The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-14
SHERMAN WAS ENDING HIS
CAROLINA CAMPAIGN.
March IL, 1865.

'l>'Nts hllicS above Winning ton, d'h
his HrIn% Yas "orcentratiu md pc
pariuS to cross to the mora back e
TIE r.."r for the final sac al the
! ;.r"It carolina Campai-m
tTIX nftv miles now separated SheI
| NJ, from Goidsboro. whrr" he pan
a"d to end his march. Thus IA: he had
come approximately 213 miles. having
, started at Savannah. Ga. and swept
over a broad track through Columbia.
the South Carolina capital. and thence
to Cheraw. at the head of navigation
on the Great Pedee River. His object
was TO get within striking distance
of Lees army at Petersburg and
Richmond.
In all that march he had encounter
ed no formula bile opposition, but late
In February his old antagonist. Gen.
Joe" Johnston, who had fought
against Sherman in the Atlanta cam
paign, had been placed in command in
the East. and had at once set to work
to gather an army with which to check
the Federal arch. As yet Gen. John
stOn had not struck. hut Sherman
knew that his opponent was one of
the ablest generals that the war had
produced. so he prepared to meet a
swift and dangerous attack.
Even now the Federals were close
when the van of the Fourteenth
Corps entered Fayetteville fifty years
ago today the bulk of the Confeder-
ate cavalry under Gen. Wade Hsmp-
ton WAS on the opposite bank Of the
river. with burning bridge between.
Gen. KiIpatrick's Escape.
The day before the Federals had felt
the force of blow from Hampton
that for a while threatened TO do great
damage to Shermans cavalry corps
under Gen. Judson Fitzpatrick. who
had incurred the enmity of the enemy
by depredations during the march.
Gen. Hampton was determined to
deal Kilpa trick blow. and on March
2 found an opening. Gen. Fitzpatrick
had on that day ordered his three
brigades. under Gen. Smith D. AZ
kins. Col. George z. Spencer and Gen.
Thomas L Jordan. to hivouack at sep
arate points, each covering an impor-
tant cross road and protecting the
others TANKS.
All would have gone we'll had Gen.
Atkins reached his position, but he
did not. Being delayed. he learned that
the Confederates had got past him
and were moving upon the flank OF
Spencer's brigade at Solemn Grove,
hamlet about thirty miles west Of
fGNtlltNlll'. NlhlIS uiu MS b'cl ~
send warning to tn. other command
ers. but failed to reach them in time
II so happened that Fitzpatrick was
with Gen. Spencer at Solemn Grove
that night. The two generals occupied
the same house, and were snatching
bit of sleep when the storm bur st
upol them. Coming as ii did from
quarter which was supposedly guard
ed by Gen. Atkins brigade. the attack
was complete surprise, and the bulk
of the Federals were soon retreating
il the utmost confusion.
The house in which Spencer and Kill
patrick were quartered was almost
surrounded when the latter dashed
out of the back door, IN very scanty
attire, and ran for swamp in the
rear There he found hundreds of his
men. learned that a battery near head
quarters had been taken by the Con-
federates, and that large number of
prisoners had been rounded up. Even
then Hampton's troopers were besieg-
ing the house, and Spencer and a few
of his staff were offering a sturdy de-
tense.
Federals Quickly Rally.
Kilpatrick's men were a hardy lot.
and ii took more than mere sur
prise TO defeat them. While the Con-
der body of 400 uumounted men.
commanded by Lieut.. Col William
Slough of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, who
had been armed with rifles and bay
onets at Savannah. and who had been
stationed with the wagon train. a
short distance in the rear, came upon
the scene. In the first light of dawn
these were mistaken for infantry by
the confederates. who prepared to re-
treat.
In another few moments Gen. Kill
pa trick appeared at the head of the
men whom he had rallied. and in a
combined attack drove off the Confed-
crates. recaptured the artillery and
raised the siege of Spenccrs headquar-
tors.
Toward the end of the lighting the
briEades of Atkins aud Jordan came
up, and later in the morning infantry
supports arrived from the columns
which were moving against Fayette-
willie by more easterly roads. Kilpst
rick reported his losses as four Off
GERS and fifteen men killed. seven Of
ficers and sixty-onc men severely and
several slightly wounded. and 100 Off
GERS and men taken prisoners. This
Is probably an under-statement of
losses Hampton claimed to have taken
500 prisoners. but even at a low esti-
mate Fitzpatrick lost fully 200. Hamp-
TONS losses were severe.
This incident was one of the sharp
est encounters that took place in the |
Carolina campaign up to that time. |
and gave the cavalrymen of each side |
An added respect for the fighting abil- |
ty of the other.
Hampton's Interrupted Meal.
On the night of the tenth the fore
most of the Federal columns. the di- |
vision of Gen. Absalom Baird. Of the |
Fourteenth Corps, was within six /
niles of Fayetteville. and early fifty |
years ago today resumed the march |
we're not destined to be the first to |
inter.
Here. as happened nearly everywhere
Else from Atlanta to Savannah and |
the ''bummers" and scouts
we're in the van. Capt. William Dun
an. one of Gen. o. o. Towards most
,arty Of men to ind the lay of the
and. Early in the morning he dashed
nto Fayetteville while the place was
till held by Gen. Hampton's cavalry.
md while Hampton himself was
at the hotel. Duncan put
IN q bold front and for q while made
u Kiipatrlck's command was upon
hem.
But their alarm was soon dlspeiied,
nd turning upon Capt. Duncan and
~