The National tribune., 1903-04-23

ficient to enable Gen. Walcutt's Brigade
to resist any attack that might be made
by Gen. Wheeler's CaFalry, but soon
after these arrangements were completed
Gen. Smith brought forward his diyi-
sion of Georgia Militia with a battery OF
| artillery, strongly supported by cavalry.
Walcutt stood on the defensive.
Gen. Smith attacked with great enthu-
siasm and courage. -.
He was largely superior in numbers.
but he was attacking a veteran brigade
that had. never met defeat. The Confed-
crate artillery was served with skill and
| accuracy, and delivered a terrific fire
| into the frail works of Gen. Walcutt,
While the columns Of infantry with great
the Union works, and when forged to re-
tire by the destructive fire with which
| they were met, they renewed the assault
| again and again with great impetuosity.
In the midst of the battle Gen. Wal
cult was seriously wounded in the leg, by
a piece Of shell, and was compelled to
relinquish the command to Col. Robert +.
| Catterson, who was fully equal to the task
| that was before him-the command of the
9th Ind. falling to Capt. George Elliott.
Col. Catterson soon found that the Con-
| federate line considerably overlapped his
tanks and that they were struggling to
turn his position. He at once called upon
Gen. Woods for a reinforcement of two
regiments. The 18th Ind, commanded
by Maj. Ebert d. Baldwin, was prompt
ly sent forward and posted on the right Of
I Catterson's line.
Col. Eli H. Murray, commanding the
First Brigade of Kilpatrick's cavalry,
| hearing the roar of battle, and realizing
that Walcutt's Brigade was hard-pressed,
moved forward with two regiments and
| posted one on each flank of the Union
| line.
The assaults of the Confederate forces
were in vain; the Union line did not falter.
did not retire an inch. They coOlly met and
| resisted every effort of the enemy to
drive them from their line. 1t was fortn-
nate for the Union army this day that a
portion of the brigade was armed with
the Spencer repeating rife. With these
guns the soldiers did tremendous execu-
ton; the rapidity and deadliness of the
fire was too much for human nature to
withstand.
When night came on the enemy retired,
leaving over 300 dead upon the field. Col
CattersOn sent forward skirmishers, who
captured AZ prisoners besides many
wounded, who were promptly and consid-
erately cared for.
Too much praise cannot be given to the
officers and men engaged in this battle
for their skill, GOODNESS and courage.
A movement originally designed as a
demonstration ended in a battle, in which
| the Confederate forces We're far superior
in numbers. but the temporary works COW
| ering the Union line was an advantage
| which the conspicuous bravery Of the enc
my could not overcome.
CAPTURE OF MILLDGEvILLE.
! While the Right Wing of the army on
Ncv. 22 was engaged in the destruction
of the Macon & Savannah Railroad and
the Miiledgeville Branch at Gordon, and
were fighting the battle of Griswoldville,
the Left Wing was moving down upon
Milledgeville.
Gen. Williams, under the direction of
Gen. Slocum, with the First and Third
Divisions of the Twentieth Corps, having
passed through Eatonton Oh the Dist,
threw n pontoon bridge over Little River
ON the 22d and marched TO the suburbs
of the city. Col. William Hawley, Sd
| Wis, was appointed commander Of the
post, and two regiments occupied the city.
The Second Division, led by Gen. Geary,
returning from his four days raid, came
up with the rear of Gen. Williams's
column at Little River. Here he received
orders TO advance at once to Milledgeville.
ne pushed his troops past the train and
reached the city at dark.
Gen. Geary marched his division
through the town, crossed the Oconee
on the large Drldse. ana went INTO camp
on the left of the First Division with his
left resting near the river, having marched
20 miles during the day. The Third Divi-
sion camped on the west side of the river,
near the bridge.
The Capital of the great State of
Georgia was now in the undisputed pos
session of the Union forces. not a gun
having been fred in its immediate defense.
On Nov. 20, the Fourteenth Corps, led
| Nv Nav n,.I I'll L.. ~
Sherman and staff, marched for and went
| into camp near Eatonton Factories. The
next day, amid rain and storm, the march
was directed to Milledgeville by way of
Farrar's Mill on Murder Creek, the main
road from Eatonton to Milladgeyiile be-
ing given to the Twentieth Corps. The
progress of the trains was slow, and the
| night of the 2lst was spent in mud, water
ard falling rain. crossing Murder Greek.
d..