American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-04-05

enemy entered Goldsboro'. On Tuesday
Sherman advanced again and skirmished
with the ebel rear guards portion of
the day until his forces had reached Ben
louisville. Here the enemy had entren-
ched on the opposite side of Mill Greek.
| The goth corps was first engaged and at
noon heavy battle was progressing a.
long the whole line, the cavalry of Kill
patrick being actively occupied upon the
left flank The Goth corps suffered a
temporary check, but the 14th corps com
ing up in good time held the ground.
The 18th corps was advanced to the sup
port of the 14th and 20th,
and succeeded in turning the enemy's
right, compelling him to give way. The
enemy then fell back, abandoning his
works, and passing through Smithfied
retired towards Raleigh Sherman fol-
lowed up the retreatng rebel army, and
entered Smithfeld without further oppo-
sition.
General Sherman, after leaving Fay
etteville, decided to form a junction neer
Goldsboro. The enemy, General Har-
dee's force, consisting of the Carolina
troops and garrisons from Charleston and
Savannah, retired in the direction of Raj
eigh. 1t was necessary to deceive him
as to the line Of march, and make him
believe Raleigh was the proposed point
of attack. Accordingly, a corps Of Gen.
Slocum's command-the 20th-moyed
up the road to point twelve miles in
advance, and halted and allowed Kipat.
ricks cavalry to pass and take the front
As usual, he was, in this case, to cover
the movements of the army in the dircc-
tion Of Goldsboro BY vigorously de
monstrating and feigning well toward
Raleigh he had passed the 2Jth Corps
aud reached pOiut four miles from Aver
ysboro, when oragers-mounted and dis
mounted-came dashing in from the
front and reported the enemys infantry
20 be advancing in line OF battle. Kill
patrick deployed the 9th Michigan CAV
airy and sent them rapidly forward to at
tack and hold the enemy in check until
his troops could be brought forward aud
massed.
Colonel Ackers, of the Fifth Michi-
igan Cavalry, met aud drove in the enc
my's advance. His entire regiment on
foot, lorced the rebe infantry back across
a ravne, which on the following day be
came our line of battle.
kilpauick's cavalry had now been
brought up and placed in position, dis
mounted together, with eight pieces of
artillery. In the meantime, word had
been sent to Willi2ms command. Twenti
eth Corps, for reiniorcements. Before these
could reach our corps, the enemy advan-
ced in line Of battle, with every intention
to charge ON kilpatrick's position. Col.
Acker fell back within the barricade.
when Lane advanced but received 50
heavy fire from the battery and car
bines, that he fell back again to the ray
inc. 4 brigade Of infantry now came
up, and was placed in position with the
cavalry.
This was on the 10Th inst Everyth ng
remained quiet during tho night. In
the morning Fitzpatrick advanced with
his whole command of infantry under
Hobby, having the centre of the enemy's
fine steadily forced back, and at last
drawn within his works near Morris Cross
Roads. Avery's brigade Of Moore's di-
vision, 10th corps, now came up, and were
showed in upon the left, and directed to-
gether with Colonel Spencer's cavalry
brigade, to assault the enemy's works on
the right. While these preparations
were going on heavy masses of rebel in
fantry moved upon Kilpatrick's right,
partially turning his flank. Jordon s
brigade of cavalry, consisting of the 9th
Pennsylvania, Sth Indiana, and I'd and
3d Kentucky was pushed in on our right
to prevent this movement
The fighting at this point was very Sc.
we're. The enemy charged our cavalry
repeatedly, but the 8th Indiana, 9th Penn
sylvsnia, and the 9th Michigan, dismoun-
ted, held the position, and resisted the
attack Of the enemy to drive them from
the trees and their hastily constructed
barbados
In the meantime General Williams
came upon the field with portion Of the
10th corps, and soon after Generals Sher-
man and Slocum arrived in person, and
ethe infantry on the left was ordered to adj
vance. The enemy's works we're carried,
and he forced from his position with loss
Of three guns and cassions. One divis-
ion after another of our infantry was now
pushed in upon the right and left, and
Kilpatrick's cavalry moved to the right
and had succeeded preaching the Colds
boro road. which placed him directly in
the rear of the enemy. A very heavy
body Of rebel infantry, evidently rein
forcements, struck the 9th Ohio Cavalry
in front and flank, and Notwithstanding
the exertions of Colouels Hamilton and
Browry, the regiment was forced back on
the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was
also forced to retire, but so slowly as to
give time for Colonel Selvidge command
ing the right Of our infautry line, to
change front with his brigade of cavalry
on line with our infantry.
The rebel infantry, in advancing, re-
ceived cross fire from Col Selvidges
entire brigade, when Fitzpatrick, with
Col. Jordan's cavalry brigade, charged
straight on the enemy, driving him in
confusion down on the Goldsboro road
and back>to his original position. This
ended the fighting on the left, and all
/ f,,rt bor g Al