We are enabled to lay before our readers some interesting particulars of the great battle near Leesburg, received from a gentleman who was in the immediate vicinity of the fight. These statements, it will be remembered embody observations made on the evening of the 21st., before the full extent of our victory was ascertained. The battle commanded early Monday morning, and lasted throughout the day. The Yankees crossed the Potomac the previous night, and continued to come over in large numbers as the fight progressed until from eight to ten thousand were landed on the Virginia side. They were met by the forces under Gen. Evans, with the 8th Virginia regiment, Col. Hunton the 13th Mississippi, Colonel Barksdale; the 17th Mississippi, Colonel Featherston, and the 18th Mississippi, Colonel Burt.--The engagement very soon became general, and the fighting was terrible on both sides, the Yankees being protected by a heavy forest and having the advantage in ground and position. They were routed three distinct times at the point of the bayonet, and as often heavily reinforced. In one charge the 8th Virginia captured a splendid brass battery, and put its men to inglorious flight. The enemy were finally pursued to the river's brink, where, being unable to recross with facility, they made a desperate stand, but their doom was denied. Our brave volunteers charged them and scattered them like leaves to the winds and waters. Our informant states that they were cut all to pieces, and that the battle-field was thickly strewn with their dead and wounded. The prisoners, of whom a great number were taken, said without hesitation that our gallant troops ‘"fought like devils."’ The loss upon our side had not been ascertained with accuracy on Monday evening, though our telegraphic advices have since it at three hundred in killed and wounded. This, however, is not comparable to the loss of the enemy. We have at this time no particulars except that Col. Burt, of the 18th Mississippi, was badly wounded, and Col. Tebbs, for what regiment is not stated, slightly. Our informant saw 300 Yankee prisoners marching by, and upwards of 200 more were captured. These men reported that at least 300 of their comrades were drowned while attempting to recross the Potomac. Our troops fought under great disadvantage. They underwent a heavy march on the previous day, with but two meals; slept in their arms in the open air all night, and went into battle on Monday morning with apology for a breakfast. They fought all day, without refreshments of any sort, and without reinforcements, against a vastly superior force, to which constant additions were made from the Maryland shore. Truly, Providence has once more prospered our cause. Our victory is glorious and complete. Not one man on our side exhibited any signs of all fought desperately and bravely to adopt the language of our informant ‘"twenty gentlemen can fight."’ The of this movement of the Federalist to have been to outflank our army on the left, as a part of McClellan's plan for an advance upon our lines. The result was so dis that the aspiring Federal General may have to draw largely upon his strategical science in the adoption of some other method or possibly he may be super in consequence of this great reverse at the of his career. Other verbal accounts of the battle on Monday represent that the scene at the river, when the enemy attempted to recross, was fearful. The rattle of musketry, and the crack of the Mississippi rifle, mingled with shrinks of drowning men, and the panic was scarcely less wide spread than that of of July, just three months before.--The Federal prisoners, numbering 523, were under guard on the battle field of Manassas yesterday morning.
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We are enabled to lay before our readers some interesting particulars of the great battle near Leesburg, received from a gentleman who was in the immediate vicinity of the fight. These statements, it will be remembered embody observations made on the evening of the 21st., before the full extent of our victory was ascertained. The battle commanded early Monday morning, and lasted throughout the day. The Yankees crossed the Potomac the previous night, and continued to come over in large numbers as the fight progressed until from eight to ten thousand were landed on the Virginia side. They were met by the forces under Gen. Evans, with the 8th Virginia regiment, Col. Hunton the 13th Mississippi, Colonel Barksdale; the 17th Mississippi, Colonel Featherston, and the 18th Mississippi, Colonel Burt.--The engagement very soon became general, and the fighting was terrible on both sides, the Yankees being protected by a heavy forest and having the advantage in ground and position. They were routed three distinct times at the point of the bayonet, and as often heavily reinforced. In one charge the 8th Virginia captured a splendid brass battery, and put its men to inglorious flight. The enemy were finally pursued to the river's brink, where, being unable to recross with facility, they made a desperate stand, but their doom was denied. Our brave volunteers charged them and scattered them like leaves to the winds and waters. Our informant states that they were cut all to pieces, and that the battle-field was thickly strewn with their dead and wounded. The prisoners, of whom a great number were taken, said without hesitation that our gallant troops ‘"fought like devils."’ The loss upon our side had not been ascertained with accuracy on Monday evening, though our telegraphic advices have since it at three hundred in killed and wounded. This, however, is not comparable to the loss of the enemy. We have at this time no particulars except that Col. Burt, of the 18th Mississippi, was badly wounded, and Col. Tebbs, for what regiment is not stated, slightly. Our informant saw 300 Yankee prisoners marching by, and upwards of 200 more were captured. These men reported that at least 300 of their comrades were drowned while attempting to recross the Potomac. Our troops fought under great disadvantage. They underwent a heavy march on the previous day, with but two meals; slept in their arms in the open air all night, and went into battle on Monday morning with apology for a breakfast. They fought all day, without refreshments of any sort, and without reinforcements, against a vastly superior force, to which constant additions were made from the Maryland shore. Truly, Providence has once more prospered our cause. Our victory is glorious and complete. Not one man on our side exhibited any signs of all fought desperately and bravely to adopt the language of our informant ‘"twenty gentlemen can fight."’ The of this movement of the Federalist to have been to outflank our army on the left, as a part of McClellan's plan for an advance upon our lines. The result was so dis that the aspiring Federal General may have to draw largely upon his strategical science in the adoption of some other method or possibly he may be super in consequence of this great reverse at the of his career. Other verbal accounts of the battle on Monday represent that the scene at the river, when the enemy attempted to recross, was fearful. The rattle of musketry, and the crack of the Mississippi rifle, mingled with shrinks of drowning men, and the panic was scarcely less wide spread than that of of July, just three months before.--The Federal prisoners, numbering 523, were under guard on the battle field of Manassas yesterday morning.
The Daily Dispatch: October 24, 1861. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. October 24, 1861. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
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