Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, April 12, 1865, Image 1

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    BY S. J. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1865.
VOL. 11.-N0.
TERMS OF THE JOURNAL.
fh Raftsiias's Jocp.sa!. is published on VTed
teidij at S2 00 per annum in advance Auteb
iekis inserted at $1.50 per square, for three
or ei insertion Ten lines (or less counting a
tiuvs For every additional insertion 50 cents.
A deduction wi!l be made to yearly advertisers.
jSurfiie&s gircctovg.
TRVIX BROTHERS, Dealers in Square & Sawed
i Taabor. Dry Q'lods, Groceries. Flour. Orain,
i'o ', 'ia., Burnside Pa., Sept. 23, 1353.
I FREDERICK LEITZINGER. Manufacturer of
11 kinds of Stone-ware. Clearfield, Pa. Or
iin solicited wholesale or retail. Jan. 1, 13(53
C iRANS 4 BARRETT, Attorneys at Law. Clear
field, Pa. May 13.1863.
l. J. crixs. :::::: Walter barrett.
IToBERT J. WALLACE. Attorney at Law. Clear
V field. Pa Office in Shaw's new row. Market
ireet. opposite Saugle's jewelry store May 26.
TI K. X AUG LE. Watch and Clock Maker, and
rl . dealer in Watches, Jewelry, Ac. Room in
Graham's row, Market street. Nov. 10.
HbUCllEU SWOOPE, Attorney at Law. Clear
. field. Pa. Offict inGraham's Row. fourdoo s
west of Graham t Boynton's store. Nov. 10.
ARTSWICK A HUSTON. Dealers in Drugs,
Mnilicincs Paints. Oils. Stationary, Perfume-
rj . Fancy Goods, Notions, etc., etc., Market street.
ClaarfUld, Pa June, 2'J. 186i.
J P. KRATZER, dealer in Dry Goods, Cloth
. ing. Hardware. Queensware, Groceries. Pro-vi-dt
os Ac. Front Street, above the Academy,
Cleai field, Pa. April 27.
-1X7 I (XI AM F. 1RW IX, Marketstreet, Clearfield,
p.,.. Dealer in Foreign and Domestic Mer
ehandiie. Hardware, Quecuswaro, Groceries, and
family articles generally. Xov. 10.
J OHN GTELICH. MHiiUtaeturer of all kinds oi
Cabinet-ware, Market street. Clearfield. Pa.
lie also makes to order Coffius. on short notice, and
a:;onds funerals th a hearse. AprlO,'oO.
DR. M. WOODS, Pbacticiso Physician, and
Examining Surgeon for Pensions,
otbee South-west corner of Second and Cherry
5tret. Clearfield, Pa. January 21, 1863.
r"pH''MAS J. M CCLLOfGH, Attorney at Law.
JL Clearfield. Pa. Office, e:ist of the -Clearfield
Ear.k. Deeds and other lejjal instruments pre
r:.jd wrh ruu. jtue.-s and accuracy. July 3.
JB M EN ALLY, Attorney nt Law. Clearfield.
. Pa. Practices in Clearfield and adjoining
counties. Office in new briek building of J. Uoyn
t n. 2J street, one door south of Lanich's Hotel.
1) ICIIARD MOSSOP, Dealer in Foreignand Do
mestic Dry Gjods. Groceries. Flour. Bacon.
Liquor. Ac. Room, on Market street, a few door
e.t o: JoumilUJice. Clearfield, Pa. AprJ7.
Ji U RIMER A TEST, Attorneys at Law.Clear
J tSild. Pa. Will amend promptly to all legal
ai.d other business entrusted to their care in Clear
S;i t.id adjoining counties. August 6. 1Sj6.
itTJI. ALBERT A BKO'S, Dealers in Dry Goods.
I roceries. Hardware, Queensware. Flour.
Bacon, etc.. Woodlnn-L Clearfield county. Penn'a.
Also, citensivo dnalei in all kinds of sawed lum
ber, shinglea. mud square timber. Orders solii
ted. Woodland, Aug. 19th, 1663.
T
EMI EKAM i: HOISF..-The subscriber
wu d respectfully inlorm the citizens-of
Clearfield county, that he has rented the -Tipton
lli'tel.'" and will ue every endeavor to accommo
date th.isj who may favor him with '.heir custom,
lie will try to furnish the table with the best 'be
country c m afford, and will keep hay and feed to
commo ate teamsters. Gentlemen d'-n't t-gct
the r;r.t..n Hotel." SAMUEL SMITH.
