Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-06
How One Wan chased a Thousand
From tls Richmond Enquissr, July >.

From ths Richmond EnqHirsr, July ?.
The following extract from a letter written BY
Capt WIZ. H. WERTH to FREUD in this city, gives a
graphic accoun. of his daring onslaught on the sr,
envy near Newport News some weeks since; and as
/ it is the first authorized version of remarkable
incident of the war, which has been variousIy re-
! ported, we give the statement in full in Captain
! WERrH's own words deeming it well worth place
| in our columns
81 left our encampment at Bethel in command of
! 20 dragons, selected from the Hampton Dragons
/ Capt. PhiliPs-himself making of the party
Ny object a close reconnaissance Of the enemy
/ position at Newport News.
/ Having reached point about 81 miles from this
post observed, with the aid OF my glass, eight
clustered together the shore above the enemy 5
works, and in q moment afterwards saw them in
! full run towards their encampment At the time
| of making this observation l was accompanied by
Captain Philips and three privates the remainder
of the detachment being in the rear. 1t being in
dispensable to the attainment Of my object that
this picket should be Intercepted in order to pre-
vent alarm at the post, we dashed down the road,
(running parallel with the river ard leading
TO NeWpOTt NeWs) for some three miles in
pursuit, when l detached Captain Philips and
his three men to the right to cut of their
retreat while pressed still further tOW%rd the
fertilization 10 make sure of intercepting them if
they escaped Capt p. When within about three
I
ed towards the river found myself within so yards
of party of the enemy, engaged in cutting wood,
their musSets stacked around pine tree. Not haY-
ing been observed By them, drew up under cover
Of thicket and found the party 70 consist Of TWEEN
ty-seven privates. one commissioned officer and one
non-commissiOned officer.
just then the picket guard, which Captain
PhiliIs party had failed to cut G rushed into the
camp of a Massachusetts, regiment eneampsd out
side of the works and not more than $50 wards from
lxuha vra= and lp1 he ala ~
whatever had 10 do must be done quickly so
drew my revolver gave a real Camanche war " hoop
and dashed into the party of twenty-nne all told.
Ny first shot was at the officer in command. who
fell dead my second at private, with the re-
suit my third missed ats aim, in consequence Of my
horse becoming very FESTIVE under the shouting and
firing, and l killed mule-perhaps the most re-
spectacle individual Of the whole p Irty.
my shout being answered by Capt. Philips and
his party the enemy conceived themselves attacked
by formidable force aud yelling, look out look
out! these Virginia hOrsemen are upon us ~ they
rushed in conformation towards their encamp
m mt, rot stopping even to seize their arms.
THE Massachusetts, regiment started two compa-
MES down to protect their party, but upon meeting
them flying IN all directions, and hearing the firing
and shouting, caughtthe panic, and raising the cry
Of 'Yirginia HOrsemeB! Virginia Horsemenn' took
the double quick also for camp. IN less than two
minutes after my shout and firing, my whole de-
tachment came up at the top of their speed when
we swept up tn acelivity On the left flank Of the
Massachusetts, regiment gave three cheers, within
$50 yards of a battery Of two twelve pound
pieces and retired at walk until we reached the
woods.
at seems. from the report OF a prisoner taken at
the battle Of Bethel, that StGRDsdsd DE trLOle
regimeHi; they all took refuge from "the Virginia
Horsemen" within tue FORTH cations as fast as their
legs could carry them. We suspected as much at
the time.
This is a correct statement Of an incident that
has been 90 variOusly stated in the papers. Alto
gether it vas the richest scene ! ever witnessed.
and to hear the Hessians screaming, Virginia
HOrsemen! look out look ou..' t1iiL oHy one man
Gf'er them, was worth a whole week Of ones life.
"Capt Phillips and his meu proved themselves on
this occasion TO be Of the very best material for ary
emergency