American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-11-23
Correspondence OK the Citizen.
GEx. EVANS BKfeADE-
CAMP NEAR CARTxRs AILLs.
: November, feGI.

The 2Ist Of October recorded q victory of
the most brilliant character This Is the
third conflict which, during the present cam
pafgn. has taken place near the Potomac.
and, in point of Importance and interest, fa-
vorabiy compares with both Of its predeces-
sors--in falsA, for the number of troops en-
gagged and the time the battle lasted, il far
surpassed The battle Of & Manassas Plains. =
In this glorious victory which our arms have
Just achieved the FederaIists have received a
stern admonifion of the disasters awaiting
them whenever they attempt to cross the Po-
tomac. while ait the same time God has fa-
vored us with an additional evidence Of His
approval a few more defeats snch as those
the Yankees thus far have experienced, and
peace shall be restored, thus acknowledging
the inrincibility of Southern arms.
orr Brigade. consisting of the 18th, It'll
and 18th Mississippi Regiments together
with the sti Virginia Regiment, under the
command of Gen. Evans for upwards of two
months has been eneamred in the vicinity of
Leesburg, within two and a half miles Of the
enemy's pickets. From position their
camps could plainly be discerned, the beating
+ of the drums distinctly heard, while the hos
tile cannonade often sounded upon the ear.
I Opposite us, on the Maryland side, six
/ miles from the Potomac, Gen. Stone held his
Federal command Although thus near the
enemy, nothing occurred to interrupt the
monotony of camp-life, unless il was tho mo-
mentary excitement accustomed by the arrival
I of a Yankee deserter or prisoner, until the
/ nth of October, when, having heard that
the enemy were trying to cut US off, we began
+ to retreat towards Manassas Junction but
when, six miles from Leesburg, understands
ling that the reports of the enemy's move
ments were untrue, we discontinued our
march, pitching our tents in the same loeali-
! ty which we now occupy. Here. at Carter's
Mills, We remained until the morning of the
10th, when, striking our tents, We returned
to our old position at Leeshnrg.
Having pitched our tents, arranged our eff
fects, and brought supplies of wood and wa
ter, we welcomed the arrival of night by re-
firing to rest beneath the flowing canvas,
after RECALLING ourselves with beefsteak and
bread.
But scarcely had delightful sleep locked
our senses, when the alarm aroused the en-
compliment. Soon our tents we're struck and
in the wagons, knapsacks packed, canteens
filed, and the gun, with its Announcements,
in readiness. AT about dasbreak, the ex-
pected order to g fall in, having gone forth,
our forces soon presented a martial array,
when Gen. Evans and staff rode up to the
front. Brief and to the point was the Gem
erals speech MississippiansiH said be,
- the enemy approaching us OF the turn
pike road from Dranesville-a column 1000
strong, with Is pieces of artillery they are
fast nearing us. The hour of battle draws
near. Uhip The enemy aaust--assd achip them
re shat. Soldiers remember for what you
are contending-you wives, your homes,
your children, and ell that you hold most
dear. Aim lom, IRE at The knee, and then you
sppians, l with you 10 the last extremi-
ty-with you to share your triumph or with
you to share your misfortune
This speech awakened responsive cheers
from soldiery Immediately succeeding
which, having supplied ourselves with cart
ridges and caps. the 18th Mississippi Regi-
ment started in rapid pursuit of the enemy,
advancing towards Dranesville. The three
other regiments in our brigade we dispatched
in different directions, so that the principal
roads leading from Leesburg might be guard
ed, lest the Yankees, dividing their forces,
should simultaneously march upon Leesburg
from different points. After advancing with
in eight miles of Dranesyilie, our couriers
brought the unexpected intelligence that the
enemy were retreating. Reversing our march,
we entered the woods By the roadside, con-
cealing ourselves until the whereabouts of
the enemy was certainly ascertained. While
here a Yankee courier. tie bearer of dis
patches, was taken by orr pickets. After
tarrying here awhile we retraced our steps a
short distance. recrossing the bridge at the
mouth of Goose Greek, where it empties into
the Potomac. Hating IN the woods near a
refreshing stream, we proceeded TO consult
our appetites, being furnished bread and meat
by the Commissary. The bread we cat like
hungry children, while the beef proved none
the less acceptable from want of salt and
proper preparation.
Having appeased cruel hunger by this the
first meal of the day, on the ground we ex-
tended our bodies, trying to mitigate those
pains of the body peculiar to a heavy march
and an absence of sleep. Here we remained
until the sun had nearly accomplished his
diurnal descent, when the laundering of the
enemy's cannon, the whizzing Of the bomb
and the falling of its shattered fragments,
told Us, in language TOO plain to be mis- taken,
that our camp-frcs had informed the enemy
as to our position.
The enemy's battery was planted one mile
from Us, on the Maryland side. Advancing
half mile beyond the range of the enemy
cannon. we halted for time, awaiting or
ders. While here the enemy could be beard
crossing over to HarrIson's Island This
island, until the secession of Virginia, was
considered the property of Maryland Ii is
now IN litigation It's distance from the
Maryland banks IS Loo yards, whereas it is
only loo yards from The Virginia side.
Having detailed our pickefs, we went and
biyoaacked in the adjoining woods for the
n;uhf Then II was ff,a pxo !, = i - =