Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-02-11


make it hot for the Confederates to
show themselves above the parapet.
The WhitwOrth gun in the works was
disabled by artillery fire. and the Fed
eral navy steamed up within range.
compelling the Confederates on both
sides of Cape Fear river to take po-
sitiOnS out of reach
The COnfederates behind Town creek
made the mistake of thinking that the
ground on the TANKS Of their position
was impossible for the Federals to
march over General Cox didn't find
the region picketed and soon struck
the highroad two miles in rear of the
works. The COnfederates had begun
a line of breastworks facing to the
rear and turned about to meet Cox
when they discovered his line moving
down from Wilmington way A single
charge of the Federals broke the line.
and the commander surrendered with
400 men and 3 cannon. Part of the
COnfederates escaped to Wilmington.
During the night General Cox repair
ed the bridge over Town creek and
with his whole force, trains and artil-
lery, set out for Wilmington. Mean
while General Hoke's Confederates
still held General Terry back on the
east of the river After a march of six
miles Cox was again held up by Mill
creek, an unfOrdable stream with
it's bridge burned. Two hours were
passed in repairing the bridge. and the
column marched on to Brunswick Fer
~, in front of Wilmington. Here the
railway bridge fired by the Confed
crates was still burning, but several
boats Of a pontOon bridge used by the
Confederates had been overlooked, and
with these the troops We're poled across
to Eagle island, midway of the river
and about mile wide.
General Cox Immediately began to
repair the pontoon bridge and cross
his column to the island Meanwhile
the detachment which had been ferried
over marched on toward the city fer
~ and were met by party of Con
federates having a couple Of cannon
in position behind a rude work they
had constructed to defend the road.
While the rifiemen of the Federal van
guard attempted to drive the COnfed-
crate gunners from their pieces Gen
eral Cox opened with artillery from
the west bank. and the explosion of
the shells so close to the city warned
the authorities that an enemy was at
their gates.
Persistent rumors had been afiOat
around Wilmington that the COnfeder
ate General Hardee, who had evacuat
ed Charleston and moved north with
several thousand men, was about to
succOr the threatened city. General
Terry could make no Roadway in try
ing to push Hokes Confederates Oh
the east bank of the river. and it was
supposed that Hoke had been re-en-
forced General CoXs story of the day
is that the commanding officer of the
expedition. General Schofied. ordered
him (COX) after he had secured lodg-
ment upon Eagle island to draw back
and ferry his troops to the east bank
Of Cape Fear river to REINFORCE Terry.
Being convinced from what he had
seen on the west bank, General Cox
says that he purposely delayed obey
ing orders promptly, put one brigade in
motion and reported the circumstance
fully to his superior. The river bank
being lined with swamps, it was mid
night of the Dist before COx's couriers
reached his headquarters with fresh
directions from Schofeld. The chief
approved CoXs action. although he had
sent repeated orders to him to recrOss
the river and support Terry in an at
tack on HOke. These orders had been
the more urgent the afternoon of the
DIST because Hoke resumed the ag-
greSSive at that time as a cover to his
retreat and the abandonment of Will
mingtOn to it's fate. General HOke
marched away during the night. and
Terry's troops followed up. entering
the city at the dawn of Washingtons
birthday.
Wilmington having been secured as
a base for Sherman in case Of need.
General Schofield turned his attention
to securing a better one at Newbern,
n c., then in Federal possession, but
cut off from Goldsboro, where Sher-
man was expected to halt by a Confed-
crate post at Kingston. Leaving Terry
in command of Wilmington. Schofield
detached General Cox to Newbern to
open the road to GOldsboro. This was
effected after stubborn battle at
Kingston. and Schofield united the col
umn under Terry with Sherman's army
at Goldsboro. with communica tons
open to both Newbern and Whining
ton. GEORGE l.. KILMER.