New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-29

left, the cavalry in the rear. This was at o'clock p
m, and now began series Of desperate charges by the
enemy only equaled by those at Franklin and mainly
directed against the right by the diversion Of the
Ge0rgans who had just before been hanked and
doubled down to this line.
The enemy charged in three columns one after an.
other each following the others repulse making at
one time three charges in IS minutes and with such
desperation that when night closed in upon their de-
feat not only was the ground In our front srewn with
their loss but their dead were packed up in numbers
within our lines even around the headquarters Of the
Generals.
On the other hand, our fought only this army
fight Not left his post in line Of battle, and
each time the enemy hurled back in confusion from
in front Of the very whom overwhelming and out
fanking numbers had only forced to retire in the
morning.
The lighting in this engagement has been surpassed
by no other during the war.
1t was grand spectacle as described to your cor.
respondent by general officer himself from his posi-.
on on the eft an eye witness Of the whole; the battle
fusion Of sudden attack and the rapdity With which
the position had been taken. better could not have
been found
Considering these facts and that Gen. Johnston com.
manded In person with force Of 10000 men, outnum.
bering our troops Major.Gen. Slocum, commanding.
deserves great credit and he merits will doubtless,
receive the thanks Of the nation.
The next morning. with all dispatch starting at
o'clock the right was brought up from its camp,
In the neighborhood Of Falling Church. and by night a
position had been taken directed by Gen. Sherman In
person.
The Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps upon the right
and Kipatrcks Cavalry upon the extreme eff reached
TO Mill Creek. and were ready TO take the offensive
Tuesday spent In intrenching, with the skirmish.
ing attendant upon feeling the enemy in column, and
when night came down. Towards guns far upon the
extreme right could still be heard long after dark Late
in the evening the programme for the following day
reached the rear. which was for an advance. to be
covered In The rear by the cavalry and brigade OF
infantry
This amounted to flank movement, the virtue Of
,xb ioh ront vhan In mi fha omar
were found to be retiring without skirmish TO Smith
field leaving Shemans progress to his base unopposed
The order OF approach to Goldsborous was then that
the left wing the Fourteenth Corps in advance. fol-
lowed by the Twentieth the troops that had bornc the
battle should pass through the right wing and cross
the river first.
found the train Of the Twentieth already near the
bridge which completed for passing fifteen minutes
after my arrival at the river deserter, who came
in Tuesday, told Col Selvdge In my hearing that
two divisions from Lees Richmond army arrived the
night before. This report though seemingly probable,
1 understand Sherman considered doubtful.
All day Wednesday, till midnight stradded a jaded
horse to Kinston The railroad bridge constructing at
the river was crossed with train toward Godsborough
in the morning. The construction men were on Saur:
day under orders to repair the Wilmington road and
by this time probably, both roads are IN operation to
Goldsborough pouring in needed rations and supplies
TO the ragged and shOeess but perfectly undauned and
now jubilant army Of Sherman.
In fact doubt any army IN the field Is now hall so
happy that which over two months ago, with only
fifteen days ratons, set out into hostile wilderness
with no other guide than their crafty old Tycoons
fully hidden pocket compass. Unheardof obstacles
have been encountered and overcome without detri'
ment to a speed hitherto unequaled upon any march
OF similar length and difficulty.
No land in the world is less favorable to forced
march than that which has been traversed by Sherman
noble army. The rains Of Winter and Spring caught
by the clay underlying the land forms one vast and
horrible quagmire utterly impossible except in the
way the accomplished by almost one entire
bridge from Savannah TO the present base. over feed
tranped forests Col Joel Quartermsster OF the Sew.
eneenh Corps told that from Fayetteville not less
than thirty out OF hty miles had been corduroyed, and
yet without reardng the miraculous rate Of progress
more than two miles day
Your correspondent crossed from Schofeld with one
of his st.g and aAvsly sfsrfin9 Sunday the
18TH and deploying and camping within seven miles OF
Kenansyle reached the field the night Of the Goth
Nothing could equal our sensations we galloped
down the startled countrys side 10 the mued music Of
distant artillery. and approached far aud wide
By the smoke of blazing forests could be traced across
the skies the black path Of the terrible avenger Sher
man.
When night closed in and we rode amid the roar Of
foot and horse that still choked the ways and the CLEAN
and din Of the myriad smoking camp fires. round which
ranged the grim and warvorn veterans OF this noble
army words altogether fail to depict the passion OF the