The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-16
WAR STORIES.
Bentonville, the Last Battle Of the War.
Greenville Mountainccr.

last great battle of the war between
the States, which took place at Ben
tonville, y. c., on the 10Th, Goth and
2lst of March, 1865, WAS written by
the late Capt. William i. Earle in
the summer Of 1891, when he was a
resident of Washington, d. G. The
survivors of the Butler Guards had
arranged for maroon near this city,
and Capt. Earle was one of the invit-
ed guests, but at the last moment the
demands Of business prevented his
coming, and in letter to Capt. j.
W. eagle, the last commander Of the
Butler Guards, he inclosed the manu-
script describing the last battle of the
war. This vivid account Of Benton
vile, waa read again last week Il: the
reunion OF Earle battery ,and as it is a
valuable contribution to history, with
much Of local interest therein, we
advise that every one Of our readers
give it q careful perusal
We had retreatcd from Branchvillc
by Ridgcway OH the South Carolina
railroad, and St. Stephens Depot on
the n. +. II. r., Darlington, Chcraw,
Rockingham and Fayetteville, N. c.,
and were resting within few miles Of
the latter place, when on the next day
(being Sunday, had ridden to Gen.
Hardee' 8 headquarters end Was return
ing to my camp when | met Gen.
Hampton on the road, accompanied by
Major Preston aud single courier.
I Introduced myself to him, and he
refey,ed to an application which l
nod made eighteen months before to
sue war office to be transferred to his
command; and replied that 1 was
very anxious to make the transfer and
was exceedingly weary Of the long re-
treating column. He at once suggest
ed that we return to Gen. Hardee g
headquarters, which was done, and
after few words Of conversation
Gen. Hampton told Gen. Hardeo that
this young man wanted to "join the
cavalry" and that he was anxious to
have elm. Gen. Hardee jocularly ex-
pressed his surprise that any one
should care to join the cavalry under
any and especially under existing cir.
eumstances. and said, "He is now in
command Of the three best batteries
in my corps
The matter, however, was arranged
in few minutes, and within an hour
/ was on the march down the Raleigh
road, toward Fayetteville, from which
point we we're to proceed by cross
road to Gen. M. G. Buffers headquar-
ters on the Goldsboro road, with orders
30 spend the night near Gen. Wheeler.
At dawn the next morning rapid fire
on the picket line advertised us Of the
fact that notwith hstanding the Fsyette.
Vile bridge had been destroyed, Sher-
man had crossed the Cape Fear and
was looking after our whereabouts.
In few minutes we were marching
aoross the country for the Goldsboro
road through farms and wood paths,
and gaining the ridge we found that
Gen. Butler was making stiff fight to
prevent our being out of, and had
sent squadron of cavalry to meet US
ss sn escort. We got into the road
and in Eve inmates had COINED the
cavalry" and we're in fight. The
policy was to retard Gen. Sherman's
movements and prevent his oummers
from foraging upon the country, and
for six days it was question of fire
and fall back from early dawn till
dark.
Saturday afternoon found US on the
edge of an uncultivated field, which
lny between US and o heavy force of
infantry which seemed disinclined to
advance for the present; but their
sharpshooters amused themselv es
with us at long tau, and in doing 30
killed Buffers horse under him with
in few feet of our guns. The firing
gave US an opportunity to measure
the distance across this field with ac-
j. euracy, and the knowledge proved
very valuable to US next day. AS we
we're Withdrawing Gen. Butler direct
ed us where to bivouac, and advised
me where to meet him next morning
: At dawn, and gave me the information
rs to what was to happen.
A good part Of the night was spent
in overhauling the ammunition and
re6lling the timber chests and get
ting ready for che work before us.
when we reached the point Of rem
-.9ezvous on that beautiful Sunday
morning in March, the sun was just
rising, and Gen. Butler and got to