The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-06
WILSON'S RAID.
Ebenezer Church and Selma.
The Result of the Campaign.
Additional Interesting Particular
The Engagements = Total Federal
Loss $50 Killed, Wounded aud Miss
ing.
fprrsS DisnItch.l

New YORK, MAY 5-The Herald's cor
respondent with Wilson's expedition fur
nishes additional details of the march
through Alabama and Georgia. Of the
battle of Ebenezer Church he says: The
engagement took plac at point called
Ebenezer's Church, twenty-five miles
from Selma. The rebels were entrenched
in the woods and had six pieces of artil-
lery in position. They were about 5000
strong, commanded by Forrest, Cham
bers, Armstrong and Adams. After con-
siderable firing OH both sides, two com
panies of the 18th Indiana, led 10y Capt
Taylor, charged them with the sabre,
driving their gunners from the guns, cap
turing one battery of three guns and
scattering the enemy in all directions.
While they were thus demoralizing the
rebels, the I'd brigade of the 4th division,
which had been sent on a road to the left,
arrived, charged and completely routed
the enemy. Our loss in this engagement
was about thirty in killed and wounded
We captured over 300 rebels, and their
loss in killed and wounded Was heavier
than ours. We also captured four pieces
OF artillery and many small arms. Capt.
Taylor was killed, after having wounded
Forrest in the arm with his sabre.
Our troops arrived in front of the for
tifcations of Selma at about p. NJ. April
2nd. They were immediately formed in
line of battle, the 2nd division occupying
the right of the centre of the works, and
the 4th division the extreme left. The
Notifications consisted of double line
of earthworks i'm q semi-circle, from bank
g IL ~
were also thirty-twO bastions and two
formidable forts. In front of the first
line of works was a row of palisades six
feet high, which, together with the ma
ture of the ground over which the charge
was made, rendered the earthwOrk very
difficult of access The works were de-,
Tended by 1000 men, with some thirty
pieces of artillery. AS previously stated,
the 2nd division was formed in line dis
mounted, and a skirmish line formed
A brisk fire was kept up between our
skirmishers and the rebels until about 5
o'clock, when at the signal from the Chi
cago Board of Trade battery our forces
charged down on the breastw orks, yelling
like demons The rebels poured a muir
derous fire of musketry and artillery in
to the ranks, but nothing daunted our
troops moved steadily forward, and with
in Ave minutes had scaled the works and
were driving the enemy towards the
river in terribly demoralized condition
MANY of them were drowned in attempt
ing to cross the river, although few
succeeded in crossing and escaping. We
captured 2,4OO prisoners and thirty-two
pieces of artillery in line, besides over
seventy pieces in the arsenals Our loss
was 324 killed, wounded and missing,
and that of the enemy equally heavy.
Montgomery was surrendered without
fight.
At Columbus the enemy made stub
born resistance, but our men scaled their
works and captured 10000 prisoners and
over 70 pieces of artillery. Here all the
Government property, arsenals, factories
and railroad stock were destroyed.
Fourteen miles ont of Macon the rebel
General Robertson sent message from
General Howell Cobb, saying there had
been suspension of hostilities granted
by Sherman. Gen. Minly replied that he
knew nothing oft, and told Gen Robert
son that he must retire to Macon while
he sent the message to Gen. Wilson, who
was i'm the rear. Gen. Minly ordered his
advance to move forward in five minutes
after delivering this answer to the rebel
Gen. Robertson. The advance was made,
and as Robertson and his command did
not get out of the way, they were all
captured. Macon was taken possession
of, and here Gen Wilson received official
information of the armistice.
The result of the campaign may be
summed up as follows: The capture and
occupation of four of the most important
cities in the Confederacy, 6,UtU prisoners,
over 200 guns and large supply of small
arms the devastation Of the country and
destruction of at least $500, ,0O0,O worth
of property, directly or indirectly be-
longing to the rebel Government.
The casualties of the campaign | have
not as vet been able to secure, but do not
think they will exceed 45O killed, wound
ed and missing.