Synopsis "The Battles for Buckhead Creek and Waynesborough"
The Confederate and Yankee accounts of the final battles in Georgia are as different as night and day. They can't both be true... "That morning Kilpatrick's men advanced, driving the Rebel skirmishers in front of them. The Union force then came up against a defensive line of barricades which they eventually overran. As the Union advance continued, they met more barricades which required time to overcome. Finally, the Confederates fell back to a final line of barricades within the town. After furious fighting, the Union troops broke through and Wheeler's force ran." "Learning that Kilpatrick had started out toward Augusta, Wheeler left Iverson before the Federal infantry, and overtaking Kilpatrick at midnight, drove him from the main Augusta road. Pushing on rapidly he struck the enemy several times during the early morning, capturing prisoners. The way was lighted with the barns and houses, cotton gins, and corn-cribs fired by the Federals. Kilpatrick was forced to turn off by way of Waynesboro, where he destroyed the bridge and set fire to the town, but Wheeler arrived in time to extinguish the flames. Beyond Waynesboro, Kilpatrick hastily barricaded a line which Wheeler assailed with great spirit, Humes and Anderson attacking on the flank. The enemy was routed, losing a large number in killed, wounded and prisoners, General Kilpatrick himself escaping with the loss of his hat. In a swamp the fight was renewed, and the enemy again stampeded with the loss of about 200. Retreating over Buckhead creek, Kilpatrick fired the bridge but could not hold his ground long enough to see it burned, and Wheeler repaired the structure and crossed in pursuit. His worn-out troopers had now been riding and fighting a night and a day, but before night again arrived he attacked the Federal line behind their barricades and again sent them flying. During the night," Wheeler reported, "Kilpatrick sought the protection of his infantry, which he did not venture to forsake again during the campaign." Judge for yourself. Examine the original accounts and you will see in Joseph Wheeler and his Cavalry a truly magnificent army who held their own and indeed carried the day while outnumbered ten to one.
