Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-24


THE BATTLE OF wAYNEsBoRo.
L was, think, between one and two
o'clock in the afternoon when the advance
of the command arrived near Waynes.
boro. General Custer, riding along in front
of the enemy's line with his staff, inspected
it carefully, and then, in bis energetic way,
remarked, " think we can flank them on
the (enemy's) left" To many present it
seemed as though to offer battle under the
circumstances was madness. Not SO with
the ruling spirit there. Promptly his or
ders were given, and they we're obeyed with
unsccountable alacrity The second brig
ade, being nearest at hand, Wells, its COM
mander, was directed to put heavy skir-
mish line Of mounted men. In obedience
to this order, the twenty-second New York,
Colonel Thompson, and frst New Hamp-
shire Captain Wyatt, were deployed and
thrown forward, in depression of the
earth, TO within about one thousand yards
| of the enemys position; the line was or
dered TO be made heavy to deceive the enc
my, TO msks them believe the main attack
was to be from the front A suggestion
that so formidable line woulI draw out
heavy shell fire from the enemy, only elici-
ted the response, 4" 1t must be DONE shell
or no she'll" The first Vermont, Lieuten-
ant Colonel Hall, was next directed totske
s position on the left aud rear, with orders
at given signal to make dash to gain q
piece of woods opposite the enemy's right,
TO convey the impression that that portion
of their line was IN danger. 9he eighth
New York, Msjor Compson, was placed in
reserve to support the skirmish line on the
left of the pike. Only one squadron of the
remaining regiment in this brigade-6f-
teenth New York, Colonel Coppinger-be-
ing present. that was also placed in reserve
The balance of the regiment was on duty
st the rear Of the whole column.
THE FLANKING COLUMN.
Pennington's brigade, the First, next
came up. Lieutenant Colonel Whitaker,
Acting Inspector General, was directed TO
have three regiments of this command dis
mounted and guide them through the !
woods and rsvine, so as to be out of |
sight Of the enemy, to position on the |
enemy's extreme left for fear the enemy |
might discover this body of men in sea-
son to make preparations to meet it, the |
mounted skirmish line was extended TO the |
right so IS to cover the front of the column
when in position. Colonel Pennington
detached in this important flank duty the
Second Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel A. B.
Nettleton; Third New jersey, Lieutenant
Colonel Robson; First Connecticut, Msjor
Goodwin-the men were all armed with
Spencer's carbines. The command reached
its position without the enemy discovering
the movement. The Second New York,
Colonel A. NJ. Randall, and the Eighteenth
Captain NiemRn, were held
in reserve TO the right of the pike.
The Third brigade commanded by Colo
nel Cadehart now came up. The First New
York, (Lincoln) Lieutenant Colonel j. Q.
was placed on the pike. lhe
Second Virginia, Lieutenant Colonel VIM.
Allen, on the right of the pike. The First
Msjor Howe, and the Third Vir-
ginis, Major Witcher, were placed to the
eft and rear rs a reserve. All the troops
except the skirmish line and the fsnking
party on the right, were in column Of
ours resdy 10 charge or be thrown to any
part where their services might be needed. /
WoodruffS artillery two guns) was just
placed to the right of the pike at dis
snce of GOO yards from the enemy's
works; to deceive the enemy, the guns ,
we're wheeled about and taken to the rear d,
md left Of the pike out of sight, but were
replaced near the first ]
position again, but so under a rise of
round as not to be seen by the enemy.
rhe enemy cheered when they saw the ,
.rtillery was Withdrawn. The position !
# the several commands was veri-
led and the commanders carefully instruct
d what 70 do. While all this was going !,
N, the skirmish line kept up slow fire ,
which was responded to by the enemy by ,
hot and shell. Everything being in read
ness General Clusters bugler sounded the
dvsnce, when each command sounded
be ''charge" The First Vermont dashed :
Or the LEFT, thieatening the enemy's right; i
be formidable skirmish line moved up in :
ull view OF the enemy and pressed for
ward just as Pennington, Nettleton and
Whitaker, with the Second Ohio in ad-
snce-regimental part with the First Con
ecticut and Third NeW-Jersey close be- :
from piece of woods upon
be enemy's extreme left. Woodruff COM
1eneed throwing shell from his two guns
nd everything was in motion at once, ev-
~ order was carried out to the letter, and
be result Wss success. The enemy were
OF little surprised TO see 80 formidable
body Of Asnkers on their left; an attempt
D form line to meet them proved abo--
I've; on they pressed and the enemy see
1g Clusters reckless fellows marching in {
pon them from every direction, became
anic stricken, broke and ran in terrible {
abandoning muskets, flags and !
rtillery. By the time they had got fair
o info the Villapa of Wavnash 1rO a few
DDS to the resr of their works, the mount
d cavalry had charged in upon them, snd
yankees and rebels were all mixed up to-
ether. The first Vermont moved in !
rom the left, the Eighth New York on
he pike, and Cspehart with the whole Of !
is brigade at his heels, dashed into the
illsge, following the Eighth. The cons
f the Ancient Dominion showed no
ght at close quarters, but surrendered
when ordered to do so, there
y preventing q general slaughter.
,outh River winds its way along just IN the !
ear of Wsynesboro, and the only route for
be enemy to escape was to cross this. It
vas not at this time fordsble, and the only
Vay for infantry TO cross was by q small
oot- bridge and by the railroad bridge.
1 few hundred attempted to escape by the
after route. Colonel Whitaker, who with
Jsptain Burr oughs and some thirty men of
he Eighth New York, were the first to
ross tho stream, with few men on horse
,sck, cut off the men attempting TO escape
N the railroad track. Whitaker with q
lozen men here captured at least 300 hun
lred rebels and the battle-fag. Major
Jompson, Captain Burroughs and Captain