Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-04-06

In tie morning fitzpatrick advanced with his
whole force the infantry, under Holly having
the centric. The enemy WIS steadily forced
back. and at last driven within his works,
near Moorc's Cross Roads.
Casey.s Brigade of Wards Division. THcn-
tieth Corps, now came up, and were showed
in upon the left and directed, together with
Colonel Spcncer's Cavalry Brigade. to assault
the enen'y's works upon the right. While
these preparations were going on, heavy mas
SEES of Rebel infantry moved upon Fitzpatrick S
right, and partly succeeded in turning his
flank.
Colonel Jordan's Brigade of Cavalry. con-
sisting of the 9th Pennsylvania, sih Indiana
"a and 3D. Kentucky, was pushed in on our
right to prevent this movement.
The fighting at this point was very severe.
The enemy's infantry charged our cavalry
repeatedly, but the Sth Indiana, 9th Penn
sylvania, and the 9th Michigan dismounted,
held the position, aud resisted every attcmp,
of the enemy to drive them from the trees and
their heavily constructed barricade
In the meantime Major General Williams
came upon the field with a portion of the
Twentieth Corps, and soon after General.
Sherman and Slocum arrived in person, and
the infantry upon the left was ordered to ad-
vance The enemys works were carried. and
he forced from his positicu with the loss of his
guns and his cassions. One division after
another of our infantry was now pushed in
upon the right and left.
Kilpatrick's cavalry had gone to the right,
and had succeeded in reaching the Goldsboro
road, which placed him directly in the rear OF
tho enemy. when heavy body of Rebel in
fantry evidently rcinforecments, struck the
9th Ohio Cavalry in front and flank, and not.
outstanding the exertions of Colonel lIamil-
ton and the bravery of his men, the regiment
was forced backed upon the 9th Pennsylvania
Cavalry, which was also forced to retire, but
so slowly as to give time for Colonel Selvidge,
commanding the right of our infantry, to
to change front with his brigade.
The cavalry fell back on a line with our in =
fantry and the Rebel infav try in advancing
received a cross fire from Colonel Selvidges
entire brigade when Fitzpatrick with Col Jor-
dams Cavalry Brigade charged straight upon
the enemy driving him in confusion down
upon the Goldsboro road and back to bis
original position.
This ended the fighting on the right and all
further attempts Of the enemy to turn our
flank in that direction.
The enemy stubornly fell back before each
attack, and when night set in still held the
cross roads. During the night, however. he
retired in the direction of Raleigh, leaving his
killed and wounded on the field
This was the first real hard fighting of the
campaign The troops did splendidly. The
cavalry fought side by side with the infantry
mounted and dismountod, and were the ADM.
ration of the entire army
The loss in the Twentieth Corps was quite
severe. and in tho cavalry particularly go, tn.
9Th Indiana, Colonel Jones, losing upwards
of seventy killed and wounded.
bring lists of the casualties of this engage.
ment.
General Atkins and Colonel Jordan, com.
mandng the cavalry upon the right, deserve
great credit for the skillful mancr in which
they fought their commands for the first time
opposed to infantry.
The Rebel troops opposed in this fght
were McLaw's division of cavalry, and Folli,
ver's and Rhctts actillery brigades These
are heavy artillery. They composed the
Southern garrisons and from Colonel Rhett,
commandment at Fort Sumter, taken prisoner
by Fitzpatrick, it appears that the organiza.
tions were very full his own regiment, for
instance, at one time numbering not less than
500 men.
The road to Godsboro' being now appar-
emily open, the left wing continued its march
without opposition, until the 10Th.
Meanwhile, Johnston having become COM
plctoly satisfied that Goldsboro' was the real
object, hastily called in Hardee and moved
from Smith6eld down the road to Bentonviltc
where he entrenched himself, his line of work
extending from Mills Greek on the upper
side, and including the village, returned to
the creek again.
This position the Fourteenth Corps in ad-
vance discovered. Gen. Slocum Immediately
formed well chosen line, fanked upon the
left by ravine, where he posted the artillery
and upon the right by swamp and open
field.
Morris Farm.
The third battle is called the battle at Nor
ris' Farm. From this admirable line, Nor
gans Division having moved forward with the
intention of establishing another line half
mile in advance, the enemy, who had been
TctlTlUp oNu lluc lul SChSTdl
hours, here suddenly advanced with overwhel-
ming numbers and attacked the brigade of
Gen. Robinson and Gen. Buell., comprising
Morgan's Division and drove them back in
some confusion to the line of the railroad al
ready marked by General Slocu,n's prompt
and skitul eye as the proper rallying ground
for an emergency.
Here, by the exortions of our officers and
the great bravery of the men, the enemy were
checked a hasty work of rails and dirt was
thrown up, aud the whole of the Fourteenth
Corps and Colonel Selvidge's Brigade of the
Twentieth Corps. and Gener,l Kilpatrick's
cavalry, arrived and took up position, Col.
Selvidge upon the left, the cavalry in the rear
This was at four o'clock p NJ. and now be-
gan series of desperate charges by the enc
my only equalled by those at Franklin, and
mainly directed against the right by the di-
vision Of the Georgiaus who bad just before
been flanked and doubted down to this limo.
The enemy charged in three columns, one
after another, each following up the others
repulse. making at one time three charges in
thirty-ive minutes and with such desperation
that vhen night closed in upon their defeat
not only was the ground in our front strcwn
Ill, Ioes hat tha; laoI ,roro ,aol-~J