We copy from the Charleston
Mercury, of the 2d inst., the subjoined account of a skirmish which has been briefly mentioned heretofore:
On Wednesday night last (28th and 29th) the
Yankees succeeded in landing at and near Port Royal Ferry, the 50th regiment of
Pennsylvania infantry, composed of German and Irish principally, two companies of the 8th regiment Michigan infantry, two field pieces from a battery of
Connecticut artillery and a company of cavalry, armed with breech loading carbines.
This force, numbering about 1,100 men, and composed, as it was, of mixed commands, it would seem, spent most of the night in effecting a landing, and began a march of twelve miles on Thursday morning, at which time our pickets reported the advance of the enemy's column.
However, about nine o'clock orders were extended to
Major Morgan's battalion of cavalry (four companies), the
Rutledge Mounted riflemen, and
Capt,
D. Blax.
Heyward's ‘"Marion Troop, "’ to ‘"boot and saddle."’ This command rendezvoused at the railroad station promptly, and moved thence down the road leading to Old Pocotaligo,
Capt. Trenholm's company in the advance.
The Rutledge Mounted riflemen and a company of Rangers from
Major Morgan's battalion, the first armed with breach-loading carbines, and the latter with double barrel guns, dismounted and deployed as skirmishers among the ‘"old oaks"’ and in the neighboring woods, covering the road, a small party having been sent forward to tear up the bridge a short distance in the advance.
The enemy's skirmishers soon deployed to the right and left, and a scattering fire along the front was kept up on both sides.
At 1 o'clock our troops were withdrawn towards the railroad, and the enemy's advanced guard followed for the distance of a quarter of a mile, as far as
Mr. Thomas Hilbert's plantation.
They subsequently withdrew to Old Pocotaligo, and thence to
Garden's Corner, where their tear guard bivouacked.
During the afternoon
Captain Stephen Elliott arrived from
Hardeeville with three guns from his battery; also, a battalion of infantry from the ‘"Phillips Legion, "’ (Georgia volunteers) Between 6 and 7 o'clock an infantry regiment reached the station, and later in the evening
Major Jefford's squadron and
Captain Rutledge's dragoons arrived, after a hot ride.
A force was sent forward, and remained all night near
Garden's Corner.
In the morning the main body of the
Yankees, it was found, had effected a successful retreat, and the rear guard had also reached the ferry in time to escape.
Our forces, on Friday, followed in their footsteps, and fired some sh from
Elliott's battery at the ferry house, on the opposite side of the river.
The losses of the enemy were one captain and two privates, of the 50th Pennsylvania regiment, killed, and six wounded. We also took
Corporal Frederick Bishop, of the 8th Michigan regiment, prisoner, who has been sent to this city.
He is a Prussian by birth.
Privates Goddard and
Lawton were sent with dispatches to
Colonel Walker; they took the
Stony Creek road, by which the
Yankees had retreated, instead of the Sheldon Church road, and soon came upon the
Yankees.
Dr. Goddard was shot dead.
Private Lawton found himself surrounded by armed men, but he put spurs to his horse and dashed off. The enemy fired at him, and a buckshot or small pistol ball passed through his lung.
He reached camp and received every attention, but the wound is reported as rather serious.
Although quite young, he has been in the war from the beginning, sharing the dangers and suffering from disease as a member of the Palmetto Guard in
Virginia.
Privates Smith and
Stuart are wounded in the shoulder slightly.
Private Hughes, through the body, severely; and
Private Gough was injured in the eye by splinters from a tree.
A member of
Major Morgan's squadron was killed, but we have not heard his name.
We had about 250 men in the action.
Our troops showed great willingness and courage, and the
Rutledge Mounted riflemen particularly distinguished themselves, receiving the well done of the
commanding officer of the district,
Col. Walker.
