at Fayetteville or at the crossing of the Cape Fear River.  Hardee had been racing with Sherman to reach Cheraw and cross the PeeDee before Sherman could come up.  He only accomplished this after many forced marches by “the skin of his teeth,” to use a homely expression.  He crossed the PeeDee one day ahead of the enemy, burning the bridge behind him, after moving all the stores that were possible.  The right wing, under General Howard, crossed the PeeDee at Cheraw, while the left, under Slocum, crossed higher up, at Sneedsboro.  Hampton was forced to make a long detour up the PeeDee and cross at the fords along the many little islands in that stream.

On the 8th of March General Bragg, with Hoke’s Division, reinforced by a division under D.H.  Hill, of Johnston’s command, numbering in all about two thousand, attacked three divisions under General Cox, at Kiniston, defeating him with much loss, capturing one thousand five hundred prisoners and three pieces of artillery.

During the campaign our cavalry was not idle on the flanks or front of Sherman, but on the contrary, was ever on the alert, striking the enemy wherever possible.  General Butler intercepted and defeated a body of Federals on their way to destroy the railroad at Florence, at or near Mount Elan.  General Wheeler, also, at Homesboro, came up with the enemy, and after a spirited brush, drove the enemy from the field, capturing a number of prisoners.  Again, near Rockinham, the same officer put the enemy to rout.  General Kilpatrick had taken up camp on the road leading to Fayetteville, and commanding that road which was necessary for the concentration of our troops.  In the night General Hampton, after thoroughly reconnoitering the position, surrounded the camp of Kilpatrick, and at daybreak, on the 10th, fell like a hurricane upon the sleeping enemy.  The wildest confusion prevailed; friend could not be distinguished from foe.  Shooting and saber slashing were heard in every direction, while such of the enemy who could mounted their horses and rode at break-neck speed, leaving their camp and camp equippage, their artillery and wagon trains.  The enemy was so laden with stolen booty, captured in the Carolinas and Georgia, that this great treasure was too great a temptation to the already demoralized cavalry.  So, instead of following up their victory, they went to gathering the spoils.  Hundreds of horses were captured, but these ran off by our troops forcing all the artillery captured to be abandoned, after cutting the wheels to pieces.  But the long train of wagons, laden with supplies, was a good addition to our depleted resources.  A great number of the enemy were killed and wounded, with five hundred prisoners, besides recapturing one hundred and fifty of our own troops taken in former battles.