The National tribune., 1903-08-20

lowering in the vicinity, just beyond reach
of our guns. The story as told to us was
that Fitzpatrick, with one brigade, was
surprised at day-break. while all were
asleep. by Hampton's cavalry, which fair
ly rode into the midst of the camp before
any alarhI was given.
The house in which Fitzpatrick was
sleeping was surrounded before he could
get out, but lie succeeded in eluding the
guards and escaped on foot, and only half
dressed, to join his flying soldiers in 4
mad race for the nearest timber, leaving
all his camp equipage and his battery in
full possession of the enemy. Fitzpatrick,
however, was not the kind of a soldier
to submit long to such ignominious treat
ment. No sooner did he find himself free
from immediate danger of capture than he
seized 4 horse, borrowed saber mounted,
half-dresscd as he was, and swinging his
saber, cried Come on, boys!' and dashed
as furious,y back into his camp, followed
by his mel, as he had dashed out of it
very short time before.
Nov there was another surprise.
Hampton's men, believing that Fitzpatrick
was effcctuaily disposed of had turned
their attention to plundering the captured
camp, when. suddenly and unexpectedly,
the owners burst upon them in the midst
of their DISCRIMINATION. 1t was their turn
to fly, and they did so in such a hurry
that many rcde into the swamp and lost
their horses, as already stated.
As Fitzpatrick had no use for us-in
fact, he did lot send for us-we returned
to the main road and continued our march
to Fayetteville, which we approached two
days later, following Bairds Division,
which was skirmishing with the enemy's
rear guard IS it retired.
DESTRUCTION OF FAYETTEVILLE AR
sENAL.
We remained three days in Fayette-
vile, during which time we destroyed a
number of public buildings. We battered
down the walls of the Arsenal, n splendid
structure, by using iron rails suspended
by ropes, as battering rams, thus avoiding
the dangerous agency of fire.
The citizens were well treated and pri-
vate property fully protected.
We marched in review before Gen.
Sherman, and noticed that the citizens
displayed more interest as spectators than
had been the case in other Southern cities.
While encamped here our ears were sa-
luted one bright Sunday morning by the
sound of a steam-wlistle on some ap-
preaching river craft. We recognized it
as the voice Of ciyilization-and answered
it with cheers which echoed and re-echoed
! from every portion of our great camp.
Presently two gunboats arrived from
| Wilmington, and reported the capture of
that important stronghold from the enemy.
| Thus far Sherman had been able to
keep the Confederate forces divided by
threa tening several important points with
| one Wing or the other, and then passing
them by, to pOunce upon some other point
found unprotected. While our Left Wing
threatened Augusta, and the Right Wing
threatened Charleston, the Confederates
had to concentrate at both those cities,
which left us free to dart upon Columbia,
necessarily left unprotected. Again, our
| Wing advanced upon Charlotte, where the
enemy gathered to oppose us, but we turn
ct to the right and fell upon Fayetteville.
Now we could not hope to further elude
the gathering forces of the Confederacy.
| Strenuous efforts had been made to collect
a sufficient force to meet us. Hoods army
| from Tennessee, the garrisons from Au-
gusta, Charleston and Columbia, and
Hokc's Division from Virginia, were com
bined under the command of our old an
tagonist, Gen. Joseph L. Johnston, whose
skillful strategy We had learned to re.
spect. Sherman now prepared for the
inevitable passage ut arms"
He selected four divisions Gncludine
ours from the Left Wing-two from each
Corps-to be reduced to fighting trim and
free from any impeachment to rapid move
ment, except necessary ammunition wa
CONS and ambulances.
The two remaining divisions of oul
Wing were appointed to take charge OF
the baggage wagons. Four divisions OF
the Right Wing were directed to move
forward on road parallel with ours, bu
within supporting distance of our column
The two remaining divisions were t.
guard the wagons.
On March 10 we crossed Cape Feal
River and marched away from Fayette
vile. Gen. Sherman, believing that oul
column of four divisions was on the di
rect road to meet the enemy, rode at oul
head. Kilpatrick's cavalry rode on in ad
vance, we following as fast as the wretch
ed roads would permit The recent rain.
compelled us to build corduroy much o.
the way for the passage of our militar!
and wagons, SO We accomplished only II