The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-06-19
The Fight at Phillippi
CORRECT AND RELIABLE DETAILS.

Col. }. w. SPALDING, of this city, who
was par,icipator in the recent fight at
Philhppi, gives us the following particu-
lars Of tina, affair. Gu, forces were pos.
ted in the town Of Phi'Iippi, and num-
bered in all about 700 effective fighting
men.
The commanding officer, Col. PORTER
FIELD, having been informed on Sunday,
10y courageous lady, who rode from
Paramount, ia Marion county, through
the lines uf the enemy at Grafton, and
thence to PhilliPpi, a distance of &c
miles, that it was the purpose of the
enemy TO attack us, and knowing his su.
perior force, determined upon retiring to
Beverley, which is distant 80 miles. Not
having at hand the proper mode OF con-
veyauce, horses and wagons were i'm,
pressed, with the view of leaving at mid
night.
1t is stated that an order was issued
for the pickets, outposts aud scouts to be
in at IL O'Clock On Sunday night, and
this order was obeyed. The baggage Of
the respective companies was placed
upon the wagons, but for some reason
best known TO the commanding officer,
the horses were not attached, and they
were left standing in the street.
1t was in this position of affairs that
on the morning of Mondav, abou; day
Aght, the enemy opened fire upon us
from Two gun battery of 6 Founders,
posted upon crowned point upon the
opposite shore Of the Tygarls' Valley
River, which successfully commanded the
camps Of the ChurchviI!e Cavalry, Of Au.
gusls, and the Cavalry Of RockLrilge,
numbering altogether abou. $50 men,
who were situated on the opposite side OF
the river.
The horses Of these corps being umac.
customed TO the fire of artillery broke
from the picket ropes, by which they
were tied TO the fence, and stampeded in
the widest confusion, dashing in among
the half formed Infantry and filling the
streets,
|, was some time before the confusion
produced by both the fire and stampede
was overcome. Mean~ hle the enemy
upon the opposite side Of the river en-
deavored to force the passage of the
bridge with one piece OF artillery. which
he had held in reserve /; but in this
movement he WAS checked by bold
charge Of Capt. Richards, of the Bath
Cavalry, who Was stationed on the oppo.
site side OF the road. A running fire then
ensued, which continued up the main
street OF the town, the enemy having
finally succeeded III crossing the bridge,
and the successive discharges from the
troops brought him to a stand dur,rg
every few rods Of his progress.
On reaching the curve Of the road
leading towards Beverly, the foot troops
having been formed by their respective
officers, the main engagement took place
and Terminated in the tical fight at
Sums house, "A mile and half from the
village. Here the enemy received a
check, gave up the chase, aud Col. Port
er6eiL made good his retreat to the vii.
lsge OF Beverley.
Colonel Willy, Of Morgantown, was
taken prisoner in bis quarters, opposite
to Capo,is Hotel. When last seen he
was near the window, having been an in
valid Tor some days.
A Mr.. Martin, Of Northwestern Vm.
ginia, IS also believed TO have been cap
lured by the enemy.
The corps of Capi. Norman, Of Pen,
deton county, were particularly effective
as was also that Of Capt. Hall, Of Mont
Grey.
Lieut.. Thompson, Of the Fairmount
Rifles, bore himself well during the ac,
,on, closing up his ranks with the COO.
ness Of an old soldier. So did Captain
Hgginbotham, Of Upshur's corpse.
The successful termination OF the fight,
and the warmth OF the contest, NAV be
attributed to the wonderful gallantry OF
the men, rather than to toe superinten'
dence Of any general officer, aud numer.
mos, determined bravery on the part OF
individuals. The majority OF our men
showed admirable pluck.
The u. s. soldiers fired nj random.
though armed with Minute rifles, which
accounts for our small loss. The enemy
we're about 5000 strong, though from
the character Of the country they were
unable to bring the entve BODY into &C.
tot. through lady, Who has since ar
rived At Beverley, it appears they ack'
nowledge to 25 killed but the presump
ton is, that there we're many more. TO
say nothing Of sixty or seventy wounded,
who we're rapidly removed from the field.
Our own loss, so fs- as is ascerisined,
are Mr.. Hadger, Of The Augusta Cavalry,
who was killed near the bridge Mr..
Martin, Of Rockbndge, and Mr.. Thomas
l.. SINS, Of Richmond. The latter indi
vidual, when last seen was bravely de.
Tending himself, near the wagon OF the
QosrIermaster, to whom he was an as
sistant. The first wouad he received was
from a man who was mouned, but who