The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08
The Rebels Wake Up to the Way They Have
Been Outgeneraled-Rush to Save Column
bia-Crossing the North Edisto.

bia-Crossins the North Edlsto.
For two days longer the illusion wa:
kept up that Sherman was moving on Au
guSta.
Fitzpatrick ut Johnsons Station main
tanned a continual demonstration of being
about to move out with his whole force
for renewal of the assault on Aiken
Baird moved his division up toward John
sons Station. as if leading the whole army
| to his assistance, and Carlin's Division
was not far behind him, while Morgan
with the other division, was hurrying the
corps trains toward the unguarded Guig,
nard's Bridge. across the South Edisto.
In the meanwhile the Fifteenth and
Seventeenth Corps were destroying the
railroad as far as the Branchville June
ton, thus keeping up the appearance of
an advance on Charleston. This kept all
the troops gathered to defend that city i'll
state of lively apprehension, and fully
engaged in the work of Strengthening their
defenSeS.
When Branchville Junction was reached
and destroyed, they We're cut off from any
chance to interfere with Sherman's move
mentS, as were also any troops that Lee
or the other commanders might send down
from Virginia and North Carolina.
BY the evening of Feb. Il Sherman was
well across the ugly barrier of the EdiSto
swamps, and was carrying surprise and
dire CONSERVATION to the rebels by strik-
ing straight for unguarded Columbia. the
Capital of South Carolina. and a city of
Importance TO the South COnfcderacy sec
Ond only to that of Charleston and Au-
gusta. 1t was peerless strategy. which
utterly COMPOUNDED Bragg, Beauregard,
Hardee, Lee and Jeff Davis.
Hardee seems to have been the only one
who had an inkling of Shermans real in
tentions. and who comprehended that the
real place TO defend Charleston and Au-
gusta was the line of the Salkehatchie. But
he lacked the force of character to give
mp the great. wealthy city of Charleston,
against the protests of its citizens. and
take his army out to the line of the Sake
hatchie. They thought their city could re-
sist attack from the rear as successfully
as it had from the front, and they wanted
the army kept there to save them, no mat
ter what happened to the rest of the State.
1t was the story of Pemberton in Nicks-
burg over again, except that Sherman left
the city to fall of itself after he had cut
off everything around it.
BY the evening of Feb. - Wheeler,
Wade Hampton, Bragg, Beauregard ct al.
walked up to the way they were being
hoodwinked, and began n wild race to get
around Sherman's left flank and before
him and save Columbia. 1t was too late
TO offer any resistance in the morasses of
the Edisto. They must do their best be-
hind the creeks and swamps leading into
the Saluda and the Congaree Rivers.
Colonel, there's no objection to our
keeping these Spcncers. is thcre?" 81 ask
ed the Colonel of the 92d ILL.,, as they were
falling back toward Johnson's Station.
I'VE picked them mp away at the front in
the streets of Aiken, where they would
have been otherwise lost"
mo. boys" replied the Colonel, with
tears in his eyes, at the memory of the
gallant boys from whose hands they had
fallen. Keep them, and do good service
with them. as | know you will, in recOl-
lection of the men who once carried them.
I'm very glad they have fallen into so
good hands. The Quartermaster will re-
turn them lost in action. Go over to him
when we get back to camp. and draw 30
rounds apiece for them, and see that you
don't waste one"
What are we going to do with our
own guns?" inquired Shorty.
The only way can see is to turn them
in with the captured arms, thought 81,
aloud.
Never 90 1t IN the world. Salu shorty
decisively. Il want this seven-shoOter aw-
full bad, but before I'll throw Old Reliable
into the scrap heap. with lot of rebel
guns, I'll tote it all the way TO Richmond.
No. s-i-T-r-r-e-e.
Same here" remarked 81. locking
kindly upon the gun he had picked out
when he had started from Indianapolis
back TO the front, and bestowed a world
of care to put and keep in first-rate shoot
ing order This old yawger has stood me
in mighty good stead several times, and
never went back on me once. L hate to go
back on her now"
Lets strap 'em on the cantleS of our
saddles, and carry them until we get back
to the company" suggested Shorty. Then
some of the boys will want them instead
Of their own, and'll carry EN- through
for u.s."
This met the views Of all OF the rest,
who each manifested a similar dsinclina-
ton to part with their pieces, though they
were exceedingly glad TO get hold of. the
seven-shoOters.
THE general direction of the march is
almost due north-a very little east Of
north" said an Aid, whom 81 met on his
way to headquarters for orders. You
needn't 20 on i'll to the General. He sent
me out TO find as many of you parties as
possible, and start you right. We're all
making for Lexington Courthouse, which
lies about IA miles west Of Columbia. Well
cross the South Edisto ut Daviss Mills and
the North Edisto ut Guntcr's Bridge. You
had better work over that way, aiming at
Il place called Leesyille, and keeping well
on the left flank of the Corps, and in adj
vance. When you get to LeesviIle turn to
the right and work northeast toward
Horse Greek and from there toward Rocky
Wells Keen yoIIr men well in hand. and
watch out for breakers. Wheeler's out
there, madder'n a hornet. and has the
whole country reused, and they're show
ing no mercy to prisoners. They are all
piling ahead to get on our TANKS and
front and stop us. Beauregard. Hampton,
Wheeler and the rest have made the mis-
take of their lives. Sherman Peter Funk
ed them clear out Of their boots and they
are wild over it. Look out for your scalps
and keep your eye peeled. that they don't
get in on us anywhere. They slipped up
on the First Brigade yesterday, and COB
bled Morton G.. Hunters Adjutant-Gen-
cral and Provo, and he's roaring about it
like n buffalo"
WHAT" exclaimed 81 eagerly. Cap
tured Morton C. Hunters Adjutant- Gen
eral and Provo? The old Bull-0f-the-
Woods that wants to run everything in
sight? | bet he's trying to move the whole
army to get them back"
THAT'S just about what he is doing"
well, with all his pecuiarities he is an
Indiana man and mighty good soldier
No discount on his courage or his patriot
ism
The Saluda River will be the next one
to cross after we reach Lexington" said
the Aid in parting. IF you happen to
reach there and find good crossing. hold
on TO IL But look ont for yOIr ScalDS