Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Marching With Sherman through Georgia and the Caronas
1911
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trunks was peculiarly striking and beau
tiful
But il was sad to see this wanton de-
struction of property. which, like the
firing of the resin pits. was the work of
''bummers." who were marauding through
the country committing every sort of
outrage There was no restraint except
with the column or the regular foraging
parties. We had no communications. and
could have no safeguards. The country
was necessarily left to take care of it,
self, and became 'howling waste The
.'coffee-coolers' OF the Army of the Po-
tomac were archangels compared to our
"bummers,' who often fell to the tender
nercies of Wheeler's cavalry, and We're
never heard of again, earning a fate
richly deserved.
On arriving within easy distance Of the
Cape Fear river, where We expected to
communicate with the navy, detachments
were sent in rapid advance TO secure Fay
etteville ION the river. Our division.
after a hard day of corduroying in va
rious spots over a distance or twelve
miles went into camp for supper, and
then, taking the plank road for Fayette-
Vile, made a moonlight march of nine
miles in three hours, but our friends from
the right wing arrived there before us.
Hardee retired to a good position at
Averysboro, where fitzpatrick found him
entrenched and too strong for the cav
airy to handle unassisted. 1t was the
turn of our brigade to do special duty.
so at about o'clock in the evening We
were ordered to join the cavalry. We
were not quite sure it rained, but every
thing was dripping The men furnished
themselves with pine knots, and our
weapons glistened in the torchlight.
cloud of black smoke from the torcnes
floating back over our heads. The regi-
mental wits were ready as ever, and
amid a flow of lively badinage We toled
through the mud.
When the column was halted for few
minutes to give an opportunity OF
drawing breath / found Sergeant John
son with one arm in the mud up to the
elbow. He explained that he was trying
to find his shoe.
We fioundered on for five miles. and
relieved a brigade of Kilpatrick's men
whom we found in some damp woods.
There was a comfort in clustering round
their camp fires. while they retired into
outer darkness to prepare for the morn
ing attack. But the cavalry fireside was
only temporary refuge from the storm
for we also had to depart into the i'm
penetrable darkness beyond, to await In
wet line of battle the unforeseen Those
who were exhausted sank down in the
. mud to sleep, while others speculated on
the future.
The clear wintry dawn disclosed a Ions
, line of bluecloats spread over the ground
: in motionless groups. This was the roar
ing torchlight brigade of the night be-
fore. The orders Fall in,' Forward!
, in gruff tones broke upon the chilly air
and brought shivering to our feet
We moved to the edge of the woods with
: the cavalry. The skirmish line, under
Capt ]. L. Grafton, had already disap
, peared into the opposite belt of woods
? and evidently were losing time in de
, veloping the enemy and ascertaining hi.
force. They were drawing his fire from
I all points, indicating a force more thar
I double that of our brigade. Dismountet
cavalry were now sent forward to pro
: long the skirmish line.
Capt. Grafton was reported badl.