The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-09-20
Victory Ga:ned>by General Wise'
rr.., ~. p,,hnond Ssaguircr, 1lth.J

lowing eNtrUct irVih " iS''Ni J"S' -
in this city. We are gratiGed to ind
confirmation Of the account we have here
tofore had of brilliant rencounter be-
tween Gen. Wise and the enemy, near
Hawks Nest, and between it and the
Gauley. 1t seems that Gen. Wise's gallant
soldier. drove back the enemy with
considerable loss 20 them, and none on
our side, save one woGnde2.l
CAMr "IIAwK's NEsr,"'
Hca.l,r,arters 3D. Infantry, Wise Lcy.9n,
September, 4, 1861.
On the morning of the I'd. at o'clock,
encamped at Dogwood Gap, we. received
orders to strike tents and march towards
Gauley Bridge. This news seemed to act
like electricity upon our men, who were
beginning to think they never would be
led face 10 face with the Yankees. About
nine the line of march was taken up
first. the Second Regiment; next the
Third; then the First following. When
saw regiments, / mean the remnants OF
them; for nearly one-half of the force Is IN
hospital, or not well enough to be moved.
The Second Regiment led the way till be-
yond the Hawks Nest, where we met
with many obstacles in the shape OF huge
oaks felled and lying across the road
These Our fine fellows soon disposed OF,
and we still moved on as fast as the obser-
vations of the scouts would admit. Inc
Third Regiment, Col. Spaulding, now took
the lead-tbree of its companies, Captain
Semmes, Capt. Pollock, and Capt. Jones,
forming the advance guard. Gen. Wise
and star ACTUALLY went in front OF the adj
| yancu gupra. On making II sharp turn IN
| the road at Magraw's creek, we were met
| by the fire of the cnemy's pickets, who
| lined the road on both sides, and were be-
hind house that commanded it. Only
three men on our side were hurt-two of
Capt. Semmes', and one of Capt Jones.
| The pickets retreated, and, as it was quite
dark, we concluded to anchor for the
night, but not to sleep; that was out OF
the question, as we were within 400 yards
of the cnemy's stronghold. The third
held the advance position, supported by
two companies of the first Regiment. At
dav-break on the third, all were on the
qd rice. The second Regiment, Colonel
Anderson, was detached via Turkey Creek,
TO fall on the enemy's flank, the third to
attack the front, TO be supported by the
first, under Lieut.. Col. }. II. Richardson
Col. Henningsen directing the entire
| movement, the suptl vi N'tl
Wise. At I A. NJ. the Third moved for
ward about 100 yards, which brough
them to Big Creek. When in fine pc
sition for defense we saw the enem,
drawn up, evidently intending to dispute
any further advance Of our forces. On,
howitzer was brought forward; three com
panies of the Third were deployed in tn,
ravine as skirmishers. while the balance
OF the regiment, with the First, were il
the road. The skirmishers had scarcel,
moved, when they opened fire on the enc
my, and drove them up the hill at thu
point of the bayonet. Large masses o
troops were seen on their right, when on
howitzer opened on them; and to see then
run was fun enough. Now came the tim
for the development of their plans; bu
thanks 10 the prudence of our General
they did not catch us. They had a riff
cannon in position commanding the road
and scarcely had the echo of our piece
died away when whiz came their ball
right over our heads, at least 80 yard
above us. Our piece replied on theirs
and finding they had gained our range
was directed at the place whence til,
smoke Of theirs was seen. They fired bu
four times, so accurate was our fire, whei
they took out to their entrenched position
in double quick. We now began to fec
anxious about the second Regiment, wht
had not opened fire on them as agree,
upon. Hour after hour passed away, bu
y no news from them, ill at last the enem,
PUP reinforcements in large numbers
did not dare TO show themselves u
1Vl7rc us Da,k. we :nrew out one com
pany of the third us an advance pickle
and three companies held the hill oppo
| otto THAN Sfrpnulp1I 'rbn,,
their skirmishers to the edge of u Woo
within 80 yards of our picket, across tn,
ravine of Big Creek, and kept up a regu
lar fire upon it, 1t was here that Adjutan
Pearce OF the Third had narrow escap,
from minnie ball, which struck a sap
ling Immediately in front and divided il
two parts, one remaining in the tree, tn,
other grazing him. A ball struck in tn,
ground within three inches of the spo
where Lieut.. Elliott was lying. Lieut.
Gum, OF the l1enrico cavalry, also had ,
narrow escape, ball striking a small rocl
against which he was leaning. Aftel
standing their fire for one hour, the pickle
was withdrawn; no one hurt on our side
During the engagement which LASTED
among the skirmishers for six hours, We
only had one man wounded, none killed
Many OF the enemy were killed ant
wounded, and we got many of their caps
knapsacks, guns, &c., which they left ir
their flight up the hill. We now received
orders to fall back to our position at the
Hawks Nest, where the entire force ar
rived about P. NJ. Col. Anderson's Regi
ment, the Second, having been unable t.
get to the enemy by the route they took
Gen. Wise passed the highest encomi
ums upon the Third Regiment; it was the
only one in the fight. The men were
much fatigued, after a march of ~ miles
on the Second scouting the entire dis
lance, being up all that night, fighting the
next day, and then marching back tire,
miles to our present camp. When OF
where our next move may be, we canno
at present tell; but one thing is sure, We
will meet them and they will be ours al
any sacrifice. The bravery of Gen. Wise
seemed to astonish many of the troops
and hundreds of compliments were passed
10y our mountain boys, who seemed tc
think that tho General ought to be in the
rear of the army. Lieut.. Col. Gibbs com.
manded the Artillery, and showed the
enemy what we could do in that line
We did not use our Rifed piece; we were
too close to them for that.
Cold Comfort.
The Cincinnati Commercial of the 10th
has leader of column and half com
mencing thus:-"Nothing that has hap
pened since the commencement Of the
civil war in America, will bring us SC
much contempt and ridicule from abroad
as the absurd termination of the Hatteras
|. Expedition, and the worse than ridiculou.
ovations given Gen. Butler and Commo
dore Stringham in their journeyings tc
and fro" This is but cold comfort te
these worthy heroes.