Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-06
Letter from the 98th Ohio.
A History of It's Marches and
Battles from Fayetteville to
GOIdsbOrO'--Lette from Geo.
IRnSnn

TWENTY MILES NORTH FAYETTEVILLE,
March l6, 1865.
DEAR PARENTS: We left camp near
Fayetteville yesterday morning and
marched about eleven miles, going in.
to camp again near Taylor's Hole
Creek, The day was wet and the roads
very bad. The Goth corps was ahead
and from the cannonading heard in the
evening it was thought had come up
with the enemy. The ground was very
wet, but by breaking pine boughs and
laying them under our gum blankets
we had good nights rest
We marched this morning and are
now up with the Goth corps and in line
ofbattle. Sherman, Slocum and Davis
are standing in the road near our lines
A good many of Kilpatrick's men have
been wounded, and few of the Infan-
try. We have taken four guns and
are pushing the rebels back.
FRIDAY, March IS.
The fight was more severe than /
anticipated. The Goth corps lost sew
eral hundred men in killed, wounded
and prisoners. Our Division lost 90
men, mostly wounded. The loss in our
Brigade will be s killed and 10 wound
ed. The 9Sth did not receives scratch,
and at this time Is p. NJ. the fighting
is thought to be over. Our Headquar-
ters are near the lines, and the teams
have orders to be hitched at 81 o'clock
tomorrow morning. This is a pre-
cautionary movement. They might
commence an attack at daylight, and
the bullets and shells would come here
thick.
March 18.
We are halted for dinner, 27 miles
Southwest Of Goldsboro', (for which
we. are bound, believe. When we
were awakened yesterday morning the
rebels had gone, and we moved for
ward.
General Sherman passed by in the
morning. 1t is the first time l have
seen him since we left Savannah, as
he was, until lately, with the "Right
Wing" He looks old, fashioned, still
wears his standing collar and smokes
his cigar. Yesterdays march was
rough. The day was bright, but mud
and water were too plenty for comfort.
The mon waded three swamps, over 100
yards wide, and from two to four feet
deep. Inever saw as many streams
in one day, We got into camp at 8 p.
NJ, and went to bed at IL, with orders
for reveille at 81 in the morning.
1t was just 81 o'clock when We march,
ed to-day, and the roads being good we
made good time.
We have just had little variety by
way of a sharp skirmish with the enc.
my's cavalry. Maj. Roatch, with our
foragers, encountered them at 10 A. II.
and pushed them back some two miles,
when they opened with two pieces of
artillery, killing three horses, but for.
tunately hurting none Of riders. The
Major waited for the column, which
soon arrived, and was found by Gen.
Morgan, the first Brigade on the right
and the second on the left of the road.
One regiment from each Brigade was
was thrown out as skirmishers, and
the remainder, in line of battle, follow
ed at short distances behind as SUP.
port. They moved forward, but the
rebels did not wait long enough to re.
ceive volley. They got away as'fast
as possible and all is quiet again. Gen.
Sherman rode up just as II was over
and took dinner near by, from basket
carried by a stout contraband who
rides horse in the rear Of the escort
The day is very fine and the conntrv
we have passed through TO-DAY l. ths
best i have seen in this State. Rorsge
NJ all Linda In abundant a