A participant in the expedition of
Gen. Rosser into
Hardy county, Va., on the 30th ult., furnishes the Rockingham
Register with the particulars of the engagement by which the heavy captures were made.
He says:
‘
On reaching the top of the mountain we came in contact with the enemy's pickets, about two hundred infantry.
They, however, retired from this position with but little resistance.
The mail here for miles was blockaded most securely, but the timber and obstructions soon gave way before our energetic and persevering pioneers; but while these obstructions were being removed.
Gen. Rosser dismounted
Capt. Sipels squadron, of the 12th Virginia cavalry, and continued the pursuit, followed by the mounted portion of the command.
The
Yankees, on reaching the second mountain, made another stand, where they were charged by the 12th, but as the enemy occupied the woods and heights, the charge was not successful.
In this charge we had one man killed and several wounded.
Among the wounded was
Major Buck, Brigade Postmaster.
Capt. Sipe was then ordered to the front with his sharpshooters, the enemy giving back.
Thus we continued the pursuit around and over the obstructions until we reached the
Patterson's creek and
Petersburg grade.
Just at this point
Lieut. Baylor, who had been sent around on the flank, charged the enemy, but was repulsed with the loss of one man killed.
Here we were halted by the
General — who had come through with the sharpshooters on foot until the blockade could be removed so that the cavalry and artillery could come up, which they were not long in doing When the whole command came up all the sharp shooters in the brigade were then dismounted and moved forward down the grade towards
Williams port, and after marching two or three miles we came upon the enemy, numbering 1,000 infantry, who were drawn up in line of battle in rear of an immense wagon train, numbering one hundred and seven.
The dismounted sharpshooters were drawn up in battle order in front of the enemy's line, and the artillery put in position, and opened upon them at short range, the shots of which were received with cheers and laughter, it not being effective.
’
The column of about three hundred sharpshooters, under the command of
Major Knott, was moved forward amid a tremendous volley of musketry; but, fearless and undaunted, they moved on, dealing death and destruction to their toes, and soon they had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy's lines give way, and a moment later they were fleeing promiscuously, in every direction.
The battle was fought, the victory won, and the train was captured.
It was a rich prize — nearly one hundred wagons, well loaded with corn, oats, bacon, rice, flour, beans, sugar, coffee, molasses, pickled pork, clothing, blankets; and others were loaded with luxuries, such as candy, raisins, cigars, tobacco, oysters, sardines, cakes, crackers, brandy peaches, cherries, and, in short, everything nice and good.
After the fight was over
Gen. Rosser complimented the sharpshooters, and said all the honor of the victory belonged to them; and also stated that he had participated in all the battles in which the Army of Northern Virginia was engaged, save one or two, when he was absent wounded, and that he had never seen anything to equal this engagement--three hundred cavalry sharpshooters contending with and completely routing 1,000 well drilled infantry.
Fifty-three of these wagons, with their contents, were soon turned around and on their way to Dixie.
Forty more were committed to the flames.
