The National tribune., 1882-11-23

road, seven miles from Macon. Leaving
picket at this point, moved forward with the
balance OF my command to the left of the Geor-
gia Central Railroad, with orders to follow it
up in the direction Of Macon destroying the
road and all public property, and report to Gen
eral Stoneman before the city.
On nearing the city evidence accumulated Of
the terrible panic which orr approach occa-
stoned. Train after train Of cars came rushing
along loaded to their utmost capacity with
costly furniture, printing presses and type,
private carriages and horses; in fact every con-
ceivsble form of movable property. These were
intercepted by our forces, and in The process Of
destroying the railroad and roliing-stogk were
necessarily swept ont Of existence by the use Of
the torch 1t is painful at this period % look
back upon the terrific destruction o. valuable
property. but we were ohsvinC orders, and
take credit 20 myself that in every way iu the
execution Of such order, my best efforts were
used TO relieve il from the baraart-5 0..ah SD
often followed In tle wlee ci these Ialds boy
both parties 90 the contest
The bridges which sTaauod the ocmulrea
River a. Macon having been destroyed, aud
there being no puutnau tram attached o. this
lNIatr AHL'lli.INa E.H.'it' ..'.aa. ''.a.
fne his operations 90 brisk slu..taE of tho
town from the opposite bank.
Al three p. in. oD tae 5fh the column was
ordered 20 take up Its .iue OF march o. return,
my bri. adc in tie advance When General
S.aneman first moved out. the column was
headed in the direction OF Athens, but before
il was fully IN motion couutcr-march was
ordered, and the attempt was 20 be made to
fight our way ont on the line of cur advance to
the city. Moving forward on the Clinton road
with my command in The advance. We halted at
the crossing OF the NilledEeville road, formed
line of battle. rested an hour, then resumed our
march. When within one and a half miles of
Clinton we struck line of the enemy. These
we drove before US through the town, liberatinE
thirty-three of my own men who had been
captured while out foraging. We also recap
tured their horses and burned the Jail in which
they had been confined, capturing their guard.
1t was now late in the night of the Both. The
light of the burning Jail lighted Us on our way
for long distance. Continuing our line Of
march on the Hill5boro road, some three miles
from Clinton, we struck a strong advanced
guard of the enemy, which we Grove before us,
advancing with a squadron deqloyed in line Of
battle. This was continued until we met
heavy force drawn up behind barricades. l
sent forward the Eighth Michigan cavalry to
dislodge them, which was promptly done and
followed up the enemy falling back from one
position TO another until they reached the main
body about eight miles out from Clinton, near
Hillsboro. 1t was still too dark for Us to form
an estimate of the force opposing US, or the
nature of their defenseS. When daylight
dawned on the 31st, General Stonelnan ordered
me to advance with my brigade and drive the
enemy from their position. Our charge was
successful in dislodging them and forcing them
back about one mile and half, when we came
upon their main force, drawn upiu line Of battle.
MEETING THE ENEMY.
This force was composed almost exclusively
of infantry and artillery. At the sound Of
their heavy guns General stoneman came TO
the front and found an underlined force IN line
of battle, an intervening wood preventing an
accurate estimate of its strength. General
Stoneman threw his whole force into line Of bat
tie, with Colonel Silas Adamss Kentucky bri-
gade and the Eighth Michigan regiment of my
brigade in the centre; Colonel Biddle's brigade.
with one piece of artillery, on the left, and the
remainder Of my brigade on the right Of the
line. Between 8 and 10 a. N. forward move
ment was made by the enemy, and firing on
both sides was for time quite brisk. but was
discontinued without bringing on a general
engagement. During this skirmish an orderly
by the name of J. c. Hall, of company K, Four
teenth Illinois cavalry, rode up to deliver an
order from General Stone,uan, and placing his
hand upon the pummel Of my saddle the more
readily TO deliver the order amidst the tumult,
a ball from the enemy's sharpshooters-no
doubt aimed at me-srTuck his arm and passed
into his body, thus saving my life.
Itappeared that neither commander was fully
satisfied Of the strength Of his opponent the
woods preventing observation. This first move
ment of the rebels was partially intended to
develop our strength and to draw US forward
within range of their artillery, which appears
TO have been placed in battery.
This movement on the part Of the enemy
being checked, General Stoneman at once re-
formed his line in some respects, and ordered
every spare man into action. Ny position be-
ing on the right flank was more exposed to
flank movements. Being Oh rather elevated
ground, commanding clear view Of our entire
line, was still unable TO see that of the enemy.
The road entering on my right rear. on which,
in part, my line was formed, exposed me to an
attack from that direction, and force Of the
enemy's cavalry had been reported as feeling
about, as if preparing for an attack upon me rs
soon as the battle should open. TO protect my
self from a surprise by this force, had posted
one squadron of the Fourteenth Illinois cavalry,
Captain Sanford, about one mile out on this
road. The firing had scarcely begun in the
first advance of the enemy, when my attention
was called 10 Sanlord's command coming down
the road, closely followed by rebel force. To
check this was the work Of few minutes
had kept mounted for an emergency like this
a small body Of men, and leading them in per
son we charged upon the rebel force Sanford
seeing the movement for his relief wheeled his
command in an open field on the full run, and
by dashing counter-charge completely routed
them. The brave Lieutenant Mayo and several
men were lost in this skirmish l then re-
placed the picket by battalion, and placed
Captain Lord in command.
sToNEMAN sURRENDKRs.
Everything now being in readiness, General
Stoneman gave the order for the whole line to
advance The men moved forward in apparent
confidence at first and several vollcys were
exchanged, when, upon a sudden, the rebels
charged with determination. To my amaze
ment, / saw Colonel Adams's brigade break for
their horses. There was no sufficient cause.
ri 81.