RAID THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA--BATTLES OF AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
At Savannah, General Sherman received instructions from the Lieutenant
General to embark his army on transports, and hasten to the James
river, to participate in the final destruction of the main army of the
rebellion. However, upon Sherman's earnest representation of the
difficulty of moving sixty thousand infantry, and ten thousand cavalry,
with their due allowance of artillery, so great a distance by water,
and on assurance that he could place his army at the desired place
sooner, in better condition, and with more injury to the enemy, General
Grant consented to this modification, and gave the necessary orders. A
division was drawn from General Sheridan's army of the Shenandoah, and
sent to Savannah as a garrison. This enabled Sherman to take with him
the entire army with which he made the raid through Georgia. He
determined to make the distance between Savannah and Goldsboro at one
stride. Some time was consumed in preparation, and by the 15th of
January, 1865, all was ready and the movement began.
On the 20th of this month, the 2nd division of the 14th Corps, still
under the command of James D. Morgan, moved out from Savannah eight
miles in a north-western direction, camping near Tuly's Station, where
the command lay wind-bound for four days.
Just a short time prior to this move from Savannah, General Feering was
placed in command of the 3rd brigade, under General Morgan, thus
relieving Colonel Langley of that command.
General Feering remained with his brigade, much beloved by all, until
the battle of Bentonville, N.C., where he was wounded, being so
disabled that he never afterwards resumed command of it. On the morning
of the 25th, at seven A.M., the command resumed its march from Tuly's
Station, the 14th Corps with Geary's division of the 20th, and Corse's
division of the 15th Corps, marched up the west bank of the Savannah to
Sister's ferry, where they crossed over to the South Carolina side, on
the 5th of February, having been detained one week on account of high
water at this ferry.
On the 8th, the division again cut loose from communications, marching
up the Savannah to a point opposite Barnwell, where it left the river
road and going to Barnwell, crossed the Salkahatchie river on its
route. From Barnwell it took a northern course, striking the Augusta
and Charleston railway at a small place known as Williston, thence,
continuing north, crossed the South and North Edisto rivers, and going
within one and a half miles of Columbia, was headed off by other
troops, being compelled to move back up the Saluda river, some eight
miles from Columbia, where, on the 26th, it crossed it on a pontoon
bridge, and thence marching north-east, round Columbia, crossed Broad
river at Fursell's Ferry, some twenty miles nearly north of Columbia.
Our division was ferried over this stream, as there were not enough
pontoon boats to complete a bridge. Crossing the river in the afternoon
of the 18th, it went into camp, building breastworks for a protection
to our supply train, as it was reported that Hood was also crossing the
river above us.
Before going into camp, the eighty-sixth sent out a detail of foragers,
under charge of Captain Hall, of Company H, to scour the rich country
beyond the Broad river, meeting with more than ordinary success. This
party had a skirmish with a squad of the enemy's videttes, driving them
pell-mell.
As the army remained here a few days, we will review the most
interesting events of the march up to this period.
The general features of the country over which the division passed, was
that of a hilly, undulating plain, becoming more hilly and broken the
farther north it went, until these undulations had gradually assumed
the proportions of high hills. The country south of the North Edisto
river, in Carolina, is far richer in its soil and yields a better crop
than that north of this river.
The plantations, too, are larger, and lie more in a body than in other
parts of the State over which we passed; and it is a curious fact,
often remarked, that there is no rock or gravel here. The soil is
seldom black, but usually a yellow clay of a spongy texture. North of
the North Edisto river, the country begins to assume a stony and
gravelly appearance, and rises in ridges of hills until it becomes very
broken indeed. There is a peculiarity in the soil of this part of the
country which deserves remark. It is this: fields are sometimes seen
covered over with a white sand, frequently an inch, and sometimes more,
in depth. Off at a distance, a person unaccustomed to this peculiarity,
would mistake this sand for a sheet of water. All soldiers are aware of
this fact who have passed this portion of the country. There are places
again where the sand seems to have been drifted like snow over the
surface of a plain, and as much as one thing can resemble another,
these drifts resemble snow, of a pure white color.
