Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-02
VIRGINIA CORRESPONDENTS.

the 1SM-Ihe Greai Battlc-Tte Killed and
Wonnded-7He Captured d, and Muni-
tions-Our Woundcd.
VIRGINIA University, July 2i.
Mr. EDITOR: On Wednesday last the FEEDER
al forces made their appear ance in sight of
Fairfax Village, upon which information Gen.
Bonham made hasty preparations to give them
warmrcception, though as soon the rifle
companies of the I'd Regiment had reached the
position they were TO occupy as skirmishers,
was asoertained that tho enemy were at-
tempting to flank and cut of the Regiments at
the Village, the order Of retreat was given
which was reluctantly obeyed by 4, Regiments
of Cnrolinians. Fl seems that the enemy were
marching upon Fairfax in four or five columns
of ten or fifteen thousand troops in each, and
tho arduous task OF covering a retreat from
this overwhelming force devolved upon the I'd
Regiment The retreat was conducted in an
orderly, military aud mastery manner, with
only one or two missing and one to die e., route
Though many weary limbs had given woy TO
the hot and fatiguing double quick march, and
on reaching Centreville our company mustered
only forty.hve men among the absent wss
your correspondent who completely exhausted
had been taken mp behind our gallant and kind
Commssary. Vellipigue. AT Centrevle our
forces halted until midnight when they again
took up the line Of march for Bull Run. on
reaching which place our boys quickly repair.
ed TO the entrenohments which had cost thom
ssch hard labor few weeks previous.
About o'clock Thursday morning 1t was
ascertained that the enemy werc approach ing,
our company and the Palmetto Guards were
sent ont about one mile with Capt Kemper's
battery to give our foe the breakfast woleomc
at Bull Run, and here our boys were first
ftaught'to o quickly embrace the earth on the
sound Of she'll or cannon bail. Their balls
passed hnrmlessly by while dozen we'll direct
ed volleys from Capt. Kemper's battery moved
down their columns like many pond weeds
and caused them to change their plan of at
tack. The cannonading was soon stopped at
this point and about IA o'clock an exchange of
.musket shots began about mile below3our po.
sition accompanied by heavy oannonading,
which was vigorously and actively continued
for four consecutive hours after which the en-
emy were put to fight with much loss Of life
and with three pieces of artillery left upon the
field. Our loss was small, about six killed and
forty odd wounded, while that of the enemy
is variously estimated at from FIVE hundred to
three thousand in killed and wounded The
troops engaged in this battle were about three
thousand on our part, the Washington A.tille-
ry, and Gen. Longstree,s Brigade, the enemy
| are supposed to havo had about ten thousand
| in the engagement. Thus ended the ii rst bat
tie at Bull Run with victory pcrched upon the
Southern standard.
About dusk on the same evening it being
believed that the enemy would not make an
attack at the direct ford our Regiment was or
dered to weak point on the creek towards
the left wing, where we remained upon arms
during the following day. On Friday night
an attack was momentarily expected and our
men still retained their position in rank, while
our company was ordered to the defence of
Kemper's battery, but tile night passed in quiz
etude save the interchange Of few picket
guard shot; Saturday and night glided by in
the same state Of peace and quictudc, but the
harmony WAS broken Sunday morning by At
heavy fire Of artillery on the center of our for
ces and on the extreme left wing. Our COM
pany was again sent out mile and half to
ascertain in what direction the enemy werc
moving, but our mission was too lnte, the great
body of their troops had been removed to the
extreme left the night previous and the can
nonading in the centre was only to deceive us
as to;the point of attack. While on the scout
we were greeted with goodly quantity of
shell. balls and grape, though they passed
1ovr IL, haoI ~, %o
our camp We found that our Regiment had
been hastily despatched to the scene of battle
ssnd in haste we followed after them, though
we were unable to find our Regiment, not
knowing their position on the battle ground,
so we attached ourselves to Louisiana Regi-
mcnt and went into the scene Of action as tho
enemy only rallied twice after our arrival
While going to our position in battle three
hundred yards we were warmly peppered with
Minnie musket balls, woundihg Mr.. Harrison
of our company and killing several of the Reg
iment to which We were attached On ap-
preaching near the enemy and preparing to
charge bayonets few volleys from one pf bat
teries dispersed them to rally no more. After
the flight of the enemy We were dispatched
back by our Captain to look after Mr.. Harri-
son whom we found severely wounded in
forearm and knee. Our troops pursued the
enemy for miles, slaughtering aud capturing
them, and we understand that the Secession
Guards took respectable number of prisoners.
The battle was terrific and strongly contested
during the whole day. though the entire and.
complete route of the enemy somewhat alles:
viates the cost of so MANY gallant sons The
enemy attacked the wing Of Gen. johnson who
had just completed his brilliant movement
from Winchester to Manassas and for seven
5)seu,s his wearied soldiers gallantly struggled
With the heavy columns of the enemy when
Gen. Beauregatd came 10 his relief and after
few hours of hard struggling gained a signal
and brilliant victory.
The heavy odds against whom Johnson had
been contending were soon scattered and cha
sed by tho gallant and daring hero OF Sumter.
wAe said dash before the thiofest and hot