Tuesday, March 21.-Left the station this morning for the army, which we reached about 2 p. m., and found it skirmishing sharply with the enemy. Just after we reached General Johnston's quarters the Seventeenth Army Corps endeavored to get in on our left, but were handsomely driven from the field by our cavalry and infantry. Wednesday, March 22.-This morning the army fell back a short distance, just this side of Mill Creek, and formed line again. The enemy followed to the bridge, which they succeeded in capturing, but came no farther. We remained in this position until the afternoon, when the entire army withdrew and moved across the Neuse, not far from Smithfield. Thursday, March 23.-Stationary; some of the army moving in the direction of Raleigh. Sherman, after his failure, is supposed to have gone off toward Goldsborough. Friday, March 24.-Moved this morning from our bivouac through Smithfield and about four miles north of Smithfield Station, on the Halifax road. April 1.-Doctor Bowers left us. April 4.-Captain Clark returned. Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9.-Employed in consolidating regiments, companies, &c. Monday, April 10.-Left bivouac about 1 p. m., but did not get fairly on the road until 6 p. m., waiting on General Stewart's command. Marched till about 10 o'clock at night and made six miles on the Louisburg road. Tuesday, April 11.-Moved at daylight and marched with our corps eighteen miles, to within three miles of Raleigh. Wednesday, April 12.-Moved through Raleigh about 9 a. m., and marched some nine miles beyond; our quarters in the woods, near railroad. Thursday, April 13.-Marched on the Chapel Hill road, through that place, two miles beyond; quarters again in the woods. Friday, April 14.-Moved at daylight and marched on the Greensborough road some fourteen or fifteen miles; quarters at Mrs. Crony's, near Haw River. Saturday, April 15.-Moved an hour before day, crossed the Haw and the Alamance Rivers; making a march of fifteen miles. Sunday, April 16.-Moved again early and marched some twelve miles on the New Salem road. Monday, April 17.-Ordered to remain where we are until further orders. As the enemy are all around us, both above, below, and behind, the inevitable inference is that the army is to be surrendered. The army remained in a state of suspense and uncertainty until Wednesday, April 19, when it was known that peace had been agreed upon between the North and South, or rather, that terms of a peace had been agreed upon between Generals Sherman and Johnston and sent to their respective Governments for ratification. Sunday, April 23.-Moved camp nine miles in the direction of Greensborough. Monday, April 24.-Sherman notifies Johnston that President Andy Johnson refuses to ratify the proposition submitted to him; wont treat with us as a power, and that the truce will expire on the 26th instant at 11 a. m., when hostilities will again be resumed. Ordered to hold ourselves prepared to move promptly at that hour. Wednesday, April 26.-Moved at 11 o'clock on the Center and Thomasville road and marched about ten miles, to within about four miles of the railroad, and directly on the Salem and Fayetteville plank road, the longest in the United States, being 120 miles long. Thursday, April 27.-Stationary. In the afternoon it was officially announced that an agreement had been entered on between Generals S[herman] and Johnston] that this army should sign an obligation not to bear arms against the United States until released from it, and that the troops should be marched to their respective States and there disbanded. No. 290. Report of Brig. Gen. William B. Taliaferro, C. S. Army, of operations March 15-16. HEADQUARTERS TALIAFERRO'S DIVISION, In Camp near Smithfield, N. C., April 4, 1865. COLONEL: I have the honor to make a report of the operations of this division on the 15th and 16th ultimo, near Averasborough, N. C.: On the morning of the 15th one of my brigades (Rhett's) encamped near Smith's house, at the intersection of the Fayetteville and Raleigh road with the road leading to Smith's house and on to Smith's Ferry across the Cape Fear River, and Elliott's brigade half a mile higher up at another cross-road leading to the same ferry. On the previous evening the enemy, who had advanced as far as Silver Run, were reported by the cavalry to have retired a distance of four miles below that point, and the troops had received orders from the lieutenant-general commanding to rest on that day (the 15th). About 8 o'clock I was informed by Lieutenant-General Hampton that the infantry of the enemy were pressing our cavalry back, when I selected a position for Rhett's brigade near Smith's house in rear of an open field on the right of the road and with the woods on the left, concealing our dispositions, along which I erected such hasty breast-works as our means permitted. I advanced a line of skirmishers a few hundred yards in front of this line and ordered up some field pieces to support the lines. My object in this was only to check the enemy until our trains should be beyond the reach of danger, when I designed to retire Rhett's upon Elliott's brigade, or to take such other positions as should be directed by the lieutenant-general commanding. The lieutenant-general commanding, as soon as he was notified of the advance of the enemy, rode to my front and ordered my picket-line