Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-06-15

The following burlesque, purporting
to be the official language of the Chief of
! Sherman's bummers, deserves a place
among the "humors Of the war"
HEADQUARTERS RUNNERS, }
... GRAND ARMY or THE FLANKERs,
GoLDsBoRo, n c., April l, 1865.
Adutam General .. s. H., Woshagtoa,
D. C..
GBNERAL-I have the honor TO submit
the following report Of the operations
Of my command during the Carolina
campaign;
From Savannah to Columbia, in fur
therance of the original plan of cam
paign, my forces, being poorly mounted,
operated mainly upon the TANKS of the
Grand Army. The original plan of the
campaign was for the Grand Army, after
capturing Columbia, TO move to the
coast at Charleston.
While General Sherman was amusing
his troops with experiments upon rail
road iron in the vicinity of Columbia,
moved my command rapidly toward
Cheraw, where ! found Hardee with To-
600 men, strongly entrenched. Active
skirmishing commenced between my
mule brigade and the enemy, and | sent
a courier to General Sherman appris-
ing him of my own and the enemy's
position, requesting him to lay aside his
original plan and move to my support.
This he promptly did, and we occupied
Cheraw, the enemy retreating in hasty
disorder across the Great Pedee, pursued
by my light brigade Arriving in the
vicinity of Fayetteville, found John
ston's entire army, $4,000 strong, in my
front. We felt the enemy strongly,
driving them from their outer works,
and capturing heavy invoice of hams,
chickens, and other munitions of war.
From this position l sent back another
dispatch requesting support. General
Sherman moved his army rapidly for
ward but before he reached Fayette-
ville the enemy had withdrawn across
the river, and my forces were in Occupa-
tion of the town.
We regarded private rights and treat
ed the inhabitants courteously, sparing
the citizens generally, their homes, and,
in cases of pressing want, their money
and spoons.
Preparations were Immediately made
W NOuCIdl DuClIudu anu myself lOE
crossing the Cape Fear river with our
forces, for the campaign was now so
much changed from its original destina-
ton that Gen. Sherman resolved to pur-
sue the enemy further if possible. Hav-
ing no pontoon bridge or train with my
command, it was agreed that 1 should
cross on the bridge used by Major Gen.
Blair, with his (Seventeenth) corps.
On reaching this bridge was notified
that General Blair had directed his Pro-
vost Marshal to seize and confiscate the
norses or my command, all of which
had been borrowed by my men from
loyal residents of South Carolina. Dis
dalning to quarrel with Provost Mar
shall, and learning that General Blair
ranked me in date of commission (by |
special courtesy Of our excellent Presi- |
dent towards him. | withdrew from the |
bridge and effected crossing several |
miles lower down, and sent notice of |
the same, with my compliments, to Maj. |
Gen. Blair. | respectfully request that |
this uncourteous conduct on the part of |
Gen. Blair be made the subject of inquiry
by q military commission.
Moving forward from Fayetteville, |
found Johnston strongly posted near
Averysboro. Thanking his position, [ |
crossed Black river and advanced to. |
ward Raleigh. Near Bentonville, [ |
found the enemy again entrenched, and |
again l fianked him moving towards !
GoldsboTo Before reaching this town.
| received note from General Sherman
requesting me to halt there, as he would |
be id if he would follow me any
further. -
Very respectfully,
Your nbedient servant,
Titus A. BUMaER