The National tribune., 1892-04-28
CAMPAIGN THROUGH
THE CAROLINAS.
Continued from first page.l

the war from the first, and held the rank OF
Captain. Maj Stratton, who was in COM
mand, informed Mrs. Dickens as TO the ma
ture of the expedition, and that his orders
were to burn all the buildings on the planta-
ton, and however unpleasant the task might
be, his orders were I'M peratve; that, if she de-
sired, he would give her time TO removet from
the house such clothing, bedding, and turni-
ture as she wished to save.
This woman, think, was the most reso-
lutte and selfpossessed person L ever saw.
When told that we must burn the house
within half hour, she never uttered mur-
muir or made single request OF us, and at
once went out on the back porch and COM
menced taking down an old hand loom and
carried it to place of safety. We had taken
with us several empty wagons; these Wetliled
with hams, bacon, and sweet potatoes, also
corn and fodder for our horses, leaving q
supply for the negro families, who aided us
in gathering the horses, mules, and stock
from tho plantation all of which was taken.
The negro quarters were not disturbed, but
all the other buildings were burned. This
Is the only act of vandalism that l recall of
personally taking part in during the war.
Had we been successful in getting our VIC
tim, doubt if he would have escaped with
out greater loss.
The right wing, having utterly ruined
Columbia, began its march northward in
the direction of Winnsboro; from thence
paa at rl ri ha
tawba River at Peays Ferry, while the left
wing were to concentrate and cross at Rock
Mount.
Heavy rains had delayed Slocum nearly q
week. On the 22d the cavalry drew fresh
supply of rations for forced march toward
Monticello. A part of Hoods army, after
his defeat at Franklin, Tenn, had for two
days been marching on a parallel road to our
left, into which our foragers had often run,
taking some prisoners; but as yet he had
failed to make junction with the forces in-
mediately opposing us.
The cavalry reached Black Stocks on the
morning of the 23d, after considerable
skirmishing. We found during the day the
day before while out foraging, three of whom
were strung up,
WITH THEIR THROATs CUT.
On each of them was placed card, on
| which was written death to all foragers."
Fitzpatrick was greatly enraged at this hor
ribe crime perpetrated upon his men, and at
once Informed Wheeler, demanding that the
perpetrators be arrested at once and sent to
him; else he would, within 2 hours, shoot
| like number of prisoners then in his hands,
| in retaliation.
The next day we crossed the Wateree
River on the pontoon bridge at Rocky Mount
Ferry. 1t WAS midnight before the division
| all got over. Three men and their horses
were drowned while crossing. We marched
all night in one of the wCrst storms we had
seen since leaving Savannah. Men and
horses were completely drenchcd and COW
cred with mud. We stopped at daylight for
breakfast and to feed our jaded horses, wait
ing for wagons TO come up. About noon we
moved out toward Manchester, 10 miles dis
tant and arrived there in the midst of q
heavy rain, and while the 160 prisoners
which we had were preparing TO draw cuts
by kilpatrick's order, TO determine who of
their number should compo3e the unlucky
Is who were to be shot at sundown in re-
taliatlon, a messenger came to our lines with
a note from Wheeler, requesting that the
execution be delayed, as he had no knowl-
edge Of so barbarous an act as had been
charged upon his command, and asking for
time to inquire into The facts. Wheeler's
request was granted; bat so far as / have
knowledge LIE failed TO find the guilty ones,
or if he did he never gave them up 1t was
understood that several letters were ex-
changed between Wheeler and Fitzpatrick
relative to such atrocious acts of warfare
which had the desired effect, after which we
heard no more of their threats, death to
all foragers."
While at Manchester news reached US
that Charleston and Wilmington had been
evacuated and were then in our possession;
that Hardee was moving his troops by rail
to Cheraw, where great quantities of stores,
both public and private, had been sent from
| Charleston. We afterwards learned as he
withdrew from that place that he set fire
to large quantity of cotton stored in the
warehouses in and about the city, and that
a ssoreroom filled with powder and ammu-
milton blew up, killing 200 of the citizens
crowded about the conhagration.
About this time we also heard that Gen.
Joseph E. Johnston had been assigned to the
command of all the troops in the Depart
ment of South Carolina and Georgia. and
that Gen. Beauregard, whom he was to re-
lieye, was then at Charlotte
HOODS DEFEATED ARMY OF THE TENNEs-
| SEE,
amounting to about II 600 men, was then
strung along On our left between Augusta
and Charlotte, commanded by Stewart, Ste
venson and Cheatham.
We remained near Manchester until the
2Gth, during which time the division can't
ured so horses, while part of the Twen-
tieth Corps came up, following and destroy
ing the railroad, Leading out of Columbia
was branch running northwestward toward
Abbeville. This road was committed to
Gen Slocum with the left wing and cavalry,
who destroyed over 50miles in the direction
of Charlotte, thus creating the impression