The fight on the Peninsula.
The Petersburg
Express, of yesterday, has the following account of the recent fight on the
Peninsula:
We saw gentlemen last evening who had conversed with some two or three officers attached to the 15th North Carolina regiment, and who were in the fight on Wednesday.
From them we get a few additional particulars.
It is stated by one, that the 15th North Caroline had been in line of battle for three or four hours during the day, momently expecting an attack, but the enemy not appearing, they were ordered to stack arms, and prepare for dinner.
While enjoying their repast, a couple of Yankee companies waded
Warwick river, a very narrow stream, which was believed to be unfordable, and thus eluding our pickets, came suddenly upon the camp.
The long roll was sounded immediately, and the men rushed to their arms, driving the enemy back into the creek, killing all of both companies except eight, who surrendered and were taken prisoners.
It is stated that it was during this charge
Col. McKinney was killed, the bullet striking him at the top of the forehead and passing through his head.
He died instantly.
Another statement represents that the regiment was drawn up in line of battle, and the
Colonel, discovering that one wing of his regiment appeared to falter, rushed in that direction, with his cap off, and waved to his men to follow him. This singled him out as a prominent mark for the enemy's sharp shooters, and he fell mortally wounded.
The enemy, hearing the firing, appeared in large numbers on the opposite bank of the river, and the fighting then became general, the Fifteenth North Carolina, the Sixteenth Georgia and the Second Louisiana being actively engaged.
The fight lasted from three P. M., until seven, and not from eight A. M. until seven P. M., as stated in our telegraphic dispatch.
Gen. Howell Cobb commanded, and it is stated that the troops under his command were handled with consummate skill.
One report says that the enemy must have had an entire brigade engaged, and that the river and the hill beyond were literally covered with the dead and wounded.
We took several prisoners, who made various statements as to their numbers, etc., but we could not hear what they were.
Further particulars
We understand that the Fifteenth North Carolina bore the brunt of the fight some half-hour or more before the
Louisiana and
Georgia regiments came to their aid. They had been in the rifle pits for two days, hourly expecting a fight, with but little food, and no opportunities for sleep, and had retired for dinner but a half hour before the enemy made his appearance.
When attacked, they fought with great gallantry, and suffered considerably, as the following list of casualties will show: Eleven killed; 34 wounded, and 31 missing. Of the wounded, two had died yesterday, before our informant left, and some twenty others, it is thought, will die. We were unable to learn the names of any of the killed, wounded or missing.
