The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-08-01
WHEELER'SCAVALRY
Fought in Battles About n tlanta.
-lUdnM JOnrAui.

gallo! their antagonists at every step.
'Gcncral Wheeler last evening at
tackled the cncmy's left in the neigh
borhood Of Decatur and drove them
back, capturing 800 wagons with sup
plies, and large number of prisoners.
lie is still pursuing them"
On the 9th of July General Shcr-
man made his last great effort to use
his cavalry to destroy General Hood $
communications, By sending out three
grand raids under Stoncman, Garrard
and McCook. These numbered nine
ty. six hundred picked men, splcndidly
armed, mountcd and equipped. AS
we have Just shown, Wheclcr's caval-
ry had been for many days tied down
in the trenches fighting as infantry
Sherman $ immense hordes. In the
meantime our horses had been subsist-
ing on forage hardly sufficient to sus.
tain life. Notwithstanding this, with.
thirty-ninc hundred men, he started
in hot pursuit of the raiders. BY
daylight the following morning he had
got ahead Of the enemy and driven the
advance Of Garrard' division, which
was marching for Jonesboro, across
Flat creek. lie (Garrard) finding him
self so strongly opposed retreated rap
idly toward the left Of the enemy
main army. Wheeler pursued him a
few miles, captured few horses and
arms, and caused him to abandon sew
cral of his wagons.
About this time it was learned that
General Stoneman, with 1000 men,
had moved early in the morning in the
direction Of Macon. Wheeler ordered
General Iverson with his own, Cen
eral Aliens and Colonel Breckin-
ridges brigades, to follow Stoneman
rapidly, and attack him wherever
found. While this order was being
executed General WAcclcr received in
formation that the large cavalry force,
under General McCook Numbering
over $1,000 had crossed the Chatta-
hoochcc near Campblcton and was
making it's way toward the Central
railroad. lie ordered Ashby's brig
adc, under General Humes, which was
then on the march to join him, to
move rapidly to Jonesboro and ordered
General Kelley to remain and hold
Garrard's division in check with Dib-
reil' S brigade, and to send Anderson's
brigade after him (Wheeler) on the
Jonesboro road. On reaching Jones'
boro it was learned that General Nc
Cook had struck the railroad FIVE miles
below that place. Moving rapidly,
Waeeler overlook che enemy at dark,
who rapidly retreated in q westerly
direction toward Fayetteville. At
midnight Wheeler reached and passed
through Fayetteville. Pressing for
ward with Hume's division, only
about 500 strong (Anderson's brigade
being still nearly 20 miles behind)
Wheeler encountered the enemy at
Line creek, the bridge over which had
been destroyed and barricades erected
on the opposite side.
Taking advantage of bend in the
creek which enabled Wheeler to take
position which enfilated their barri-
cades, the enemy was driven from
their position, the bridge repaired and
our troops passed over. The darkness
Of the night was intense, but our men
continued the pursuit, often encoun-
tering barricades, the first intimation
of their presence being volley from
the enemy. Asd lawned, we came
upon the enemy's line Of battle.
Wheeler formed two mounted columns
For attack, and sending one around to
attack the flank, he led the other in e
most gallant charge upon the centre,
breaking through the lines and driv-
ing them in utter rout from the field,
capturing over three hundred prison
ers, their arms, horses and equip.
ments.
At IL O'Clock, within two miles Of
Newman, Wheeler overlook McCook' 8
rear, and after marching !, short dis.
tance encountered the enemy forming
line of battle in his front with TWEEN.
ty-fve hundred men. Although
Wheeler had with him not over six
hundred (the rest Of his command not
being able to keep up with the rapid
march) he decided to charge at once
One Of his brigade commanders pro
| taated and herped for God'o ,oLn a.