Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-27
Letter from the 43d Reg't.
ADD REa'T., o. V. V. l., J
NEAR GoLDsBoRo', N. e., :
March 81, 1865.


Shermau's veterans have halted for another
short rests. Our last campaign was, one Of
the greatest Of the War--one of grand sub
Unity, fraught with Thousands Of interest
ing incidents that will forever remain fresh
in the memory Of every soldier that march
ed with Sberman's veteran army through
the heart of the Southern Confederacy, and
lodged at an important point far among the
pines of North Carolina. / wish / had
time to give you all the incidents Of inter
est that occurred on the campaign. It
would take at least week and several quires
of paper. Twill, however, give passing
sketch of at least part Of tho campaign.
Our Corps, (17th) marched from Pocott,- :
ligo on January 3Oth, laid in camp on the
Slst. March lst-marched early on the
Branchvile road, and upon the afternoon
Of the I'd reached the Talehatchie River at
a crossing called Rivers Bridge. Our
Brigade was in front Of the Corps The
swamp spread out near mile wide on the
South side Of the River. Our Brigade was
pushed in FIRST. Three Regiments of Rebel
Infantry and considerable force of Cavalry
were StTOnRiy IOTtlueu upon IHe pOrUn sue
Of the river, where the ground was high and
dry. They also had two forts and three or
four guns. Immediately after going into
action Col. Swayne was struck in the right
leg by shell, crushing it so badly that i'm.
mediate amputation was necessary. Capt.
Rnodes took command Of the Regiment,
aud wa pushed On into the swamp in the
direction of the river and the rebel works,
wading through mud and water to our
waists. We kept mighty cool all the while,
assure you. The swamp was full of trees,
mostly Cypress. The rebs. were driven
back to their works, showering balls at us
all the time. Alter getting up pretty near
their works and surveying their position, it
was decided that the works could not be
carried by assault We lay there about
four hours in the cold water and mud
When the darkness OF the night covered us
we waded back near mile to dry land. -
| We were 30 badly chilled that our teeth
ratified like old horse fiddes. So closed the
evening Of the I'd of March, with the loss
of our Colonel, and one man in Co. l, lost
a finger. Our skirmish line of tho 18th
| Wisconsin, Of our Brigade, was left to peck
at the rebs. during the night. On the
morning Of the Sd it began raining easy,
and continued so steadily that but little
was done during the forenoon. At 3 p. NJ
the assembly was sounded, we knew in q
moment the swamp and contest with the
Johnie's was near at hand. There was
eves thrown up which served as road, or
which we advanced. After reaching 9
point about thousand yards from the reb
ell forts, We there halted. The plan was fol
our regiment to charge end-ways right ur
tc the fort, the 63l Ohio to follow. While
Fuller's Brigade pressed .hem on our left
four or five companies of our regiment were
carrying boards for the purpose Of 6xine
the bridge. Gen. Mower ordered US to fix
bayonets and at them we vent. The Gen.
was under the impression that the rebs.
could not use their guns, thinking that oul
sharpshooters would keep down their gun
ners. He was mistaken. When we had
gotten about half way to the fort, we saw
the Jonnie's run their guns out the por,
holes. Capt. Rhodes gave the command tc
get off tho road. We lit off pretty quick
splashed down into about ) feet of cold
swamp water, not realizing that it was colo
| for near an hour afterwards. We made
70 the fort, but the grape and canister flew
too fast. But we kept pressing nearer ane
nearer unit just at dark the rsbs. skedad
died. w. L. Jones Of our company was
considerably in advance of the rest and
across the river and was the first to entrl
the fort, but was soon joined by two other.
Of the 1O;h Illinois. They captured three
rebs in the fort, dressed in our UNIFORM
They had just come off the skirmish line
aud supposng our three men were rebs.
wanted TO know what was up, or where theil
artillery was gone. Our men informed them
that it was not important for them to know
just now: that they were prisoners and Or
dsred them to throw down their arms
which two Of them did The other would
not till Jones took hold and wrenched il
from his hands. Just then two rebel cav.
alrymen came riding up. Our boys de-
mandcd surrender. They fred their pieces
at them, and whirlcd their horses, put
spur and away they went. Our men fired
after them, but without effect, owing to the
darkness. Our regiment was sent back to
the South side OF the river to wait until the
train passed over. We then crossed to the
North side and went into camp at lOA p.
N. Several dead rebs. lie in the field iu
which we camped that night. The loss in
our regiment in crossing this river was 7
killed and about Is wounded. Co.'S A
and ID escaped unhurt We passed few
miles from Branchvills. The capture OF
Columbia was the biggest thing on the
board. Our Division was the first in Che
raw, where so much government property
was captured. hope to send you copy
of my diary soon, which will be more salts
factory.
1t is rumored here to day that Richmond
is ours. 1t wants confirmation, but the
time is near when it will be ours. Lee may
give Grant the slip and attempt to light
upon Sherman, but it will be jumping out
of the pan into the fire. Sherman's army
has been recruiting very fast. We have all
been clothed and are getting plenty of ra-
tions. Sherman is a real giant in the art
of war, and believe could to day fake the
whole Southern Contederacy combined, just
with the army he has around him. Let
Grant aud Sherman alone and there will bs
no rebel army in nine months from to-day.
e. w. A.