Breakfast was over.
The morning hours were fast rolling towards midday.
The little stock of literature
Manassas afforded was exhausted.
Time was growing irksome, when some one proposed a trip to
Leesburg, and the proposition met with a hearty approval from a party of "gentlemen of the press," who make it their business to cater for the reading public at the seat of war. The next question was to obtain passports.
We found the
Provost Marshal badly worried by a press of business, and in exceedingly ill humor.--His usual blandness and equanimity had been entirely upset.
One modest request for his signature met with a flat denial.
Here was a dilemma. "Fortune favors the brave" is an old adage, and we determined to act upon it, and to trust to luck and to our kind friends in the army to deliver us from all difficulty.
The road was long and wearisome, but for thirty miles, or thereabouts, we rode without trouble.
That night we reached our point of destination.
The recent fight, about which so many exaggerated and unsatisfactory stories have been told engaged our first attention, and dividing into squads of
one, we scoured the place for news.
The success that met our labor is in the account here to follow.
As I have told the story so many times, it may have become tedious to some, but in the words of Coriolanut--
‘ I shall tell you
A prosing tale.
It may be you have heard it!
But, since it serves my purpose well, I'll venture
To scale it a little more.
’
The battle of Leesburg.
Monday morning our small force was near
Goose Creek, some five or six miles below this place.
Capt. Duff's company, from the 17th Mississippi, and
Capt. Welborn's, from the, 18th, were on picket duty between here and the river.
Another portion of our force was at Edwards Ferry, and still another a short distance below by the burnt bridge over
Goose creek.
From
Leesburg to the river the distance is about three miles. The first half is over a level, cultivated plateau, and the remainder of the way is covered with a dense growth of ask and pine.
Early in the morning, the enemy crossed the river, and proceeding towards the town, took position in the last covert of woods.
The two companies of Mississippians seeing them there, sent out scouts to examine them.
The enemy then deployed a portion of their force as skirmishers, and commenced an advance.
Capt. Duff called several times to halt them, and asked "who comes there? " They replied "friends," but continued to advance.
Captain Duff tell back and brought his company to a halt, and gave the command to "right about — face, " and then ordered his men to kneel and fire upon the advancing company.
The enemy was marching up briskly, and in as pretty a time of battle as one could wish.
They were about one hundred yards away when the volley was fired, and its effect could be distinctly seen.
It caused great confusion, and they retreated a few hundred yards to where five more of their companies were stationed.
At this time a party of the Londoun cavalry came up, and dismounting joined
Capt. Welborne and
Capt. Duff, and all advanced upon the regiment new drawn up in the edge of a wood, driving it back a little from its position.
Up to this time the advance here was considered a feint merely, to cover the advance of a larger body across Edwards's Ferry, and consequently no reinforcements were sent up from the regiments below.
Finding, however, that there was no signs of the enemy at Edwards's Ferry, one company from the 13th and one from the 18th Mississippi was ordered up to their support.
They charged the enemy again, and drove them back, but, discovering a large body of men, were forced to retire.
During the time this skirmishing was going on, the 13th,
Col. Barksdale, was ordered to Edwards's Ferry, and the 17th ordered to support it. At the same time the 18th was posted to check the advancing column.
The 8th Virginia now came up on the extreme left and commenced firing at the enemy, who was well covered by an oak hicket.
This was between three and four o'clock.--All hopes of an attempt to cross by Edward's Word had been given up, and the 17th Mississippi was ordered up to the left.
Supposing the enemy designed a flank movement, the 18th was also sent up. Both these regiments marched at double quick for two and a half miles, through woods and marsh, and over hill and valley, until nearly wearied out.--The 18th joined on the right flank and the line of battle was formed on the 8th Virginia.
The whole was under the command of
Colonel Featherstone, the
senior Colonel.
Just at this time the 8th Virginia made as gallant and as brave a charge as was ever made in the world, and which attracted the admiration of the whole force.
The regiment was accompanied by the "Pettus Rifles,"
Capt. Upshaw, of the 17th Mississippi.
The 8th advanced upon the enemy; and after discharging their pieces retired to the wood to reload.
This was immediately repeated; but having been skirmishing since early in the day, the powder began to fall short.