The swamps in this State are very different from those of Georgia. They
are not so difficult to travel through, and not near as numerous and
large. In many of them, rice is extensively cultivated, and is far
superior in quality to that raised on high lands.
So far, the State furnished us an abundance of forage of every kind,
and the very best.
The boys lived sumptuously on flour, molasses, cured hams and many
other of the staunch things of life--never fared better.
They always ate to satiety, and quit with plenty left. From the very
first they treated South Carolina as her acts of treason and atrocity
deserved. Nearly every house all over the country was fed on the flames
of Yankee vengeance. When their houses were burnt, the proud chivalry
were obliged to seek refuge in negro shanties--an awful condescension,
but scores of them have had their pride thus broken.
To some, it may have seemed relentless barbarism to burn and devastate
a country in the manner in which Carolina was served, but when they
remember she was the main actor in the rebellion, fired the first gun,
and led her sister States into a fratricidal war, and, moreover, prided
herself in such acts of inhumanity, who then can pity her, or
sympathize with her? She dared not ask sympathy, for multitudes of
slain patriots answered, No sympathy for the venomous Carolina! There
was no time in the day when looking around you there might not be seen
liquid flames of fire lifting themselves in mad waves above the
beautiful mansion, gin or fences; and even the hills and valleys for
miles around were blue with smoke.
These were truly the smoky days of Carolina! Such was the inveterate
hatred our troops entertained towards this State, and such the freedom
allowed, that seldom the least of things were spared. If there was more
forage than was needed for army consumption, the dancing flames of
Yankee vengeance eat it up.
This portion of South Carolina was not thickly settled, owing to single
persons owning very large tracts of land. On nearly all of these
extensive plantations there was usually two fine dwellings: one for the
lord, the other for the overseer. Round the overseer's dwelling there
was a large number of negro shanties, frequently from ten to fifty,
somewhat resembling a town. The lord's residence was invariably fixed
off in gay colors, with its handsome yards, out-buildings to break the
summer's sun, with high walls inclosing a square for hounds, besides
many other things. Then inside the dwelling itself were the costliest
and most beautiful decorations imaginable. The richest Turkey carpet
covered the floor; the finest sofas, chairs, tables, and other
decorations filled the rooms, and a large and extensive library was
invariably to be found. But these gay ornaments vanished before the
"vandal Yanks," as the dew-drops before the rising sun.
The scenery from the high hills that border on the western bank of the
Broad river, is grand in the extreme. Excepting that in the vicinity of
Chattanooga, it surpasses anything of the kind that ever came under our
observation. Looking eastward, you see the railroad and river winding
their snake-like course along the high and hilly plain. And from the
same view, as far as the eye can reach, one vast plain, undulating and
broken, spreads itself before you, diversified with a green forest of
pine, and fields covered with pure white sand, resembling high drifts
of snow. Then around you, in whatever point of compass you should
chance to look, thick volumes of smoke might be seen rising out of the
valleys, over the tops of intervening hills, presenting a picturesque
and novel scene.
Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, some twenty miles south of our
position on Broad river, was captured on the 17th of February, by the
right wing of the army, under General Howard, the mayor making a formal
surrender of the place to Colonel Stone, commander of a brigade of the
15th Corps. This brigade was the first organized body to enter it. The
city was fired by Wade Hampton's men before they left it, and nearly
destroyed, notwithstanding the effort made by our troops to save it.
While our division remained on the east side of the Broad river, it was
engaged, for a time, in destroying the Spartansburg railway. It was a
poor excuse for a road, the iron being old and worn out.
From Broad river, our column took up the line of march at six o'clock
on the morning of February 20th, moving in a north-eastern direction,
crossing Little river, and striking the Charlotte and Columbia railway
at White Oak Station, four miles north of Winnsboro; thence marching up
the railway some six miles, crossed it at Blackstakes, and marching
east, camped at twelve M. on the 22nd, giving the road to the 20th
Corps.