Tq.t.-n. Pa , May 23, 1S54.
TVr.W H'ATCIl & JEWELRY STORE.
1 1 The undersigued having located in the bor
uiish of Clearfield, at the shp formerly occupied
by K WHcb as a jewelry shop.) is prepared to
' work i f all kinds on the most reasonable terms
i nee so will positively be expected when th
nrk is i-clivered. He is confident that he can
not b e j jelled by any workmen in town orconnty
Cumt ot f .' come all totktSiffii oftlif Bisf IVat'k
Apiil V. 62-ly-pd. is. II. LAL'Cill.lN.
BANKNOTICE.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
CF ICEOr THE CollPTKOLLER I.FTIIB CURltESCY,
W Asiiisoro.i. Janruary 30th, lo6j. )
r IIEKEAS. BY SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE
presented to the undersigned, it ha-s been
m. i e to appear that "THE FIRST NATIONAL
L.' SKOF CLEARFIFLD," in the Borough of
CloarfieH . ?r tl.c comity of Clearfield, and State
"I !':..,.-,) Ivania, has b on duly organized under
ai-d acoordiug to the requirements of the Act of
iLgress. entitled "An Act to provide a National
"'"( secured by a pledge of United States
ii'li and to provide fur the circulation and re
Itmption tbeicff." approved June 3d, 1S6I. and
has complied with all th provisions ol said Act
required to be complied with before commencing
the business of Banking under said Act ;
Now. therefore, I, Hugh McCulloeh. Compfrol
Jerof the Currency, do hereby certify that -rilK
IIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CLEARFIELD,"
in the Borough of Clearfield, in the county of
Clearfield, and State of Pennsylvania, is author
ed to commeuce the business oi Banking under
tte Act aforesaid
s In testimony whereof, witness ray
( SKAlband and seal of office, this 3(lth day of
VC75v'Jalua"y, A. 1. 1S65.
HUG II McCULLOCn,
Feb. 8, 1S55. Comptroller of the Currency.
BAIST: NOTICE.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 1
CrriCB ok tag Comptroller of the Currency, ,
Washington, March 8th. 1S65. )
IIEKEAS, BY SATISFACTORY EV1
)-dence presented to the undersigned, it has
teen mad e to appear that ' THE COUXTY NA
TIONAL BANK OF CLEARFILD," in the Bor
gh of Clearfield, in the county of Clearfield
"n.i State of Pennsylvania, has been duly organ
'ed under and according to the requirements of
'tie et of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide
National Currency, secared by a pledge of Uni
'td States bonds and to provide for the circulation
&Kfl rn J ...... : I, annpiivitfl .limA 3d. 1864.
rU(l hsa i-nmnlii.it siltl &11 the TvrOvisiODS OI Said
Act rtuui..i tn be coniDlieJ with before commen-
c't! the business of Banking under f aid Act;
Now. ihi.rforo T Ilue-h McCulloeh. CouiDtr"ller
of "ie Currency, do hereby certify that - THE
?.:MT NATIONAL BAXK OF CLEARFIELD."
'itbe Bi ron-h of Clemrtield. in the county of
f''rfield, and State of Pennsy Iv uiia. is author
ed to commence the business of Banking- under
Act aforesaid,
f-? In testimony whereof, witness my
1 Rr,.t .onl of oiice. this 2J day of
ilic"ii, A. D.
HUGH McCCLLOCH.
ldJ. CwBptxaUn t Ibe CiirrByv -
NEAEEE HOME.
One sweet solemn thought
Comes to me o'er and o"er:
I'm nearer to my homo to day,
Than I've ever been before.
Kearer to my father's house.
Where many mansions be;
Nearer the great white throne,
Nearer tVe j tsper sea.
Kearer the bound of life
Where we lay our burdens down !
Nearer loavin in if cr;iss.
Neater wearing my crown.
Bat lying darkly between.
Wiudiiig down the night.
Is that dim and unknown stream
Which le:ids at last te light.
Father! perfect my trust.
Strengthen mv fb'e faith;
Let me it-el as if T trod
The shore of the river death.
For even now my feet
M:iy stand upon its brink ;
I uiay be nearer my home.
