The National tribune., 1891-01-29
THROUGH GEORGIA.
Destroying Railroads, Forging and Taking Sa-
YAnnRh.


pine-lnUt from the swamps OF Georgia, and
while ID burns viii tell the thrilling scenes
and adventures in which the old Sd Wis par
ticipatcd, quoting largely from letters in my
possession, written at the time Of the great
expedition planned by Gen. sherman to so
through the Confederate commssary, as il
were, while Grant held Lees army with an
iron grip
We left Atlanta, Ga, Nov u, 1864, letting
90 all communication with the North, and
struck out boldly for some point on the coast,
after having selected from three 10 five men
from each company 10 forage for their COM
rades Our brigade was composed Of Sd Wis,
I'd Mass. 9th Ind, 18th ~ j. and 10th n. Y.
From the 10Th TO the 18th we marched in an
eastcrly direction, meeting but little oprosi'
ton, completely destroying the Augusta Rail-
road. Our Corps tthe Twentieth was the cx-
IRENE left Of the army, the Fourteenth Corps
being some 20 miles south, while the Fifteenth
aud Seventeenth Corps moved down aud de-
strOyed the railroad 10 Macon. On the both
we changed direction southwark toward Mil
ledgeville, the Capital Of the State, where Gov.
Brown had issued his famous proclamation
calling upon all to arm and destroy the army
that dared TO invade the sacred soil.
The railroads having been tapped, Gov.
Brown, the Legislators and State officers
packed their grips and fed on the first APP
prOach OF our troops.
We crossed the OcOnee River on the 22d, and
our regiment entered the Capital Of Georgia
about j o'clock and took possession Of the
Treasury Department and were well supplied
with Georgia State scrip, which the Treasurer,
in his haste TO escape, had failed to sign. We
took possession Of the Legislative Hall, and
issued proclamation that all the money in
the State Treasury be paid TO those who had
stood by the United States flag, and the State
of Georgia had more money in circulation on
that day than any day since il became a State.
On the oath we again moved forward in m
easterly direction toward Saudcrsyillc, Wash
ugt0n County.
Here we met with some opposition, but soon
fauked the enemy out Of their position and
took possession Of the town. We here tapped
the Georgia Central Railroad and from the
Goth to the 29th were engaged in destroying
the railroad TO the 0gecche River, distance
of over 30 miles.
We marched north, then east and on Dec. 3
destroyed the Augusta Railroad within eight
miles of Milan Junction. The Fourteenth
Corps bore down on Augusta on our left the
Fifteenth aud Seventeenth Corps remained on
our right aud we could see by the smoke Of
burning cotton aud gins. that our army was
cutting wide swath through this part Of tho
Confectionery.
We were warned by prisoners and papers cap
tured that we would meet our Waterloo before
we could open communication with the feet.
Our hummer brigade, rs our foragers were
called, did the principal fighting till within "a
miles OF Savannah. Here all the roads were
obstructed with felled timber, but our pioneers
removed the distractions almost rs fast as we
marched. When within Is miles Of Savannah
we first met serious distractions in the shape
of two small forts erected on the Savannah
side Of a slough.
The First Brigade engaged the enemy in
'front.' the Third moved TO the left, while the
Second was 10 flank on our right Our COM
pany III was thrown forward as skirmishcs
through heavy timbered swamp aud made a
left wheel, coming up parallel with the plank
road in rear Of the forts above mentioned.
The enemy seemed IN great confusion when
we came 10 sight aud were engaged in Temov-
ing the artillery toward Savannah. Between
US aud the fort was riceGed, 100 rods wide,
covered with eight inches of water. We gave
them the contents Of our muskets aud with q
yell sprang forward TO capture all that re-
manned in the front. Being young, supple and
lengthy, ] soon left my comrades in the rear,
aud as they checrcd il inspired me 10 enter the
fort first As ] came splashiHg out Of the water
under full head Of steam, i bCheld several heads
exposed above the works, and though they
were prepared 10 riddle me with bullets my
comrades cheers 30 eated me that ! slackcned
not till j had cleared the loot ditch filed
with water 10 protect the fort. j scaled the
Itch and works aud secured the three prison.
ers with my empty musket Before my COM
pauy could pass around 10 the entrance. one
company Of the doth Pa entered aud claimed
the prisoners. was IN no humor 10 surrender
my trophies aud. as the prisoners stood by nc,
my company was soon on hand 20 enforce my
claim. The prisoners were Serg't VI. Crawford,
doth n. G.; ;. Sessions, Both n. C., aud T. Brown,
10Th n. Q. III. A.
Crawford had been Lieutenant In Virginia
infantry regiment, had resigned aud when
Savannah was threatened had re-enistad 10
save the city from falling into the hands Of
sherman men. from the prisoners we learned
that Savannah was defended By 200 heavy
sicgeguns aud works, and that Sherman's
( army could never take the city. was ordered
10 report with my prisoners 20 brigade division
aud corps headquarters, when 20 the latter
place the provost guard took charge Of them.
On the lob we captured a mail train on the
Charleston a. Savannah Railroad aud moved
4 within four miles OF the city. The army hav-
/ ing concentrated at this place a continuous
4 line OF battle was formed under the heavy
/ works surrounding the city, both nauks re-
/ firing on the Savannah River, and the siege
Of Savannah had commenced IN earnest. Our
4 sappers and miners soon had the space between
4 the lines covered with trenches.
On the 18th, our regiment was Withdrawn
4 from the line and moved up the river toward
/ Augusta with orders 10 cross on Argyle Island
aud set the ricc-mills 10 work 10 supply our
hungry army. The lst n. Y. battery took
position IN the bend Of the river to protect
our crossing. Two boatloads Of 10 men each
had landed, when we discovered two guuboats
with the Confederate flag flying, escorting a
large transport loaded with supplies for the
rebel army from Augusta. The river mon.
stGrs steamed down close 10 our battery,
aud fears were entertained that they would
pass when suddenly they let fly several 30.
pound shells. Our battery took range aud
threw a shell in their portfolio, when they
withdrew up the river. Our battery now
/ opened on the transport, aud soon disabled her.
+. The crew dropped the anchor, aud as she
swung close 10 the island shore they lowered
the lileboats aud were making off when 4
member Of Co. II Radcd into the water and
parted the canebraze that lined the shore, aud
called 10 the Captain, not five rods Off 70 turn
back. The Captain in a low voice said, Men
rOw-rOw hard ~ The soldier said. "Tuw
back, Captain-turn back! 90 The Captain said
Row, mcn-Tow!" when the soldier fired
shooting the Captain through the shoulder
which had the cTcct Of changing his orders q
return 10 the transport.
The crew assisted us IN floating her down q
the landing and she proved a very valuabl,
prize for us 81 that time as our army was ia
great need VI supplies The Res0lute was "a,
name Of the steamer, and she was loaded viii