Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-04-21
DELAWARE, oHIO, APRIL 81, 1856

these fell into the hands of the Third
Division. Our own losses were thus far
small, though the affair cost
US some valuable officers and men.
The new phase that affairs had now
taken required that new disposition be
made of the troops. A new line was
formed which by two O'Clock L. NJ. re-
sumed the advance. The rebels again Z
but stubbornly fell back. They
at one time made a desperate effort to s
turn our right flank Massing a division )
{ they precipitated it upon the
cavalry, which was driven back IN some
confusion. The onset was checked, how
ever, by Brigade of infantry which came
up just at the right time, and which pour
ed few yolleys SO sweeping and destruc-
tive into the rebel columns as to cause
them to fall back in great confusion.
The flight continued thus desultorlly E
until nightfall, bywhich time the enemy
had been driven about two miles. The
night closed in dark and stormy, and our
soldiers slept by their arms within speak
ing distance of the foe. The wind moaned
sadly among the pines as if chanting
Nature requiem for the fallen brave
The firing ceased as the deep shadows OF
night gathered over the forest. The enc
my took advantage of the darkness and
betook himself to hasty fight.
Thus terminated the battle Of Smith
Farm, an affair that cost our brigade
thirty nine officers and men. The march
was resumed on the 18th. The column
now moved toward Cox's Bridge on the
Neuse River, point ten miles above
Goldsboro. Hardee S forces were no lon
ger IN our front but upon our left Hank
No farther trouble was therefore appre-
hended, but in this we were greatly mis-
taken Before we reached our destination
we were destined to meet the enemy IN an
encounter as compared to which the firing
at Smiths Farm was but skirmlsh.
On, the 18th the 10th Corps crossed
Black River The weather had now
cleared up but the road continued miser-1
able. The effect upon our wounded OF
being hauled over such a track was most
distressing. yet they bore their suffering
brayely and there was very little COM
plant.
At noon of the 18th we were again
within hearing of the enemy's cannon
johnson had succeeded in concentrating
his forces near Bennetsville. Seeing the
two wings Of the army separated he be-
thought himself to crush the Left before
the Right could come to It's assistance
He had Hardee's army and the greater
portion OF Hood S old command, consti-
tuting altogether force of nearly forty
thousand men. To fight these we had
hardly twenty five thousand electives
johnson therefore lelt sanguIne of sue
Z cess, and accordingly sent cOuriers along
! his lines to announce that the time 10
q strike decisive blow had at length arrl-
we'd and that he designed to whip Sher-
man to-day"
In each of the two corps Goth and
18th, } there were but two Divisions avail
able for the fight. Each corps had sent
one Division to take care Of its trains
The two Divisions of the 18th corps being
+ in advance became engaged first. BY
noon the fighting became severe, though
7 it was as yet nothing more than mutual
development of position by the hostile
parties The 1st Division OF the 10Th
corps arrived at the scene OF hostllItIes
I at 2 D. In. 1t was the fortune OF the old
81 Sd Brigade to be, as usual, sent nnmedl-
+ ateIy to the front. The other Brigades
were placed in position covering the
y fanks.
A vacancy existed at this time in the
4 line of Carlin's Division, of the 14th
{ corps. The 31st Wis, 61st and SD Ollo
s Veteran Volunteers, were assigned to the
& duty of filling this gap. They were sup
norted bv the 143d \. Y, and SD Illinois
q Volunteers Such was the disposition o1
@ five regiments Of our Brigade. The pO'
r. sition was well chosen and the arrange
81 ment of the troops all that could be de
ST sired but we were unfortunate IN having
no connection on our right or left. Thert
E is nothing about which a soldier feel
more concern during the tight than hi
s. Roaks. If he feels that these are secure
n and that there is no danger that the enc
my will get in his rear, he can meet witt
H redoubled confidence the danger Wh1cl
a comes from the front. But IN the pres
n ent instance this assurance was wanting
n On either side of US there were wild
eaps in the line which, to say the least
81 offered great temptation to try to breal
So through. [ shall not attempt to hx tn
H responsibility of this unfortunate al
ranqement, which, as the sequel Wi
81 show, ieopardized the safety of the Who'll
army. Suffice it to say, that none OF
II belonged to our brigade commander.
AS soon as the line was formed, on
men commenced building Il breastworl
S With no other intrenching tools tha
A hatchets, they built with amazing quick
ness a respectable shelter from the III
E of the rebel sharpshooters. The instlnt
of some great and immediate dange
E seemed to animate them, and it was we
H that ii was so. The enemy had alread
K massed his forces for a grand, desperat
Ri effort to break our line. Our skirmisI
, A ers had been thrown forward, but ma
E gained their position only by gallant
! Charging across an open field under
M sweeping fire. [ cannot soon forget tt
!, manly heroism of Lieut.. Lyman and h
:; poble comrades in this affair. The wol
"forzcard" was given, and well they kne
that for some of them 1T was d deal
: summons The Lieutenant shouted, TO
I ward!" forward" and his men obeyt
a like soldiers They were following the
. brave Young officer for the last time, +
he now sleeps his last sleep among Il
!. gloomy pines of the field of Bennetsvll
Alas how many of the bravest, mobiles
q and hest this war costs us Of such W
: Lieut.. George Lyman, 31st Visions
II Volunteers.
10 The skirmish line advanced about tN
i hundred Yards when it encountered t
- enemy sweeping down upon us In II
2e A force. Our skirmlshers drew hea
~ FIRE from the rebels and were compel
e To fall back with severe loss IN kll!'
"a II wounded and captured. The hrlng L
. mediately rolled to the left and becal
"a very heavy in front Of Carlin's III
~ which was considerably advanced inste
of being reformed as it should have be
,; In ave minutes more the enemy. stru
+La line Of the Sd Brigade, which INN
a Jistelv onened fire We had now
~ tbree regiments with which to hold {
an nosition. all the others having been p
u u lP,;o,,sIv sent half a mile to the rear
~. ~. aaIyo,. fbe trains. But our brave n
= ITorn NOT daunted by their numeri
ew weakness. They proposed to hold til
iii line in spite of all the force that co
le- be brought against them tn 'front.'