Nearer now than I think
VIBGIKTI-A. 1
GEN. GRANT'S GSEAT CAMPAIGN !
Particulars of tLe Fighting.
On Wednesday tnornii g the Fifth Corps
moved down the Ilalitax road an i cm.-ed
ltowanty Civek, taking tl:en a xmrJi-westi r
ly course until it reached Vauuhati road. It
move ! up the Vsiughau to the Quaker 11' a I,
turned to the ri-iht, keejiing oti i v ad un
til within a uiiie of the iJoydtown laiik
rosid, when they met the enemy, eneral
Grittin, with the Eimt Division atiaeked,
atul Gen. Crawford ibruiin the Tiiird Di
vision en (jiriilin's loft, met theenemy on the
Battler farm, but juihed them baek and
reached the Koydtown road.
0a Thursday
niorning'thc whole Fifth Corps line advanc
ed across the IJoydtown road with little op-jo-ition.
In tlie afternoon Gen. Ayres,
eointiianding the Second Division, moved
one brigade across Gravelly lluuand Jieptit
there daring the night.
On Fiiday
morning Ayer's whole division crossed the
ltun, supported by (ien. Crawford's. Af
ter advancing a mile or more) through a
wooded country, broken occasionally into
small clearings, the enemy was discovered
in'lorec. (ien. Avers advanced Winihrop's
JJrigado, while the rest of his division and
that of Gen. Crawford's were forming in the
rear.
Before they had completed the deploy
ment, however, and while the greater part
of the Third Division was yet in mas,
Johnson's Behel Division charged Win
throp's single brigade, driving it hack in
sonic disorder, while at the same time Pick
et's Division struck our two divisions in the
left flank, attacking with more than its Usu
al impetuosity.
Both Ayer's and Crawford's men fought
stubbornly, but at length fell back across the
run, whe;e the First Division and several
batteries of arti lory, which ha 1 been placed
in position by icn. V arren, covered tne
crossing and drove hack the enemy, who ad
vanced incau'.iou.-ly with heavy loss.
Abrut two o'clock p. in. the whole Corps
again advanced over the same ground, re
taking all the po.-it:ons from which they
had been driven in the morning, and mov
ed foi wa d to White Oak lload, some two
miles Itcyond Gravelly Bun. rapturing a
battle-flag and a number of -prisoners. In
this position the troops rested during the
nfljht.
On Saturday
morning at seven o'clock the Fifth Corps
was ajin in morion, passing to the left, a
long the White Oak Boad, to join General
Sheridan. They have executed the difficult
movement of marching by a flank in the
presence of theenemy. withdrawingthe divi
sions in rear of each other, and marchinc
them. off successively from right to left the
left division (Crawford's) executing thesanie
movement by brigade. The conduct of the
troops has been above praise. Their loss
has been severe in killed and woun led. the
wounded being the heaviest in the Third
Division, but was next to nothing in pris
oners. The remnant of the Iron P.risra leof Craw
ford's Division, con po-vd of the nth and 7th
Wisconsin with the . 1-st Nv-v York, lately
attached, commanded 1 y (VI. .John A. Kel
logg of the Gth, sustained their previous rep
utation. Brevet Lieut. Col. D. B. Dailey of the Gth
Wisconsin, commanded the 147 New Ycrk
in the Third Brigade, and together with
Major II. A. Laycnck of the veteran 5f?h
l'enn., was conspicious for refusing to dis
mount and riding at th head of the brigade
in the charge. Col Dailey had his rishthand
shattered by a hullet early in the day, but
insisted on leading his command hi the af
ternoon. While these events were taking place the
Second Corps moved toward White Oak
road bv a more direct route from the left
of our entrenchment tl an that taken l.vth.e
Fifth, and established a connection with the
right of the latter. It was sdmrr.lv ertg:u'' d
yesterday, but lost less thou the Fifth. Gen.
tluniphreys now occupies the line vacated
hy Warren's movement to the suppor of
Sheridan, having extended to fhe left for
that purpose. Meanwhile Sheridan, with four
cavalrv division, Custer's. Merrit's. Crook's
and Knatz's, passing around the left of the
whole armv, went through Dinwiddie Court
House, anil toward the Southside road, with
his usual rapidity.
