The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-05-14


enemy panic-stricken from the field.
His loss in killed, wounded and prls-
oners was heavy, and they saved them
selves from still more serious slaughter
by fleeing to the woods. Having taken
full possession of the town and from one
to two miles in all directions, the 9th Ky.
was ordered up, and pushed on the
| command of Wheeler had taken, following
him closely until he had crossed Brier
Creek. This was n most ma gnifcent fight.
Each regiment did nobly its part, con
clusively showing by the manner in which
they fought that nothing less than COM
plete rout to the enemy would be the re.
suit of the days BATTLE
Gen. Fitzpatrick says: "The advance
was sounded. and in less than 20 minutes
the enemy was driven from his position,
the town gained, and Wheeler's entire
force completely routed.
1.-THE 9th Ohio, 9th Ky. and portion
of the 9th Pa. Cav. followed in close pur-
suit to Brier Creek, a distance of eight
miles from the point where the first at
tack was made. After burning the bridges
above and below the railroad bridge, as
well as the latter, the command marched
to Alexander, and encamped for the
night
In this engagement Wheeler's Cavalry
Corps. consisting of four divisions and
two Independent brigades, as has since
been ascertained. was not only defeated
and driven a distance Of eight miles, but
completely routed.
The enemy having been beaten at
lWaynesboro and driven several miles to-
| ward Augusta, and the railroad having
been destroyed, nothing remained to be
done except to rejoin the main column.
Gen. Baird with his division. followed by
the cavalry. marched away on the road to
Alexander. a small town about seven miles
southeast of Waynesboro. Here the col
umn went into camp.
GEN. SHERMAN REACHES MILLEN.
The Seventeenth Corps, led by its COM
mander, Gen. Blair, and accompanied by
the Commander-in- Chief, crossed the
Ogeechee River on a pontoon bridge on
Nov. 80.
On Dec 1 the Savannah & Augusta
Railroad was reached, and five miles of
the track destroyed.
On Dec. the corps reached and en-
camped at the city of Millen. Ga. Here
Gen. Sherman paused one day to hear
from the balance of the army. The work
of destroying the railroad continued.
The Fifteenth Corps made active pro
gress. On the night of Nov. % the. COM
mand encamped, the center column at
Riddleviile, the left abreast on the San
dersville and Savannah roads, and the
right consisting of one brigade and bat
terry of artillery at Wrightsville. On the
18th the two columns nearly formed a
junction, the advance, under Gen. Woods,
encamping near Summerville, the othe-
divisions. Hazen and Smith, on the lower
Savannah road and near Sunderland's
Mills, some seven miles to the rear of Gen.
Woods.
As l was going into camp after dark,
n Snldiar Of hripaIa cap IN in,
great haste, stating that he had discov-
cred three large piles of sweet potatoes
in field near by. 1 directed him to
hasten back to his precious find and guard
them until / sent wagons and detail to
secure them.
The Brigade Quartermaster took the
matter in hand. and brought into camp
about 200 bushels of fine potatoes, which
were much needed and highly priced.
On Nov. 30 our column reached Sum-
mervile. On Dec. 1 the march was re-
sumed in the direction of Statesboro,
along the right bank of the Ogeechee
River, and continued on the I'd and reach
ed Statesboro.
Gems. Woods and Corse on Dec. 2
camped near Clifton's Ferry; a pontoon
bridge was thrown over the river at this
point. and two brigades of Corse's Division
on Dec. 3 crossed the river and Joined
of the railroad. Gen. Howard now COM
municated with Gen. Sherman, informing
him that the Fifteenth Corps was safe
and in good positions. Our corps re-
manned in camp Dec. 3.
This being my birthday, I took occa-
sion to make things agreeable about head
quarters for all officers who honored me
with a call.
The Fourteenth Corps being on the left
of tho and
a route to cross Buck Head Creek short
distance south of Waynesboro, TO suggest
the idea that the real objective was
Augusta. When Fitzpatrick and Baird
were at Thomas Station on the Sd Gen.
Davis, with the other divisions of his
corps. was at Lumpkin's Station tearing
up the railroad. BY direction of Gen.
Sherman the next objective of the corps
was Jacksonboro, a town 20 miles east of
Millen and only 10 miles west of the
Savannah River. Gen. Davis therefore
directed Baird and Fitzpatrick to join the
Fourteenth Corps at Jacksonboro when
they got through with Gen. Wheeler at
Waynesboro. On Dec. ) Baird and Kill
patrick marched % miles and closed up
with Gen. Davis and the ether divisions
Of the Fourteenth Corps.
| The Twentieth Corps, with Jackson's
Division in front, Wards Division follow
ing, guarding the cavalry trains, and
Geary's Division bringing up the rear.
| marched in close communication with the
Seventeenth Corps, and on Dec 3 cross
ed the railroad three miles north of Mil
len and camped on Big Horse Creek. The
head of the column, like that of the Four
teenth Corps, was now turned southwark
toward Savannah.
MULLEN PRISON PEN.
On Dec. 3 Brighten. John W. Geary,
commanding the Second Division of me
Twentieth Corps, marched near the long
to-be-remembered "Alillen Prison PEN