The National tribune., 1903-08-27

dCEOSS lHe SWOllch VI couth AAiNch.
We moved forward about noon, encoun-
tering great difficulties, owing to the
wretched condition of the road, much of
which We had to corduroy. After ford
ing Black River, we encamped near Mingo
Creek, a march of 10 miles. The enemy
offered no resistance
We continued our march on the 18th,
our division in advance.
OUR FoRAGERs DEVELOP THE ENEMY.
Our foragers with their usual enter
prise, pushing ahead of cur column in
the keen quest of something to eat, had
provoked skirmish with detachment of
the retiring enemy, and presently found
themselves subject to the brisk fire of two
cannon.
Our foragers quickly realized that the
affair was too large for them to handle,
and turned it over to the fighting depart
ment while they galloped away in another
direction TO hunt for pig-pens and smoke
houses.
Our brigade deployed, and three COM
panieS of our regiment were thrown for
ward as skirmishers. The enemy gave us
a few parting shots and retired, giving us
no further trouble during the days march
of 10 miles.
Gen. Sherman. who had accompanied
our column thus far, in expectation of our
meeting the enemy in force, now conclud-
ed that Hardee had retreated to Smith
fell, near Goldsboro, where Johnston was
known TO be collecting an army to offer
desperate resistance to our further pro-
gress Accordingly, he ordered our col
umn to march direct to GOldsboro, %
miles distant, willie he himself, rode over
during the evening, to the Right Wing,
to lead it by another road also to Colds
borO.
The situation on Sunday morning
March 10, was very different from what
Gen. Sherman, or any of his subordinates,
supposed.
The Confederate General, instead of be-
ing at Smithfield with his army, was 20
miles neareT--in fact only five miles dis
tant from our column. Under him were
Hardee, Cheatham, Bragg, S. d. Lee and
Hoke representing forces collected from
Tennessee, Georgia, Carolinas and Viz
ginia.
This force was not as large as Sher-
mans united army, but greatly outnum- |
bered either Wing, so it was Johnston's
wise policy to watch for and seize an op-
portunity of falling upon either portion of
our army when separated from the other. |
This opportunity was now presented to
the Confederate General. He misled Sher-
man by the manner of Hardee's retreat. |
from Averasboro, and while Sherman |
was making his dispositions to converge |
upon Smithfield and Goldsboro. Johnston !
advanced his army 20 miles nearer to us
under cover of night and intrenched it |
across the road that our Left Wing was
traversing Not only was our Wing sep
arated from the Right by a days march. |
but our own column was stretched nearly |
10 miles on a single, muddy roadway, and |
two divisions of the Fourteenth Corps |
N1organ's and Carlin's) were so far in |
advance of the others as to give sufficient |
time to Johnston to overwhelm them be-
fore the rear divisions could reach the |
scene.
Then the two divisions of the Twentieth |
Corps could be disposed of in the same
manner, as their arrival would be too late |
to help us or save themselves.
1t was quiet Sunday morning when we |
formed our ranks, ready to march forth |
and meet what fate had in store for us.
Our division having had the advance
the day previous, now waited, while Car
Inns moved forward to take that place in
our line.
1t was about 0 o'clock when our bri-
gade filed into the road at the head of our
division and Immediately behind Carlin's
JOHNSTON ATTACKS THE LEFT WING.
We marched quietly half an hour, when
the report of artillery reached our ears,
indicating that Carlins advance had en-
countered the enemy.
Nearing the scene, We began to hear
musketry. In the course of two hours
We marched about four miles, which
brought us to the front, where two of |
Carlin's Brigades were skirmishing heav-
lily, and his Third Brigade was moving
into position, all to the left of the road
Our brigade was deployed on the right |
of the road in double line, and moved for
ward with the 18th Ill. thrown out as
skirmishers.
The Confederate pickets were driven in
and their main line developed.
Fearing's Brigade next came up and
formed in our rear. vanderveer's Brigade
had charge of the ammunition wagons of /
the corps, and for the better protection of
that important portion of our equipment, /
it was moved to our right, where swamp
in front protected it from direct attack. |,
The right of Nanderveer's Brigade rested
at the swamp, and its left joined our right.
As soon as our position was established.
our first line began to build intrenchments. Il
while all was quiet in our front for more
than an hour, during which time Gen,
Slocum prepared an attack, believing that /
fragment only of Johnston's army was
before us.
Buelrs Brigade, on our extreme left. /
beyond supporting distance, opened the
battle with a vicious attack, but recoiled
wien IL encountered superior numbers. |
Johnston Immediately followed this re-
pulse of Buell. with his premeditated at
tack. His long line enveloped the re-
treating brigade and drove ii, broken and
disorganized, far to the rear Hobart's
Brigade next caught the blow and was
driven back, notwithstanding gallant re-
sistance. Rohinson's Brigade of the
Twentieth Corps had just arrived and was
moving into position on Hobart's right
when it was also enveloped and driven
back by the rushing, cheering, compact
masses of Confederates. Mles's Brigade
Immediately after suffered the same fate.
and then three of our cannon stationed on
the main road, fell into the hands of the
enemy.
Thus four brigades were successfully
driven from the original line, and two only /,
remained, Mitchell's and yanderveer's.
Our brigade was next in order to meet
the onset of the enemy, but we had not i
been idle while waiting for the impending
blow.
Gen. Mitchell had noted the evidences
OF disaster on our left and made his dispo-
sitions to repel the attack on front and /
flank. He swung our second line to the
left, facing the main road, by which move
ment the right of our regiment was Joined
to the left of the 9Sth Chic, of the first
line and at n right angle with it. This
angle played an important part in the
battle. 1t was the wedge that divided the
advancing hosts of the enemy and destroy