The force which drove Crawford and
Ayres across Gravelly Run, however, at
once turned their attention to him moving
rapidlr to th rijfht. and &ftr a desperate
conflict he also was forced back within a
mde of Dinwiddie Court House.
This morning he again took the initiative,
however, having been joined by Gen. War
ren, and has been driving in his turn. Heavy
firing both ot artillery and musketry could
be heard away on the left at nightfall.
Sheridan was about midnight at Five
Forks, the junction of the White Oak and
Ford roads. He and Warren had taken a
bout four thousand prisoners and several
Latteries of ariillciy. lie was joined last
evening by Miles' D vision ot tlie Second
corps, and with four corps of cavalry and
four ot infantry he pushed forward for the
South.-ide road.
Several attempts were made during the
early part of the nij;ht to break through the
lines of the Second Corps on our left. Gen.
Miles retaliated witl a demonstration which
reached tiio abatis in front of the Bebel
Wi rks along White Oak road. About 9
o'clock a. m. the Bebels jnade a prolonged
and desperate assault upon the part of our
line held by Gen. Old on the right of the
Second Corps. Our losses day before yes
terday are reported at 1 ,5UG killed and wound
ed, and a few prisoners.
Gen. Grant yesterday moved his head
quarters to the Vaughan road, about a half
a iiiiic west of Hatcher's Bun.
Glorious news has just arrived from Sher
idan. He has struck the Southside railroad,
which he now holds. In the engagement
yesterday afternoon he captured 1,000 pris
oners and several batteries of artillery. The
Fifth Corps, which was supporting the cav
alry, have al.-o taken about J 5 guns and a
bo'it 2.(;k) prisoners, enabling Sheridan to
drive back the force which in the latter part
oi" vesteidav checked his advance in the i-
cit iiy of Dinwiddie Court House.
On receiving this news it was determined
to give the e leuiy no time to send troops to
their right, and at once a simultaneous at
tack was ordered all along the line by the
Ninth, Sixth, Twenty-fourth and and Sec
ond Corps. The order was given at about
nine o'clock at night, and in less than an
hour a furious assault began on the Bebel
intrenchments in the fronts of their several
commands, resulting in the enemy being
driven in confusion, from their first into
their second line of works, with a loss of
overlive thousand prisoners, several forts
and aitotit 20 pieces of artillery.
The Second Corps was engaged all day
with theenem.' in their front, and in spit'
of l he terrible fire of mu-ketry poured into
their ranks by the BeWs behind their work,
succeeded in maintamg their new line sever
al hundred yards in advance of the line they
copied in the morning. Two divisions of
Hill's Corps held the Beiiel line in front of
the Second Corps, the other division being
opposed to the Twenty-lourth Corps, which
joins the Second on the right; the ground
over which the Second Corps fought, was
for the most part covered with pine forests,
which while affording good shelter to our
men, vere unfavorable for flank movements
and the maiteua nee of our lines in close order.
Before day.ight this morning the Bebels
made a furious assault on this position of
our line, driving a portion of the Third Bri
gade from their breast works, and captur
ing about eight j' or a hundred prisoners.
Their success however, did imt last 'long,
the 20Gth I'ennsylvatmia, by a gallant charge
compelling them to abandon their position
and driving them back beyond their first
battle line. A sharp tire was kept up all day
by both sides. Owing to the hot fire by our
sharpshooters, the enemy was unable to
work his guns, and consequently very tew
casualties occurred on our side from shell.
Our batteries li nvever rained an incessant tire
into their intrenchments, which must have
caused them some loss.
There was little figluing in front of the
Sixth Corps till night, when considerable
shelling occurred. Quiet also reigned along
the Ninth Corps front.
So matters stood until 10 o'clock, when
the Second CVrps were started into sharper
attention by a few shots on their front, soon
swelling-into battling volleys. The batte
ries joined their deep bass to the martial mu
sic, and the inc woods lang with the clamor,
and fitfully illuminated by the glare. The
firing spread rapidly to the front of theTwen-ty-fourth
Corps, and on to the Sixth, then
away to the right till it reached the Ninth
Corps, about 11 o'clock by. which time the
fighting was at its hight. Presently cheers
broke out on the front of the Second, as the
fire slackened. By 2 2 the fire had nearly
ceased along the whole line, but at 4 in the
morning ic suddenly broke out again, near
er than ever to the Second Corps, while
sharp artillery practice was heard tar to the
right, and again the crash of battle sped
from end to end of the line.
