Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-03-29
The Battle of AVerasboro.

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A more gallant stand has not been made
during the war than that maintained BY .
handful Of our army at Hyerasboro, n: c.,
on Thursday, the 18th Of March. Since
the evacuation Of Charleston, Gen. Hardee
has been hurrying forward to effect Q juno.
ton. wish the remainder Of the troops under
Generals Johnston and Beauregard, aud
| since the LIST Of. March, the enemy have
been close upon his rear. More OF less Of
skirmishing has attended bis progress since
leaving CheraR, and able generalship alone
enabled him to avoid battle in which the
superior numbers Of the Fedsrals would
give Sherman every advantages. 5.,s...,.s
On Wednesday last, however,. the bad
| condition Of the roads, the proximity Of the
enemy, their evident Intention TO force .
| fight, and other eircnmstances, combined
| to induce Gen. Hardee to make stand. -
His army was then about. -four miles from
Averasboro, in the vicinity Of what is known
| as Smiths farm. Col. Rhett with bis bri.
/ eade. of South Carolina Regulars (consis.
ting Of the 1st Artillery, LIST 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 eommen-
ced about noon, and our troops at once set
to work in throwing up such light entsench.
ments as the means at hand permitted. a
few rails here, logs there, and bunch of
limbs sprinkled with dirt was al that oould
be had to answer the temporary purpose.
On this day no determined advance was
made by the enemy. Our own army how
lever, lost one of It's brayest aud most prom
ising officers, Col 1Rhett, commanding the
rear guard. Impelled BY that restless ener-
gy which characterized him while in COM
maud of Fort Sumter, and desire to know
personally the condition of affairs id his
front, he made q, personal reconnaissance
beyond our picket lines, and near those Of
ltbesfoe. This fearless exposure may have
provoked fatal shot, or led to his capture.
he never returned-and the word aniss-
ing" now written against his name, calls
up the most painful apprehenaions. -
Daylight, on Thursday, revealed the enc
my in position, and evidently about to give
| battle Our own troops were also 10 line
behind their works--if they may be digni:
fed by such a name-and with enthusiasm
awaited the onset Opposite our right
front was large field; opposite our left a
dense underground of small pines limited
the view. Col. Butler, of the lst Infantry,
was in command of the brigade, aud Lieut..
Col. Oetreville commanded that regiment.
Skirmishing commenced at an early hour
along the entire line, and about seven O..
clock the enemy attacked onr left in force.
The men met it splendidly Disciplined
like the regulars Of the old army, and for
more than a year and q half daily and night
|ly under the FIRE of:the Federal artillery on
Sumter and on Sulliysn,s and James Is.
Hands, they had become Injured to. danger
and hardship but this was their first meet
| ing. with their old adYersaries on the open
field, and one for which they had lenged
without ceasing,, The manner in which
they apailed themselves of this, the first
opportunity to prove their eclat, testified
their earnest purpose. The Fedsrals might
as. we'll have struck solid wall. Until
ordered to fall back, the men stood in their
places, receiving and returning the battle
Gre, with checks unblanched, Two divis.
ions of slocum' corps, Fitzpatrick 9 cavalry,
and superior numbers of artillery were in
the front, pressing with all their might, but
our lines remained intact. Three of our
light 12.ponnder guns added to the effec
tiveuess Of our defence. One Of these be-
longing to De Gsrdeux's battery, planted
on our right, assisted to check the enemy
there, bat in. a short time the latter breugh,
up a battery, and within Zee hundred yard'
opened upon this single piece, what is des
cribed to us as q perfect shell storm Of fire,
Horses and men went down before the tor
nado nntil but one of each remuined, and
the gun was then abandoned to its fate,
Failing to produce any effect on the left
the: attack was transferred to the right flank
| Here ne bad no defences, and BY reason o.
the paueity of numbers, eQnld only NEE
the rapid combinations Of the enemy viii
La line ofskirmishers consisting of fonr com