The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-05
OUR SOUTHERN ESTAFETTE.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF BRIGADIER
GENERAL ARNOLD ELZEY.
HEADQUARTERS Arm BRIGADE,
CAMP AT FAIRFAX STATION,
1901

sboutl2 NJ. when it received orders to detach a
regiment To remain at the Junction to guard a
weak point, and then to proceed to Lewis House,
near the battlefield aud hold itself in waiting.
Colonel A p. Hills regiment, being the smallest
four companies not having come up from Piedmont
was designated for the service BrigadIer-Gene-
raj Smith accompanied the brigade to the battle
field and continued to exercise the command over IL
with which he had been empowered at Piedmont.
The march to the field, part of the way, was per
formed in double quick. The battle ragged herceiy
and General Smith ordered the brigade to pass
Lewis House and proceed to the scene of action.
On entering the field to the left, General smith
was shot from bis horse, and the entire command
| reverted to myself. The brigade was formed In
| line of battle with the 10th Virginia regiment in
! reserve About this time Captains Hill and Cum
ningban of General Smiths staff, reported to me-.
| detached Captain Cunningham with four compa-
nies of the 10th Virginia regiment to hold cap
tured battery and directed Captain Hill to conduct
Beckbam's battery to point on the left. The
position was we'll selected, and the battery under
| Lieutenant Beckham was admirably served and
made decided impression on the enemy having
received intelligence that our left was weakened,
| | determined to make movement in that direc-
| ton, and accordingly to march by the left flank
! through wood to the left and then to the front
The brigade in ne-3d Tennessee regiment on the
right, lst MARYLAND iu the centre, 10Th Virginia on
the left-passed an open field and through il wood
On arriving at the edge of the woods, the enemy
was discovered but short distance in front, stars
and stripes waving. ! ordered the line to open fire
A brisk and terrific lre kept up for few Sc
conds ard the enemy disappeared.
| The command ordered to advance, and on
rising the crest of open field, nothing could be
| seen but the dead bodies of men and horses. The
line continued to advance, and on coming to a
thicket in front, again encountered the enemy and
opened fire, the charge ordered. the tbicket
cleared, and the enemy dispersed. l was ordered
by General Beauregard to retire with my command
| to the hill in rear, from which L subsequently took
up position across the Stone Bridge. 1t is with
pride and pleasure that refer to the GOODNESS and
IL, .In1o
| The fire upon the enemy was well directed and
| destructive, and they sustained his fire with the
indifference of veteran troops. The Maryland re-
giuent was under Lieutenant-Colonel G. II.
| Steuart and Major Bradley 7. johnson; the Sd
| Tennessee under Colonel Vaughan Lieutenant Col
one Reese and Major Morgan; and the 10Th Virgil
| MIA regiment under Colonel Gibbons, Lieutenant
| Colonel Warren and Major Walker
| l cannot speak too highly of the galtantry and
good service of my personal staff, Lieutenants
Chentney, Mcdonald and Contee. They
peatedly exposed to the enemy's fire in delivering
orders, and rendered excellent service in obtaining
| information of his whereabouts.
have the honor to he, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ARNOLD ELzEY
Brigadier- General commanding 4th Brigade
| To MAJOR THOMAS G. RHErT,
Assistant Adutant-General.
Piedmont is station en- the Manassas Gap
Railroad below Front Royal. The delay alluded
to is said to have been occasioned by collision of
We have received late Southern papers. Among
them the Richmond Enquirer and Phig of the I'd,
from which we gather the following news:
Southern Videttes Hung by the Yankees.
While our gallant army were on the march to.
wards Alexandria, and following up the re,reating
forces of the Yankees, they found two of
Southern videttes dead and suspended by ropes
from trees on the roadside. We understand that
Gen. Bonham Immediately despatched flag of
truce to the authorities at Washington. with de
maDd for prompt and immediate statement of all
the facts connected with this dastardly outrage.
First Naval Battle.
The first naval battle between the North and the
South, occurred on Sunday, July 21st, near the
fortifcaton at Oregon Inlet, the North Carolina
coast, between the steamer Beaufort commanded
by Lieutenant Duva, Federal steamer, name
unknown. The particulars given in Extra
of the Raleigh Standard. The result is highly ere
ditable to the gallant Lieutenant Duval, who com
mandeC, and his men. Though he fought against
immense odds. he achieved great triumph which
is the more brilliant from the disproportion between
the vessels and their forces The federal steamer
was large three-masted propeller, carrying six
heavy guns and rihed cannon forward and aft,
and having on board at least IT'S men. The Beau
fort is small steamer, carrying only one smooth
bored gun, and crew of &c.
