The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-29
BENTONVILLE.
How Rebel Aids Mistake Caused the JOhnaies 10
Get Earn Ihan They Rargained FOR.


Get G8re Than They Bargained FOR.
ToTHE EDITOR: As Sherman's army was leay-
ing Fayetteville. y. C.. March II. 1865, the First
Brigade Of the First Division, Fifteenth Corps,
was put in charge Of its corps train. How We
remember that almost incessant march of day
and night TO Bentonville, the lifting of mules
and wagons out of the mire, crossing and re-
crossing swamps marching through rain and
mud for one long week. Arriving there at
noon on march q, after resting an hour, we
were ordered out on the picket-line, and threw
MP our rife-Pits in plain view of and not far
from the rebel works. We had only got
through when they came for us with ven
geance, and repeated it three or four times dur
ing the afternoon, but We held them back with
out mnch loss TO ourselves. Night closed the
scene, and the firing almost ceased along the
line / was sentinel in camp early in the night
Everything IN camp was perfectly quiet, an
fact, | believe was the only man in the regi-
ment that was awake, as We had marched all
the night before,) when the stiffness was
broken by a volley OF 10 our left, which was
taken up by the pickets and things were quite
lively for awhile. l supposed the JOhnnies
were coming, and gave the alarm for the regi-
ment TO fall in the works. Soon everything was
quiet and when daylight came no enemy was
10 be seen. / never knew the cause Of the
trouble until ! saw the following some time
since. from the pen of Col. {. McGlurg, III the
Atlantic:
Into what irregular and detached positions the
troops upon the field had been thrown by the des-
Ierate wrtslie Of the afternoon is shown by one
dramatic incident, which occurred soon after night
fall Gen Mitchell, tired and worn out had Dor
rowed a rubber blanket, and was just comfortably
settled the ground when officer came and
walked hinn, saying: Here is staff officer with a
messagc for you He sat up, and was confronted
by bright young fellow who said - Col. Hardee
presents lls compliments to you and asks that you
will a,prisc your line that he is forming in your
70, Tho limo
Mitchell spFang his feet aud asked him 10 repeat
his message which lac did. The General inquired
what Col. iardee il was, and was told Col IIardee
OF the 23d Ga. commanding brigade IN Hoke's
Division. Gen. Mitchell asked the young gentleman
il he had had his supper and being told that e had
not. he politely Sent IN Charge oil SIAN o1ilcci
to the officer ia charge of the prisoners in the
Gen Mitchell then drew in his entire plcketline
and gave orders that at the tap OF a drum his whole
line should fire YollCy, and that tine picbetlint
should then resume its position without further or
ders. by the time this arranged the marching
and even the talking Of the Confederate line IL
front could be distinctly heard. One loud tap wa:
given on & bass drum, and one yollcy fired
low; and Gen. Mitchell says: II never expect t.
hear again such "A volume OF mingled cries, groans
screams and curses. The next morning there Wa,
displayed m front of cur works, among the dead
a line Of neH Enfield rifles and kuapsacks alnos
rs straight a. if laid out for Sunday in
spection. When reached Raleigh, a week o
two later, of officers went to Col. Htr
dee. mo was there III the hospital, wounded. III,
told them that his men had been IN the fortI:ica
tions ia and around Wilmington during the who'll
war; thai they before had been IN battle, anC
had not participated in this fight during the day
They brought cut for this night attack, ant
were determined to go right over the Yankee lines
and breathing fire, they had vowed 10 take pris
But out of the stiffness of that dark nigh
came that tremendous volley right in their face
and flank. The fools-these were Col. Hardeei
words-thought they discovered and sur
rounded They ran aud have doubt they ar
still running. for we have never been able 10 get
of them together since their flight " No turtle
attempt wGs made 10 disturb the Yankee lines dur
ing the night.
w. A. WIETERMUT'E, Co. A, 10th O., Mt. Lib
erty, O.