USA > Tennessee > The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and early western history, including a chronological summary of battles and engagements in the western armies of the Confederacy > Part 42
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It was now evident Sherman was leaving the vicinity of Macon, and
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General Wheeler moved rapidly to cross the Oconee, reaching it on the night of the 23d, and swimming the river on the 24th.
By a rapid march, General Wheeler checked and drove back a force attempting to cross at Ball's Ferry ; and, by 'marching all night, con- fronted, at daylight on the 25th, Sherman's main army, which had crossed on pontoons at Milledgeville.
After sending pickets to guard all approaches to Augusta, and to the Savannah Railroad, General Wheeler marched through Sandersville on the evening of the 25th, met Sherman's main force, repulsed a charge of their cavalry, and in turn charged upon them, driving a brig- ade back upon the main infantry force, capturing forty prisoners and the headquarter wagons of a division.
On the morning of the 26th, we were warmly engaged by a corps of infantry, and finally pressed through the town. Toward evening, Gen- eral Wheeler learned that Kilpatrick had been detached with his entire command of five thousand cavalry, and was rapidly marching on the most direct route to Augusta. With two thousand men, General Wheeler made a rapid night march, and at two A. M. on the 27th, overtook him, and by a night attack, drove a portion of his troops . from their camp, capturing over one hundred prisoners, horses, and arms, one stand of colors and his camp equippage. At daylight, Gen- eral Wheeler found that but a portion of the enemy had engaged him, while the balance had two hours the start on the Augusta Road. Pur- suing rapidly, we charged his rear whenever overtaken, and finally brought most of his column to a stand: and after a warm fight, he with- drew and turned from the Augusta Road toward Waynesboro. We fought constantly until dark, when we pushed him through Waynesboro and extinguished the fires which his advance guard had applied to every house in the place. Every house was saved, except a wagon fac- tory which was half consumed when we entered the town. We har- assed their camp during the night, and at daylight on the 28th charged his position, but owing to a dense fog he was enabled to withdraw two brigades while the third was engaging us. Pressing close up to him, we charged his main column, capturing one hundred and twenty pris- oners and driving half his command in confusion. During the day, we had three more equally severe and successful engagements. At Rey- nold's plantation, Kilpatrick erected hasty rail breast-works, and at- tempted again to make a stand; but the ground being favorable, we charged in four columns, sweeping him from the field, killing and
wounding a large number and capturing nearly two hundred prisoners. We pursued him for three miles, driving him back upon the main army, the shelter of which he did not again forsake during the cam- paign.
General Wheeler here received the following dispatches from Gen- eral Bragg :
AUGUSTA, November 28, 1864-7 A. M.
MAJOR-GENERAL WHEELER :- Yours of 12:30 yesterday was received last night, and gave me great pleasure. I trust you will be able to keep up with the enemy and press him. As soon as possible let me hear what you can learn of the movements of the main column.
Very respectfully and truly yours,
BRAXTON BRAGG.
AUGUSTA, November 29, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL WHEELER :- Dispatch received. Press closely upon the enemy and keep me informed.
BRAXTON BRAGG, General.
November 30, 186411 :- 30 A. M.
MAJOR-GENERAL WHEELER :- Thank your gallant old command in my name for their brilliant services. I promised it in advance to the people of your native city, and nobly have you redeemed my pledge. General Robertson has arrived and is doing well, though he will be long disabled.
BRAXTON BRAGG.
During the 29th and 30th, Sherman seemed hesitating whether or not to attack Augusta. Of course we had done all we could to cause him to decide not to do so. We had circulated reports that Bragg and Longstreet had arrived from Richmond with a large force, and letters to the same effect, purporting to be written from Augusta, were dropped so that they were picked up and taken to General Sherman.
Up to this time the general character of the country did not admit of roads being obstructed; in fact, the Federal infantry did not use roads but very little. Their general order of march was for wagon trains and artillery to occupy the roads, while the infantry marched on the flank, in open fields on either side. The swampy lands between Augusta and Savannah afforded an opportunity to impede Sherman by cutting timber. General Wheeler therefore dispatched a regiment with a large supply of axes, who were enabled in favorable locations to quite effectually blocade the roads, and thus retard the enemy's progress.
