The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-30
THE SECOND GREAT STAGE.
Successful Crossing of the oconee-The Rebel
Authorities BaFls6 and Mystified.

The first stage in the campaign having
been accomplished with complete success
orders were issued for continuing the
NOV ement. Gen. Fitzpatrick. who vislteh
the COMMANDMENTS Chief ut Milledgeviiie
on the 23d. was directed to transfer MS
division to the Left Wing.
THE ARMY MARCHES AWAY FROM MIL
~ LEDGEVILLE.
On Nov. q the Left Wing of the army
left Milledgevillc. and marched eastward
toward Sandersville. the Fourteenth and
Twentieth Corps marching on different
roads. the Twentieth Corps on the rlsht;
Gen Sherman. with his staff, accompanied
the Twentieth Corps. =,
On the same day Gen. Fitzpatrick with
his Cavalry Division marched from Cor
don, where he had assembled his command
through Milledgeville and across the
Oconee River His orders We're to make
n rapid march upon Millen and If possible
rescue our prisoners of war who We're re-
ported to be held at that place. The Rlsht
Wing of the army had been earnestly de-
voting its time to the destruction OF the
Central Railroad. and closing up with It's
trains upon the town of Gordon.
Gen. Hardee became satisfied from the
movement of the Union forces that there
would be no actual attempt made for the
CAPTURE of Macon, and concluded that
Gen. Shermans next objective would be
Augusta. He decided. therefore. to pro-
coed at once to that city to aid in its de-
Tense He reached Savannah on the night
of Nov. %.
IlEUT,-GEN. RICHARD TAYLOR IN COM
MAND.
Jieut. Gen. Richard Taylor succeeded
Gen. Hardee in command at Macon. lie
issued the following order to Gen.
Wheeler:
.Headouarters. Macon, Ga,
Nov %, 1864; IL p. m.
"Mai.-Gen. Wheeler, Commanding Cav
airy Corps, in the Field.
General: The Acknowledgement
Commanding directs that you furnish MN
Mt the earliest practical moment with any
information you may have relative to the
enemy's movement toward the Oconee-
whether he is going directly toward the
railroad bridge from this side. or Is NOV,
ing to cross the river below the railroad
bridge with the view of striking the rail-
road at Davisborough or Tennille; and
also such information as you may have
from Gen. Wayne, who, when last heard
FROM was proceeding to the east side of
the Oconee to take position at railroad
bridge with II pieces of artillery and
about 500 or 600 men. If you possess
any information on these points when this
reaches you, you will communicate it at
once to these headquarters. He further
directs that you cross the Oconee without
delay, place yourself in front of the enemy,
and inform Gen. Wayne relative to his
movements. Should the enemy leave the
railroad and strike toward Augusta, you
will get on his flank, annoy him as much
as possible, and communicate promptly
and constantly with Lieut.-Gen. Hardee
at Savannah.
1.-The Northumberland commanding
desires you on receipt of this to endeavor
to learn the present whereabouts if posi-
bile of Carswelrs Brigade, Georgia Militia,
now commanded by Col. Willis, which
must be somewhere south of the rail
road and this side of the Oconee. The
enemy is reported to have left Clinton
about shutdown this evening, taking the
direct Milledgerille road. Brig. Fer
guson and Col. Breckenridge have been
ordered to follow closely, harassing hin
as much as possible, and send scouts to
the right for the purpose of getting in
communication with and receiving orders
from you.
Il am, General, most respectfully your
Obedient servant,
wv. F. BULLOCK. Jr..
Assistant Adjutant-G eneral."
Gen. Wheeler acted upon this order
promptly. His line of march to the
Oconee River was some distance south OF
the railroad He reached the river Nov
"a. and completed crossing the river b!
swimming on the 10Th.
Gen. Wheeler sent Lieut. Col JOIN, +
Gaines with brigade to hold i'll CHECK
the Union forces which were assembling
TO cross the river at Balls Ferry.
With the balance of his division ht
marched forward to the town of Tennille
being Station No. IL on the Central Rail
road, about seven miles south of Sanders
vile He reached there during the nigh
of Nov. %, and sent out scouts and pickett
on all the roads by which the Union force
could reach the railroad, or march in al
easterly direction. His position was il
Right Wing of Sherman's army. Gen
Wheeler met Gen. Hardee at this place.
On the 23d Gen. Blair moved the Seven
teenth Corps along the railroad eastward
and sent Gen. Giles \. Smith with hi
division to the Oconee River. Gen. Smti
found the enemy intrenched with artiller,
on the opposite side. The 23d Ind, Col
George S. Babbitt commanding, wa
placed in position TO cover the crossin;
of the bridge.
FIGHT AT BALLS FERRY.
A battalion Of the LIST Ala. Cav. wa
sent to the crossing of the Balls Ferr
road. These troops succeeded in CROSSING
the river, but on proceeding a short dis
tance on the other side were attacked b.
q strong force of the enemy under Lieut.
Col. Gaines. a spirited fight ensued, il
which our JOSS WAS Il Killed ana WOUND
ed. Our force was largely outnumbere
and was forced TO fall back. 1t was til
force of Maj.-Gen. Henry G. Wayne, VIII
defended the railroad bridge against Gel
Blair, and q brigade from Gen. Wheeler
Corps that met and drove back the DE-
fachment of the LIST Ala. Cav. on their r,
connoissance across the Oconee near Bali
Ferry.
On the same day Gen. Woods il
frenched a line south of Gordon, con
manding all the approaches from tn
west and south. Gen. Hazen with hi
division advanced within seven miles q
Irwinton, a point n short distance sout
of the railroad, and our division RENAME
In camp near Gordon awaiting the arriv;
of Corse.
On this day Gen. Corse was still stru;
Cling forward through mud and mire wit
his immense train; the road was so CT
up that it was almost impossible. I'll
poatoon train was the most serious in
pediment. These wagons were coupled
great length, to receive tie boats an
long floor joists. The siy-mu!e teens n
tached to these wagons made very slo
progress. Gen. Howard sent 90 six-mu
teams back to Gen. Corse to assist II
pontoon train through.
Gen. Howard had issued orders for n
Seventeenth Corps TO cross the Oeonee
Jackson's Ferry, two and half mill
above the railroad bridge. and the Hi
feenth Corps to cross at Balls Ferry. s
miles below the railroad. The upper rou