The National tribune., 1901-06-20
AS SOON ENGAGED FALLING OVER SUBMERGED CYPRESS
KNEFs EQUAL corr ORAL"

his horse, near the head of the column,
expecting at any moment to hear a loud
, crash of musketry, his quick eye caught
| sight of one of our fOragers mounted on
a mule and riding at breakneck speed
| down the road from the front. The
! forager rode up to the General and at the
top of his voice delivered his message, as
follows: Hurry up, General Hurry up!
We have got the railroad and can hold
it, if you hurry up
Sure enough, body Of fOragers looking
for supplies had advanced to the railroad,
| routed body of the enemy found there,
and taken possession, and held it until
| the advance came up.
While our fOragers were engaged in
providing food and forage for the army,
they did not lose sight of the fact that
| they were Union soldiers battling for their
country's honor, and often the information
furnished to our Generals by them proved
of great importance.
Early the following morning we moved
along the railroad, thoroughly destroying
it as we went forward, and at night
camped near the little village of Medway.
The work OF destruction having been
completed, the next morning we were
ordered to the front We left BranchviIle
few miles to our right and marched in
the direction of Orangeburg. Early in the
day the Third Division passed the Fourth
Division, which for two days had been in
advance, engaged in making 1t interesting
for those who dared to obstruct their pro-
gress.
A march of eight miles brought us to
the South Eilisto River, where a rafting
fire of musketry told us OF the presence
Of an enemy disputing the crossing. One
Of our batteries delivered a number of
well-directed shots into the enemy's ranks,
which caused general stampede
Soon after dark our pontoon train came
up from the rear and engaged in bridging
the river. Meantime our brigade was
ordered forward to their support, where
we remained during the night.
About noon the next day we crossed
the river and marched about four miles,
when a halt was ordered until the next
morning. In order to be prepared should
the enemy in our front make night at
tack, we were ordered to construct a line
OF works all along our front. But every
thing remained quiet through the night,
save the steady tramp and whispered com
| mands to troops coming up from the rear
Feb. IL our brigade moved out OF camp
at o'clock in advance OF the entire
Seventeenth Corps. We marched about
II miles with skirmishers well thrown out,
| and late in the afternoon discovered the
main body Of the enemy intrenched on the
north bank of the North Eilisto River
Early on the following morning our di-
vision was ordered down the river four
miles, where we crossed the main channel
on poDtoons moored to-the trees, then
stepped off into the waters of a February
river and waded across the bottoms waist
deep to the high grounds on the north
side.
While our advance columns were max
| ing this crossing Gen. Sherman rode up
and dismounted near our regiment The
General was engaged in walking back and
forth along the river bank, apparently OBJ
| liyious TO his surroundings, when a crash
of musketry reached his ears. That
moment Sherman was changed as with
flashing eyes he asked: "In what direction
is that firing" Directly in front, Gen
eral," was the response. Sherman re-
sumed his heat. Then another report of
musketry assailed his ears. I'm what
| direction is that firing" asked Sherman.
| Further in front and to the left" was
the reply. Amen" remarked Sherman.
and hastily crossing the pontoon bridge he
| was soon engaged in falling over sub
merged cypress knees equal to the Cor
poral.
He, however, soon returned to the south
side, and mounting his horse rode rapidly
| away to the left
After emerging from the overlowed
river bottoms we moved rapidly forward