Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-02-11

pi"kets. Skirmlshers were Immediately de
| ployed, when we advanced, driving the rebel.
about three miles, when the 2d brigade of oul
division followed them up, and our brigade
1 Gen. Force commanding, consisting of the
18th and 18th Wisconsin regiments aad the
seth, slst and 45th Illinois, with one section
of artillery, were sent around to get Ia their
rear, If possible, while the I'd brigade amused
| them in front. Skirmishers were deployed
from the l2th. Wisconsin, and 18th Illinois,
the whole under charge of the brigade pick
ct officer, Lieut.. Chandler, of the 18th.
We found them in force ia our front, but
succeeded in driving them easily. Oar bril-
gads being separated from the rest of the
corps, we were obliged to guard our rear as
well as front. Gen. Force accordingly or
dered Col. Fairchild to take bis regiment and
the battery and be prepared to resist an at
tack from that quarter. After marching
about four miles we again struck the main
Charleston road, getting in just ahead of the
two brigades, but not cutting off the rebels,
as we supposed we would. Marching about
one mile further, we drove them inside their
Notifications, Fort POcatoligo, our skirnish-
ers getting so near as TO prevent them from
using their artillery with much effect.
Our loss il driving them in was eight men
and two officers, Lieut. Chandler, of the 18th,
being killed as he was CALAMITY charging with
his line of skirmishers upon the retreatiDg
rebels. No better officer has fallen. -.
La the night the rebels evacuated, and in
the morning we pursued them until we came
to Pocatoligo bridge, where the Charleston d
Savannah Railroad crosses, and where we at
present remain. We are encamped upon the
railroad, on ground previously occupied by
the rebels for that purpose. They had erect
L.. l.awr.
session OF, and are quite comfortable. We
will probably remain here until the l4th, 18th
and 10th Corps come up. We are now with
in forty miles of Charleston. Hilton Head
will be our base, getting our supplies from
there up the river TO our present camp, when
they will follow US up by rail as we advance
towards Charleston. From here we have
railroad communication with Savannah.
Gen. Foster has been trying to take this
place for two years past, and it was but re-
Gently he was defeated with loss of four
hundred We took one prisoner who told us
that when we commenced skirmishing with
them in the morning, they said it was only
Gen. Foster with his brigade, and that they
would soon clean them out but when our
boys cried out, Skedaddle, JOhnnies !" they
raised the cry of Sherman, Sherman is com.
ing! and gave way. They seem to be inn
pressed with a wholesome terror of Gen.
Sherman's army.
Gen. Force Is now commanding our d.
vision, which puts Col. Fairchild in command
of the brigade, a position which the whole
brigade is pleased to see him occupy, and one
which he is well qualified to fill. He is es-
teemed as one of the best officers in the
Corps, is universally and deservedly popular,
and Is an officer OF whom Wisconsin and es-
pecially Madison may well be proud.
Our army is in splendid condition, the men
are all healthy and feel fine, and are anxious
to be led against Charleston, feeling perfectly
confident of success. A. j. SENECA.