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AND EARLY WESTERN HISTORY.
On December Ist, Sherman, with infantry supporting Kilpatrick, again marched upon Waynesboro. We fought him earnestly, and on the 2nd he again pushed forward; and at Rock Creek Church, after a severe fight, he was checked, and finally returned to Thomas's Station. On the 3d, we attacked him at that place, capturing fifty prisoners.
The night of the 3d we spent in shelling their camp, and on the morning of the 4th, the Fourteenth Army Corps and Kilpatrick, with five thousand cavalry, advanced briskly and attacked us in the barricades we had hastily prepared with rails and timber to aid us in defending the town. The action commenced by a charge of cavalry, with infan- try in close support; but our fire was so warm and well-directed that they were repulsed, some of their dead falling close to our lines, and one officer dashed over our obstruction and was made prisoner.
Kilpatrick then concentrated his cavalry on our left, and the infan- try, in two long lines, advanced, and, aided by a Federal battery, en- gaged our dismounted force. While the fusilade was at its height, Kilpatrick advanced, attempting to turn and envelop our left flank with his large force of cavalry. General Wheeler had reserved two regiments mounted for this emergency, and had located them just out of easy observation. At a favorable moment General Wheeler ordered the dismounted men to their horses, and at the same instant charged with the mounted regiments upon Kilpatrick's flank, confus- ing his entire command and halting the entire infantry line until his men were mounted, and retired to another position, but after some delay turned down the Savannah road.
I have described these engagements in detail, as they are fair ex- amples of our numerous conflicts.
During the 5th and 6th General Wheeler kept his command well up on Sherman's rear, skirmishing continually and sometimes warm- ing up to an action of higher dignity.
On the evening of the 6th, I received the following :
AUGUSTA, December 6th, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL WHEELER :- Press well on enemy's left flank, so that if he crosses Savannah River you will know it immediately and advise me.
BRAXTON BRAGG.
On the morning of the 7th we passed Sylvania and charged the en- emy's rear, capturing 80 prisoners, together with horses, arms, etc.
Pursuant to General Bragg's instructions, General Wheeler kept VOL. I, NO. 1X .- 3.
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the most of his force on the river road. Towards evening the cavalry charged Wheeler's advance of about forty men, which, pursuant to his directions, retreated to the main body, thus drawing the Federal cav- alry nearly two miles from their infantry. We here, in turn, charged them, driving the entire force in confusion. We captured 150 prison- ers and killed 33, and I suppose wounded four or five times that number. Several hundred were driven off the road into a swamp, from which they escaped during the night by abandoning their horses and arms.
The obstructions placed in the road between Waynesboro and Sa- vannah delayed the enemy's march. During a delay while crossing Ebenezer Creek, we, on the night of the 8th, made a night attack on their camps with our artillery and dismounted men. The enemy were so confused and panic-stricken that they fled to the river. Many were drowned in their attempt to cross. Their knapsacks, accoutre- ments and, in many cases, arms were abandoned. Eighty prisoners and 2,000 negroes were captured-the negroes being those stolen from planters during the march, many of whom we were enabled to return to their owners. We also captured a courier with the following dispatch, which General Wheeler sent to General Hardee in Savan- nah :
ARMY OF GEORGIA, HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING SPRINGFIELD, December 8th, 7 A.M., 1864.
GENERAL JEFF. C. DAVIS :- General Sherman has information that the line of defense around Savannah is about four miles from the city. He desires to take the road from Cherokee Hill through Silk Hope to Litchfield, as our first position. Your Corps should be at or near Cherokee Hill. The Twentieth will be to the left of Pooler; Seven- teenth on right of Twentieth, and Fifteenth near Litchfield. The Twentieth Corps will be at Monteith to-night.
Yours, very respectfully,
H. A. SLOCUM, Major-General.
On the 9th and roth, General Wheeler attacked the Federal rear on the middle-ground road, capturing prisoners, horses, etc., and press- ing to within ten miles of the city of Savannah.
From Atlanta to Savannah, General Wheeler kept forces operating on all sides of Sherman's column, which kept him advised of their movements; and also prevented foraging parties from leaving the enemy's main body, thus saving all but a narrow track from spoliation,
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AND EARLY WESTERN HISTORY.
and saving from the torch millions of property which otherwise would certainly have been consumed.