Col. Hunton then turned back and said, "For God's sake, charge them; I am out of ammunition."
This was the turning point in the fight.--The regiments were formed and had advanced to the edge of the wood opposite the enemy; in front of them was a cleared field of some six or eight acres, in the centre of which was a small ravine or depression, making the lot nearly cup-shaped.
The Federals had drawn up their artillery, and planted two howitzers and a large rifled gun in a position to play upon the hill opposite.
As soon as our men came out of the woods,
Colonel Featherstone, in a load voice, cried out, "Mississippians, charge those Yankees; take their battery; drive them into the
Potomac or into eternity." With most terrific yells the men charged up the hill, driving the
Federals terrified before them.
The Virginians took the two howitzers, and the Mississippians the rifle.
The river was about one hundred yards from the battery, and between them was a steep precipice fully ninety feet high, and nearly perpendicular.
Over this they were tumbled or impaled upon the bayonet.
Perfectly conquered, they begged our men not to shoot, and surrendered themselves prisoners.
The few who reached the river threw off their clothes and attempted to swim across, but the majority of them were drowned.
The boats were crowded to their utmost, and were frequently so heavily loaded that they sunk under the weight of frightened human beings.
One hundred and fifty were thus sunk with a single flat or raft it was now very dark, and our men retired to
Leesburg with their prisoners.
The force of the enemy has been variously estimated.
Col. Lee says it was not above eighteen hundred, and that he thinks few returned to the
Maryland shore uninjured.--This I believe to be not far from correct.
Taking the killed, wounded, drowned, and prisoners, I should say the loss would foot up to twelve hundred.
Our loss is as follows:
List of Killed and wounded in the Eighteenth Mississippi regiment.--Col. Erasmus Burt.
Killed--
Privates Richard L. Gray,
Levi Myers,
W. D. Wade.
Wounded--
Colonel Burt, seriously, (died Saturday following;)
Orderly Sergeant Samuel McDowell, dangerously;
Sergeant H. Jack, do;
private Aaron Goodman, arm amputated;
Howell L. Smith, severely;
James Bloxon, do;
Erastus L. Laird, do;
Jas. M Oar, arm amputated;
Samuel Arrington, seriously; Yancey Crops, do;
Solomon Dobson, do;
Andy J. Smith, do;
Edward Myers, slightly;
Wm. Radcliffe, do;
D. B. Rucker, do;
H. E. Pope, do;
M. R. Campbell, do;
J. R. Gray, do;
S. D. Burns, do;
C. Cherry, do;
J. R. Knight, do;
L. McLarru, do;
Capt. J. M. Jayne, do;
Lieut. W. P. Maxy, do;
Sergeant Edward Myers, do. Total--3 killed and 25 wounded.
Killed--
Private Wm. Hanson.
Wounded--
Private H. H. Fowler, slightly.
Total — I killed, 1 wounded.
Killed--
Private Frank Clark.
Wounded--
Private John Devine, seriously;
N. H. Saunders, slightly;
Willis Haddox, slightly;
Geo. C. Short, slightly.
Total--1 killed and 4 wounded.
Killed--
Capt. F. W. Mobley,
W. E. Carol.
Wounded--
Lt. F. Bostick, seriously;
Privates Arthur Gary, slightly;
James M. Kincaird, seriously;
John T. Morris, mortally.
(since died;)
Patrick McNeelees, mortally;
J. S. Riley, do.;
Jas. Rosson, do.;
Thos. Wilson, do., (leg amputated;)
Joel Wolfe, slightly; Isaac Young, do. Total--2 killed and 10 wounded.
[Note. Five of the above wounded have since died at the hospital.]
Killed — None.
Wounded--
Private A. Martin, mortally;
Ord.
Sergt. A. G. Brock, arm shot off;
Private W. H. Harris, slightly;
W. E. Hamblin, do.;
Capt. Welborne, slightly, (shot in the neck.) Total--5 wounded.
