The National tribune., 1903-09-03


men, were reduced by the loss of seven
killed and % wounded. OF the latter
several were MORALLY wounded. This was
in reality slight loss, considering the
severity of the fighting at the angle Ii
was there the hardest fighting occurred
according to Gen. Mitcheil's report
After the dead, the dying and the sui
fering had been attended to, our brigade
proceeded to strengthen its works by plug
ging the holes that had gaped widely and
invitingly to the enemy's bullets. Spur
red by dictates of self-preservation. we
continued our labors until quite assured
that our harricades were bulletproof, and
then we laid upon our arms in full eXpec-
tation of renewal of the battle at the
break of day.
While we rested, Gen. Sherman was
forming combinations to defeat the full
filment of Gen. Johnston's plans, and
forces were set in motion which were de-
stined to relieve us from the struggle with
superior numbers.
A DEsERTER's GREAT SERVICE TO THE
UNION.
Gen. Slocum discovered early in the af-
ternoon that JohnstonS entire army WAS
before him. The positive assurance of
this fact was brought TO him by de
serter from the Confederate ranks who
had formerly been a Union soldier. and
had entered the ranks of the enemy with
the purpose of deserving nj the first op-
portunity. No more favorable occasion for
rendering great service to the Union
cause could have occurred 10 him.
Gen. Slocum at once called for mes
senSer who could be depended on to ride
swiftly by the nearest path to Gen. Sher-
man with this startling intelligence. A
young officer was sent to him as one pos
sessing the necessary qualities for this i'm
portant service.
A TRUSTY YOUNG OFFICER.
A few words from Gen. Slocum in ex-
PLANTATION of the urgent necessity for
haste were sufficient to send the young of
ficer flying with utmost speed upon his
mission. and before the day had closed he
placed Gen Slocum's brief note in the
hands of Gen. Sherman.
This gallant officer is now Senator j.
B. Foraker.
Meanwhile Gen. Slocum endeavored to
alter his plans from offensive to defensive,
but the time was too short to concentrate
the widely-scattered brigades of Carlin's
Division. He attempted to strengthen
Carln's line with Robinson's Brigade as
soon as it reached the field. but while
moving into position this brigade was
caught in the whrl of the Confederate at
tack and driven back with the others.
In anticipation of this result, Gen. Slo-
cum had massed his artillery at the main
road as base for a new line. There the
shattered brigades found refuge. The
veterans who composed these brigades had
been long enough in service to realize the
disadvantages of their position when en-
veloped by the Confederate attack. but
they were as quick to recognize the adj
vantages of their new position where they
had the protection of the wood, while the
assaulting columns of the enemy must
cross an open field in front. Their conf
dence returned, and all attempts of the
COnfederates to cross that field proved
futile.
sHERMAN's MARCH TO SUPPORT sLOCUM.
When Gen. Sherman learned from Gen.
Slocum's brief dispatch that the antagon-
list he was seeking at Smithfield or Colds
boro had been engaged all day in a death
struggle with less than one-sixth of his
(Sherman's) army, he directed the Right
Wing to march rapidly toward Benton
vile.
On the morning Of the Goth Gems.
Baird and Geary,, each with two brigades
from the rear of our own column. and
Gen. HaZen with a division of the Right
Wing, came to our support, and Hazen
took position on our right. Before the ar
rival, however, of this reinforcement We
were ignorant in the ranks of our brigade
of its approach, and the first streak of
dawn found US kneeling behind our bar
ricadc with muskets ready to repel any re-
newed assault. Many of our men had
their cartridges laid before them in order
to expedite loading-thus saving the
time necessary to reach into their car
fridge boxes.
The enemy did not modest us at that
early hour, and later on Gen. Vanderveer
sent two of his regiments forward and
found the Confederate works in our front
evacuated, when our brigade also moved
forward and formed new line parallel to
the GoldsboTo road.
Gen. Johnston had to make a new dis
position of his line to meet the approach
of our Right Wing upon his left flank.
Gen. Sherman, now thoroughly aroused
to the danger that menaced our portion
of his army, FASTENED to divert Johnston's
attention from his expected prey. We
felt that we were saved when the echo of
Howards guns was borne TO our ears
from the right.
Late in the afternoon Gen. Howard ar
rived with the Right Wing, and formed
his lines in connection with our right We
now outnumbered the Confederates. John
ston's opportunity to crush hall of Sher-
mans army had come to him under the
most favorable circumstances. 1t now
passed never to return.
SHERMAN ASSUMES OFFENSIVE.
On the 21st Gen. Sherman assumed the
offensive. He adopted the tactics of the
Atlanta campaign in again dealing with
his old antagonist.
Our line was pressed close to the
enemy's works, compelling the Confeder-
ates to stand by their arms for fear of
an assault. while one of our columns
worked around to reach bridge in their
rear that was essential to their safety
Our brigade moved forward in the af-
ternoon to new position and fortified it.
A number of our skirmshers took posses
sion Of house whence they were able to
annoy the Confederates TO such an ex-
tent that the latter suddenly emerged from
their works in force drove back our skrm-
ishers, and burned the house, after which
they retired.
The firing along the line was loud and
continuous, as if a great battle was in
progress.
On the night of the 21st Johnston re-
treated, leaving his pickets and his wound
ed to fall into our hands the next morn
Ing.
Why Johnston failed is hard to explain
His plan was good; his soldiers fought
bravely; Sherman was completely de-
ceived; two of our divisions walked reck-
lessly into the net that was spread, and
one of them, with its brigades widely
separated, attempted to charge over the
works where a grea: army lay In wait
for such weak prey.
Tho only &c ~ A.