We broke camp at 6 o'clock this morning and moved forward
five miles, driving the rebels all the way. Our division was in the advance in
line of battle and drove the rebels back inside their main works. There was
some heavy skirmishing and we had to throw up breastworks. Our loss during the
day was fifteen in killed and wounded. We had four men wounded by the explosion
of torpedoes which the rebels had buried in the road. General Sherman was
riding with our column, and when informed of what had taken place, ordered that
the prisoners of our division be placed in front to pass over the road first.
The prisoners requested that one of their number be permitted to return to
their headquarters to inform their commander of the peril in which they were
placed. This was granted and there were no more torpedoes planted in the road
after that. The prisoners dug up five torpedoes for us.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 236
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