The battle of Alleghany mountain.
We received last evening, through the kindness of gentlemen from
Western Virginia, some further incidents of the battle fought on Friday last on the
Alleghany mountain.
The report which reached the city on Sunday that the forces of
Col. Johnson were surprised by the enemy is, we are assured, entirely erroneous.
The action, in fact, commenced on Thursday evening between the pickets; and this contradicts the statement previously made that the enemy approached from the rear and front, turning both our flanks.
As near as we can ascertain, the
Federals, who were doubtless guided by Union men of the vicinity, came upon
Col. Johnson's camp, soon after daylight, from the north, their strength being four regiments of about 1,000 men each.
They attacked our forces, consisting of three regiments of an average of 400 each.
two battalions numbering together 200 men, and two batteries of four guns each.
The fight continued until 2 o'clock P. M., when the enemy retreated.
One great advantage that the
Federals possessed was a position behind some felled timber at a convenient distance from our camp, where they were well protected from our fire, and had a good opportunity of picking off our men whenever they showed themselves.
They were, however.
finally shelled not by our batteries, and forced to make a rapid retreat.
They carried most of their wounded down the mountain to the ambulances, though some were left on the field.
Captain Anderson, of the Lee Battery, was shot dead from his house at an early period of the fight.
A letter to
Judge Camden mentions the death of an officer of the Twelfth Georgia Regiment but gives no name.
We also hear that
Lieutenant Reagan was killed: but there are contradictory statements relative to the death of
Lieut. Lewis Thompson.
The
North western boys behaved most gallantly, and deserve much praise for their heroic conduct.
They advanced and attacked the enemy three separate times, and, being thus exposed, suffered more heavily than any other troops.
Only two companies of the Fifty second Virginia Regiment (
Colonel Baldwinis) were engaged in the fight--
Captain Skinner's and
Captain Lilley's. Several were wounded in these companies, but only one was killed.
Our informants state that
Col. Johnson ‘"covered himself with glory, and is entitled on the appellation of the
Hero of the
Alleghany"’ At an early period of the battle, when our then partially fell back under a fierce charge,
Col. Johnson placed himself at their head, and seizing a stout bludgeon, waved it in the air, shouting words of encouragement and bidding defiance to the enemy.
The men were fired with enthusiasm, and
Johnson led them on to the charge in person, sweeping the
Yankees before him like chaff.
It is represented to have been a moment of terrible excitement; but the troops and their brave commander proved equal to the emergency.
A young man from the camp says that many a true soldier shed tears over the death of the brave
Anderson, but all joined in the shout of joy on witnessing the heroism of
Johnson.
When we take into consideration the numerical weakness of our force, and the strength and advantageous position of the enemy, we cannot but regard it as one of the most desperate conflicts of the war. That the
Federals suffered heavily there is no doubt; yet their mendacious newspapers will pursue their usual course of misrepresentation, and announce it as a grand "Union" triumph.
Yet they will scarcely have the hardihood to venture another attack upon
Col. Johnson and his command.
