The National tribune., 1910-08-25

The attack at all the points was made
so quickly, and 1t being at night, that
everything was taken in short time
! The bridge was saved. and Columbus
was ours. The Second Division marched
thru the city on the 18th, and pushed
on toward the double bridges across the
| Flint River, which was guarded by a
battalion of infantry and three pieces of
artillery About a. m. on the 18th
| Capt. Hudson, of the 4th Mich. with a
battalion, charged the bridges and took
every man prisoner, including i COM
missiOned officers. and saved the bridges.
From there toward Macon we had a
running fight for about IS miles, the
4th Mich. in advance.
I On the 10th we were met about D.
m. two miles out of Macon by Gen.
Howell Cobb. who. commanded at Ma
con. He had flag of truce to see Gen
Wilson. We halted, and soon Gen. Will
son came to the front and asked Gen.
Cobb what he wanted. Gen. Cobb said
that he had received a telegram from
Gen. Joseph Johnston that there was an
armistice between himself and Gen
Sherman. and that there should be no
action between the Union and the Con-
federate troops. Gen. Wilson asked Gen.
Cobb If there was any word to him per-
sonally from Gen. Sherman. Cobb said
there was none. Then Wilson asked II
there was anything to eat in Macon
Cobb replied that there was.
Gen. Wilson said that he would have
to move on Macon at once. Gen. Cobb
objected, but Gen. Wilson told him that
his men and horses were half-starved
and he must have the town. Gen. Cobb
begged him not to do so. Then Gen
Wilson took out his watch. and told
him that he would give him five min
utes to get back before he moved his
IsxINk
and we were soon on the move. We
rode fast into Macon thru the heavy
works. which were filled with rebels.
who cheered us as we rode into the
city. There was not a gun fired, and
within half an hour the streets were
full of Yanks and rebels enjoying them
selves like old friends. There was no
trouble whatever.
We had received no clothing for six
months. and were as dirty and ragged
a set as was ever seen for soldiers
Confederate money was good for three
days, and our men had plenty of il. We
had a good time as long as graybacks
were good. but a 81 greenback was as
good as so of the Confederate money.
We captured plenty of Confederate
clothing and nearly half of our men
wore more or less of the gray. About
5000 negros followed us into Macon.
They fell in the rear on our raid, and
caused US a good deal of trouble to keep
them in their camps. for they would
scatter thru the nearby country. We
had to keep patrols out for 20 miles
around to keep them out of mischief.
l think this raid was one of the most
successful. if not the most successful.
Of any during the civil war. 1t was "A
500-mile march; three sharp and de-
cisive battles were fought. besides sew
eral skirmishes: more prisoners were
captured than we had men In our com
mand; over 1000 pieces of artillery
were captured. as well as foundries.
arsenals. machine shops and all kinds
of war supplies. amounting to millions
Of dollars in value. All this was done
in less than Is days time. This raid
was also the cause of the taking pris-
oner of Jefferson Davis, which closed
the trouble between the North and the
South.-Wm. P. Stedman. co. b, 4th
Mich. Cav, Washington, d. C.