Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-04-28

1. place about twelve miles,. and occupy a
strong position between two spurs Of a
mountain a narrow valley between
Them, wH6Ie at one spoint the road is so
narrow as ospermit the passage Of only
j. one wagon AZ al time, with deep gullies
running up 90 The mountains, washed by
the rains so as TO prevent horses or carri-
. ages from passing them without great dif-
ficnlty. SAID spositiol had been closely
! Examined by The typographical engineers
,nder tho eyesof. Gen. Wool before my ar
rival, .whosdeem ed it admirably adapted
Ilo resist IfaFge with a small folce, as well
as adapted dfdthe description of force which
composeiI our army. We therefore: fell
back and occupied it on The evening oflhe
q 2lst, aud afonce made the necessary pre-
paratio1s giying battle.
| Tie ne xflayt The enefny made his ap-
pearance eafly in. the day, aud, after re-
connoiteripg0uf position some iime,T al 2
lo'clock, +, N. Ireceived, by staff officer
with a flag, Communication from Gen.
Santa Anna, requiring me to surrender at
discretion, stating that in the event Of my
doing so we should 5e we'll treated; lha,
he had sufrounde me with more than 90
0005men; Tint tresislance was out of the
lquestion-:and if Il attempted il, my COM
mand would dbe put 10 rout and must be
destroyed In reply, stated I could not
comply lywith his demand, and he was al
liberty TO commence operations whenever
he was inclined 10 do so. Soon after this,
the action was commenced with his skr-
mishers on onr. left, which was promptly
met by ours. and continued without inler-
mission ont.tfIe side of the mountain until
dark.
4, In the riiorIius at sunrise he renewed
the contest with an overwhelming force
with artillery, infantry and dfagoons-
which last,dWith very slight intermissions
until dark: q portion Of the time the con-
lest was much the seversst | Ihaye ever
witnessed sparticularry towards the latter
parl. Of The day, when be (Santa Anna}
hronghtupllis reserve, and in spite of ev-
cry effort on our; part, after The greatest
exerlions have ever witnessed on both
sidesr droygssus by an immense superiority
of numbers for some distance. He had al
,|.least Eve iilione atshat poin, against us.---
l Fortunately, al The most critical moment,
Two pieces artillery which had ordered
! Inp to the support; Of our line met our OK;
hansted men re,roatins when they were
Ibroag ghtsirtos sbatlery and opened upon The
leneny Biz : yIlrds ia has5 5gaI: y:
li;him 10 a hall and soon compelled him to
4 fall back. An this; tremendous contest we
lost three spiecesoi' artillery, nearly all The
men and horses having lpeen killed or Grip.
4 pied, which putsit out OF our power to
bring them of, nor did i deem it adyisea-
| Bile 10 attempt tosregain them. -. g,s,
! The enemy made his principle efforts
against our fanks. He was handsomely
repulsed in everysaltempton on outright, but
succeeded early in the day in gaining our
left 10 consequence of'the giving way OF
one of the volunteer regiments which could
DOT be rallied with but fGw exceptions, the
greater portion retiring about mile to a
large rancho or farm house, where our
wagons and portion al our stores were
left. These were soon after attacked by
the enemy's cavalry, who were repulsed
with some loss.
For several hours the fate Of the day
was extremely doubtful; SO much so that
was urged by some Of the most experience
led officers to fall back and lake up a new
position. This knew it would never do
to attempt with volunteers aud at once
declined it. The scene had now become
one of the deepasl.interesr. Between the
several deep ravines there were portions
oflevel land from one TO four hundred yards
in extent, which became alternately points
OF attack and defence; after our left was
turned, by both sides. These extended
along and near the base of the mountain
for about two miles, aud The struggle for
them may be yeryappropriately compared
to game Of chess. Night put stop to
the contest, and strange 10 say, both ar.
mics occupied the same positions they did
in The morning before the battle commenc-
ed. Our artillery did more than wonders.
4 We. lay on our arms all night, as we had
: done The. TWO previous ones, Eithou. fires,
,here being norwood 10 be had. and The
mercury below the freezing point, ready
aud expecting to renew the contest the
, next morning : but we: found at daylight
Z the enemy had retfealed during the night,
leaving his killed aud MANY Of his wound,
ed for us 10 bury aud take care ot-carry-
ing of every thing else, and taking up a
position al this place. We did moi think
4 it advisable 10 pulsue, no1 knowing whe,h.
er he would renew The attack, continue
!. his relreal, or wished to draw Us from our
strong position; but .eonienred ourselves
4 With watching his movements closely.
!. Finding, ON the 26th, he had renewed bis
retreat, early in lhe morning Of the 9Th
4 the army wasputsin molten for this place,
!, where we arrived about 3so'clock, P. NJ.
!, their rear guard, consulting Of cavalry,
4 leaving as our adyancvs gut in sight. l at
once determined on harrassing his rear; ;
but on examining the slate eof the men and
horses, / found that Eve lays aud nights
: marching, essantRatchtng, and sixteen
4 hours; hard fighting. had SO exhausted the
! first aud broken doWn.lhe latter, it was