During this campaign, General Wheeler's command had captured nearly two thousand prisoners, and placed nearly as many hors . du combat.
We had successfully defended every city where government stores and munitions were deposited. We had fought the enemy night and day, capturing property and recapturing animals and negroes stolen "from citizens on the line of march-all of which was, when practica- ble, restored to the owners.
Sherman was now in line of battle before Savannah, his rear being protected by fortifications running along swamps only penetrable on the few causeways the enemy now held with forts and batteries, so strong that less than an army could hardly expect to assail them with success.
General Wheeler left about one-third of his command to watch Sher- man's rear, and with the balance crossed the Savannah River, which was accomplished on the 13th, and he moved rapidly to Izard's Plant- ation, already menaced by a large force of infantry. Before reaching that point, the enemy had crossed a portion of a regiment, which we attacked, capturing 12 prisoners; but the main body succeeded in re- treating in boats, being protected by a heavy fire from infantry and artillery stationed on an island but a short distance from the South Carolina shore.
The following dispatch and orders indicate the duties General Wheel- er's command was called upon to perform :
HEADQUARTERS, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA,
December 11, 1864-6 P.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER, Commanding Cavalry :- Lieu- tenant-General Hardee is apprehensive that the enemy may cross the Savannah River between the railroad bridge and the city, on flats captured on the island plantations, and get on his line of communica- tions. He considers it important to provide against such a contin- gency, and desires you to transfer to the left bank of the river a suffi- cient force to protect his left flank. He also thinks it best that you should cross the river and establish your headquarters at Hardeeville, or some other convenient locality.
Respectfully, General, your obedient servant,
T. B. Rov, A. A. General.
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
HEADQUARTERS, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 13th, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER. :- I am instructed by Lieuten- ant-General Hardee to repeat that he considers it important that a force of your command should be promptly transferred to the vicinity of Hardeeville, for the security of that depot and to protect his line of communication, which may be threatened from New River, as well as from the Savannah.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. B. Rov, A. A. General.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 15th, 1864-10:15 P. M.
MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER, Commanding Cavalry :- The enemy are reported at Izard's Plantation in considerable force. It is all-important they should be driven from that position without delay. For this purpose, take any portion of the command you destined for this side of the river.
Respectfully,
W. J. HARDEE.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 16th, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL WHEELER, Commanding Cavalry :- Your command embraces the country between New River and the Savannah River, and, incidentally, all other points which may be attacked in your neighborhood.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. J. HARDEE. December 17th, 1864-12 M.
GENERAL :- I am informed there is a large canal, known as the Sa- vannah Canal, passing by Cheve's farm and falling into Tunbridge Creek, near the landing. This canal should be thoroughly obstructed, and protected by infantry and artillery. It is possible that the battery and obstructions at Tunbridge's protect the entrance of said canal. There are several bad places in the main road from Hardeeville to your headquarters. They should be drained and corduroyed before a heavy rain.
Respectfully, your obedient servant, G. T. BEAUREGARD. Major-General JOSEPH WHEELER, Commanding Cavalry.
A considerable force had now occupied the island opposite Izard's Mill, which at any time could have been increased to any number Sherman might desire.
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AND EARLY WESTERN HISTORY.
The South Carolina shore was low and flat, so that their artillery could sweep it at all points, and, under cover of a fire of infantry and artillery, Sherman could easily throw over a division or even one of his corps. This was made more practicable from the fact that for two hours after daylight a dense fog rested on the river, which would dis- guise their movements until actually on the east bank of the river.
To deter them as much as possible, General Wheeler kept up a warm artillery fire from several points, and made all the show of strength and resistance possible; but, notwithstanding this, he (Gen- eral Wheeler) regarded the situation as critical. His troops were so spread out, defending the vulnerable points, that, had the enemy shown proper energy, they could at any time from the 16th to the 20th have marched twenty thousand men to Hardee's Union Causeway, and thus captured all our material in Savannah; and, unless the pontoon bridge was completed before they reached Scribner's Ferry, most of our troops in the city would have also fallen into their hands. General Wheeler informed General Hardee of the situation, and all hands were pressed on the work of completing the bridge.
