The National tribune., 1903-01-22

| ing the ueTemy, ROSS anu erSuSSOn
Brigades, to Flint River, where l found
the bridge practically destroyed; the
plankihg was gone and the stringers were
charredy 2but not materially injured. The
| COnfederates occupied good position Oh
the east side of the river, where rising
ground was honeycombed with rifle-pits
Several pieces of artillery were soon 81
fenced and driven from the ground by our
battery boys, who then turned their guns
on the rifle pits, which they shelled by vol
leys.
! Under cover of this fire my entire force,
except the 18th Pa.-which had been left
Mt a crossroads to cover the flank OF the
Third Division-dismounted, and in line
of battle and with ringing cheers, charged
across the open bottom to the bank of the
river. and their carbines quickly drove the
Confederates from cover. The 4th Mich.
crossed on the stringers of the burned
bridge, and We're deployed as skirmisl-
ers; fence rails were quickly thrown on
| the bridge as planking, and We crossed
over, taking two of the guns, under Lieut..
| Robinson with us. The skirmish line adj
vanced steadily, driving the enemy, and
was closely followed by the LIST Ohio and
guns, worked by hand, on the road be-
tween them; the Sd and 4th Ohio in col
umn of tours, behind the guns. No horses
had as yet crossed the bridge, and Muir
rays Division had not come up, but l
knew it was not far behind, and it would
soon make the bridge passable for the
| horses.
Warming to our work, / ordered the guns
forward into the skirmish line. and the
enemy, now consisting of three brigades-
Ross. Armstrong;. and FergussOn's-
were driven back to the town of Jonesboro,
| where they showed strong line. holding
| n good position. The railway buildings
were protected by strong works, con-
structed of bales Of cotton, and were man
ned by considerable force. l looked for
stubborn resistance to our further advance.
A well-directed shell from the. battery
pierced the water tank, and few more
had the bales of cotton and the railway
buildings blazing.
We were somewhat annoyed by fire
from the windows of the houses. so / re-
quested Lieut. Robinson to send shell
| through any house from which gun was
fired, and this brought the annoyance to
n very abrupt termination. The effective
fire from our two guns and the bold and
determined advance of the skirmisf line
the 4th Mich, with their Spencer car
bines,, soon dislodged the enemy, who rap
idly fell back through the town.
About this time Fitzpatrick rode up. 1
reported: General, in obedience to your
orders. I have taken possession of Jones'
boro." He grasped my hand warmly and
said: "You have done nobly." He in
formed me that the bridge was in good
shape for the passage of horses; that he
had ordered my led horses forward, and
had Instructed the 9TH Pa. to report to
One Of our men, an old telegraph OPP
orator, caught message con the fly"
which gave the information that Pat Gle
burne's Division of Infantry and Martins
Division of Cavalry were en- route to re-
inforee the men we had been fighting
Jackson's Division.
My horses having been brought for
ward, the division had mounted and
moved into position to meet this new
force; and the Third Division was turned
into working party to destroy the rail-
road.2 II
The Tth Pa. came in behind the Third
Division and was now with its brigade.
All remained quiet until about 10
O'clock, when Gen. Fitzpatrick notified me
that about two miles of the railroad had
been destroyed, and the Third Division
was about to move south, and directed
me to fall back upon it and take a new
position.
ADVANCE CHECKED By REYNOLDS.
When Col. Murray attempted to move
south, he found the Confederate Gen.
Reynolds, with seven regiments Of in
fantry, strongly posted behind wellcon-
structed barricade of felled trees, oppos-
ing him. After feeling the enemy's posi-
ton, Fitzpatrick decided to make flank
movement towards McDonOuSh, to our
left, and then endeavor to strike the rail-
road at or near LOvejOy Station, from
where he hoped to be able to carry out
his original program for destroying the
road.
He instructed me to send my own brig
nde in the advance, and to remain at
JcnesbOro with Longs Brigade, and to
hold ReynOlds's infantry and the Confed-
ment.
Lieut. Robinson, with two guns, ac-
companied the First Brigade; Lieut.. Ben
nett, with two guns, remained with the
Second Brigade.
BY 3 o'clock the Third Division was
well clear of JOnesboro. Long held his
ground until 4 o'clock, when We with
miles out the column turned to the right,
and marched directly for Lovejoy. AS the
Second Brigade turned on this road, the
Confederate cavalry, which had followed
us from Jonesboro, attacked, but Col.
Long repulsed them.
l galloped to the front. and found the
advance of the First Brigade, command
IL,
ishing with the enemy at point where
the road forked. / sent the 4th Mich on
the road leading to the right, and in
structed Maj. Mix when lie reached the
railroad to destroy it as far as possible.
sent staff officer to Gen. Fitzpatrick
with request TO order the Second Bril-
gade to report to me.
When within about one mile of Love
joy, courier from Maj. Mix, command
ing the 4th Mich, brought me the informa-
ton that that regiment was on the rail-
road and was engaged in the work of de-
structiOn. A few moments later Col. Long
reported to me with his brigade.
Here the enemy again attempted to
make stand, and opened fire from n
line extending on both sides of the road.
and beyond the flankers of the advance
guard. Maj. Dart dsmounted his battal-
ion, drove them from their position, and
remounted; but from the next rise of
ground fire was again opened, and force
OF mounted men appeared on the road
II A sABER CHARGE.
was with the advance guard, and di-
rectea Maj. Dart to use his saber. He
immediately charged, drove the rebels
about half n mile, and developed force
too Strong for the advance to cope with
were brought forward, the entire regi-
ment, dismOunted, deplOyed as skirmish-
ers, advanced steadily driving the enemy
to within 20 rods of the railway, where
the Opposing fire showed line extending
beyond both TANKS of the It'll. l sent a
mounted squadron of the 4th Regulars to
cover tie left flank, and ordered forward
the remainder of the 4th to extend the line
to the right. Capt. Mcintyre brought his