Division .is in everybody's mouth. Gen
it gave way. When he saw it he turned
my old I'd Division? III 20 there. klo,o
was over (it ceased entirely, at, or little
before, sundown) Gen. Davis was heard to
say, The I'd ID vis'ol is the best 1 eJer sa,o
any place. The 18th and Goth corps had
taken another road and could not be brought
here yesterday. The 18th came at day
light this morning, however, and now we
feel safe. tell you the situation was any
thing but comfortable yesterday. | have
talked to maay prisoners, both officers and
men, and the lowest estimate of their num-
bers is 5000, and from that to 40, ,OOO.-
Johnston, Beauregard, s. d. Lee, Hardee,
Hill, Hood, and Bragg are all said to be
here. 1t is certain that we fought five times
our number. All that were here at all was
tive Divisions of our corps and two of the
10th. But two Of the four were in position,
one Of them gave way, and our Division
was stretched out in one single line, while
the rebels fought with four heavy ones. =
Tue enemy were driven back again and
again with terrible less. but when the list
Division rallied with the 10th corps aud
formed new line. opening with some TWEEN
" guns, the havec was awful. They fed
in confusion, leaving piles Of dead and
wounded and many prisoners, having gaia
ed just nothing at all. But we lost men,
and al! has TO be told no matter how dis.
agreeable. COL Pearce and Lieut.. Bran
um, son Of Alexander Branum, of Bridge
port, fell together. The former with Sc
rious though not dangerous wound in the
shoulder, tho latter shot dead Branum
was Il tavorite with every one. May God
help his family and friends to bear this vet
unknown bereavement. No other officers
OF tha 98th wcro touched. Capt. Thomas
lDentistl was q prisoner for a short time,
but in the uproar got back into our lines
again. We had ten men killed ana TWEEN
ty.two wounded, This is as large as any
regiment in the Brigade. The IlSth had
but four men wounded, and they fought all
the time, doing terrible execution. Their
works were very good and the rebels came
up only in front, Mahlon Nichols of our
company was seriously wounded with two
others. None were killed. Pattons', Stew
art, Makinson aad Capt, Graft are unhurt