Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-28

escaping
Tennessee, and the onward course was re-
sumed At Salem, n. c., were large cloth
factories busy turning out Confederate cloth
ing. Pamer's brigade was sent to burn
these. With them went up in smoke 1900
bales of Confederate cotton. Palmer was
also ordered to tear up the railroad between
Salisbury and Greensboro.
While Palmer was busy at his task the
main body was occupied elsewhere. At Sails
bury was Confederate prison, guarded by
5000 soldiers of the southern army, under
Gen. w. ". Gardiner This force was
marched out and met Stoneman's men ten
miles from Salisbury. The Confederates had
eighteen guns and were under Pemberton,
who opposed Grant at Ficksburg At Vicks-
burg Pemberton had been lieutenant gen
eral. He had been reduced in rank and was
now only colonel. He it was who was over
the force drawn up to meet Stoneman, April
u, at Grant creek. 1t was brave but for
lorn attempt
Gillem and Col. Brown charged into the
Confederate ranks The Confederates fed
and were pursued several miles, 1900 of
them being captured, with all the Is guns
At Salisbury great quantity OF stores was
taken. including 5000 Confederate uniforms
and go, 900 good English blankets, which had
escaped the blockade only to be burned at
Salisbury. There were fifteen millions of
Confederate money and 100000 in gold
among the spoils of Salisbury. Ten thousand
bushels of corn and fifty thousand bushels of
wheat showed that the Confederacy was not
yet starved out.
Among buildings destroyed were three
powder magazines, with six thousand pounds
of powder and over million pounds of am
munition. The railway tracks in all direc
tions from Salisbury were torn up. But, as
usual, the Union prisoners had been removed
before the Federal soldiers reached the spot.
At Salisbury the expedition paused. 1t
was thought best to send the prisoners to
East Tennessee. Accordingly the expedition
started westward, reaching Lenoir, II. c.,
April Is. Here Stoneman turned over TIE
command to Gillem. He himself proceeded
on with the prisoners and captured artillery
to Greenville, East Tennessee.
To each of the brigades remaining east Of
the mountains further tasks were assigned
Palmer was TO station himself at Lncolnton,
thence scout down the Catawba. Brown wa.
to go TO Morgantown, and Miller to Ashe-
vile, n. C.
April IS Col. Palmer sent Maj. E. c.
Moderwel to destroy the Charlotte and
South Carolina railroad bridge across the
Catawba. By this time Jefferson Davis him
self was at Charlotte. having fled in hot haste
from beneath the cruinbing walls of the
Confederacy. He had a strong cavalry force
with him
Moderwell had only 80 men, and was
obliged 20 be very cautious to avoid encoun-
tering the Davis retinue. He succeeded in
reaching the bridge in safety, and captured
the Confederate pickets. The bridge was
noble one, l, l50 feet long, and standing fifty
feet above the water. In half an hour after
Moderwell's men set fire to it, it was burned
from end to end.
April IS, Gen. Gillem himself started 70
Asheville. 1t was defended by q Confederate
force under Gen. Martin. He moved rapidly
across the Blue Ridge by way of Hammoud's
Gap and came upon the Confederate rear,
His men charged On the Confederates and
captured four guns and seventy men. Then
he advanced directly TO the attack on Ashe-
vile. But before he entered the place. on
tbs night of April %. at II O'Clock. he re-
ceived official notification of the truce be-
tween Sherman and Johnston preparatory
to the surrender or .Johnston's army. The
fighting was ended.
Forty-six cannon. COCO prisoners and seven
teen hattie aaSs were captured by Stone |
mans uea ELIZA ARcHARD CONNER.