The march was resumed at eight A.M., on the 23rd, camping at night near
Rocky Mount, on the Catawba river, in the north-eastern corner of
Fairfield district. On the 24th, the Eighty-sixth Illinois was moved
forward several miles, and camped on Rocky Mount, where it remained
four days. The 14th Corps having crossed the Catawba river by the 28th,
resumed the march. General Morgan's division now led the advance of the
corps, and marching in a north-eastern course, crossed Flat, and the
two Lyncher creeks, and passing through Hickory Head on its route,
arrived on the Great Pedee, at a point eight miles above Cheraw, where
it laid a pontoon bridge, and crossed over on the 7th of March.
From the Great Pedee, the line of march was taken up in a direct course
for Fayetteville, where the command arrived on the 11th of March.
The country between the Broad and Catawba rivers is very broken indeed.
One ridge of hills closely succeeds another, and they are high and
steep. The scenery here is exceedingly wild and romantic. There has
been a romance written of this part of the State, of the era of the
Revolution, called the Black Riders of the Congaree, which was
interesting to read while we were also acting a great drama there. This
was also the campaign grounds in the times of the Revolution. Rocky
Mount, Camden, Sander's Creek and Hanging Rock are places of
Revolutionary fame.
A great deal of trouble was experienced in completing a pontoon bridge
across the Catawba, on account of heavy rains and high waters. By the
time it would be nearly done the swift current would sweep it away. It
was in consequence of this detention that General Sherman sent orders
to General Davis, in case he could not get the pontoon bridge to hold
by the morning of the 28th, to burn his trains, swim his mules, ferry
his men and come on. But as good luck would have it, the bridge was
finally made to stick, and on the 28th everything was landed safely on
the other side.
About midnight on the 27th, Colonel Fahnestock blew his whistle for the
regiment to fall in and cross the river. The winds blew and the rains
fell, but for all that the Eighty-sixth had to crawl out of its dry
tents, do them up and go; and when it reached the pontoon it was not
yet done, causing us to lay round enjoying the benefit of the rain till
morning. The Eighty-sixth about this time thought it would get a
permanent detail as train guards, get to ride and such; but like many
other of its hopes and plans, it was all "in a horn."
On the march from the Catawba there was a deal of corduroying to be
done on the muddy roads, and by the time our long trains had passed
over they were far worse than ever. Our corps train consisted of more
than six hundred wagons, and when stretched out on the same road, as
was very often the case, it would string out from six to seven miles,
making bad roads for the rearmost wagons. General Davis was surprised
at the rapidity with which General Morgan moved his command from the
Catawba to the Great Pedee, and complimented him for it. General Morgan
was, in every sense of the word, a go-ahead man; he was so kind and
careful with his men that they would speak of him altogether by the
sobriquet of "Uncle Jimmy Morgan." He was odd and peculiar in his
manner; he stood in a position inclining forward, and when he walked he
held his hands behind him, his eyes striking the ground at an angle of
forty-five degrees. In conversation with others, he walked rapidly
backwards and forwards as if in great mental excitement, doubtless, as
Artemus Ward would say, "a way he has." He was plain and unostentatious
in his dress, wearing a soldier's blouse, a soldier's hat, and
soldier's shoes, being a private soldier out and out, the only
distinction consisting in the little star upon either shoulder--the
insignia of his rank.
Those who did not know him would wonder what soldier that was using so
much authority. General Morgan was not only common to and among his
men, but, better than all, he was careful with them, and valued their
lives as much as his own, never commanding them to go where he would
not accompany them. Whenever there was a battle pending, you would see
him on the skirmish line dodging round and looking about for himself;
and when there was great danger, he would tell his boys to be very
careful and not get hurt, seeming really to love them. Before the
General entered the service he was said to have been a pork packer,
though there was another report that he was a Methodist preacher. These
reports were often the source of amusing incidents. Frequently on our
long marches the boys would become tired and worn out, wanting to go
into camp. By and by Uncle Jimmy would come along while they were in
this mood, when some mischievous fellow would cry out--not to the
General, but that he might hear it: "I'll be d----d if I sell Uncle
Jimmy my hogs if he don't camp pretty soon." This strikes the nail on
the head; the General laughs and goes ahead, jerking the reins as
usual. Uncle Jimmy was certainly a man of the finest feelings and
respect for others, and possessed a true, brave and loyal heart.
