The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-19

brigades across. During this move.
ment Cox's sharpshooters on the south
oank crept so close to the creek as to
make It hot for the Confederates 10
show themselves above the parapet.
rhe Whitworth gun In the works was
disabled by artillery fire. and the Fed.
sral navy steamed up within range.
compelling the Confederates on both
sides Of Cape Fear river to take 20.
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 tind
the region picketed and soon struck
the highroad two miles In rear OF the
works. The Confeierates 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 Feicrals broke the line,
and the commander surrendered with
400 men and cannon. Part of the
Confederates escaped 20 Wilmington.
During the night General Cox repair
ell the bridge over Town creek and.
with his whole force. trains and artiE
lery. set out for Wilmington. Mean
while General Hoke's Confederates
still held General Terry back on the
east OF the river. After march OF six
miles Cox was again held up by Mil
creek, an unfordable stream with
Its bridge burned. Two hours were
passed In repairing the bridge, and the
column marched on to Brunswick Fer
ry, in front Of Wilmington. Here tho
railway bridge fired by the Confed.
crates was still burning. but several
boats Of pontoon bridge used by the
Confederates had been overlooked. and
with these the troops were 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
ry and Were met by party OF Con-
federates having couple Of cannon |
In position behind rude work they I
had constructed to defend the road
While the dflemen 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 l
around Wilmington that the Confeder-
ate General Hardee, who had evacuat-
ed Charleston and moved north with
several thousand men, was about to
'uccor the threatened city. General
Terry could make no headway In try
ng to push Hoke's Confederates on
he east bank Of the river, and II was
that Hoke had been re-en-
'orced. General Cox's story OF the day
8 that the commanding officer Of the
expedition, General Schofield, ordered
him Con after he had secured lodg-
nent upon Eagle island to draw back
Ind ferry his troops to the east bank
Il Cape Fear river to re-enforce Terry.
Being convinced from what he had
'een on the west bank, General Cox
iays that he purposely delayed obey
ng orders promptly, put one brigade in
notion and reported the circumstance
ully TO his superior The river bank
icing lined with swamps, it vas mid
light of the 2ist before Cox's courlers
cached his headquarters with fresh
directions from Sclofeld. The chief
approved Cox's action, although he had
ent repeated orders to him to recross
he river and support Terry in an at
ack on Hoke These orders had been
he more urgent the afternoon Of the
ASA bNNUAoA AAOhN Ailt uk- /
,ressive at that time as a cover to his
etreat and the abandonment Of VIII
nington to its fate. General Hoke
marched away during the night, and
Terry's troops followed up, entering
he city at the dawn Of Washington's
Wilmington having been secured as
base for Sherman In case of need,
ieneral Schofeld turned his attention
o securing a better one at Newbern,
T. c., then in Federal possession, but
ut of from Goldsboro, where Sher-
nan was expected to halt by a Confed.
rate post at Kingston. Leaving Terry
q command Of Wilmington, SchoHeld
etached General Cox to Newbern to
pen the road to Goldsboro. This was
ffected after stubborn battle at
kingston, and Scbodeld united the col
mn under Terry with shermans army
t Goldsboro, with communications
pen to both Newbern and Whining
1n. GEORGE L. KILMER.