Beulah, N.
C., April 11, 1865, 12 m.
Our division
is alone on this road I find, and the extreme right of the army. Our brigade
ahead to-day. Dibbrell's division of Wheeler's men is ahead of us. We pushed
them so closely that we saved all the bridges to this place. They destroyed the
bridge here some way without burning it. Country to-day nearly all under
cultivation, but no large farms. I reckon that the larger a farm a man has of
this kind of land or sand the poorer he is. Our eyes were rested by seeing a
little clay hill and a stony field, signs that we are again getting out of the
coast fats. There was a house on our picket line last night with six women in
it who were sights. They were the regular “clay-eaters.” This Rebel cavalry
ahead don't amount to a cent. They have not yet hurt a man on our road, and we
don't know that more than two of them have been hit. They keep shooting all the
time, but are afraid to wait until we get within range of them. They have not
hindered our march a minute. Got me a new servant (a free boy) to-day. Both his
grandmas were white women. He says the Rebel cavalry have been impressing all
the able-bodied negroes for the army until within a few days. He understands
they quit it because they found out in Richmond that they couldn't make
“Cuffie” come up to the work.
Eight miles
North of Smithfield, 4:30 p. m. Crossed the river as quick as the bridge could
be built and moved out three miles. The rest of our corps crossed two and
one-half miles below. Country is quite rolling here. I hear that Johnston has
left Smithfield, going towards Raleigh. Miserable set of citizens through here.
