The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-10


scouts, who examined your columns
closely, accurate information of your
strength and movements, all of which
was telegraphed to Gen. Hardee at
Savannah.
But so possessed was he with the idea
that my reports were exaggerated, and
that you were making the best escape
YOU could to the protection of the gum
boats at Port Royal or Ossabaw, that
my advice with regard to his action was
net needed. He was induced, however,
to run up to me at the bridge, arriving
Friday evening, but even there and at
Tenille, where / had a consultation
with him again, he could not compre-
hend the situation, so prejudiced had his
mind become by kilograms from Gen.
Bragg at Augusta.
At Millen | again halted until a
courier from Gen. Wheeler advised me
to fall back to the crossing of the Little
.Ogeechee, as Gen. Fitzpatrick was work
ing to get behind me.
At the Little Ogeechee | again took
up position until your right wing Tapped
me, when | fell back. On receiving
my telegram to that effect, Gen. Hardee
peremptorily ordered me TO return to
my position at the Little Ogeechee, add
ing that he would send up 1000 Con-
federate troops TO my assistance.
| returned as ordered, although my
officers, in body, protested against it,.
resumed my abandoned lines, and was
reinforced as promised. The troops
were disposed to make the best fight
against overwhelming odds that could
be made, and | grimly awaited the re-
suit.
Your advance began skirmishing in
the morning. In the course OF the day
Gen. McLaws arrived with orders from
Gen. Hardee to relieve me in the COM
mand. l rode with McLaws along the
lines, explaining my positions and the
reasons for them, and the condition of
affairs, and, returning to the telegraph
station on the lire Of the railroad, re-
signed the command and retired to sleep,
of which | stood in need.
Hardly had | closed my eyes, when
a request from Gen. MeLaws took me
again to the telegraph station. Taking
me aside, he told me that he had come
up under total misconception of the
state of affairs; that their true condition
had not been represented to him, and
that under the circumstances he would
not take the command, and that | must
get out Of the scrape.
/ told him that Gen. Hardee had my
kilograms representing Sherman's force
at over seventy thousand men, marching
leisurely along; that | had got out Of
the scrape once, but was sent back with
increased numbers to complicate the
problem, and that | was truly glad to
be relieved from such Gn my opinion)
unwise operations. He positively re-
fused to continue in command, and
Immediately returned to Savannah.
WAYNE TRIES TO WITHDRAW.
Skirmishing in front was continuing,
and from my advance line | observed
your position and movements to flank
my right, the river being fordable, about
waist-deep, above Keeping my own
counsel, / waited until IL o'clock at
night, when | sent for the Generals of
divisions and brigades, explained to
them the position, and gave orders for
withdrawing immediatel y and silently.
The orders were well executed, and
by 2 a. m. had extricated my men and
was in retreat; the cavalry, with bat
terry of field-artillery, covering it.
At daybreak | saw my anticipations
realized. You had fanked me, ready
to close upon my right wing and rear.
Escaping from your troops, found my
retreat embarrassed by an unexpected
and dangerous obstruction. Civilians
had been sent out from Savannah to
burn the bridges in your front, and had
commenced by destroying them in my
rear, instead of waiting for me TO pass.
This nearly cost me my artillery, which
was only saved by the GOODNESS and en-
ergy of the officer in command of it.
At about fifteen miles from Savannah
my retreat was arrested by orders to
take position behind line Of rife-pits
that had been dug there, and to occupy
the line between the railroad and the
Savannah River Reconnoitering the
position, / returned to my command
and began my dispositions, when orders
came to me to fall back upon the city,
and occupy line between the Augusta
road and the river
On arriving in Savannah j reported
in person at Headquarters, and found
there Gen. Beauregard, who had come
over from Charleston. Making my re-
port to him. iii which your strength was
included, he threw his hands up and ex-
claimed
"What has come over you? You did
not use to be so nervousl Gen. Bragg
telegraphs me from Augusta that Sher-
man has not more than twenty-one thou
sand men with him, that he hardly has
eighteen thousand muskets, and is max
ing a hasty retreat for his gunboats,
either across Sisters Ferry to Port Royal,
or to Ossabaw."