The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-31
WISE'S FORKS.
What a Comrade of the 85th N. Y. Saw at
That Fight.

| That Fight.
A COMRADE writing for the Toledo
| "a Blade, says that he would like to
49, have some of the boys who were
engaged in the battle of Wise's
| Forks, n. c., write something about that
| engagement.
Accordingly, will undertake to write a
| short letter about what / saw.
/ enlisted in the Fall of 1864 in the 85th
| \. Y. for the town of POrtville, N Y, and
was assigned to Co. A of that regiment,
which had been detailed from Plymouth
just before the battle at that place, to gar
rison Roanoke Island, n. G. Our regiment
remained there, and with several detach-
ments during the Winter, except when we
were raiding about the country on various
expeditions, until the Sd of March, 1865,
when we received orders to go to New Berne,
n. c., and from thence to Wise's Forks.
We were under the command of Gen.
Schofeld, and arrived at that point on the
6th. COUGHS and Cox's Divisions were Or
dered across the country to Kingston. The
lack of weapons delayed their movement
till March 6. when they started under Couch,
while Schofeld went by sea to Moorhead
City, and thence by rail to New Berne,
whence he reached on the 9Th at Wise's
Forks, near Southwest Creek, on his way to
Goldsboro,.
Cox had sent up two regiments under
Col. Upham, 18th Conn.,, to seize and hold
the crossing of the creek, but Hoke, who
had been reinforced by Cheatham's Corps
from the Tennessee, had that morning
fanked and surprised Upham there, strik-
| ing him suddenly in the rear and capturing
700 men.
Elated by this move Hoke advanced on
Schofeld, attempting to bore in betwixt
Carter's and Palmer's Divisions after the
Virginia fashion, but he was checked by the
arrival of Rogers's Division, and desisted
without serious fighting or loss.
| By Gen. Schofield's order Cox held his
position until Couch arrived. Hoke Skin
mished sharply the next day and struck
heavily at Cox's left and center the day
after March 10), resulting in heavy loss to
| the enemy, viz: Schofeld reported our loss
only 300, and the enemy at 1900. Hoke
| retreated across the Neuse and burned the
| bridge.
Schofeld was reinforced, but the lack of
| pontoons delayed him till the 18th, when
he again advanced on the Doth and entered
| Goldsboro', with but little resistance, on the
next day, just before the arrival of Sherman
and his whole army.
This is just brief outline of the history
| of the engagement at Wise's Forks as / saw
it. / well remember that just as our small
rig or detachment had arrived Gen. Palmer
asked If we would 90 down just outside of
the fort aud assist in recapturing a piece
Of artillery from the enemy. Most OF us
fell in, and marched down into a piece Of
woods toward the enemy's fort. The rebels
Immediately commenced firing on us, and
after being broken up somewhat we again fell
into line and made temporary halt; throw
ing up some logs poles, brush, ETC., for a de-
Tense, we were ordered to fall down, which
order was quickly obeyed, and after we had
given the enemy few shots were ordered
to run for our lives, and l suppose that
il was an interesting sight when, like flock
of sheep, we ran through that open field
pell-mell, heller skelter while the rebs were
after us full chase, until we were in the fort
while the bullets were flying around us
| thick and fast.
l should be glad to hear from any other
comrade of the S5th N. Y. or anyone else
who was in that engagement.-G. T.
DENNIS, Detachment Co. A, s5th n. Y,
Eidred, Pa.