At (). the battle is raging furiously, and
thank God the colors are advancing all along
the line.
Sunday's Fighting Victory.
This has been a glorious day for tie ar
mies operating against Richmond. For the
first time in its annuls the noble old Army of
the Potomac, ably assisted by a portion of
the army of Major-Gen. E. O. C Orel, has
achieved a graod and almost overwhelming
victory over the best army of the bogus
Confcdetacy.
In accordance with the programme aiTang
ed la-t niirht the attack upon the enemies
lines on the east and south of Petersburg
was made simultaneously at daybreak this
morning by the Sixth and Ninth Corps,
Turner's and Foster's Divisions of the
Twenty-fourth Army Corps, and Birney s
Colored Division of the Twenty-fifth. The
Second and Third Divisions of the Seccnd
orps likewise assaulted the enemy's lines
in their front at a later lioHr, and after a
brief but sharp contest with the opposing
pickets drove them into their works across
the B ivdtown Plank-road, and pressing
forward "were soon in undisputed possession
of the Rebel line, having met with compa
ratively trifling resistance, and having cap
tured several hundrc-d prisoners.
Preparations for the assault were legun
along the Sixth and Ninth Corps front sev
eral hours before daylight. The troops were
massed as quietly as possible for the attack
at daybreak, but, notwithstanding, their
nianoevers were discovered by the enemy,
who at once opened a terriffic artillery and
musketry fire upon them, continuing it un
til the3T moved outside of their works for
the grand charge which resulted in such sig
nal success. It was yet dark when our for
ces began their march for the enemy's line
in the face of a fierce and incessant fire such
as has seldom been exceeded during the war.
The firing of the enemy was wild and inac
curate, however, and our troops suffered
less while moving to the charge than when
massed two hours before.
Atlhe time before mentioned, the line of
the Ninth Corps was advanced from the
Appomattox to its left, near the Weldon
Railroad, and after a short but desperate
contest was in possession of the greater por
tion of the Bebel line east of Petersburg,
including most of the formidable salients.
Tlie Division of Wilcox, resting its right on
the Appomattox, was afterward furiously
attacked and forced to retire to its original
position, while those of Potter and Hartranft,
further to the left, still held tenaciously the
greater portion of the enemy's line, notwith
standing the desperate attempt made to dis
lodge them. Fort Mahone, in front of the
notorious Fort Hell, and three other form
idable earthworks to the northward had
been carried by storm, and the enemv. mad
dened at the success of our assault, were in
turn assaulting, now driving our men from
the works, and again being hurled back
leaving them in our hands. The tistory of
the fighting of the Ninth to-day is made up
of a series of charges and counter-charges,
finally resulting in our retention of the
works carried bT Potter and HartranU in
the morning, with the exception of Fort
Mahone, one portion of which is still in the
hands of the enemy. Gen. Potter was se
verely if not fatally wounded while fighting
his Division this morning.
To the galla it old Sixth was re erved the
honor of carrying the whole Bebel line of
works on their front, of sweeping down to
the left to the Apomattox, south-west,
and two miles from Petersburg, of cutting
the long-coveted Southside Bailroad, and of
capturing some 2,000 prisoners, 20 guns,
an.l a number of batde-fiags. Brig. Gen. L.
A. (iiruit, commanding the Second Briirade
'of-Getty's Divi jion, was severely wounded
in the head by the fragment ot a shell while
preparing his command for the charge an
hour before daybreak. The Corps are
massed for the attack as follows: In the
ce ter deployed iu line of b'attle the division
of (ien. Getty: supported on the left and
right respectively by the Divisions of Gens.
Seymour and Wiieaton, moving in echelon.
The Division of Getty leading the advance
vas formed from left to right of the Second
Brigade, Lieut. Col. Tracy of the 2d Ver
mont temporarily commanding, the First
Brigade. Gen. Warner, and the Third com
manded by Col. Hyde of the 1st Maine Reg
iment. Under the fire of fourlPebei batte
ries, and in the faceof a storm of bullets, the
different Divisions, in the order mentioned,
moved steadily on to the attack, driving
back the Bebel skirmishers, piercing two
lines of abatis, carrying at the point of the
ba3onet the whole line iu their front, and
making the important capture referred to.