General Wheeler promised that he would contest every foot of ground between the river and causeway, and made all preparations possible to attain that object. General Wheeler spent the afternoon in visiting the various parts, and before day endeavored to post himself at the dangerous points where he had reason to expect a crossing to be effected.
On the morning of the 19th, General Wheeler was at Cheve's house, on the causeway, pursuant to the following instructions :
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 18th, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER :- General Beauregard directs me to inform you that, instead of to-day, he will meet you at Cheve's house about 6 A. M. to-morrow.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. R. CHISHOLM, Aid-de-Camp.
General Wheeler here received a dispatch stating that a crossing in force had been effected at the point he had left during the night, and where he had feared the attempt would be made. General Wheeler hastened back and concentrated his force in front of their troops, and fought continually during that and the following day.
The following was received :
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 19, 1864-6:15 P. M.
MAJOR-GENERAL WHEELER, Commanding Cavalry :- The road to Hardeeville must be kept open at all hazards. It is our only line of retreat. The pontoon bridge is not yet completed, but the engineers hope to have it done by to-morrow. Fight the enemy at every step if he attempts to advance, and keep me informed of everything relat- ing to his movements.
. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General.
POCOTALIGO, December 20th, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL WHEELER :- Enemy reported leaving Tullifirma. Be sharply on the lookout for them on New River line, and inform me promptly if they appear.
Respectfully,
SAMUEL JONES, Major-General.
The enemy were but three miles from the causeway. General Wheeler determined they should not reach it if it cost three-fourths of his command, and impressed every officer and soldier with the im- portant duty which had devolved upon them.
General Wheeler arranged to reinforce the New River line if it be- came necessary, and by hard fighting kept the causeway open at all points until everything was quietly withdrawn from Savannah, on the 2Ist, and the army passed up to Hardeeville without receiving a shot from the enemy.
NAVAL VICTORY OFF SABINE PASS.
HERE were few wars-very few, we might say-where victories were won under such odds and disadvantages as in the naval service of the Confederate States. The exploits of the Confederate navy, so-called, would adorn the annals of any nation, and they signal- ly illustrate what high resolve and courage, bordering on the domain of rashness, can accomplish against superior physical forces. In numer- ous instances light batteries assailed double and treble their number of the heavy guns of the enemy, and came off victorious. The term "gal- lant" is too stale and tame to apply to such exploits, especially to the one which is the subject of this sketch, though there are many others which partake of the marvelous in an equal degree. That this impor-
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tant engagement should not appear in the Government's official " Sum- mary of Battles" is a singular piece of oversight, to say the least of it. Its omission from the list would not be noticed here were it not for the fact that there are several other omissions of a similar character-so many, indeed, as to excite a suspicion of a want . of candor in making up this report. We will instance several engage- ments on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers at different times, in which important captures of vessels were made by the light artillery of Forrest and Wheeler. Again, the affair at the Winston Saltworks, in which the crew of the Morning Light was badly worsted after it had destroyed the place, is not noted. But to our sketch.
Towards the close of the year 1862, General Magruder, command- ing the District of Texas, organized two river expeditions to clear Gal- veston and Sabine Pass, respectively, of the enemy's vessels. He had but few resources at his command in the way of boats or proper arm- aments ; but he was not at all deficient in material of the right kind to man them and execute his daring projects. With an improvised fleet of ordinary river steamboats, which were protected by cotton bales and manned by landsmen, he signalized the advent of the new year, 1863, by a bold attack on the enemy's fleet at Galveston, consisting of six fine vessels-the gunboats Westfield, Harriet Lane, Owasco, Sachem, Clifton and Coryphaus, all of them splendidly armed and fully manned. In an incredibly short time, he captured the Harriet Lane, when the rest of the fleet put to sea in haste, with the exception of the Westfield, which was blown up to prevent her falling into his hands, her commander, Renshaw, and most of her crew perishing in the ex- plosion. The result staggered belief, and startled the North pretty much as the Merrimac's victory in Hampton Roads did the year before, except that the exasperation was greater, perhaps, as in this instance a splendid fleet had surrendered to an attack of three or four steam- boats manned from General Magruder's regiments, and facetiously termed by him, " Rangers of the Sea."