still farther advanced. This was done, when they struck the enemy some half a mile in front of our position. The cavalry having retired to the right and left, I threw a few shells into the woods in front of our skirmishers; but except a slight demonstration along the skirmish line, nothing of consequence occurred dur ing the rest of the day. I regret to say that Colonel Rhett, First South Carolina Artillery, commanding this brigade, rode forward in advance of the skirmish line, and mistaking a party of the enemy's cavalry for our own, was made prisoner. I was directed by the lieutenant-general commanding that in the event the enemy moved forward in the morning I should hold the position occupied with Rhett's brigade, now commanded by Colonel Butler, First South Carolina Infantry, until it was no longer tenable, then fall back upon the position occupied by Elliott's brigade, which had been brought forward and occupied an intrenched line behind a narrow swamp some 200 yards in rear of the front line, which second line was to be held by my division as long as practicable, when I was to fall back upon an extended line being prepared some 600 yards to the rear, and in part occupied by General McLaws' division. At 7 a. m. on the 16th the enemy advanced in considerable force, and the cavalry pickets, which had been re-established, retired. He soon appeared in our front and advanced to the attack. Our skirmish line, under the command of Captain Huguenin, First South Carolina Infantry, received their advance very handsomely and only fell back when forced by greatly superior numbers. On the right of the line and well advanced to the front the houses at Smith's place were occupied by two companies of the First South Carolina Artillery. The enemy established a battery on a rising ground beyond the swamps in our front to their left of the main road and shelled our lines with great determination and vigor. They made several attacks with their infantry upon our lines, chiefly upon the left, in all of which they were repulsed. About 11 o'clock they severely pressed our left and threatened to turn it. At the same time they massed and extended to our right, finally lapping and turning it, when from the impossibility of extending our line, already deployed to its fullest extent, the brigade was withdrawn to the second line, occupied by Elliott's brigade. The fighting was heavy during the entire morning. Men and officers displayed signal gallantry. Our loss on this line was considerable, including some of our best officers, among whom were Lieutenant-Colonel De Treville, First South Carolina Infantry, and Captain Lesesne, First South Carolina Artillery. Ŏur light artillery, which consisted of two 12-pounder howitzers of Le Gardeur's (New Orleans) battery, and one 12-pounder Napoleon of Stuart's (South Carolina) battery, was well served and operated with good results upon the enemy's infantry and opposing battery. The ground was so soft from the heavy rains that the pieces could with difficulty be maneuvered, and when this line was abandoned it was found impossible to withdraw two of the guns, as every horse of Stuart's but one, and nine of Le Gardeur's, were killed, and nearly all the cannoneers of both guns either killed or wounded. Span horses had been ordered up, but did not arrive in time. All the ammunition, however, to the last shot of all the guns, was expended upon the enemy. Sergeant Guibet, chief of piece in Le Gardeur's battery, deserves especial mention for his gallantry and energy. The enemy now made several demonstrations along the second line now held by my entire division, first demonstrating to the right and then to the left of our lines, in which they were always resisted successfully. About 1 o'clock they moved a large body far to our left in the direction of the Black River, thus exposing our now first line on the left to enfilade, when the division was moved back to the line selected by the lieutenant-general commanding for his main line of defense, and I was ordered to occupy the line to the right and left of the main road, Major-General McLaws' division being to my left and Major-General Wheeler's dismounted cavalry to my right. Most of Rhett's brigade, which had been severely engaged all day to this time, was held in reserve a few hundred yards in rear of the line of works. The enemy advanced several times in heavy force on my position during the day, but was always repulsed. His artillery shelled our lines at intervals, and was replied to by a section of Brooks' battery under Lieutenant Heavy skirmishing continued until nearly 8 o'clock at night, at which time the infantry and artillery were withdrawn and the works occupied by a skirmish line of General Wheeler's cavalry (dismounted). Before we withdrew the enemy along my front intrenched themselves. The officers and men of my command, though unaccustomed to field fighting, behaved as well as troops could have done. The discipline of garrison service, regular organization, and the daily exposure for eighteen months to the enemy's fire told in the coolness and determination with which they received the fire of the enemy. I would especially mention Brig. Gen. Stephen Elliott and Colonel Butler, commanding brigades; Colonel Brown, Major Warley, and Captain Humbert, Second South Carolina Artillery; Majors McMullan and Bertody, Twenty-second Georgia Battalion; Captain Mathewes and Lieutenant Boag, Manigualt's battalion; Captain McGregor, Bonaud's battalion, of Elliott's brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, Major Blanding (severely wounded), and Captain King, First South Carolina Artillery; Captain Huguenin, First South Carolina Infantry; and Major Lucas, Lucas' battalion of Rhett's brigade, Captain Le Gardeur, of Le Gardeur's Light Artillery. To my personal staff is due my testimony to their gallantry. My adjutant-general, Captain Page, and my inspector-general, Captain Read, were both wounded discharging their duties. Captain Mathewes, engineer officer; Lieutenant Kemp, aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant Harrison, signal officer, discharged their duties with zeal and gallantry. