Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson, and Twenty Great Battles

by John McElroy

“Time wore on without any very great results either way, until the armies were all ready for the final movement in the Spring following. Silent was still steadily gaining ground to his left, and holding Laws close to his lines, at the same time keeping his cavalry in motion, to the great annoyance of the enemy. In February, 1865, when I was at the Capital, where I met the President, Secretary of War and Gen. Silent, the campaign of Sherwood north to the rear of Richmond was about commencing; but I was not then aware of it. Gen. Silent was also getting ready for his final move against Laws, though he was waiting for Sherwood and Scoven to make a junction at or near Goldsburg, in North Carolina.

“In the meantime Charleston had been evacuated; Columbia, S. C, surrendered, and many of our starving prisoners were there released from their deadly and poisonous prison-pens, not fit for pigs, even, to live in. Cotton had been piled in the streets of Columbia by the retreating rebels and set on fire. When our troops entered the city they put the fire out, as they thought. In the evening, however, the smoldering fire was fanned into flames by a strong wind, and the burning flakes of cotton lighting on and against houses, set them on fire. One division of our forces worked hard to subdue the conflagration, but in vain. The flames leaped from housetop to housetop, as if some unseen hand was aiding in the terrible work of devastation. Men, women and children left their houses in their night-dresses, screaming and crying for help. Nothing could be done to allay the destruction. A great portion of the city was laid in ashes, and many people were in the streets houseless and homeless. The troops of Sherwood did all in their power to alleviate the suffering, by dividing blankets and food, and also by taking as many families as could be placed in the wagons to a point from whence they could take shipping North, where, on their arrival, they were amply provided for.

“Again moving forward rapidly, Sherwood's left wing struck Harding's rebel corps at Averyville, and drove it in rout from its position. Our left wing then moved by rapid marches on the Burton and Goldsburg road, the right wing moving on a shorter and more direct route in the same direction, many miles to the south. At Burton's Cross-roads the head of column of the left wing struck the rebel army under command of Gen. Jones, who had again been placed at the head of the forces collected together since Head's defeat at Nashua. His forces were now commanded by Harding, Biggs, Chatham and Hamden, the latter commanding his cavalry. The Union forces, under Gen. Somers, discovering that a large force was in their front, deployed two divisions and attacked, but could not drive the enemy from his position. Somers hastily constructed earthworks and held the enemy in his position until the right wing, or a portion of it, could come to his relief. The word was soon sent to the General commanding the right wing, and the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps were dispatched at once to Burton's Cross-roads.

“They arrived early on the next morning, having received the order late at night. The General commanding the Fifteenth Corps, which was in the advance, at once formed his leading division (Gen. Charles Ward's) and charged the enemy's works. His men went on the run over the works and right into his trenches, the General commanding the corps leading and leaping his horse over the parapet in the midst of a shower of deadly missiles. Our men captured the rebels who were in their front, and a general stampede of the enemy followed, and in a short time Jones and his whole command were hastily making their escape across Mill Run. The march was not any farther impeded, and Sherwood's army marched to Goldsburg, where, as before stated, they joined Scoven, and thus ended the hard fighting of Sherwood's army.

“The President and Vice-President had been inaugurated, and the message of the President was so mild and conciliatory, breathing forgiveness and charity in such an honest and earnest spirit, that many thought it might have some influence on the feelings of the enemy in respect to the Union in which they had lived and controlled so long to their own advantage. But no; the more he expressed sentiments of respect for their opinions the more bitter they became, denouncing every expression of kindness as an insult to their people; so that it was determined there should be no let-up in any way whatever—no armistice nor rest, but when the movement commenced, to let that end the rebellion before ceasing. The country was now up to this point, and all were ready and fully prepared for the result.

“Gen. Silent had now directed Papson, as well as Sherwood, to keep their cavalry at work in destroying lines of communication, bridges, and supplies of the enemy. Willston in the West was operating south of Tennessee, cutting off all chance of re-enforcements from that direction, and Sherwood's cavalry in the direction of Augusta and northward, performing the same character of service, while Sherlin was again marching with 10,000 cavalry around Laws, making the whole country untenable for want of facilities in gathering supplies, of which at this time the enemy was in great need. The whole coast from Savannah to Newbern, with forts, gunboats and munitions of war, was now in our hands, with 100,000 as good soldiers as ever marched or fought a battle almost entirely untrammeled, well supplied, and ready to drive Jones or any opposing force north back to Laws, where the whole could be crushed at one blow. Sherwood was to so conduct his movements as to detain Jones in his front until the 10th of April, and then he was to move directly against him and drive and follow him; but if possible, to get to the Roanoke River, so as to hold Laws in his position.

“While Silent was preparing for his final movement against the enemy, which was to commence on the 29th of March, Laws, suspecting the movement, on the morning of the 25th, selecting the weakest point in our lines, as he thought, assaulted the right of Meador's position in front of the Ninth Corps. The point assaulted was a small fort known as Fort Sleman, where the two opposing forces were not more than 200 yards separated from each other. At dawn of day the rebels moved against this point with Gadden's Corps, re-enforced by Bush Jones's division. Parker's pickets were overwhelmed and the trenches taken by the enemy, so that the main line of the Union forces was broken. The rebels now seeing their advantage wheeled to the right and left, sweeping our lines before them, and capturing our batteries, which they at once turned upon Fort Sleman. The fort made all resistance possible, but, being assaulted in front, flank and rear, was compelled to surrender. The guns of the fort were now turned upon our own lines on either side with great effect, driving our men and taking complete possession of this part of our intrenchments.

“General Parker at this juncture came upon the scene, brought up artillery on the hills commanding the point attacked, and ordered his forces to occupy the fort. General Hartley also moved up and massed his division and assaulted the enemy as they were moving along our line. He checked their advance, and, being re-enforced, drove Gad-den's Corps back, recaptured the fort and all our abandoned lines, with 2,000 prisoners. Meador arrived on the field and at once ordered Wight and Hume to advance on Parker's left, which was promptly done, and that part of the enemy's picket-line was taken, with many prisoners; so that the temporary success of the enemy proved very expensive to him in the end. This was the only unprovoked assault that Laws had made since the campaign of the Summer before.

“On the night after this assault Gen. Meador, General Orden and several other Generals were at Gen. Silent's headquarters, discussing the contemplated movement to be commenced on the 29th. The President had also been down to see Silent, and agreed in every particular to his programme. Gen. Tom Anderson was also present, having been ordered to Sentinel Point for assignment to duty. He was introduced by Gen. Silent as an able and brave officer. Gen. Orden said to Gen. Silent that he would be pleased to have him assigned to his command; to which Silent answered that he would speak to Anderson.

“When the movement was understood, preliminary thereto Gen. Orden was directed to move the next day to the extreme left, in connection with and in support of the cavalry under Sherlin, designed to prevent Laws from finally retreating in that direction, as was thought he might attempt, in order to make a junction with Jones and fight Sherwood's forces instead of Silent. This was not desired, as the General commanding wished the army that had always confronted Laws to have the honor of the capture of him and his army.