Battle at Averysboro, N.C.

Confederate Veteran
February 1897

BATTLE AT AVERYSBORO, N. C.
D. F. FULLER, ROCKWALL, TEX.

Comrade Geo. F. Rozell, in VETERAN of December, 1896, is in error when he says Gen. Jobnston met and defeated Sherman at Averysboro, N. C. The battle of Averysboro was preparatory to Bentonville, and occurred Friday, March 17, 1865. Gen. Hardee was in command, and McLaws' Division did the fighting. If I remember correctly, only Harrison's Brigade was severely engaged. The battle succeeded in confusing Sherman's movements and, as intended, made Bentonville a possibility. Bentonville was fought on Sunday, March 19, and was a Confederate success. On Monday (20th) the two armies got in position, Tuesday (21st) the Yanks, thinking our guns out of order by the rain then falling, advanced, but were driven back. Wheeler's Cavalry was stretched out in a thill picket line on our left McLaws' extreme left but could not extend our lines to the river. This is the breach through which the Yanks poured about 6,000 strong. And now hold your breath these 6,000 valiant veterans were buried back, not by an equal number, but by 180 men arid officers, a fragment of Cummins' old Georgia Brigade and a South Carolina battery. I once belonged to that brigade, and saw them double quicking in immediate rear of our line and recognized my old comrades, and know that they did not exceed 200 in all. While they were passing in our rear, our skirmishers were engaged with the enemy's advance on our front. As it was, I came near double quicking off with the old fellows. But a few minutes later and our regiment of Fifth Georgia boys had hurled our assailants to the rear and won a compliment from Gen. McLaws, Chief of Staff.

In a personal note Comrade Fuller adds:

Perhaps I was the youngest soldier under Gen. Bragg in the invasion of Kentucky, 1862. Born September 17, 1847, I was just fifteen years old, belonged to Company B. Fifty seventh Georgia Infantry, Ledbetter's Brigade, Churchhill's Division, Kirby Smith's Corps.

We entered Kentucky by way of Snake Creek Gap, Big Hill and Richmond. Bushwhackers annoyed us much. At Boston, Ky., our advance guard was fired upon by a miller whose mill was running. He was killed and his mill left running. After the forced march to Mt. Sterling to cut off Federals retreating from Cumberland Gap, I was taken sick and went to hospital at Lexington. A few nights after I heard the clatter of horses' feet on the streets, and was told our command was retiring from Kentucky. I quit that hospital bunk, climbed on top a freight car and went to Danville. Having taken command of myself, I went on foot to Camp Dick Robertson. A regiment of cavalry, of which the rear guard (was it Marmaduke's?), overtook me, and a trooper allowed me to ride a horse he was leading. At London two men came to where we were halted in a lane and climbed to the top rail of the fence, one of them saying, ' We are tired and sick.' They were ordered to get down, when they escaped into the cornfield, and escaped amid bullets. That afternoon there was a lively skirmish. Next day at 5 P.M. I came upon my command, went to Gen. Ledbetter's headquarters for something to eat, and was pointed to a pile of corn and told to help myself. Next day we crossed Cumberland Mountain, and that night the big snow fell, when I slept warm under one blanket and the SHOW."

Geo. Robinson, of Belton, Texas, wishes to know who wrote the poem on the great war entitled "Rosetta." printed in booklet form.