In his order to his command, announcing the capture of Richmond, he
said: "Let every true and loyal heart rejoice."
There was a marked peculiarity in the country between the Catawba and
Pedee, consisting in a great many rocks scattered here and there of an
enormous size and peculiar shape. They were from eight to twelve feet
in height, of an oval form, and covered with a thick green moss.
These curious rocks excited the wonder of all. On one we saw there was
a spring, with its bright waters trickling over its sides so beautiful
and wonderful, and known as Hanging Rock of historic fame.
The country between the Great Pedee and Cape Fear rivers is one vast,
extensive pine forest. In this section there are but few plantations,
and they are small. The general features are level, and the
undulations, if any, are slight. Out of these forests, the inhabitants
manufacture turpentine, rosin and tar in great quantities. They hew the
bark from two sides of the tree, and near its roots cut a niche to
receive the juice that does not gum on its sides. On nearly every
stream there is a factory for the making of turpentine, rosin and tar.
On our passage through, these factories were full, and when burning,
made a huge fire and smoke, far surpassing in grandeur anything of the
kind we ever saw, or ever expect to see. Among the curiosities of our
march, the burning of these factories was the most curious. Just
imagine one hundred barrels of rosin and as many of turpentine and tar
to be thrown together and ignited. It is impossible for a person who
has not witnessed such a scene, to form a proper idea of the real
grandeur and sublimity of these dense volumes of black, agitated smoke,
brightened betimes with lofty flames of liquid fire, that seem to lift
themselves in the fury of their madness to the very skies.
When our column was within twenty-four miles of Fayetteville, General
Kilpatrick, who was several miles to the left of our division, was
surprised by the enemy and routed, though he afterwards rallied his men
and regained his camp.
The army now entered Fayetteville without further opposition, remaining
from the 11th of March until the 15th. During its stay several small
steamers came up from Wilmington, bringing provisions and mail.
The left wing of the army remained at Fayetteville the short space of
four days, when it led out on the main road to Raleigh, which follows
the right bank of the Cape Fear river some sixteen miles or more, and
branching at Averysboro.
The supply train of the 14th Corps was left behind in charge of the 3rd
division, to intercept us by a nearer route whenever provisions enough
arrived at Fayetteville to load it.
On the morning of the 16th the left wing moved from its camp of the
night previous and discovered the enemy with artillery, infantry and
cavalry, in an entrenched position in front of the point where the road
branches off towards Goldsboro through Bentonville. Hardee, in
retreating from Fayetteville, had halted in the narrow swamp neck
between Cape Fear and South rivers, in the hope of holding Sherman
there, in order to save time for the concentration of Johnston's army
at some point in his rear. Hardee's force was estimated at twenty
thousand men. It was necessary to dislodge him, that our army might
have the use of the Goldsboro road, as also to keep up the feint on
Raleigh as long as possible. Slocum therefore advanced on his position,
only difficult by reason of the nature of the ground, which was so soft
that horses and men would sink everywhere and could scarcely make their
way at all. The 20th Corps led the advance of Slocum's column, the 14th
Corps following with Kilpatrick's cavalry in the entire advance.
The 20th Corps, upon finding the enemy, drove him from his first line
of works, and advancing, took position confronting his second line,
which was more formidable than the first. Then the 14th Corps took
position on the left of the 20th Corps, our division being on the
extreme left of the line, with its left resting on the Cape Fear river.
The whole line now advanced late in the afternoon, drove the enemy well
within his works, and pressed him so hard that he retreated during the
night in a hard storm over the worst of roads. From this position
Hardee retreated on Smithfield.
No member of the Eighty-sixth will forget with what difficulty it got
its position in this battle, having to wade through creeks and swamps
up to one's armpits. There was no chance to make a deflection to the
right or left to shun a quagmire, right ahead being the only chance.
The Eighty-sixth skirmishers in this engagement experienced a hard
time; but the main body of the regiment was not brought into action.
