The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-10

it having been fred by the rebels We re-
manned here three days and then moved on to
Columbus, Ga.
We reached Columbus about noon on the
10Th. The 1st Ohio Cav, which was in the adj
vance charged one Of the bridges that spanued
the ChattahoOchee River. The rebels had
strewn this bridge with cotton saturated with
turpeutine, and as the cavalry approached they
set it on fire. The lst Ohio fell back the artil-
lery was brought into requisition, and we had
an artillery duel for the remainder of the day
While this duel was in progress plans were be-
ing formed and inauguratcd for night assault
A detail Of 300 men was made from I'd, Sd and
4th Iowa, who were to assault and storm the
fort which was on the west side Of the river
The 300 took their position and the remainder
Of the division was also assigned to their sew
eral positions some mounted and some on foot
The 9TH Ohio Cav. and 10th No. Cav were dis
mounted and took up their position along the
river bank. When the invincible 800 had
gToRMED THE FORT
a charge was made for the bridge, which was
filed with combustibes and the torch ready
TO be applied. One piece Of artillery was planted
at the further end Of the bridge, charged with
grape and canister, so as to rake it from end to
end. By 8 o'clock P. m. the storming party was
in the fort. Their cheer was the signal for the
charge, and both foot and horse were at once in
motion, sweeping down everything in their way,
killing one Colonel on the bridge, oveTturning
the gun nj the city end of the bridge and the
city was taken with a dash. The loss to the
Confederacywas 3O0klled, z, 700 prisoners with
their arms, 81 field guns behind strong works,
the new rebel ram jackson Gust completely
10000 bales of cotton, and numerous store
houses filed with munitions Of war of every
kind and description. The capture of Column
bus settled the fate Of Georgia, as did the cap
ture Of Selma that of Alabama, and convinced
Gen. Wilson that he was master of the situa-
tion, and could march his command in any
way his mind dictated We burned the store
houses and depots, many Of which were in
close proximity TO the populous part of the city
| Much of the city was destroyed with them.
| The battle of Columbus was fought by Uptons
| Division alone and il was beyond doubt the
! last general engagement of the war
| Upton leaving Montgomery, La Oranges
! Brigade headed for West Point, and on the
march swept from his front Buford's and Crox-
| toms Brigades, and took Fort Taylor, with its
| garrison, while Upton took Columbus On the
! 18th the march was resumed toward Macon,
| Ga, by way of Andersonvlle. On reaching
! Throckm0rtOn, four miles from Andersonville,
| they learned of the surrender of Lee and the
fall of Richmond. All the prisoners that could
| be moved had been run by rail into Florida.
The7th camped at Throckmorton for the night
and had general good time with the rebel
| commander and members of his staff, who ex-
pressed themselves as satisfied with the results
especially the close of the war. Then the 7th
| headed for Macon. When Gen. Wilson had ar.
| rived within ~ miles of Macon he was met by
Howell Cobb, bearing truce, who informed us