The first entering the enemy's works was
the 13'.)th Pennsylvania, of the Second Bri
gade of Getty's Division, led by Col. Mun
dee, A. A. G. on the staff of Gen. Getty.
The line wrested so gallantly from the enemy
was .but a mile from the Southside Bailroad,
toward and across which the troop of tlie
('orps were immediately thrown, with the
left of our new line resting on the Appomat
tox, west of Petersburg. All attempts of
the enemy to repossess their line having re
sulted in his repulse, he withdrew between
10 and II o'clock across Town Creek to his
inner line of earthworks, in the immediate
vicinity of the city.
The enemy having thus been completely
cut in two, dispositions were immediately
made to roll up his right wing in the direc
tion of Dinwiddie Court-House, the second
Division of the Second Corps, led by Gen.
Huir.phrey in Person, being at once dis
patched down the Cox Boad running toward
Dinwiddie Court-House, between the Boyd
town Piank-road and the Southside Road,
for the purpose of environing the Rebels on
the north, while Sheridan, supported by the
Fifth Corps and Mile's Division of the Sec
ond, cutoff their retreat southward. How.
far we have succeeded in accomplishing this
result has not transpired at the hour of
-w till
writing, it is generally oeueveu tnat mat
portion of the enemy cut off in the direction
of Southerland's Station will make every ef
fort to escape without giving battle, but
it may very reasonably be supposed that our
cavalry, with the aid of infantry supporting
it, will be able either to capture or annihi
late tlie whole of the Rebel force. News
from Sneridan's army may be expected to
morrow, and there is every reason to believe
that it will be of the most gratifying char
acter. The command of Gen. Ord was also hot
ly engaged this morning. . From its posi
tion across Hatcher's Run, the troops at
daybreak charged the enemy's works," car
rying them and driving the enemy in confu
sion. In obedience to orders, Gen Ord then
moved up from his position on the Run. and
formed to the support and on the right of
the Sixth Corps. Ord's troops have been
equally successful with the Sixth in the
capture of works, guns and prisoners.
Not content to rest upon the new laurels
he has won, Gen. Grant will to-morrow fol
low up to-day's achievement by another as
sault up,,n the enemy. Pr?paration3 are
now going forward for to-morrow's work.
The Appomattox is being pontooned for the
crossing of troops to the west and north
west of Petersburg ; aud unless Lee retreats
to-night ten hours hence must witness the
annihilation of his army, When it is known
that we have possession of the Southside
Railroad, and that we cannot be dislodged
by an' force the enemy can bring against us,
the extremely critical position of Lee will at
once be fully comprehended.
Our casualties into-day'sengagement are
represented by general officers as compara
tively light. It la impossible at this time to
form any accurate estimate of our killed and
wounded, which will not probably exceed
2,500 or 3,000.
Thus far official reports of 45 guns, a
large number of battle-flags and about 10,
000 prisoners have leen received at Gen.
Mead's headquarters. Of this number of
prisoners Sheridan captured about one half
in his brilliant fight yesterday p. m. at Five
Points or Forks, North-West of Dinwiddie
Court-House.
Major-General Warren, commanding the
Fifth Corps, was relieved last night by Gen.
Sheridan, and ordered to report to Genejal
Grant for orders. The cause generally as
signed is the refusal of Warren to obey an
order of Gen. S., to whom, with his Corps,
he had been directed to report. It is rc-
Corted that Gen. Sheridan's present force,
oth of cavalry and infantry, constitute an
army of his own. and that he reports direct
ly to the Lieut. General for orders.
Everybody is iubilant over to-day's grand
victory. Petersburg is evacuated.
JSee inside for further particulars.
BATTLE OF BEUT0HSVILLE IT. 0.
Bentonsville is a small village ot only
eight or ten houses, situated on Mill Creek,
in Johnson county, North Carolina. It is
four miles south of the Neuse River, and
twenty miles west of Goldsboro. Mill
Creek is a shallow stream, meandering
through the counties of Wayne aid John
son, and finally empties into the Neuse Riv
er. It is skirted generally by wide, low
lands, and in some parts there are consider
able swamps. I should here observe that
this creek is fordable by infantry at any
point, not beieg more than forty feet in
width, but impassable by artillery, except on
the bridge. The line of battle of the ene
my was in front of an extensive swamp, and
was four miles in length. It was very dif
ficult to cross this swamp with artillery. To
the right and left is a succession of hills,
which were occupied by the rebels. Our
line ot battle was of course-nearly opposite
that of the enemy, and stretched along the
margin of the swamp, until lost to view a
mong the distant woods.