The loss of the regiment was two killed and three wounded. The killed
were Captain John F. French, of Co. K, and Rileigh George, of Co. F.
Captain French was a brave and accomplished officer, and beloved by all
the regiment. Co. K lost two wounded, and Co. C one.
As soon as Hardee was known to have retreated, our forces were again
put on the move, taking the road leading to the right, built a bridge
across the swollen South river, and marched on the Goldsboro road.
Our wounded were taken with us from the battlefield of Averysboro, and
as there were not enough ambulances for them, some were loaded in army
wagons. The march was continued in the direction of Bentonville, over a
country rich with forage of every kind except molasses--a luxury we
were not often without. Meal and meat were to be had in abundance. No
wanton destruction of property was tolerated in this section of the
country, for there was too much loyalty and poverty for that, and
soldiers are too magnanimous not to respect these; but where luxury and
pomp abound, they are hyenas and wolves.
On the night of the 18th, our division camped on the Goldsboro road,
about five miles from Bentonville and twenty-seven from Goldsboro, at a
point where the road from Clinton to Smithfield crosses the Goldsboro
road.
General Sherman had been with our wing of the army up to this time, and
anticipating no more opposition in the occupation of Goldsboro, left
General Slocum's column on the next morning to accompany Howard's
advance into Goldsboro.
Early on the morning of the 19th, the 14th Corps, being in advance of
the 20th on the same road, marched directly on to Bentonville. On
arriving at that place it soon discovered the enemy in force, strongly
intrenched on the further side of a difficult swamp.
The 1st division, driving back his cavalry and skirmishers, took a
position on the left of the road, and the 2nd division to the right of
the same. These divisions set to work and built log breastworks.
As soon as General Slocum ascertained that the combined forces of Hoke,
Hardee and Cheatham, all under command of rebel General Johnston, were
massed in his front, he ordered the two divisions of the 20th Corps to
form on the left of the 14th Corps, at the same time ordering up the
two divisions that were back with the supply trains.
Meantime the enemy sallied out on the left flank of the 1st division of
the 14th Corps, driving it back pell-mell, then pushing forward, struck
the flank and rear of the 2nd division.
At this juncture our brigade was moved out from the works on the
double-quick to cover its left flank. Before it got its lines formed
the rebels were upon it, and in the battle and confusion that ensued it
was driven back, but forming again it threw up logs and rails for
protection, which it held against six or seven successive charges.
The giving back of our brigade left exposed the rear of the other two
brigades. These brigades were formed in two lines, and were now
attacked furiously in front and rear. Therefore the rear line changed
sides of its works, and thus the advance of the enemy was met from both
ways. These brigades fought heroically, and after a most desperate
engagement came out victors, severely chastising the enemy, and
capturing over three hundred prisoners. It was about this stage of the
game that the 20th Corps was brought up to our assistance, Johnston's
forces driven back, and our lines mended. Our trains would certainly
have been captured had it not been for the timely arrival of these
fresh troops, for they were brought up close in the rear of the lines
of battle, as there was no engagement with the enemy anticipated.
Finally, when the battle began to rage in all its fury, there arose a
panic among them far surpassing what had happened in the fight. The
approaching storm of the battle seemed to them to be against us, and
the conclusion was, there was no safety but in flight. Teamsters began
to flee to the rear with their teams, and ambulance drivers with their
ambulances. Each tried to outrun the rest, for all were eager to be
foremost; consequently, in the jumble and excitement that ensued, no
headway could be made. In trying to head each other off, they stuck
fast in the swamp. The drivers did not try to extricate their vehicles,
but mounting mules fled for a serener sky.
There had certainly been a mixed time with the rear gentry as could be
seen the next morning. From the time the enemy made his first attack
until dark there was an incessant roar of artillery and musketry. It
was the days of Chickamauga renewed. Our artillery did good execution,
and its deafening roar was awful in that dismal swamp.
Night ended this dreadful battle. It was fought in a low, difficult
swamp, with mud and water over shoe mouth in depth, then it was densely
covered with a thick growth of shrubs, briars and vines, closely
interwoven. Judge the difficulty of such a place during a desperate
engagement.
