The Washington herald., 1915-03-21
GENERAL SHERMAN MOVES
ON GOLDSBORO, N. c.
March Is.
March Is.

Fifty years ago today the whole of
Gen. Sherman's army was over the
Cape Fear River and. having crossed
from Fayetteville, y. C., moving on
Goldsboro, with the left wing, under
Gen. Henry W. Slocum, feintinG to-
ward Raleigh, the State capital.
Sherman hoped that Gen. Slocum's
movement toward Raleigh would cause
the Confederates to concentrate TO de-
fend that city and leave open the
more easterly roads that led TO Colds
horo. where Sherman hoped to estab-
lsh a permanent base of supplies for
subsequent operations i'll the rear OF
Lee and Richmond.
This part of the ma rch was extreme
" hard on the men. The country
along the northern bank of the Cape
Fear River was low and swampy, and
heavy rains rendered it almost i'm
passable for heavy guns. Fortunately,
Gen. Sherman had ordered the wagon
trains to be punched between the two
wings of his army upon direct roads
10 GoldsbOrn. Had they accompanied
the main body of marching troops the
progress of the campaign would have
been materially retarded.
. Lieut. Col Charles W. Willis. of the
1o3d Illinois Infantry. noted in his
diary: Marched about fourteen miles
today. About a dozen swamps, as
many she wers, three hard rains, and
awfully rough march. Tne men waded.
should think, altogether, one-half
mile OF water from ankle to waist
deep They went through every
. swamp yelling like Indians. Rained
all day yesterday and last night"
Capture of Gen. Rhett.
All during March IL Shermans left
wing comprising the Fourteenth and
Twentieth Corps. and fauked by Kill
natrick's cavalry division, was IN con-
fact with the enemy. Stubborn re-
slstance was encountered. for the
ground was extremely favorable for
defensive operations. II was discov
cred that the Confederares in front of
SIocum comprised Gen. W. IL Hardee's
corps.
During the day it rained very hard.
Cen. sherman had taken refuge in an
Old cooper shop. and there a prisoner
Of brought TO him. who
proved TO be Col. Albert Rhett. former
commander of Fort Sumter. lie was
rail-. slender and handsome Young
man. dressed in fun Confederate uni
form, with high jack boots heautI-
fully stitched. lie vas mortified to
find himself a prisoner
He told Gen 90 .'rmaIl That his hri--
.de that da as lIardeSs rearGuarn.
that his command was composed mos
X of the recent EarTiSous OF the bal
1cries OF Charleston harbor. and hat
llrtIr experience in wOodCraft. tha'
during this operation h" was with p
single aid in the woods. and was cap
rured by two men OF hllpatrIch' :
skirmish line.
CT,
man. Gen. Rhett WAS turned over to
|. the provost guard. He was treated
with respect due his rank and fur
nished with fine horse TO ride.
Confcderates Routed.
March Is Gen. Slocum pushed on up
the left bank of the Cape Fear River
and soon confronted Gen. HaTdee's
force in An intrenched position near
Averasboro. twenty-five miles above
Fayetteville. on narrow ridge be-
tween the river and swamp.
Gen. y. J. JackSou's aud Gen. Will
lam r. Wards divisions of the TWEEN
tlcrh Corps were ordered to attack this
position. Kilpatricks cavalry support
I'd them on the right flank. and at
,;Cn. Sherman's suggestion Col. Henry
Eases brigade of Wards division was
posted we'll out beyond the Federal
left 20 take the Confederatos in flank.
In vigorous attack Gen. Villa m
= Taliafcrro's Confederate division
was routed. Rhrtts brigade. deprived
Of it's commander and being called
upon TO bear the heaviest blows of the
F"dcralS. was broken up with loss of
more than 100 dead and 2l7 wounded
and Capt. Macbelhs battery of three
guns captured.
Tie Two Federal attacking divisions
pressed forward. and about a third OF
a. Of ha FIR
f"derate position found HRrdee again
lmIrenched, this time with Cen. Iafay-
cite McLaws' division holding the
DImain front. Another sharp engage
rIent began. but darkness soon ended
The fighting. Gen. Tiardee retreated
during the night. and on the morning
- March i the Federal movement
upon GoIdshoro continued.
The fighting near AverHsboro result
ed in a loss TO the Federals of seven
Iy-seven killed and 49, wounded. The
Confederate losses were about the
same Tho Confederate wounded in
i>e hands Of the F'edcrsls. about sew
.lIl. were left ia the field hospital IN
'naI-e of an officer and some Of their
own men. after they had hee> given
lrorcr surgical attention. as Sherman
could not afford I" provide them
transportation and food.
Capt. Duncan Appears.
';cr. sherman tells OF an interesting
In"ideut Of the battle. When he visited
ia" house where the Confederate
wounded were confined. the surgeons
hong then al work. and arms and
i"Gs were lying about in the front
lard. he saw in one of the rooms "a
PALE. handsome young fellow" lying on
bed. His left arm had been cut off
near the shoulder
TONED, the Young man opened his eyes
aud in low voice inquired for him.
/ He said that he was Capt. Macbeth.
whose battery had been captured in