The perliminar3' svmtoms of the battle
began as early as twelve o'clock on Mondaj-,
March 20th, when the enemy opened a vig
orous fire on the advance guard of the Fif
teenth Corps. For several hours this pick
et skirmish was actively carried on, but with
out any other result than the killing of a sol
dier and the frightening of the few citizens
who were still living in their houses. At
three o'clock a large body of our skirmishers
advanced, and scon after the main body of
Logan's Corps was hurled against the Rebel
force. The tire became fearful and inces
sant. What was at first distinct notes, clear
and consecutive, merged into a tumultuous
chorus that made the earth tremble. The
discharge of musketry tou tided upon the
ear like the rolling of a thousand distant
drums., and the cheers of our boys told us
of some advantage gained. We who were
upon the centre could see little or nothing
otUhis portion of the battle; but from the
dense pall of smoke that Rung over the
scene, we knew too well that the bloody
work was going on. The Rebels outnum
bered us. Their best troops were concen
trated against us, and for an hour the tide
of battle ebbed and flowed alternately. Our
bo)'3 fought gallantly, and met the iron
storm with confidence and composure. For
a minute the rebels apparently repulsed us.
It was a tri'ing moment. At this juncture
Logan ordered to the support of Wood the
Division of Gen. Case. Splendidly hand
led, the re-enfurcement swept on like a wave,
its blows falling thick and fast on the auda
cious Rebels that had so stubbornly held
the'r position.
Half an hour later and the enemy was re
treating. We pursued him for a mile and
our troops slept on the contested ground.
The success was as complete as it was possi
ble to make it, in view of the peculiar cir
cumstances of the fight and of the topogra
phy of the country. Certain it is, that af
ter the cessation of the fight, the Rebels did
not renew it again during the evening. In
the night the Rebels retreated across the
swamp, and took refuge in their main line
of works. They also dug entrenchments.
These works were formidable, being protect
ed by abattis and cheraux-de-frie. With
the first streak of day the volleys of iims
ketry poured into our ranks, announced the
battle begun, and for an hour the constant
succession of minnie balls, was uninterrupted
save by their own echoes. Johnston had
initiated the attack. Blair, with his noble
corps, had arrived, and was in position on
our extreme right. Blair commanded on
the right and Logan on the left. The com
mand of Blair was composed of such divi
sions as Mower's and Belknap's.
Logan's corps was composed of Ilazen's,
Wood's, Case's and Smith's fine divisions.
These troops held the extreme left, and were
opposed to the right wing of the enemy,
which occupied a strong position. These
two corps constitute the Army of the Ten
nessee, commanded by that intrepid officer
Ma jor General Howard.
The battle commenced in earnest at 11
o'clock on the extreme right, and was taken
up by each succeeding division, and in an
hour the wave of battle rolled from one end of
the line to the other. The enemy had mas
sed a heavy force on the right and main
tained his position with so much stubborn
ness that Mower was ordered up to check or
repulse him. We moved forward in superb
style, and fell upon the enemy like a thun
derbolt; but the Rebel coramn. stood their
ground, and fought with, dfujrat - gll&D-
ry. In the mean time Logan had been
steadily pushing back the enemy. Under
his orders Hasen had executed a flank move
ment, opening up communication with tha
left wing. Gen. Logan had a difficult task.
He pressed the enemy sorely from the
start, compelling him to fall back gradually.
The gallant Case fought his division with
skill and bravery. The troops of his com
mand formed the left wing of Grant's anny
at Fort Donelson, aud have distinguished
themselves in all the battles of the South
West. The noble division of Wood carried
the last intrenchments, and they slept upon
the field with the wreath of victory crown
ing their brows. Haaen' division was on
the left of Wood, and fought with its fam
ed and distinguished gallantry.
An intermission of an hour, during which
time, as prisoners informed us, the enemy
was heavily reinforced. For three succes
sive hours there was kept up one unbroken
roar of musketry, which, for its fierce inten:
sity, exceeded anything I ever heard. Tho
very earth seemed to tremble beneath the
deafening and incessant roar.
