The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-28

federate armies north of that point passed over this bridge spanning a wide stream.
 Richmond was in imminent danger and the best arsenal of the Confectionery south of that point was at Augusta. Nearly all cotton goods for the army were manu- factured at Augusta No matter for the writing of General Sherman after the war. in December. 1S6o, he tried his best to reach Augusta, and with the rational design of striking the Confederacy a ter rible blow in the annihilation of it's pos sessions there. General Wheeler alone prevented Sherman's reaching Augusta. There was no pretense anywhere of op- position to Sherman but in Wheeler.
 Sherman still headed for Savannah, while at Waynesboro wheeled off from his line Kilpatricks and his cavalry, sup ported by one of his three corps of infan- try, to march up to Augusta and back. Wheeler got across the march of this force with about POGO of his men-that is, with about one man to ten of the enemy. How could he check them even for an hour! This Is what he did. He requested Major Burford of his staff t0 take d new leather satchel or bag worn by of ficers over the shoulder and deposit in it two or three letters he had recently re- ceived from General Bragg at Augusta of no special value. Sherman and Bragg had been friends and correspondents when both lived in Louisiana, therefore Sherman knew Bragg's handwriting. With these letters were to be put some army blanks, such as are found about the adju- tant's office. On top of all was to be put @, fresh telegram from General Bragg to Wheeler improvised for this occasion. The telegram would inform Wheeler that Au- gusta was safe and he need pay no spe- cial attention to keeping the enemy away; that General Lee was sending reinforce ments and the works of defense made Gibraltar of the place.
 Major Burford put the loaded bag over his shoulder and called up a small force to go out accommodating. They were to slzirmish hotly with the enemy and at the sign to retire in great haste Burford bringing up the rear. General Wheeler rode out and took position to see the fun.
 They resented the close approach of the accommodating party sent out force to drive it away, and the skirmishing was warm. At the agreed signal the Confed- crates took to their heels, Burford in his place in the rear. The leather bag, bounc- ing up and down, finally dropped to the ground, while the owner, rushing on, had no time to recover it. The pursuers took it promptly to their officers and soon General Sherman had the contents spread before him. Some citizens at whose house he had stopped heard him explain to the officers about him the difficulty of taking Augusta. and thereupon the force await ing to visit that town rejoined his main army bound for Savannah. So Augusta was saved.
 In this Savannah campaign Wheeler carried no wagon. His men fed them selves off the country Generally they marched or fought until dark. Often it was midnight before the men sent out to bring meal or flour and bacon on their horses got to camp. There was no oven For skillet. The bread was cooked in the ashes or on stone or pieces of plank. The meat was broiled on the end of twig or eaten raw. Before daylight the camp broke up to fight again. This was the daily experience of young men who before the war probably never lost of one of three meals a day and never slept outside of comfortable bed in warmed chamber.
 The features of General Wheelers mii- tary conduct were tireless vigilance, cour-