Killed--
Privates A. M. Stewart,
W. L. Owen.
Wounded — Jonathan Bushy, seriously, (in breast;)
J. W. Forbes mortally;
H. J. Guice, seriously, shot in thigh;)
N. W. Helm, seriously;
W. H. Holloway, do.;
W. L. Wascombe, do.;
S. J. Winstead, do.;
G. C. Wilcox, do. Total--2 killed, 10 wounded.
Killed —
J. O. Sutherland,
E. O. R. Simms.
Wounded--
Capt. A. P. Hill, (shot through point of fore arm)
Privates C. A. Allen, seriously;
W. W. Allen, do.;
T. S. Carlton, slightly;
R. F. Carson, do.;
John Charles, do. Total--2 killed, 6 wounded.
Company H, (brown rebels,) Capt. Brown.
Killed.--
Sergeant Benj. F. Dees.
Wounded --
J. E. Lewis, slightly.
Total--1 killed, 1 wounded.
[Note.--This company dropped twelve of the enemy at the first fire.]
Killed.--
Henry V. Taylor,
John J. Cooper.
Wounded.--
C. K. Farr, seriously;
J. L. Mathews, slightly.
Total--2 Killed, 2 wounded.
Company K, Capt. John Campbell (said to be wort $6,000,000.)
Killed.--
Corporal J. A. Pettus, (son of
Gov. Pettus,)
Privates L. M. Holloway,
W. E. Territt.
Wounded--
Lieut. John B. Fearney, seriously;
Private S. S. Certee, slightly.
Total--3 killed, two wounded.
Of the field officers,
Col. E. K. Burt was mortally wounded, and
Sergeant Major O. E. Stuart slightly wounded.
Killed and wounded in 8th Virginia regiment.
The field officers of this regiment are,
Col. Eppa Hunton,
Lieut. Col. Charles B. Tebbs,
Major Norman Berkely,
Adj. H. C. Bowie.
Company A.
Killed--
Corporal F. A. Osborne,
Private Reeder.
Wounded —
Wm. Januey, seriously;
Zed F. Milburn, do;
Flavins Haynes, leg shot off;
John Shaffer, seriously.
Company B.
None killed.
Wounded —
Albert F. Triplet slightly wounded in arm.
Company C.
Killed —
Edward Maher,
Christopher Lambert.
Wounded —
Lunden Carter, seriously;
Warren Loper, do.;
Charles Simonds, do.
Company D.
Killed — none.
Wounded —
Hudley Hutchinson, mortally, (since died.)
Company E.
Killed — none.
Wounded--
Capt. Maudley Hampton,
Lieut. Joseph A. Taverner, slightly;
Jacob Pierce, do.;
Samuel Winbrook, slightly, in arm;
Benjamin Taverner, slightly;
Charles Jones, do.;
John T. Hawes, do.;
Hugh Kirkpatrick, do.
Killed — Serg't
Clinton Hatcher,
Corporal Donohue,
Private Costello,(head shot off by bomb,)
Private Furr.
Wounded —
C. Furr, (since died,)
Lieut. Pettit, shot in the thigh, badly;
Lieut. Gray, slightly, in hip.
Killed —
James Ballinger.
Wounded--
Privates Templer,
Henry O'Banion,
John Hutcheson.
Was sent to the burnt bridge on
Goose Creek to guard the approach and did not engage in the fight.
Killed — None, Wounded —
Chas. E. Taylor, seriously; 1 t.
Carter, slightly, in hand;
John W. Shillman, flesh wound in arm;
John Simond, slight wound in shoulder.
John Rush, slightly.
Killed — None.
Wounded--
Private Silas Handbeck, seriously;
Jos. Furr, badly;
Erasmus Fletcher, do.;
Wm. Rector, do.;
John Lidall, slightly; Chs.
Fewell, do.;
J. T. Cook, do.;
William Swain, do.
The casualties in the 19th Mississippi were few. The regiment was on picket duty some miles away, and I was unable to learn the names of all the wounded.
The killed and wounded is estimated at ten.
Killed —
Thos. Bodenheuner, of the
Quitman Grays, and
private Query, Company G.
Wounded--
Privates F. Pippin,
Pucket, seriously wounded, and
privates Owen and
J. P. Sullivan, slightly.
It will be seen, then, that our total loss, in killed and wounded, amounts only to 138.
I may add in conclusion, that the wounded have been removed from
Leesburg, as for as possible.
A few yet remain, and are cared for as kindly as possible.
Bohemian.
