The fighting at the South.
Sherman seems to be becoming more timid in his movements, or more exhausted in his ability to advance his army.
For five days, up to last Friday, his average marching had been only five miles per day. This delay is, of course, most dangerous to him. It gives the
Confederates time (which was about all they wanted) to gather troops in his front.
He has wasted too much time to think now about obliging to his right and marching for
Brunswick, on the
Georgia coast, and must, of necessity, strike for
Savannah, or
Beaufort, South Carolina, the nearest point.
He was expected by the
Yankee fleet at
Savannah as early as Sunday, the 26th ultimo, and all that night the
Federal shipping off that point was throwing up signal rockets for his information.
He not gotten as far as
Millen on last Friday; and the telegraph line to that point was working at that time.
All the ferries on the
Savannah river are guarded, and all means of crossing the men have been put out of his way. The Charleston
Mercury of the 2d gives an account of our victory at
Grahamsville,
South Carolina, on Wednesday.
The enemy's force consisted of five thousand negro infantry, from
Beaufort, and fifteen hundred white artillerymen.
Our forces were under the command of
Major General Gustavus W. Smith.
It says:
‘
"At 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning the enemy's advance, preceded by sixteen pieces of artillery playing upon our lines, attacked
General Smith at a place called
Honey Hill, three miles east of the village of
Grahamsville.
Our strength at that time consisted of fourteen hundred muskets and seven pieces of artillery.
We had some few embrasures for open batteries and slight entrenchments on the right and left; but our line was necessarily extended, owing to the superiority of the enemy in numbers, and much of it was both light and unprotected.
This, however, only emboldened our men to greater deeds, and they fought the battle throughout with an energy and resolution worthy of veterans.
The fight lasted until dark, and the enemy made several desperate charges against our line, but it stood firm and repulsed every attack, finally driving back the enemy's right and centre; but their left stood unmoved at the close of the action.
For six hours our men maintained the fight without relief.
Late in the day,
General Robertson arrived with the Thirty-second Georgia, a battery of artillery and a company of cavalry, in time to render most effective aid. Night came in to close the engagement, which was conducted with vigor on both sides.
’
"The repulse of the enemy was complete.
The enemy's losses exceeded five hundred killed and wounded, while, on our side, they were less than one hundred--between ten and fifteen killed, and about eighty wounded.
"After nightfall on Wednesday, the enemy quietly retired for a distance of three miles towards the cover of their gunboats.
Before dawn on Wednesday, several additional transports, carrying troops, were seen steaming up
Broad river, doubtless bringing reinforcements to the discomfited foe.
"On Thursday morning, the enemy's land forces remained quiet; but the gunboats kept up a pretty constant fire of shells towards our lines.
Up to 2 o'clock there had been no renewal whatever of the fighting.
Long ere this our force has been strengthened by heavy reinforcements, and when next the enemy advances to 'feel' our lines, we trust to chronicle a still more glorious victory."
The
Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle has some facts about
Sherman's march in
Georgia, from which we take a few paragraphs:
‘
"The two wings of
Sherman's army united at
Milledgeville, where they staid three days.
"In their route they destroyed, as far as possible, all mills, cribs and gin houses, cotton screws, and gins, cotton, implements, etc., and carried off all stock, provisions and negroes.
"When their horses gave out they shot them.
At
Eatonton they killed over one hundred.
"At
Milledgeville they only destroyed the arsenal, depot and penitentiary.--They did not burn the factory near that place.
"Along their route the road was strewn with dead negro women and children.
"At
Monticello, the
Federals hung a man by the name of
Smith, but life was not extinct when he was cut down.
"The farmers having devoted a large share of their attention this fall to syrup making there is a large quantity of corn yet ungathered in the field, which was left by the
Federals.
But there is not a horse or ox in the country, hence the saving of the corn will be a difficult matter.
The enemy were under strict discipline when privates were found on private property they were severed on punished by order of
General Sherman.
Of course, stragglers committed depredations with impunity.
"The right wing of the
Federal army, under
General Howard, crossed the Okmulgee river between Adams's Ferry and
Macon.
It is said that the town of
Forsyth was completely demolished.
"The Federals expressed great astonishment at the rich country they were passing through and the abundance of provisions in it.
"The people of
Madison are indebted to
Hon. Joshua Hill for his strenuous exertions to have their property protected.
It was owing to his efforts solely that they were spared.
"
General Slocum gave orders to the citizens along his route to shoot down his stragglers without mercy.
"One punishment inflicted by some of the
Federal generals for plundering was severe whipping."
’
