BURKE SCREVEN COUNTY, GA - MILITARY Battle of Waynesboro Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Carole Drexel http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007406 Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/screven.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Kilpatrick's Last Charge routed Wheeler's Calvary Sherman's March to the Sea Battle of Waynesboro Dec 4, 1864 Decades after the war, Screven County's Captain William Henderson shared his experiences as a soldier participating in the Battle of Waynesboro: "I was color bearer in my company. Well, the fight began near the little creek below here-- McIntosh, and we fought all over the field to the right. It was in that field that I dismounted an adjutant of a Michigan regiment with my flag- staff and would have killed him if it had not bent double. Afterwards I was glad I did not kill him for he was a handsome fellow. In a few minutes, I began to retreat and had reached the town and were right in front of Dr. Whithead's home. I was standing shoulder to shoulder to Captain Bess when he fell mortally wounded. Being the color bearer I always felt that he received the shot intended for me. We could not stop to remove him, but we heard that some of the enemy picked him up and carried him into the house. That night, we camped near Briar Creek-- I think it was nearly Christmas time." (see other letters from William Henderson http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/screven/military/civilwar/letters/henderson.txt NOTES: Bryce A. Suderow Waynesboro, Ga. Dec. 4 1864. 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, and Kilpatrick's Cavalry. Kilpatrick reached Thomas' station, about 8 miles south of Waynesboro, on the Savannah & Augusta railroad late in the afternoon of the 3rd and made a disposition of his forces to protect Gen. Baird's infantry division, which was engaged in destroying the track. Part of Wheeler's cavalry made a vigorous attack on the 92nd Ill mounted infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. Van Buskirk, and the skirmishing continued until about 8 p.m., when the Confederates were driven off. Toward midnight another attack was made, the enemy this time shelling Van Buskirk's position, killing 2 men and wounding another. Again they were driven off, but desultory firing was kept up at various points along the railroad until morning. At daylight on the moring of the 4th Kilpatrick advanced with his whole command against the Confederates. Their skirmish line was met about a mile from the station and driven back on the main body, dismounted and posted behind barricades, with well protected flanks. Col. Atkins, commanding the 2nd brigade, was ordered to charge the barricades, but the eemy's position was stronger than anticipated and Atkins was forced back. The 10th Ohio and 9th Michigan were then moved to the right, the 9th Ohio to the left, each regiment formed in columns of four by battalions, and the 92nd Ill. mounted infantry was dismounted and stationed in front. The 10th Wis. battery under Capt. Beebe was brought up to within 600 yards and opened fire on the barricades, forcing the enemy to withdraw his artillery. The charge was then ordered and the whole line steadily advanced. The 92nd Ill. was armed with Spencer rifles and as it moved forward kept up an incessant fire that kept the Confederates close behind their breastworks. Several counter charged were made by the enemy to save his dismounted men and check the Union advance. Fr a time it looked as though Van Buskirk would be driven back by these onslaughts, but Col. Heath, with the 5th Ohio, made an impetuous charge on the enemy's flank and rear that threw him into confusion. Seeing this Van Buskirk pushed forward and before the Confederates had time to rally drove back the center. The enemy now gave way at all points and made a rapid retreat to Waynesboro. Here in greater force he took up a position behind another line of breastworks with his flanks so far extended that Kilpatrick's force was not sufficiently large to attempt to turn them. Murray's brigade was thrown forward with orders to take the town. The 8th Ind. was dismounted as skirmishers and behind this regiment Murray formed his line with the 9th Pa. on the left, 3rd Ky. in the center, and the 2nd and 5th Ky. on the right. As soon as the skirmishers became engaged the whole ine advanced, the 9th Pa. and the 3rd Ky. delivering a cross fire from the left and right, which with the steady work of the regiments in the center, soon drove the enemy from his works. Three successive lines of barricades were carried in the single charge, and the 5th Ohio, 5th Ky, and 9th Pa. followed Wheeler to Brier creek, 8 miles from where the fight commenced, and burned the railroad bridge and two wagon bridges over that stream, after which they joined the command and went into camp near Alexander. The Union casualties in these engagements were included in the general statement for the campaign. Wheeler's loss at Waynesboro alone was 50 killed, 150 wounded, and 87 captured." See The Union Army, Volume 6, "Cyclopedia of Battles" pages 915-916. NOTES: Ashley Pollette It was the 5th Georgia Cavalry! http://www.pollette.com/5thcavalry/5thcav/companye.htm This web site has a very good picture of "Captain" Henderson in the uniform of a Georgia Cavalry Private. Check it out. 2nd Lieutenant William Michael HENDERSON enlisted as a Private in the Bulloch Troop in late 1861. The Bulloch Troop became Company C 2nd Georgia Cavalry Battalion in 1862 and later Company E, 5th Georgia Cavalry. On or about 20 Jan 1863, William was appointed 2nd Sergeant. Records show he served as acting Regimental Color-bearer. During the time he was serving as acting Color-bearer 2nd Sergeant Henderson was appointed 2nd Lieutenant for "Brilliant and conspicuous bravery on the field of battle." During the Battle of Waynesboro, Georgia, Sergeant Henderson dismounted the Adjutant of the 9th Michigan Cavalry with the staff of the Regimental flag, and captured him. William Michael Henderson was call "Captain" by his friends and family after the war. [MIL- REC - LH1-901 - FAM REC Carole Farr & ANCESTRY.COM]