The other expedition projected by General Magruder, and already alluded to, was put under the lead and direction of his A. A. General, Major Oscar M. Watkins. The object was to clear Sabine Pass of the enemy's vessels, which' were depredating along the coast: one of them-the Morning Light-having destroyed Winston's Saltworks, though her crew was badly punished in the act. The only boats available were two little steamers, the Josiah Bell and the Uncle Ben,
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
and these were put in as good condition for action as the limited re- sources at hand permitted. The Bell was armed with a 64-pound rifle gun, and the Uncle Ben with two 18s. The enemy, getting wind of the expedition fitting up against him in the Sabine River, and recalling . the recent disaster at Galveston, as an act of prudence, quit Sabine Pass and took post twelve miles out in the Gulf of Mexico, where the chances of surprise were less and of escape better, in case of an at- tack.
All being in readiness by the 20th of January, Major Watkins, hav- ing taken on board detachments from Pyron's, Speight's and Cook's Regiments, numbering three hundred in all, weighed anchor and ran down to the Pass. On the morning of the 21st, the little steamers started for the bar, and discovered two of the enemy's vessels 12 miles out. These were the Morning Light, a brig of war mounting eight thirty-twos and one rifle-piece, and a schooner mounting two splendid Dahlgrens. Here were heavy_odds to contend against, both in weight of metal and number of guns, while the action was to be fought by Major Watkins's landsmen, in deep water and many miles from terra firma. The prospect viewed in this light was not very pleasant to contemplate, and to men of any other mould would have been appall- ing. The writer of this was on an expedition of this kind in June, 1861, on the Potomac, intended to capture by boarding the gunboat Pawnee, and he remembers vividly yet his feelings when the infantry force designed to take part in it reached its distination. The river was bayed out ten or twelve miles from shore to shore at that point, and the frail U. S. Mailboat, which Colonel Thomas (Madame Zarvona) had captured during the night and brought into the mouth of Cone River, looked very poorly fitted for a contest with a ship of war. It was an unusual sort of combat and very strange to a landsman's feelings, and he confesses that the prospect was not inviting. As it turned out, the Pawnee had left her station for a point up the river, and Commodore Hollins, who was in command of the expedition, deemed it wise to make no pursuit.
If Major Hawkins's land-lubbers felt similar emotions when they looked across the bar at the black hulls standing in bold and belliger- ant relief against the horizon, their - action gave no evidence of the fact. All steam was put on, and the two little "gunboats" with flying colors struck out into the deep, and headed directly for the enemy. The gauntlet thrown down was not accepted, and it was soon observed
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that the brig of war and her consort were hoisting all sail to escape. An animating chase now ensued, and fifteen miles were run before the Bell came near enough to open with her 64-pounder, served by the Davis Guards, at the Morning Light. It was now about 10 o'clock, and as the brig answered, the scene grew more interesting. The Bell, still making all speed, had time to fire ten or twelve shots, some of which took effect, before she came in musket range of the Morning Light, when her riflemen soon cleared the latter's decks. This decided the contest at once, the enemy hauling down his flag before the Bell could get along side of him. The land-lubbers immediately scrambled over the side of the beaten ship and made prisoners of her crew. The schooner continued her flight, but shared the fate of her consort after a short chase. The Bell was never struck once, showing poor practice on the part of the enemy. Besides the guns and ammunition, the vessels contained a large amount of valuable stores, which made the capture one of much importance. We give Major Watkins's report, which is exceedingly brief and modest:
ON BOARD C. S. GUNBOAT BELL, SABINE PASS, TEXAS,
January 2Ist, 1863. · CAPTAIN ;- We met the enemy this morning in the Gulf of Mexico. We whipped them and brought everything to Sabine Pass. I fought them ten guns to our one, my officers and men behaving nobly. We have captured two vessels, one of them a full-rigged ship, and the other a schooner, twelve fine guns, medical stores and ammunition in abundance, together with one hundred and nine prisoners.
Very respectfully, O. M. WATKINS,
Major and A. A. General commanding on the Sabine. To Captain EDMUND P. TURNER, A. A. General.
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