Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-11
RnltIe at Camp EartoW.

ltS. ahiI iSSpCIttthJ
j. NJ BENNETT, Esq. Auditor.
Battle at Camp Eartow.
BRILLIANT CONFEDERATE pICT0RY
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
CAMP BARLOW, Oc: h, 1861.
Messrs. Editors: Yesterday we had one Of
the most exciting battles at this place that has
occurred during the present campaign. For
four honrs and half the cannuradng from
both sides was iucessant, and was brilliant be-
yond description. And justice requires me to
say that those in command Of the artillery
Of a enemy shot beautifully, and have NO
donM that unr pieces did great execution, as
we disabled some of their pieces. and th' ir am
balances were seen carrying oil large numbers
of their killed and wounded.
Ouv picketS engaged the enemy while our
men were eating their breakfast. \. once all
were put in readiness for the combat. Camp
Barlow has many de!snces, natural and arlitl
cal, trenches, abatti, &c. The 4+:h and 23d
regiments, and Rogers battalion heing en-.
trencbci towards the enemy, wrrc, in Shot
time. in their places in the entrenchmen's,
the 44,h commanded by Col. Scott, occupying
the left If The tren, II $, the post nearest the
enciry. Col. Wm l.. JackSoa's regiment &C
cup;cd high hill, separated from the l4'h by
deep ravinc Col Rust, with an Ar
kansas regiment, occupied wood down tn:
river 10 prevent our lef; from being tururt
while two Georgia regiments, commanded ny
Col. Johnson and Col. Ranney, guarded ON
right flank.
Our picket was large one, and fought well
ard beautifully, aId did considerable cXr'u
tim. But heng overpowercd, Of course the?
were driven in
The enemy opened their batteries on our
camp about the distance of GU0 to 500 yards,
from valley, and from Bernard's houses -
How many pieces they ad, We do not know;
but we are informed that one Of our wounded
pickcts. who was near, says they had seven
pieces
After cannonading for some time, the enemy, OF
portion of them, Attempted to cross Grcenbrltr
River, not far from which one Of their batteries
was established, and cnter d the woods which
skirt it on this side, with the view Of attack.
ing us on our left flank; but being unt expected
IL met by Col. Rusrs Arkansas regiment in a
brilliant manner, and the woods being difficult,
they abandoned that plan, and returned to the
valley. They kept along the skirt CT wood
Immediately in front Of our camp until nne
regiment If not two, was Immediately opposite
to the 44th, and about 500 or COO yards dis
tant from it. 1t was evident they intended
to emerge from the wood in line Of battle, and
attack the 44th in front, and perhaps the 23l
also il they should have sufficient force: hnt
the ;i4th certainly, as it was nearest to them,
and the dcclivity in their front less precipilous.
But, after getting Immediately opposite the
44ih, and about parallel to it, they could not
be brought to the charge, though they were
urged to do so by their officers, both by
threats and cntreatics, amongst which, if um
not mistaken, the rich Irish brogue was heard.
About this time, too, Capt Shocmaker's bat
terry, seeing the glimmering Of their bayonc's in
the woods, played upon them, and neither threats
nor entrcaties could bring them to the charge.
They therefore retired the same way they
came in confusion and disorder and were soon
followed by another large force who had enter
cd the " ood to act rs reserve to the first This
trepidation may have partly been produced by
seeing ttat they would have to encounter &C.
oncs Johnston's and Ramsey's Georgia Rc2i.
mcnts on cur right flank, and knowing they
could have taken them in flank had they ut.
tempted to attack us in front In the uieaE-
time the enemv's artillery were playing I'm
our camp incesSantly; but except rldlling the
tents, and the other damage described, did not
do great deal Of execution. Although the
44.h was more exposed than any other r'g-
ment-bcins between mir batteries and those
OF the encmy-yct not n man was Killed Two,
however we're Knocked down by the force of Il
h,l hor hotrv thpIr knn nHS
aud two or three others were slightly wonn
ded by shells. am sorry to say tha' '~n 81
the 23d Colonel Tuliafcrro's rcgimcn0 were
wounded seriously, if not fatally. | have moi
asccrtained our loss, though it is small, all
things considered. The cnemy's loss vas
great, IS the last ambulance could not carry
all away from the house at which they had
been conducted; for they lef! many behind
who were buried decenly by our men. Tho
enemy left in their fight one flag, ono bass
DRUM and knapsacks, taversacks, &c, III
large numbers. Many Of their horses were
also killed.
cannot speak personally Of all the Reg
ments, but understand they all did we'll
Having heard, however, much about the 44:s
| watched them particularly, and ! can saw
without the fear OF contradiction, that both
officers and men Of that Regiment behaved
admirably. Col Scott, especially by his COO
ness and daring, Frequently cxpnsing himse
unnecessarily gave cohli lence to his cfhcerS
and men, who would have dicd sooner 'har
have left the field. Ills hearing is the praise
Of all. As an instance Of his c,olness. ! al
state that it became his duty to SEE his In"r
placed properly in the trenches before he at'
his breakfast Having done SO, and while tht
shot and shclis we're falling thick aud heavy
al over his camp, he returned to his tent, nn'
ute his breakfast as coo!y as if nothing nau
sua WAS happening around him Afcr seas
irg it, it was penetrated by one cannon hall
and several smaller ones the cannon ''::'
carrying away one end OF his small 'rnnk
OF Other officers too, csnnnt f"r'n.a" sp-rk'
ing. Genl Jackson, Col. johnson, G'l f',!'a
frrro, Col Jackson, Capt. Shoemaker, CAY!
! Rice, and orc of Capt eicc's men, nnnc'
Brooks, and Sergeant Graves, all did the dnt''
confided To them admirably. Capt. Rice vi"
badly wounded wll'l,: attending Ills cannon, aa
S.rscan, Graves had his leg broken while pe'
forming the same duty, from the effects Of "h:c
he h Is since died Brooks loaded and fired i:
gun AFTER it va: deserted by every lnan I"'
himself
will speak nf the valuable services s1i :eVf
raj other officers in another letter
Iodeed this may be called brilliant victory
90, BETHEL.