The National tribune., 1899-11-23

rebS responded lively with some heaVy
guns.
BRISK ENGAGEMENT.
On the 10th we took the steamer Wilder
ness, and were transported across the
river, landing at Smithville, some eight
miles south. Next day we marched a
dozen miles, skirmishing most of the way
with the enemy's cavalry, who impeded
our advance by throwing trees across the
road, etc. On the 18th our gunboats
moved up the river. We tried to surround
Fort Anderson, an old United States fort
which the rebels evacuated during the
night, and which, with IS prisoners, and
about 13 pieces of heavy artillery in good
order, fell into our hands. The 10th lost
five men killed and several wounded.
The following day after the capture of
Fort Anderson, we met the rebels strongly
fortified at Town Creek, bordered on both
its banks for a considerable distance back
by rice fields. 1t was reported our gun
boats We're fast removing Instructions in
the Cape Fear, and were within five miles
of Wilmington.
Rapidly our skirmishers advanced across
the creek, our brigade followed and charged
the enemy, and in five minutes or 50 Hay
woods (South Carolina) Brigade, com
posed of about 700 men, with a four-gun
battery, was in our hands. Our regiment
captured two brass howitzers, three battle
flags, etc, with loss in this engagement
Of one man killed and II wounded; of this
number y men belonged to Co. c, the most
unfortunate, but one of the bravest com
panies in the regiment
(tr1t thf. OF yr-a ,,l
across rice swamps. Fort French, below
Wilmington, east of the river, fell. The
fleet, with Gen. Terry's forces, and we
crowding the enemy under Bragg, on the
west bank, all hastened the capture of the
last Confederate seaport, which, after n
sharp engagement, fell into our hands on
the morning Of the 22d, with a number
Of guns, about 400 prisoners, etc. The
rebels burned several of their new gunboats
and transports, and threw hundreds of
bales OF tobacco, etc, into the river before
evacuating the city. So here, II days
after passing Mount Vernon, Va, we
celebrated Washington's Birthday of '65
at Wilmington.
Our forces drove the enemy in direction
Iof Fayetteville. Our regiment and the
10th Ky. being detailed as provost guards,
with Iieut.-Col. Jordan as Provost-Mar-
shal, Col. Sterl became post commandant
The boys for more than week enjoyed
their rest. Bragg had been superseded by
Joseph T.. Johnston. Some 5000 Of our
paroled prisoners were in the city. 1t was
an affecting scene to see the hospitals flied
with them, and hundreds dying. We
drew our pay, so the boys gave them all the
| assistance it was possible. Saturday
evening, March 4, funds of the City Thea
ter-tickets 81, house packed-were all
donated for their benefit.
Having been relieved by the Twenty
| fourth Corps, ON the 5th we started for
Kingston. The next day we marched over
marshy and very sandy country, over
grown with bunch and pine forests; biv-
ouacked for the night on the shore of the
Atlantic. On the 9TH we marched about
IS miles through similar strip of country
as the previous day. For three more days
we pressed forward, often over wretched
roads, through burning forests OF pitch
pine, so brilliant after night to behold.
JOINING SHERMAN.
On the 11th we arrived at Kingston,
where Gen. Cox's force won a victory over
the enemy, who tried by every means to
cause his defeat ere Gen. Couch's force
could reach him.
We left for Goldsboro on the 2Oth, the
boys foraging heavily by the way, the
country through which we marched being
rich and fertile, and owned by aristocratic
rebels and Shareholders. We passed by
regular negro or slave towns belonging to
one man, and saw an old slave woman