The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-05
copyright. 1905 by q. L. Kilmer.l
""HE bravest deed OF individual
valor that came 20 my notice

klocum, was performed by soldle
IN the ranks. II was at Bentonvills
n, O, the last battle OF Sherman
army. fought on the 10th Of March
1865.
''on the march through the Carolinai
from Savannah toward Goldsboro
commanded the left wing of Sherman''
army and General Howard the right
We travelled upon roads many mile,
apart. That was the stage OF the great
march which was to unite the army OF
the west with that Of the east In front
Of Richmond. That union of the forces
once effected the Confederacy would be
doomed. On the 18th Of March we
brushed General Hardee's Confederates
out Of Averysboro after lively skir-
mish. and Sherman was OF the opinion
that Harlee would not stop again until
he reached Raleigh.
Directing me TO reach the Neuse rlv
er the following day. Sherman left me
on the morning Of the 10th TO Join
Howard. At that moment there were
some skirmishing and light cannonaa
ing on my front, but Sherman thought
1t trivial, for he said that | had nothing
TO oppose me but little cavalry. The
Confederate skIrmishers soon gave
way. and sent IN aid TO ride after
Sherman and tell him that should not
need assistance, but would be at the
Neuse river on time,
"Just about that time one of my oil.
GERS brought before me young man
dressed In Confederate gray. He was
haggard and sickly looking, the reasoa
for which was soon made known. lie
hnd been very anxious TO see me, AMI
after much begging on his part hia
guardians had gratlfed him. In an
swer to my questions he said he hal
originally been in the Federal army
that while on scouting expedition he
had been captured and narrowly miss.
ed summary death as spy. To save
his life, or at least escape the horrors
of prison dungeon, he had enlisted in
the Confederate service with the inten.
ton of desertlng to his own at the ilrst
chance.
Il had met such characters before
and was skeptical. He told me that he
had enlisted at Syracuse, N. Y, and
had been in the service all through the
war. was resident Of Syracuse
myself. but did not recognize the man
However. Major William G. Tracy OF
my stan came up and saw In the gal
vanized Yank' a soldier who had en-.
listed with him in the Third New York
volunteers In 1891. His name was
John T. Williams. Having established
Williams said, There Ia a
very large Confederate force immedl-
ately in your front all under command
Of General Joe Johnston He added |
that Johnston had made a speech to
his army that morning. and the officers
had told the men that 1t was old Joe's'
Intention to smash my column before
support could reach 1t and then go for
"0f course was sorry had sent the
message to Sherman stating that
needed no help and remeded the blum
der at once by sending a second mes
,age. This was carried by a boy mem.
Der Of my staff, Lieutenant Joseph b.
Foraker. As he started off / said to
him, Ride well to the right and don't
ct the enemy get you. and, above all,
lon't spare horsehesh.' He rode like
Paul Revere on his famous gailop from
Boston to Lexington and reached Sher.
mans camp just at sundown. Sher.
nan Immediately started column to
ny aid.
Lieutenant Foraker had scarcely
'ot out of sight of my camp when the
advanced with terrific
orce and drove back my leading di-
islon. Johnston had under him that
ay the best fighting army OF Con
ederates in the field at that time. Gen.
raj Hardees division had been in
ront Of US at Savannah and all the
1ay through the Carollnas, but there
ad been no fierce fighting. So 1t was
resh. General Bragg had brought
own Hoke's splendid division of vet
rams from the Army of Northern Vir-
inia. These troops had left the
renches at Petersburg the December
revious and had been lying idle at
and they were fresh.
There was also a division under
Ieneral A. p. Stewart from Hoods old
ennessee command, men who had
ood share Of pluck left or they would
OF have made their way from Louisi.
ma to the coast In search of more
ghting. Besides that, there was a
olendid body Of cavalry under Gen
al Wade Hampton, comprising Gen
'al Joe Wheelers corps and the d.
lsion Of General NJ. c. Butler, that had
'ught under Jeb Stuart and Hamp-
m In Virginia. The force was about
J. GOO men They fought like an army NJ