The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-23

Sherman concerning the treatment OF prls'
oners. in which threats were INDUCED by
Hampton TO resort to extreme measures to-
wards Federal soldiers captured by HIM III
consequence of alleged violations OF the
laws of war. Fortunately such threats re-
manned unexecuted. / believe about 70
miles of railroad north from Winnsboro
S. c., was destroyed. Thus Sherman'S Sec
ond objective was successfully gained with
no loss, comparatively speaking.
Gen. Slocum and the left wing Of Sherman's
army had reached Winnsboro on the 2lst
of February and Gen. Sherman and the greater
part of the right wing, under Howard, arrived
on chat day. The left wing had destroyed sew
erai hundred yards of railroad at Aston. My
division co-operated with kilpatrick's cavalry
in destroying the railroad from Winnsboro
nearly to Chester-20 miles. Fitzpatrick was
ordered by Sherman TO move toward Charlotte,
n. c., as if threatening that place. 1t was re-
ported that Beaurecard intended to concentrate
all rebel forces in South and North Carolina
the remains of Hoods army and the troops
under Bragg-at Charlotte and give bat
tie TO Sherman. 1t began TO be reported also
that a part OF Hoods army, under Cheatham,
was moving direct from Augusta, Ga, to Char
lOtte n c., and that Hardee was evacuating
Charleston and moving by railroad via Flor
ence, S. c., to Cheraw, on the Pedee River, to
cooperate with or join Beauregard. The right
wing had been ordered TO march from Winns-
boro for Cheraw and Fayetteville, and to
cross the Catawha River at Peay's Ferry. The
Fourteenth Corps was to cross the Catawba at
Rocky Mount. The Twentieth Corps crossed
the Catawba on the 23d of February at Rocky
Mount, Gen. Sherman accompanying it. Kill
patrick also crossed at Rocky Mount, and
moved up perthward toward Lancaster. S. c.,
to protect the flank Of the left wing and keep
mp the appearance of moving on Charlotte.
THIS the whole army had turned eastward
instead of moving on Charlotte. When the
Fourteenth Corps reached the Catawba at
Rocky Mount the river had risen in c0nse-
quence of heavy rains and carried away part
of the pontoon. bridge laid for the Twentieth
Corps Some pontoons were lost entirely
others were torn ont of the bridge and carried
down stream. some of which were recovered.
But still there were not enough to complete
the bridge. WagonboXes were taken and
covered with canvas but it was impossible to
give them the necessary bOuyancy To float
heavy teams, wagons, and artillery. The delay
became somewhat irritating. The Confederate
cavalry were closing around us and annoying
us little, as foraging became DANGEROUS after
being confined to one spot for several days.
ThagS was even. talk of the Fourteenth Corps
being abandoned by Sherman and the main
army and ordered to march for some point on
the seacoast. If my memory is not at fault,
Gen. Davis, commanding the corps, was in
stracted by Gen. Sherman to do this il the
passage of the Catawba should prove impracti-
cable within certain fixed period. Fortu-
nately, however, by subsistence of the flood,
the ingenuity and hard work of Col. George p.
Buell. and the troops detailed for the purpose,
THE BRIDGE WAS FINALLY REPAIRED,
and we were enabled to cross on the 9th of
February. 1t was necessary for our brigade to
protect the bridge and the troops from the
rebel cavalry while the crossing was in pro-
gress. The regiments of this brigade were
drawn in from the line of battle around the
bridsehead one at time and marched over the
bridge to the cast bank till but one regiment
remained on the west side. Fortunately, the
enemy were not enterprising at this time.
They could have troubled us very seriously
during this crossing The troops that crossed
first were so posted on the east bank as to pro-
tect those still crossing Finally, it was neces-
sary to take up the flooring of the bridge and
cut il loose from the west bank and let it swing
around to the east bank by the force of the cur
rent, leaving, however, boats enough at the
west end to, bring the troops still remaining
there to guard that end of the bridge and to
assist in cutting loose from the west bank.
Then these men-the last remaining-took the
boats and rowed over. They were carried
down the river about two hundred yards by
the swift current and stuck in the trees over
hanging the water on the east bank. Some of
tHe DoatS were NECESSARILY aDanuOneu mere, out
we saved the greater number. The last step
IN this dangerous and delicate operation was
left till after sundown. 1t was my duty to CON-
1tafid tlIe rear guard and superinteLd the cross
! ing Of the Catawba. We were detained several
.,sdays at Rocky Mount, during which the Twen-
tieth Corps remained in Camp at Hanging
Rock, having already crossed.
We were now
on HISTORIC GROUND.
In this vicinity was Camden, where the pa
triot army of the Revolution under Gates was
overtbrown by the British under Lord Corn
wallis. We were not far from Kings Noun
tain, where the British were defeated by the
backwoods hunters of North and South Car
olina, under the fead of the staunch Daniel
Morgan. The famous Tareton and his reckless
dragons of the British army had traversed
this region, and the wary and cunning Marion
and the brave Sumter had fought and marched,
advanced and retreated through these regions.
Remember an old plantation house. occupied
by several dignifed and venerable ladies' which
was pointed out as once the temporary head
quarters of Lord CORVALLIS when he was
marching north into the ever-memorabIe trap
set for<him by Washington at Yorktown, Va.
Hanging Rock, too was famous for some
event of note in Revolutionary times. How
the blood thrilled through my veins when, as
q scheolbey. read ef the battle of the Cowpens,
of Kings Mountain, and other affairs in that
Sfofiuts sbIs9SSle Oi bt hHceSJors Oh the A1ncrl-
cans. wonder il present or future generations
of school children will feel as l did then, when
they shall read of the battles fought to preserve
the Union which the Americans of 1776 created
1t Is certainly the best guarantee of the pres
ervation of the Union and free Government
that all American children should be taught to
rejoice over the success of the armies of the
United States. This important lesson-the i'm
portance of the success of the Union cause
should be taught in all schools and all Ameri-
can histories. 1t was near Rocky Mount that
this singular incident cccurred An elderly
gcntcman-a Mr.. Z. G. Palmer-was arrested
by some of my men, because he was found in
possession Of a sbotgun-and apparently travel
ing. He was, in fact. attempting to
ESCAPE FROM sHERMAN's ARMY
with such valnables as he could carry about his
person, on horseback. Among these was a loi
of jewelry belonging TO his daughters. He was
in charge of the guard, and at the guard tent
After an interview with him i found him a
very intelligent gentleman, who expressed
some very interesting views on the future oi
the South. Among other ideas he advanced
was that in the fnture he thought the gentle
men of the Southern. States then in revolt
against The United States would limit theii
ambition exclusively to State politics and State
officers. That struck me as a reasonable and
probable view. But after 20 years of light
thrown on this question | cannot see that MIR
Pailners opinions are confirmed. 1t certainly
seems now that National politics and National
Offices interest the statesmen, politicians and
citizens Of the States then in a state Of wal
against the Union as deeply as they do those
OF the States that successfully defended the
Government. This IS good sign. too Were