familiar and brilliant names of Miller, one of the ablest writers of the country; Turay, widely known and distinguished as a fine scholar; Westface, one of the most caustic writers of the day.

To the readers of war correspondence, it is almost unnecessary to do more than mention the names of Shelley, Smith, Boynton, Howe, Kelly, Murphy and Hayes. These gentlemen were connected with the leading newspapers of the country, and their career merits a more extended biography, than we can give of them in this hurried sketch.

CHAPTER XV.

McCook's and Sherman's Great Raids.-Sherman's Anxiety to Destroy the Macon Road,—McCook's Daring Movements.-Surprises the Chivalry, -Stoneman's Raid.-More Brilliant than Profitable.-Wheeler's Demand for Dalton. -The Gallant Reply of Colonel Seibold.-Hood Demands the Surrender of Resaca.-Magnificent Heroism of Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio Regiments.-Pen Pictures of the Generals.

Sherman was desirous of reaching the Macon road, over which came the stores and provisions which maintained the rebel army in Atlanta. McCook's force consisted of his own Division, the First Brigade containing the 4th Kentucky, 1st East Tennessee and 8th Iowa, commanded by Colonel Curtin, and the Second Brigade, containing the 1st Wisconsin, 2d Indiana and 4th Indiana, 2d Kentucky, 4th Tennessee and 5th Iowa, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Torry. The 9th Ohio, a splendid cavalry regiment, was left to guard the pontoon across the Chattahoochie. The entire column was not more than two thousand. The most of the troops were armed with the Spencer rifle. Picked men and horses were selected for this daring adventure. This raid on the part of our cavalry was characterized by honorable correctness, uprightness and the absence of outrages which had unhappily distinguished other expeditions.

The first town of any importance captured by McCook was Fayetteville. Noiselessly the long column of silent horsemen pursued their way through the drenching rain, over roads that never before resounded to the footfall of a Federal soldier. Nine miles from Palmetto, Whitewater Creek was crossed at several fords, and when the column passed over, the woods were found lined with· the baggage trains of the rebel army. A scene set in that defies description. With admirable management

our advanced brigade kept straight on their way to Fayetteville, maintaining a profound silence, and not deigning to reply to the drowsy queries of the few teamsters. Not until every avenue of escape from Fayetteville was guarded, did our troops commence the work of destruction. Words cannot picture their astonishment and abject terror when they gradually became conscious of their situation. Some dragged ruthlessly from their slumbers, were disposed to show fight, at what they considered a very good joke. Others were altogether incredulous and nothing convinced them that they were really surprised until our men commenced destroying their trains.

The number of wagons destroyed was seven hundred. They apparently contained all the baggage of the rebel army, and also the valuables of citizens who had left at our approach. Rebel infantry was encountered near Newnan, a station on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. On Saturday, at ten o'clock, our advance guard had reached within a mile of the town, when it was evident that a fight was imminent. Our men charged down the streets, and after a brisk little fight, our boys withdrew, because of overwhelming numbers. McCook being surrounded, he was obliged to cut his way out, with a loss of five hundred men. Major Purdy, of the 4th Indiana, rallied three hundred men, and by dint of sticking closely to the woods, and employing negro guides, he reached the Chattahoochie. During the night, with the aid of two frail dug-outs, he crossed every man and equipments, swimming the horses. On Sunday he traveled not less than seventy miles by obscure roads, the enemy hanging on his rear all day, and near dark, capturing four or five dismounted men, who were straggling in the. rear. Sunday night the worn out detachment encamped at Sweetwater.

Stoneman's raid, in penetrating the heart of an enemy's country, will be regarded as one of the gallant feats of the war. Stoneman started on the 27th, and pushed immediately for the vicinity of Macon, ninety miles distant, where he arrived, a guard remaining at

Stoneman's force

Flat Rock to cover the command. was well mounted, having abandoned all their broken down horses, and seized such fresh ones as they found on the route. They were unencumbered by artillery or baggage, and admirably fitted out for a flying expedition. But, notwithstanding these facilities for traveling and escaping, the rebel_General Iverson was posted in Stoneman's designs. Following up, he overtook him on the 28th, at the junction of South and Yellow rivers, sixty miles North West of Macon. A short and desperate battle ensued. Kelley's and Hume's rebel cavalry were fighting the troops that Stoneman detached for the purpose of delaying pursuit. General Armstrong's rebel cavalry, comprising the 1st and 2nd Kentucky, were now assailing Stoneman's flank, and other rebel troops were in his rear, thus surrounding him. Stoneman now learned that Iverson was above Clinton, disputing his return. He decided to fight his way through. His command numbered twenty-five hundred. Iverson opened a heavy fire upon him and after several desperate efforts, Stoneman ordered his subordinate commanders to dash through the lines and escape. Stoneman, with three hundred men, was compelled to surrender. His loss was a thousand men and three guns. Stoneman is a free and easy, dashing and courageous officer, who at once wins the confidence of all under his command. Wherever he would lead they would follow. This expedition was more brilliant than successful.

Wheeler's raid was intended to destroy Sherman's lines of communications. He boasted that he had no fears of his ability to accomplish his object and to extricate his command, whenever necessary, from its dangerous position. Chattanooga, after the capture of Dalton, should be the next point of attack. He found a warmer reception awaited him than was expected. Dalton was only defended by four hundred men. To Wheeler's imperative demand for the surrender of the town. Colonel Siebold, the Post Commander, responded in this chivalrous style:

"I have been placed here to defend this post, but not to surrender it!"

B. SIEBOLD,

Commanding United States Forces." Wheeler's men were splendidly equipped, and made a desperate effort to capture the place. The timely arrival of General Steedman, with reinforcements, soon decided the day.

Colonel Siebold displayed great daring in the skirmish with Wheeler. His fearless answer to the rebel leader, whose forces outnumbered him five to one, is worthy of the man. Colonel Siebold is a gallant soldier, brave, cool aud determined, at least Wheeler thinks so, after leaving one hundred and seventy-two of his killed and wounded on the field Siebold's force, when attacked, was three hundred and forty-five effective men, and Wheeler had two thousand three hundred. Colonel Morgan's colored troops behaved nobly on this occasion. They went in with a yell that struck terror into the hearts of the chivalry. This regiment, the 14th U. S. C., is a well drilled and splendid regiment. How cheap and crest-fallen these Southern bloods must feel when they have to give way and skedaddle before their own chattels. Dalton, before Wheeler's raid, was doing a flourishing sutler business. These sutlers were the bravest and most self-sacrificing men on earththey would charge a soldier ten cents for a sheet of common letter paper, and everything else in propor tion. But when the news of Wheeler's arrival had reached them, all their bravery forsook them, they cried to the hills and mountains to come and hide them. They ran up and down the streets calling upon the soldiers to take what they pleased. Three of these shining patriots, who never knew what danger was, until they were completely surrounded, donned each a suit of lady's garments, and wore an old, wornout, dilapidated sun-bonnet, to cover their heads and faces. In this plight they advanced cautiously on Siebold's head-quarters, and when within about a hundred yards of the place they were hailed by soldiers.