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. T. B. Roy, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 291. Reports of Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill, C. S. Army, of operations March 7-21. HEADQUARTERS LEE'S CORPS, COLONEL: On the 7th instant, whilst at Smithfield Station, N. C., and temporarily in command of Lee's corps, I received an order from General Johnston to co-operate with General Bragg in an attack upon the Yankees near Kinston. My division, under Col. J. G. Coltart, Fiftieth Alabama, and Pettus' brigade, of Stevenson's division, were at once placed upon the cars and encamped that night beyond the Neuse and below Kinston. Before day the next morning we relieved Hoke's division, in the trenches on Southwest Creek, while it made a flank movement to the Yankee left. General Clayton, of Lee's corps, came up with his division about 8 a. m., and was sent to co-operate with General Hoke. Hagood's brigade, and the North Carolina Reserves under General L. S. Baker, were added to my command, and we were ordered to cross the creek and co-operate with General Hoke as soon as his firing was heard. That officer informed me that he expected to seize and hold the lower Trent and Dover roads, and he asked me to cut off the Yankee retreat on the British and Neuse roads. General Baker crossed the creek when the firing opened on our right, and I directed the skirmishers from Lee's corps, under Capt. E. B. Vaughan, Fiftieth Alabama, to push boldly forward in front of our abandoned works. The North Carolina Reserves advanced very handsomely for a time, but at length one regiment (the First, I think) broke, and the rest lay down and could not be got forward. I directed General Baker to hold his position, while I, with Coltart, Pettus, and Hagood, would go around the swamp, which constituted the Yankee right. This movement was completely successful, and the Yankees ran in the wildest confusion. I had nothing to do now but to press forward rapidly to the firing and intercept the foe fleeing from Hoke. I think that with little loss we would have captured several thousand men. Captain Vaughan, with forty-five skirmishers, took about 300 prisoners, and reports that the rout of the Yankees was more complete than he had ever seen before. At this critical moment I received a note from Major Parker, General Bragg's adjutant-general, saying that General Hoke thought that if I went down the Neuse road until I struck the British road, and followed up the latter, I would make many captures, and adding that General Bragg directed me to make the movement. I pushed on rapidly to West's house, and threw a picket across to the British road, and went to it in person, but saw no enemy. It was 4.30 p. m. when we reached West's house, and it was obvious that we could effect nothing unless we moved over to Tracy Swamp and got upon the railroad and the Dover road. General Baker and a battery had joined us, but our entire force was but little over 2,000 men. The firing was still heavy in our rear, and indicated plainly that Hoke was not driving the Yankees. A consultation was held with my officers, and all but General Baker thought it too late and too hazardous to march three or four miles farther to reach Tracy Swamp. A message was received soon after from General Bragg to return, if too late to strike a blow. We were now five miles from our bridge on Southwest Creek, held only by a picket, and the Yankee cavalry had appeared between us and it; but the march was made without loss. On the road I met a staff officer of General Bragg, who directed me, after crossing at our bridge, to recross at Jackson's Mill and go down the Dover road and unite with Hoke. This junction was formed about midnight. General Clayton, who had been operating with Hoke, once more joined his own corps. March 9. We had now a line of breast-works along the British road, and another nearly at right angles to it, covering the railroad down to Southwest Creek. These works were held by the fragments of the Army of Tennessee and Hagood's brigade, all under my immediate command. The Reserves were thus in the works on Southwest Creek and not subject to my orders. General Hoke attempted a flank movement on our left to-day, but finding the Yankees strongly intrenched did not attack, and returned and took position on my right. To make a diversion in his favor, the skirmish line, again commanded by Captain Vaughan as corps officer of the day, advanced and seized the intrenched skirmish line of the Yankees, but lost it again upon being pressed by a line of battle. |