The fight near the White Sulphur.
The Lynchburg
Republican contains a letter from
Lewisburg, Va., giving some additional particulars of the fight at the
White Sulphur Springs.
As stated yesterday, the enemy escaped to
Beverly, in Randolph county, by the road which intersects the
Warm Springs road on
Morris Hill, in Alleghany county.
We captured three pieces of artillery and, it is said, 300 prisoners. The fight near the
White Sulphur is thus described:
The enemy, about 3,000 strong, commanded by
Gen. Averill, started from
Moorefield, in Hardy county, came through
Pendleton,
Highland, and
Pocahontas counties, in which latter county they met and drove back beyond the
Warm Springs, in
Bath county,
Col. Wm. L. Jackson, who had but a small force.
From the
Warm Springs they came directly to the
White Sulphur Springs, in this county, at which point they were met by our troops, consisting of the 22d Va. regiment,
Lieut.-Col. Barbee; the 45th Va. regiment,
Col. Brown;
Derick's battalion,
Lieut.-Col. Derick;
Edgar's battalion,
Lieut.-Col. Edgar;
Chapman's battery, (four pieces,)
Capt. Chapman; the 8th Va. cavalry,
Col. Corn; and
Dunn's battalion of cavalry,
Lieut.-Col. Dunn.
Col. Patton, of the 22d, commanding the brigade, in the absence of
Gen. Echols, and the whole commanded by
Maj.-Gen. Jones.
There were five regiments of the enemy, all mounted, and a battery of six pieces.
I suppose the forces were nearly equal, possibly the enemy were 300 or 400 the stronger.
A number of charges were made upon our troops, and each was handsomely repulsed.
All concede that our men exhibited the greatest bravery and endurance, for the fight commenced about 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning, the 26th inst., continued through the day and night, and ended about 12 o'clock on Thursday.
Our loss was about 30 killed, 60 to 70 wounded, and a few prisoners taken, among them
Major-
McKendree, Q. M.
Lt.-Col. Barbee had his arm broken, though it will be saved.
I cannot give accurately the loss of the enemy, as they buried many of their dead, and took off all of the wounded who could be removed.
They had seven to ten ambulances and a number of wagons full on their retreat, but they left upon the battle-field about 50 dead, 70 severely wounded, and we took besides about 60 prisoners.
The enemy treated our citizens in the neighborhood of the battle-field in the most wanton and devilish manner.
They destroyed utterly every article of
household furniture, broke up into small pieces chairs, cups, plates, dishes, bedsteads, bureaus, &c., tore open the beds and scattered the feathers in the yard, tore up all the bed-clothes, &c.,
wearing apparel, broke the glass out of the windows, and destroyed the clocks even.
In a word, not an article of any description was left.
The
milch cows were shot, and all the corn, wheat,
hay, oats, &c., were taken.
They retreated towards
Beverly, and are a part of
Gen. Kelly's forces.
Gen. Jones followed them some 20 or 25 miles, but they made good their escape.
The 22d Virginia regiment,
Lieut.-Col. Barbee, lost nine killed and sixty wounded. --Among the wounded was
Lieut.-Col. Barbee, who was shot through the arm. The wound is not sufficiently severe to cause amputation.