Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-05-26

outposts of the enemy busy and Il
some cases drove them back to camp
Captain Bizzell moved his main bod,
by a wide detour along the edges O
the swamp, Though water and under
brush to a point about 500 yards from
the enemy. The Wilson troops had. il
the meantime, left their camp and ad.
vanced into the swamp against the in.
vaders. And loon the conflict was or
in earnest-and realistic it was IN the
extreme.
From time to time the umpires
stopped he firing by bugle calls AMI
inspected the positions held by the
two forces.
The first engagement lasted about
half an hour. A truce was declared
for fifteen minutes, and then at the
sound of the bug1e the battle again be-
gain in earnest.
The.tfrst engagement had been de
cided a raw by the umpires, and il
was now up to- the commanders OF
the two forces to out-maneuver each
other. In point of numbers they were
about evenly matched, the Wilson
Company being augmented by a squad
from Captain Lewis Company OF
Rocky Mount.
The troops were getting continual
ly closer, and decisive action was e
essary. BY a brilliant flank movement
Captain Bizzell brought his men
steadily closer to the enemy, who had
been forced back to their entrech-
ments.
The elements had by this time en-
tered fully into the fight, for it was
raining hard and steady. The fight
was now fairly waging in the very
heart of the swamp, the men standing
up to their knees in water, seeking
cover as best they could. The thick
underground made the advance ex-
tremely slow and difficult, but it was
steady and sure.
1t was indeed a game for soldiers
and only such as real soldiers can en-
joy. The constant crack of the guns.
he sharp words of command here and
there n added to this the boom of
blasting at a not far distant rock
quarry, which sounded all the world
like artillery, made every soldiers
anxious and eager for the fight. AS
soon as the enemy discovered the at
tack on their one flank they concen-
trated their forces here. This is what
was expected, and while about one
half of the Goldsboro force was pour
ing shot and she'll into them here the
remainder made a quick sally to the
opposite side, which under cover of
the dense woods, proved safe and eff
fective. This move cut the enemy off
from n of their strong outposts and
proved a complete move, as both their
TANKS were completely turned.
The men were now getting too close
to each other for safety and the UNI
pires stopped the carnage.
1t was indeed a complete victory for
the Goldsboro force, and a brilliant
method of attack we'll carried out.
Tie battle was not without it's hui
moroas incidents, and all participants
have good jokes to tell. It is a fact
however, that Captain Murray, of the
Wilson company was declared killed
by the umpires. He made a sally on
horseback and our doughty Sergeant
Malone was laying for him. He was
ordered to halt, but instead wheeled
about and put spurs to his horse.
However, the animal baked and rear
ed aud in the meantime the Sergeant
was pumping blank ammunition at
him for all he was worth. We all
know Malone's unfailing marksman-
ship and Captain Cohen declared Cap-l
tain Murray dead for five minutes.
One of Captain Rizzell's outposts cap
tured a picket of the Wilson company
and brought him in a prisoner of war. |
The boys suggested that he be shot at
once. but it was finally decided to dis
able his gun and thus put him out of
h e hight. This man, who was the only
prisoner captured on either side, was
most profuse in his thanks to Captain
Bizzell, as he fully expected that to
fall into the enemy's hands meant
death-or worse,
But while the fight was the feature
of the day, the aftermath was none
the less So. After the companies had
been assembled the troops marched to
Virgins Mill, where a sumptuous
barbecue was enjoyed. This was in
charge of Captain Pierce, of Wilson,
the quartermaster of the Second Reg
iment, and it was fine. Later in the
afternoon all marched to Wilson.
Here the men we're dismissed and pro-
ceeded to take in the town, while the
officers were entertained at the ar
mory. Last night the "conquering
hosts" returned to our fair city, glad
to be back in the Best Town in the
State. The boys were tired and wet,
but in high spirits and voted it the.
time of their lives. They are loud in
their prasise of Wilson hospitality
and say that W the weather did not
mar the pleasure. and profit of the.
trip.