The engagement commenced at 10.15 A. NJ, and
terminated at IL A. NJ. The enemy fired fifteen
shots-fve or six were from the rifed cannon. The
BeaGsart eight shots, three of which struck the
enenA The E&defal zs--I >hnall} retre&tsd, and
Cold Steel
We have endeavored to learn the exact plumber
of separate and distinct bayonet charges made by
our troops during the battle of the 2lst. We be-
lieve there were at least six, and perhaps more
1t is stated that the enemy in awaited the
charge, but fed precptately the cold
steel was visible.
One ofthe Big Cannon
At the battle of Manassas the large seige thirty
two pounder, over which the Yankees made such
great brags, was captured. The gun is twenty
feet long.
The Trophies.
In addition to the 10000 stand of arms, 40 600
handouts, four wagon loads of horsemans pistols,
&C., gallant and victorious army captured a
large number ofboxes, &c, belonging to General
Scott and other "grand army officers, and all
marked as destined to ''Richmoud." Many of the
boxes were filled with sauces, sardnes, preserved
meats, peach preserves, olives, &c. Oar army is
said to have captured provisions enough to last
twelve months
Some of the Yankees say the handouts were in
tended for the negroes which they expected to cap
ture. 1t is believed, however, that they inten-
ded to be used in manaCling the limbs of Southern
citizens.
Handcuffs fer the South.
The Southern press should keep before the peo-
Pile of the South and of the world the astounding
and unparalleled fact that the army which inva-
ded Virginia, brought with them thirty thousand
handouts, which were taken with the other spoils
from the enemy! This surpasses all that we have
ever heard of Russian or Austrian despotism. 1t
is almost impossible to realize that in the United
States, b0astiug itself the freest and the most
civilized of all nations, the most deliberate inhu-
man and atrocious plan should have been formed to
degrade and enslave free people, of which there
is any record in this or anV other age. Who ever
heard, even in despotic Europe, of an invading
| army travelling with thirty thousand handouts as
| part of its equipments?
The Maryland Volunteers
We have hig1 praise awarded to the regiment of
volunteers from Maryland, now serving in our ar
my under Gen. Johnston, for their gallant bearing
during the battle of Manassas This regiment was
we learn, part of the brigade under the command
OF Gen. Smith, whose timely appearance on the
field when the struggle waxed the warmest, contrib
uted much to determine the result of the fight
All honor to those men, who, without awaiting
the action of their own State, rushed to Virginia
to maeifest by their military services their devo
tiOn to State Rights their love of Southern iusti-
tutions, and their intolerabe detestation Of the
Lincoln despotism.
Latilaln,s Battery.
correspondent of the Lynchburg Republican
writes that "God never made a braver man than
Capt. Gray Latham" He noticed him frequently
| in the battle, and says the Latham Battery saved
| the 2Sth Regiment, (Preston's) He believes they
did much more execution than the famous
| W asbington Battery. BE shot from Lath-
ANS Battery kill 40 men. This is the testimony of
one competent to judge, and not connected with
! the battery or any of its members.
Cabinet Changes
We learn that the Hon. Robert Toombs has
linquished bis position Secretary Of State that
he might take part in the field, and tha. the Hon.
| r. Nj. Il. Hunter has been called to succeed him
| Secretary of State. The public will form high ex-
pectstions of both these distinguished gentlemen,
| in the spheres of duty to which they thus enter.
Prisoners Arriving at Richmond.
About seventy wounded prisoners arrived from
Manassas yesterday evening (lst of August,) in
an extra train on the Central Railroad. A detach-
ment OF soldiers were present to keep off the crowd
OF curious spectators, and officers present to
aid the committee of citizens, (who have volunta-
| riy assumed the duty,) in experimenting the re-
movai of the prisoners. They were conveyed to
| Ross factory, on TweItv-Ffth street. the general
hospital being full. About fifteen Fire Zouaves
were among the number. The others mostly be-
longed to the New York 69h and list and Rhode
Island regiments. We learn that another, and pro-
bably the last lot of persons, will be brought here
this evening.
| The Bovvie-Tlnife.
Notwithstanding all that has been said of the de-
structive character of the bowie-knife, never
conceived that it would be actually used in great
battle, and with such irresistible effect. Who
before dreamed of a regiment with nothing but
bowle. KNIVES, charging another regiment armed
with the best guns and bayonets, and literally cut
ting them TO peces?- The regiment thus assaulted,
which had fought bravey enough with bullets,
quaed under the operation of this dreadful
and shouted "Murder" at the top of their voices.
The cold steel, especially in the shape of an Arkan-
ras tooth pick, is auxiliary which every South.
ern soldier should cherish.
Major Wheat Not Killed.
Major Wheat, who distinguished himself in the
late Mexican war, and who won fresh laureis in
Nicaragua, and under Garibadi, in the struggle for
Italian independence, was dangerously wounded in
the great fghton Sunday, the 2lst of July, at Man.
asses The ball entered the left side and passed
Through his body. Notwithstanding the severity
OF the wound, the Major is slowly but surely recov
ering. 1t may crafty his friends to know this, as
wen as the TACT that the ball received whilst