Notwithstanding the fatigue and well-nigh
exhausted condition of our troops, they en
tered on this tight with an ardor and readi
ness, plainly indicating their unchanging
determination to conqueror die. They were
ordered to charge and drive the enemy from
their works, and all the while under a most
devouring fire of musketry.
They did not falter, however, but went for
ward into the very teeth of the enemy with
out so much as even the slightest hesitation.
The conflict at 1 1 o'clock that night was ter
rible, the air being filled with missiles of
death, every moment having its peculiar
sound of terror, and every pot its sight of
ghastly dc-struci ic n. Never was a more glo
rious victory plucked from more desperate
and threatening circumstances. The neroio
battalions of Jjogan pressed on withunquail
ing vigor, and a resistless courage, driving
the enemy before them. Step by step, tho
enemy were driven back, his forts were tak
er?, and the ground he abandoned, occupied
by our victorious troops. By 3 o'clock in
the morning we had driven him two miles
from his battle-ground.
The fighting of our men in driving th
Rebels from their entrenchments on tho
night of the 21st, wis magnificent, grand and
terrible. They faced the whirlwind of - iron
and lead with all the composure of a Sum
mer's rain. Then came charge after charge,
the gaps in' our lines being immediately clos
ed up, and with the shout of couquerors tha
battle-cry of Logan's braves rose above th
roar of artl!ery and musketry. The sight
was pitch dark, and as the storm of bullets
whistled through the air, nothing could ba
grander than the firing of these terribla
messengers from battery to rifle-pits back
again to ballc.
By IIeaven.it was a splended sight to see.
for one who had no friend, no brother there I
It was absolutely, in some places, a hand to
hand engagement, in its literal sense, in
which superior determination and nervo,
even against superior numbers, were victo
rious ; and about four o'clock the Rebel
eoltlmn wavered, and trembling at the fierce
earnestness of our determined troops, gave
way, falling back something near four miles.
Dr. Nichols, the medical director of tha
Fifteenth Corps, tells me that our loss waa
not more than 201 killed and wounded. A
gentleman of the Seventeenth Corps, whom
I have every reason to believe, assures ma
that the loss in that corps is less than 100.
The Rebel loss in all the fights will amount to
2.000. .
A Good Joke.
The Toronto Globe is responsible for tha
following: "A rather odd joke was perpe
trated yesterday afternoon, on one of our city
photographers, by a young man from tha
country, who, notwithstanding his rustio
looks and smart country sayings, which the
man with the camera laughed at, played a
trick which would have done credit to a New
York "confidence" man. and left the pho
tographer in a sad plight for a few hours.
The man from the country, byname Georga
Wells, entered the gallery to have his pic
ture taken, and as he was dressed in rather
a seedy suit of clothes, and was without col
lar or neck-tie, he requested the photogra
pher to lend him his suit while the picture
was being taken. As this was a common
usage with the photographer when a coun
try cousin patronized him, he doffed his col
lar, neck-tie, coat, vest and pants, for the
use of his ".subject," but as the country
man's suit, which he was to don for the mo
ment, seemed rather too suspicious-looking
for the artist's taste, he locked the door of
his gallery on the inside, leaving the key in
the door, and, minus his clothing, he "sat"
his simple friend for the picture. The lat
ter was of course instantaneously taken, and
the photographer rushed into his "dark
room" to place the picture in the bath.
While he was thus out of sight, the coun
tryman, quite captivated with the new suit of
clothes, unlocked the door of the gallery and
was nowhere to be found when the photo
grapher returned. This was certainly a
queer situation to be left in. for the country
man had by no means acted up to the max
im that "fair exchange is no roblery." A
bout an hour elapsed, when a friend made
his appearence, was instantly despatched to
the Police Office, and one of the detectives,
armed with the countryman's picture, went
in search of him, and had been gone soma
time when the countryman returned, saying
that he only, wanted to tajce a walk round
the city in a good suit of clothes, and that he
wanted "the picture." He strongly protest
ed his innocence of any attempt to act dis
honestly in the matter, and asked a lady
who was in the gallery at the same time, to
plead with the photographer in his behalf.
The woman's words seemed to soften tha
picture-taker's heart, and the countryman
was dealt leniently with, paid for his pic
ture, and left the gallery, rejoidng over si
larky "etr from tb hwls of the