[
532]
on a blanket, with a piece of paper pinned on his breast, marked “
Robert J. Simpson, Company I, First Virginia Light Infantry.”
Another account.
The fight on Saturday, near this city, says the Lynchburg
Republican, was a much heavier one than at first supposed, and its results greatly more disastrous to the enemy than stated yesterday morning.
It is now stated that their dead alone left on the field numbered one hundred and twenty, and their wounded in field hospitals, who fell into our hands — being too badly hurt to be moved — are reported at one hundred and fifty.
General Averell stated to a gentleman entirely trustworthy, that their loss was eight hundred killed, wounded and missing.
Our entire loss on Saturday is semi-officially reported at nine killed and seventeen wounded. In the engagement and pursuit as far as New London, we captured in all about forty prisoners. The report of the capture of three pieces of artillery was erroneous.
The enemy commenced their retreat about six o'clock Saturday evening, after their unsuccessful assault upon our lines, previously reported.
As soon as the retreat was discovered, vigorous pursuit was made.
Gentlemen whose houses the enemy passed, inform us that they travelled in great haste and confusion, and they also say that in conversation both officers and men expressed great surprise at finding the city so well prepared for resistance.
The battle-field on Sunday presented quite a ghastly spectacle.
A circumstance connected with the enemy's dead is worthy of notice, as showing the accuracy and aim of our sharpshooters.
A gentleman undertook to count the dead as they lay on the field, and to note the place where they were shot.
Of forty-seven so counted, forty-two were struck in the head, and death appeared to have been almost instantaneous — a mete and proper fate for these ruthless invaders.
The enemy threw away a large number of guns, pistols and swords, both on the battle-field and on the route of the retreat.
Knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, &c., were also profusely strewn around, and many were picked up by citizens who visited the fields and passed along the roads.
In many localities, on both the
Salem and Forest roads, trees were felled and blockades of fence rails and stones were made to impede pursuit.
In removing these some hours were lost by our men.
Generals Hunter,
Crook,
Averell and
Sullivan, put up with
Major Hutter, about four miles from town, whose beautiful farm was used as Headquarters.
In their suite were the notorious
Doctor Rucker and
David H. Strother (Porte Crayon), the former attached to
Crook's staff.
Major Hutter, being an old army officer, was well acquainted with
Hunter, and talked freely to him respecting his expedition.
Hunter said that he had fifty thousand men, and could take
Lynchburg easily — that we had better make no resistance.
When
Major Hutter informed him that it would be no easy task, and that our people, in the last resort, would retire to the
Amherst Heights and fire upon them,
Hunter replied that, in such an event, he would help them to destroy the town.
The
general officers were in very high spirits at the supper table on Friday night, and boasted that they would be in
Lynchburg the next day.
On Saturday night they took their meal at the same board in perfect silence.
General Averell retired to the back porch after supper, very moody, and remarked to
Miss Hutter that “the battle of
Lynchburg would be one of the bloodiest records of this war for the time it lasted.”
He said that the loss was very heavy on both sides, theirs not being less than eight hundred to a thousand.
The General was mistaken as to ours, which is six killed and ninety-five wounded.
Sullivan said they had some twenty or thirty thousand men, and reinforcements were expected under
Pope, who, with other troops, had four thousand contrabands.
The
Yankees avowed it to be their purpose to capture
Lynchburg, and then proceed to the assistance of
Butler.
They placed their signal officers on the top of
Major Hutter's house, and as the battle progressed on Saturday, the “lookout” declared that the cavalry were charging splendidly: after a while, however, he said that they were giving way, and finally left his eyrie in disgust.
When.
Miss Hutter remonstrated with
General Hunter for his vandalism in burning the Military Institute, he replied, “You need not make a fuss about that, for I intend to burn the University of Virginia also.”
After the melancholy supper referred to,
Hunter told
Major Hutter that they wanted to hold a council.
They thereupon appropriated two rooms, the doors of which they locked carefully.
Major Hutter, having retired to a back chamber of his house, attempted to pass out of the building, when he was informed that he was a prisoner.
When the
Yankee officers retired, they said that they were going to the front, and thus took up the line of retreat before
Major Hutter was aware of their intentions.
Some of the
Yankee soldiers repaid the hospitality of
Major Hutter by plundering
Miss flutter's chamber, searching trunks and drawers, and carrying away various ornaments and valuables.
Some ninety odd wounded Yankees were left in
Major Hutter's barn.
Four or five of them died on Sunday.
These wounded were rather the best-looking Yankees we have yet seen, being mostly Western men. Other wounded were left among the families of the people they had robbed, while many of the slightly wounded were doubtless carried off.