When the 3rd brigade was thrown out on the flank of the division, the
Eighty-sixth Illinois was met by the enemy before it had formed its
lines, Colonel Fahnestock ordering it to lie down and maintain its own,
which it succeeded in doing for about ten minutes when the enemy struck
it in flank, forcing it back several hundred yards, where it formed
again and threw up a slight protection by means of logs and rails, with
its left resting on the main road. Here it remained, holding its own,
during the desperate charges made by Johnston on our lines.
In this day's fight, General Feering was wounded, and Colonel Langley
took command of the brigade. Soon after the battle had ceased, the
enemy fell back to his main line of works; our forces following up on
the 20th, and taking position, built breastworks.
On the night of the 21st, General Johnston evacuated his intrenchments
at this point, and retreated with his main force on Smithfield.
Accordingly, on the morning of the 22nd, the 14th Corps having no enemy
to oppose it, marched, and crossing the Neuse river on a pontoon, eight
miles above Goldsboro, camped at that place, late at night of the same
day. A few days previous to this, Generals Schofield and Terry had
opened a line of communication to this place from Newbern.
The loss of the Eighty-sixth, in the battle of Bentonville, was, in
all, two killed and twenty wounded.
The company loss was as follows:
KILLED.
Company G 1
Company K 1
--
Total 2
WOUNDED.
Company B 1
Company C 1
Company E 2
Company G 6
Company H 4
Company I 1
Company K 5
--
Total 20
Here ends the second great raid.
The Eighty-sixth Illinois had traversed over five hundred miles,
through all kinds of weather, country and scenery, and had consumed
sixty-two days in doing it. Crossed no less than ten rivers, some of
them at high water, and marched through the heart of South Carolina,
leaving its mark behind it. Was engaged in several skirmishes and two
battles, and lost twenty-seven men in battle and nine missing on the
route, making thirty-six in all.
When it arrived in Goldsboro it was fat, ragged and saucy, having
wanted for nothing but shoes. To get refitted, cleaned up and rested,
were treats after the first order of things.
Before closing this chapter we will give an incident of the mode in
which foraging was carried on during these great raids.
On every day's march, a detail was made from each company in our
division to go in advance of the main column and forage for it. These
men might be seen stringing out of camps long before the column was set
in motion, and were, of course, the first to visit the plantations. The
first things they would make a rush for, were the mules and horses, in
order to carry a load away with them. Then, going to the houses, they
would secure what provisions they wanted, and loading them into a cart,
would set a negro to work hitching up a horse or mule to it, then
putting him on the load to drive, leave a soldier with him to see
things well done. After this was done, some few of them would go back
to the houses and rummage them from bottom to top, ransacking every
nook and corner for all kinds of precious things. Trunks, boxes, beds
and such, never escaped notice, their contents being thrown out on the
floor and scattered to the four winds.
The same was the case with the fine libraries: books that were not
wanted, were sent whirling on the floor. It was a caution to see them
go in, paying no respect for anybody or anything. Beautiful damsels and
affectionate dames stood around with eyes suffused with tears, pleading
in vain. Negro houses met the same fate, for they too were turned
topsy-turvy from one room to another. There was always some mean enough
to do it, in the hope to find a fortune, and often his hopes were
fulfilled, as the whites sometimes hid their money with the negroes, in
the belief it would not be disturbed. Out of one fine dwelling, on the
Broad river, a soldier took eighteen thousand dollars in gold, and
thinking that was all, set it on fire. After it had burned down and the
fire died away, other curious soldiers took long poles and raking among
the embers brought to light a large bucket of molten silver.
Though nearly every house on the line of march was rummaged for gold
and silver, it was done by a few unprincipled men, who must needs
accompany an army under all circumstances, ready for any dirty work to
which their evil propensities may lead them.
After these foragers had collected what mules and horses they could
find, and what provisions they wanted, they would travel on in the
course the column was moving till near night, when they would halt
until it came up, and all go into camp together.