Squatter sovereign., 1856-09-16
THE ATTAcK OF SUNDAY.


four-pounder, which they placed on hill
lust cut of the range OF CUR pariy's guns
A nd here perhaps it would be as well 10
describe the position OF our men. They
were stationed in three houses-the black
smith shop. hotel and store, the two for
mer being about n quarter OF mile apart
Lieut. Randolph with fifteen, men were sta
toned in the Blacksmith shop. an open log
building. and Capt. Robertson with the
remainder of the company held the hotel,
while Capt. loves men occupied the
store.
The cannon was directed against the
blacksmith shop, and consequently the
hottest of the Gght was in that quarter
The first fire was the only one that was
productive OF material injury. 1t struck
| musket in the hands of Mr.. Peace.
wounding him in the calf of the leg. and
breaking the gun in two. the butt striking
Mr.. John Ashby in the breast, laying
him level with the earth. After this shot.
the men watched the cannon, and when-
ever it was about to be fired they would
lay fiat on the ground. In this position
they sustained the fire for five hours and
half without any one receiving any lnlu-
ry of consequence. They would shoot at
the enemy between the fires of the can
non, and whenever one came within gun
shot he was sure to feel the effects OF
ball. The cannon balls danced over the
heads OF our men, cutting up all manner Of
capers. Mr.. Westbrook and another per-
son had the skin scraped off their backs
| by balls as they passed over them, and nu-
merous slight wounds were lhiiicted by
splinters and fragments Of rock from the
forge.
/ Finding they could accomplish nothing
with their cannon, the abolitionists at
tempted their favorite game of wheeling
up a load Of hay. which they succeeded IN
pulling within seventy-five yards OF the
shop, but by this time our men commenced
tickling their legs so sharply that they
were glad to dance retreat, with a ball
| in the calf of one mans leg and one in the
thigh of another. This failing, they short
/ ly after sent in white flag.
At the hotel the most unfortunate acci-
dents occurred 1t was here that Cap. Rob-
er,son was shot through the thigh, and
t Charles G. Newhall fell mor,ally wounded
though both men were shot while outside
of the house. The cannon was also dis.
1 charged against the house for a short time
: and warm fire was continually kept np bJ
= its occupants during the entire action.
! Viewing all the surrounding circum
: stances connec-ed with this action, II Is one
= Of the most brilliant affairs that has eyel
e been recorded. The vast superiority o
+ the enemy in both auulbers and weapons
# which enabled them TO fight al distance
that made our guns comparatively OF little
e service-the iitle damage they inflicted
# and the havoc made by Capt RS men
: speak in trumpet tones the gallant deco
n of this small and undiscipIined, but brav'
n and unflnching band of heroes. Hs'
v our men been armed with Sharp's OF Min
a ME rifles, the contest had been ended II
10 less than half the time. As it was, IN th'
J. different engagements. they killed twelv
Of or fifteen and wounded az many more
is while the loss Of Capt. RS party was onl
,e one mortalIy wounded, and two others Sc
,e verely but not seriously. So hotly wer
!y the abolitionists engaged that from de
i. manding an unconditional surrender
is they were glad to come to any terms Cap
Ill Robertson might see fit to propose. Thl
,k is proof sufficient that Col. Harvey ha
net with men that were made of materis
,r he could not conquer. What hun;Iis
ton. A Colonel in command of.wo hur
rs dred and fifty men offering to come to an
!, terms that Captain with forty men inigl
- see fit to dictate. Verify, Brother Beec:
q. er canst preach an eloquent sermon upo
of the cowardice of his disciples. for he hat
,o exceeding much room to go upon.
is Respecting this same Col. Harve,
b. from all accounts he wears the semblanc
. Of gentleman, but is smooth-tongue
ch william. Alter sending in a white fla
lat while negotiations were pending, his troo
lly were gradually closing in upon our pos
m. tion, and continued to do SO until broug
he to stand by the determined action of o
- men. Had they gotten as close as th'
desired, the finale might have been difis
~. en,. As ii was. it was piece OF blac
r.- hearted ireachery that no man with t
-. first attribute of a gentleman would ha
m. teen guilty Of.
ICE We might speak with proPriesy of t
ces inserpidily and eoolness of individual me-
an hers of Capt. Robertson's company.
i'm premise that true yalor is modest a
ain therefore eschews not oriefey. We do,