Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/87

 7' In- ('<i*t /)<-t',-n<;' ,,(' Smith (''irnliii'i. 77

pic's vedettes falling' back, who reported Giptain Peeple's command retiring toward's Bolan's Church, on the Savannah turnpike, before the enemy, advancing in heavy force on that point. I dismounted my men, sent forward a skirmish line, which soon met the enemy's skirmishers; we had a sharp fight with them until dark, when I fell back to a breastwork, still keeping out a line of pickets; in doing this the two picket lines came together with some firing and one of the enemy's pickets was captured," etc., etc.

From that excellent publication, " Emilio's History of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment," I find that "The Naval Brigade, Com- mander Preble, with eight howitzers, moved by hand, landed early and advanced to the road (leading to Bee's Creek) and pushed a small force to the right, which met a few of the enemy," etc. This was the force which Captain Raysor engaged.

It appears to have consumed the entire day, 2gth, to land the troops, military stores and supplies, and most of the troops had been moved forward from the landing to the vicinity of Bolan's Church by evening upon the old road leading through this section to Savan- nah ; at that point the road to Grahamville is at right angles to the Savannah road, and Honey Hill is distant about two miles.

When night closed in on the eve of battle Captain Raysor. Com- pany E, was in front of the enemy on the Bee's Creek side, and Cap- tain Peeples, Company K, next to the enemy, on the Honey Hill road

Looking back over these thirty-three years, there is one feature of that day's situation that is prominent in memory. Not gnly was the handful of soldiers quietly preparing to face fearful odds, but the small community of Grahamville was stirred to resistance! As soon as the news of the presence of the enemy became known, Captain George P. Elliott, commissary of the post, appealed to the citizens, old and young, to organize a company and go to the breastworks; tli is was promptly responded to, and this small force was there dur- ing the day, mostly armed with double-barrel guns; among them was the venerable General John H. Howard. The writer recalls him readily, for he saw much of him in those days. He was a tall, heavy man, of perhaps three score and ten years; a warm-hearted, gi -n- erous, high-toned citizen. He had raised Company C, of the 3d, and commanded it until he found his physical infirmities interfered with his duties, when he gave place to a younger officer.

During the afternoon of the 2gth the monotony was too great at the breastworks, and ( ieneral Howard mounted his horse and rode