THE LAST CAMPAIGN.
Wheeler’s cavalry was now almost the only obstacle to Sherman’s great
march to the sea. They harassed his columns front, flanks and rear,
picking up many prisoners; but three or four thousand cavalry could
make little resistance to the onward sweep of 60,000 veterans under
one of the greatest captains of modern times. Conflicts were of almost
daily occurrence. The Rangers were engaged at Buckhead Church and
Waynesboro, Georgia. Again at Aiken, South Carolina. At Averysboro
and Fayetteville, North Carolina, where, after a night’s march, they
surprised Kilpatrick’s cavalry camp, but failed to bag that redoubtable
leader. In all of these conflicts the losses were heavy. Old Company
D lost in killed, John Gage, P. R. Kennedy, Dave Nunn, Sam Screws and
Jim Wynne. Their list of wounded, too, was large. P. R. Kyle and Geo.
T. McGehee, good ones both, were badly hurt at Aiken; McArthur, Brannum
and P. J. Watkins also. The other companies sustained heavy losses.
Lieutenant Heiskell of Company K was killed. I wish I could name them
all.
In all of these actions, the remnant of nearly 1200 enlistments
charged with that dauntless courage which had characterized them at
Woodsonville, at Bardstown, at Dalton and many other brilliant fields
of arms. Their old colonel, now a brigadier general, Thomas Harrison;
their colonel, the knightly Cook, and the staid and ever reliable Major
Jarmon, were all stretched on beds, racked with the pains of severe
wounds. The command now devolved on Captain Matthews, who but a little
over a year before had been elected lieutenant, promoted to the rank of
captain by the bullets of the enemy which brought down his superiors,
was now, at Bentonville, to lead the old regiment in the last charge,
which will always rank as one of the most brilliant feats of arms in
the history of wars. As I was not present I will let Lieutenant Briscoe
tell of it, for he tells it well.
THE LAST CHARGE.
“We did but little fighting the first day, as the enemy changed
positions very rapidly. But the second we were engaged in some severe
skirmishes all the forenoon, in one of which Major Jarmon, our only
remaining field officer, was severely wounded, when we were withdrawn a
few hundred yards to rest and give place for the infantry.
“We had been in this position resting and eating our rations probably
over an hour, when we heard the boom of artillery directly in our rear.
Every man pricked up his ears, for we knew that it meant something
serious. Captain Doc Matthews of Company K (my company) was in command
of the regiment, which numbered about 100 men. We were standing talking
of the probable cause of the artillery fire in our rear when General
Wheeler galloped up and asked for the commander of the Rangers. He
seemed a little excited. His order was, ‘Captain, mount your men, go
as fast as you can and charge whatever you find at the bridge.’ These
were almost his exact words. In less time than it takes to tell it, we
were mounted and racing to the rear. Within about half a mile of the
bridge we passed a small brigade of infantry ‘double quicking’ in the
same direction. We saluted each other with a cheer as we passed, for
all felt that it was a critical time in the battle. As we came upon
some rising ground we had a good view of the enemy across an open field
about 500 yards distant. Here we halted an instant to close up the
column, and for Captain Matthews to salute General Hardee and staff,
who wished to know what troops we were.
“Captain Matthews told him and of our orders from General Wheeler. He
took a look across the field at the dense blue line and said, ‘Then
execute your orders.’ It looked like the old regiment was this time
surely going to its grave. Everything was so plain and clear you could
see the men handling their guns and hear their shouts of command.
Without a moment’s hesitation Captain Matthews gave the order, ‘Charge
right in front,’ and with that wonderful rebel yell we charged across
the 500 yards of open field upon and among the mass of Yankees. We rode
them down and emptied our pistols at close range. When the force of the
charge was expended we fell back with about 200 prisoners.”
Like our other brilliant charges, it was the very audacity that brought
success.
In this charge fell, mortally wounded, Wm. J. Hardee, Jr., son of
Lieutenant General Hardee. Nearly a year before he, with several other
boys, had run away from school to join the Rangers, but on account of
their extreme youth Colonel Harrison sent them back to school. The boy
would not remain in school, so General Hardee kept him with him for
several months, but he fretted to join the Rangers. Finally the father
consented. The boy was enlisted in Company D and fell in this, his
first action.
I reached the command shortly before the surrender. The regiment in
numbers was little more than a good company. Battle and disease had
claimed and received their toll; but this little remnant seemed as full
of courage and spirit as when first they left their State.
The dream was over. General Lee, “yielding to overwhelming numbers and
resources,” had laid down his arms. General Johnston, again in command
of the Army of Tennessee, agreed with Sherman to disband his army.
Sadly the Rangers dispersed, taking the roads to their distant homes.
General Wheeler issued the following order, which for intense feeling
and felicity of expression is a gem:
“Headquarters Cavalry Corps,
“April 28, 1865.
“Gallant Comrades: You have fought your fight. Your task is done.
During a four years’ struggle for liberty you have exhibited courage,
fortitude and devotion. You are the victors of more than 200 sternly
contested fields. You have participated in more than a thousand
conflicts of arms. You are heroes! Veterans! Patriots! The bones of
your comrades mark battlefields upon the soil of Kentucky, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. You
have done all that human exertion could accomplish. In bidding you
adieu, I desire to tender my thanks for your gallantry in battle, your
fortitude under suffering and your devotion at all times to the holy
cause you have done so much to maintain. I desire also to express my
gratitude for the kind feelings you have seen fit to extend toward
myself, and to invoke upon you the blessing of our Heavenly Father,
to whom we must always look in the hour of distress. Brethren, in the
cause of freedom, comrades in arms, I bid you farewell.
“Joseph Wheeler,
“Major General.
“Official:
“Wm. E. Waites,
“Assistant Adjutant General.”