Report by Joseph A. Jones, Birmingham, Ala.,
Company K, 51st Alabama, Partisan Rangers

Confederate Veteran
Volume, Number 9, Page 433
September 1911

At the request of J. W. Du Bose, of Wetumpka, Ala. in the July VETERAN in reference to what part General Wheeler took in the surprise party given General Kilpatrick in the fight on the Fayetteville Road (North Carolina) and what part Butler's Cavalry took in the fight, I as a witness to that battle will answer.

Twenty four hours before that engagement we (Wheeler's Cavalry) had hardly seen an enemy. We marched slowly all day on March 9 in a drizzling rain, resting occasionally, as though there was no occasion to hurry. At 3 A.M. March 10 we were halted, ordered to dismount, and be as quiet as possible. In this position we remained until the appearance of day, when we mounted and as quietly as possible we moved to the top of the hill in front of us. Upon reaching the top we beheld the sleeping camp of eight thousand of Kilpatrick's Cavalry, all well armed and mounted.

General Wheeler from 2 A.M. on that morning (March 10) had gone around Kilpatrick's camp dismounted with his escort and a few other select troops captured all the pickets and reserves, and when our brigade of Alabamians went into line of battle, we could see over that entire camp, and I saw but one Federal soldier stirring. It was a complete surprise. When all was ready for action, General Wheeler dashed up to General Hampton and, saluting, said: ''General Hampton, with your permission I will give the order to dismount, so as to make the capture of this entire camp sure."

General Hampton with quiet dignity replied: "General Wheeler, as cavalrymen I prefer making this capture on horseback."

General Wheeler again saluted and said: "General Hampton, all is ready for action, have your headquarters bugler blow the charge," The cyclonic operations following this bugle sound can better be imagined than described.

As I now remember, General Butler commanded the Hampton Legion, then recently added to our cavalry force in Johnston's army. A few minutes after beginning the engagement I looked to our left westward and saw the South Carolina troops, with General Wheeler in their front next to the enemy, with sword uplifted begging them to go forward to the assistance of their comrades in battle, but they stood still as mere spectators to the scene in front of them. Why they thus acted we never knew. General Wheeler told them that if they would not fight for him to fight for their country, still they did not move.

The incident of General Kilpatrick jumping out of the window, leaving his woman, carriage, and horses, is true. Our brigade commander, Colonel Hagen, with a few men charged this little cabin and secured the prize carriage, pair of bay horses, and a woman. These, however, were recaptured by the enemy in the general mix up.

In this battle, which lasted from daylight till half past eleven, we captured five hundred prisoners and released three hundred and fifty of our own men, who had been captured a few days before. About 11:30 we stampeded Kilpatrick's entire command, but I have never known the losses on either side.

Great was little Joe Wheeler. Had General Hampton followed the suggestion of General Wheeler, no doubt we would have captured half of Kilpatrick's command.