A Skirmish at Tallow Knob.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.] Huntsville, Dec. 31, 1861.
About 4 o'clock on the morning of the 29th inst., intelligence was brought to Captain Alexander, (or the Marshall Rangers.) commanding the post at Huntersville, that a small party of Yankees, led by a or named Jacob Gibson, had come to the widow Gibson's house on the Old Field fork of Elk river, and where they were prepared to have spree for a day or two.
The Caption sent immediately to a companies from the Northwest for a detachment to go out and, if possible ing The Yankee As soon as our boys heard the under Sergeant Wilson, volunteered from company F. Thirty-first Virginia Regiment, and eleven from company C.
Hansborough battalion, under command, of Lieutenant J. McCloughlin, took command of the party from the former camp, tendered their services for the expedition.
Having prepared their rations, and being with the prospects of continuing the fiendish invaders; the through a pathless and forest for the scene of action, about twenty miles distant from Huntersville.
Late in the evening our boys found that they cou each lace in time to surprise the enemy that night, so they resolved to fall in upon the road which leads to Big Spring, and attack the Yankees on the march if they were retreating, or cut off their retreat and attack them from the rear.
But, on reaching the road it seemed as if the Yankees had just passed, so the in front beckoned to those in rear to keep silent and off they started at a treble quick time and continued the chase for nearly two miles, when they came up with the enemy on Tallow Knob.
Our advance first discovered three who were getting water at a little spring just by the path; here our boys came to a halt and saluted their Yankee friends with a volley from their muskets.
At this the enemy sprang into the brush, and concealing themselves behind the trees began to return the fire pretty briskly, but without effect.
By this time more of the boys coming up they gave some of them another fire, at which time tell a tory, named McMires, pierced by a half dozen bullets.
The Yankees, curing Jeff's greyhounds with most bitter execrations, kept up the firing about twenty minutes, at which time nearly all of the little detachment came up, and with a tremendous shout began to open on them pretty heavy.
At this the Yankees fled precipitately, having one man killed and three or four wounded. Our boys captured one gun, an old fashioned home rifle; a large cheese, some butter, apple butter, honey, biscuits, and pork; besides knapsacks, haversacks, caps, knives, razors and hammers, &c., which these Yankee villains are accustomed to ‘"capture"’ when they visit houses of the citizens.
After our boys feasted on the captive cheese and other luxuries they returned to cam good spirits, being considerably elated with their victory.
The enemy numbered twelve Yankees and three negroes, all well equipped with Minnie muskets and braces of Colt's navy repeaters.
Not a man in our gallant little band, was touched.
A Soldier. 