The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-05-14
BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO.
wheeler's Cavalry discounted and Driven
from the Field-Millen Prison Pen.


In the movement of fitzpatrick anf
Baird against Wheeler the cavalry wa:
in front, the 9Th Ky. Cav, Col. Baldwin
leading, with his first battalion. under
Mai C. Il. Cheek. as advance guard. The
column had not marched more than foui
OF five miles when Maj. Check discovered
the enemy advancing to meet him. He
reported this fact to Col. Baldwin. who
Immediately went forward with the sec
ond battalion, Capt. Glore commanding
As Col. Baldwin passed Gen. kilpatrlcB
he was directed to move forward rapidly
and not give the enemy time to form.
When Col. Baldwin reached the front
he found the enemy already formed, and
Maj. Cheek heavily engaged. Capt. Glore
was directed to form his battalion as
rapidly as possible. The nature of the
ground and the character of the timber
was such that it was impracticable to
charge.
The enemy's line overlapped that OF
Maj Cheek and momentarily threw it into
disorder. but a battalion of the Sth Ind.
Cav. Col F. \. Jones commanding,
formed on Maj. Cheeks left, and Capt.
Chores battalion was brought into action.
and the enemy was soon dislodged and
driven from their position. The column
then moved forward to Buck Head Greek
and camped for the night
The next day, Dec. 2, about 10 a. M,
the column reached Rocky Greek. and
found the enemy strongly posted on the
opposite side, behind barbados, ready to
dispute the passage of the stream.
FORCING A CROSSING AT ROCKY CREEK.
The 14th Ind. commanded by Lieut.
Col. Thomas Morgan, was sent forward
by Col George L. Este, commanding the
Third Brigade. to take part in a move
ment TO dislodge the enemy. Lieut.-Col.
Robert II. King. Sd Ky. Cav, assigned
two of his battalions to this task; namely,
the first battalion, commanded by Maj.
Breathett, and the third battalion. COM
manded by Capt Thomas. The first bat
talon of the 9Th Ohio Cav. was also sent
forward by Col. Thomas P. Heath.
The infantry and cavalry both succeed
ed in crossing the creek. They attacked
the enemy and drove them from their
works. The cavalry pursued the retreat
ing foe for some distance toward Waynes-
boro.
The march was continued, and at night
the entire force encamped on the farm of
a Mr.. Chisholm.
On Dec 8 the column reached Thomas's
Station, on the Augusta Railroad three
miles south of Waynesboro. The infan-
try brigades were encamped along the line
of the road, and during the night several
miles of the track was destroyed.
The cavalry was posted for the pfotec-
ton of the infantry while the work of de
struction went on. During the night
Wheeler's cavalry attacked the 32d Iii.
MID Inf, but was repUlsed again and
again.
During this day Gen. Fitzpatrick re-
ceived orders from Gen. Sherman to make
q strong reconnaissance in the direction
of Waynesboro and to engage Wheeler
wherever he met him. Gen. Fitzpatrick
accordingly issued orders to his division to
CIR for- ha fobt. that tho m
ing the command would move to engage,
defeat and rout the rebel cavalry encamp-
ed at Waynesboro.
At daylight on the morning of Dec. 4
Gen. Kilpatrick's Cavalry Division took
the road to Waynesboro, Col Smith D.
Atkins's Brigade in advance.
Gen. Baird with his division of infan-
try followed close in the rear. The entire
body of troops, cavalry and infantry, were
in fine spirits. The cavalry was particu-
larry anxious to measure swords with
Wheelers force; they were not satisfied
with the previous weeks campaign, when
their orders to release the prisoners at Mil
len imposed upon them the duty of a
rapid march and defensive contest with
Wheeler.
BATTLE OF wAYNESBoRo.
The order of battle was soon set Col.
Atkins with the Second Brigade was as
signed to bring on the fight, with Col.
Murray with First Brigade in reserve.
This spirited fight is well described by
Col. Atkins and Col. Murray. This is
what Col. Atkins says:
Dec. 4, moved at a. M, my
brigade in advance, to attack and
rout Wheeler. We found him in
strong position near Waynesboro, dis
mounted, behind heavy rail barbados.
and attacked him vigorously. The 92d
jill. Mid Inf. tdismounted) moved in line
In the center; the 9th Ohio Cav. (mounted)
in column on the left, and the 10th Ohio
Cav. in column in the road on the right
of the 92d Ill. MID Inf. Col. Van Bus
kirk, with his regiment, the G2d Ill. M't'd
Inf. ldismounted), moved steadily up in
front of the barricades keeping the enemy
in constant fear of his Spencer rifles, and
his regiment moved over the barricade
of the enemy while many of them lay be-
hind them with loaded guns in dumb,
stricken fear, and as they attempted to
leave the barbados poured in yolley af-
Ter volley with his repeating rifles. The
9th Ohio Cav, Col Hamilton command
ing. held the left flank, skirmishing with
the rebels in the woods beyond. The 10th
Ohio Cav. charged in gallant style down
the road. The 9Th Mich. Cav. after pass
ing the first barricade, charged by squad
ron to meet counter charge By the
''Three successive lines of barricades
were taken in the single charge, the
enemy stubbornly resisting. but compelled
to yield TO our charging columns.
wheeler had chosen his position eau
tiously in the toughest, most inaccessible
locality, and feeling himself safe against
a saber charge. hung TO it tenaciously,
but he was handsomely routed and rode
over. The fruits of our victory were so
of the enemy killed, thrice that number
wounded and 81 prisoners captured.
''All of my men and officers behaved
with noticeable gallantry, but | am impell-
ed to mention especially Capt. Norton. of
the 10th Ohio Cav, who was MORALLY
wounded in this charge while nobly doing
his duty at the head of hissmen. Now
for a name for our regiment said ne. as
with cleaning saber he went forward
into the fight Generous soldier. he honor
of his regiment was his uppermost
thought. Corp1 David Scott, the bearer
of my brigade flag. was instantly killed
in the thickest of the fight while waving
the flag as high as he could reach and
cheering the men,"
BY order of Gen. Fitzpatrick, Col. At
kins withdrew his brigade, and his position
was taken by the First Brigade, led by
Col. Murray.
COL. MURRAY's REPORT.
Following is what Col. Murray says of
he ctinn IF h;S hriyada on tIiS o,o,.;oo.