The National tribune., 1900-06-14
and it is evident something heavy is going


ing through the woods 10 The ro2d, an
reports the rebs Just over the hill, ana 'i'''
they have whipped Fitzpatrick al to pieces
another comes in coatless. hatieSS ''liN
bootless and reports Fitzpatrick was SUI
prised in his camp this morning at uaH
light, and had lost many men. no''
stragglers come in, some having put II"
clothes on. and soon the order comes OF O'''
brigade to go to Kilpatrick's assistance
We strip for 4 fight: that is, leave all l'''eN
mules. negroes, cooks and unarmed NEIL
~ KILPATRICK' BATTLE-GROUND.
We take off through an extensive turpeh'
tine camp in the woods. and march seven
miles across The country We come te
Kilpatricks S camp. and find things not 50
bad rs we expected. fitzpatrick mao
Travelled so miles yesterday, and camped
last night in the rain. This morning the
re1s charged in on his camp and scattered
things every way. There was only ms
Third Brigade there, the others being nIne
miles back on the road. The rebel cavalry
under Wade Hampton, charged this little
brigade with their three, and by the sur
prise scattered them.
As we nearcd the scene Of the conflict,
we noted evidences of the fight. 1t was
now all over and the artillery had ceased
firing about when we left the Fayetteville
road.
The first object I saw was poor dead
r>bel lying in the road. His ghastly face
saoked hideous, as though he had met
death in great passion. Soon we came Il
the camp, and We're received with rouSlng
cheers from the brave cavalry boys.
..'he rcbs at first drove them out Of their
camp, but they. soon rallied, and COM
menced the work of recovering it: and in
half an hour had regained it, retaken the
four pieces of artillery the rcbs had cap
tl1red. and turned the guns, sending the
rebs into the swamp by grape and canister,
Fitzpatrick narrowly escaped out the back
way of house he was staying in, without
hat. coat. pants, or boots.
The rebs were driven out so quickly they
had no time to plunder much, so Fitzpatrick
got his clothing and everything back in
half an hour His quarters were at a
house, and some of his staff hid them
selves upstairs while the rebs had pos
session. The dead and wounded lay
around thick, as we'll as many horses.
Our loss was 10 killed, 40 wounded and 50
prisoners. The rebel dead were more
numerous. / counted % as l walked
about. and they left many wounded.
saw one boy with his arm tied up from
a wound. He was eating his meal near
where lay dead rebel. THAT one," said
he, pointing out the body, was the one
who shot me. was his prisoner, and
when they were being driven back, he
turned and shot Inc, but my partner here
was at hand and brought him from his
saddle with his carbine."
Fitzpatrick is remarkable man and an
interesting talker, and one can readily see
he is no ordinary man. Soon after our
arrival, we started back to the main road,
and then on after our command, now many
miles ahead. We struck the main road at
the goth mile post and marched rapidly
Night came on at the 18th mile post l;
was moonlighteand we continued on, ex,
pecting to come up with our rear division.
We-saw a great light ahead, and coming
nearer, we found it TO be a roSin factory OF
fire. The light was grand and awful, and
was the most sublime confiagration | ever
saw. The building contained many hun
dred barrels of rosin, and some one had
fired it,
The smoke rolled up in an immense
volume, black as midnight, the fiery blaze
shooting out in. every direction. The
melted rosin flowed like lava over the ground
and was licked up by the fiery element
famed by the rushing air around.
At one place the road crossed a ravine
and swamp by a bridge. AS we were
emerging from this narrow place there werc
two of these burning yolcanos, one on eaeh
side. The smoke was so thick we could
not see through, and it was not certain we
could run the gantlet. The head of the
column plunged in, however, double-quick.
ing it and yelling like Indians. Some OF
the boys, looking ahead declared. we were
going into he'll at last; that we had Travelled
everywhere else, and had come to our jour.
ney's end.
We came TO camp at the 18th mile post
having marched "a miles during the day.
With corn-pone, ham and coffee for supper
we turned in 10 rest our weary limbs.
CAPTURE OF FAYETTEVILLE.
Saturday, March 11.-This has beer
the easiest day on us for long time. We
expected to take Fayetteville to-day, if the
Johnnies were not in too strong force.
The Fourteenth Corps was selected Il
enter the town first. The other corps wcrc
on different roads leading in, and every,
thing was on time. Our Third Division
was ahead, the First next, and ours in tho
rear.
We arose at sunup, ate breakfast al
eisure, and were on the move at 10 o'clock
We marched slowly, took dinner, and by
evening were within two miles Of town
The advance division entered at noon
Our foragers were in as soon as the reb!
would allow. We camped for the night
but were eager TO get into town to learn tn
news.
Sunday, March 12.-The sun rose beau
tiful this morning, and its rays broke il
on our camp, enlivening us all. Whisper
of communication with Wilmington wer
among those first to get news. Couldit b
so? ! wished for mail, and would like +
have some coffee-with but one or two ex
ceptions have been out for two weeks
Crackers and sugar would be relished, a
we were tired of rebel beans and corn-pone
Some Of lis wash fix I'M and po IN town