American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-11-09

soon stood under the pale aud misty morning :
moon, grim and solemn as dark shadows in
the night of war.
Col. Burt Immediately gave the command
-t' In close column on centre division
march" and our boys trotted through the
maneuyre, when Gen. Evans, from the head
Of the column. made US spirited and wiring
ing appeal. The boys closed down on him
With dozen laundering cheers as he told as
that we we're going down the Potomac to meet
1000 Yankees who were coming up with six
teen pieces of artillery to attack US; that he
had met them before, would be with us, and
that courage only was needed to make them
fly; that he was proud to command US, and
knew that Mississippians would do no dis
honor to their proud and chivalrous State,
aud that he felt that glory and victory were
before US.
All how the warm blood of thrilling
enthusiasm dashed through our veins. The
pomp and pride of glorious war was swelling
large in the soul, and the eye felt {. Peering
through the portal of the brain like the brass
cannon"
We moved off in quick time to the south
cast, marched six miles and halted. when
Yankee courier was captured and brought
in, and from his dispatches we discovered
that the enemy's force was upwards of $4,000
men, and their destination Fairfax Court
house and not Leesburg.
We therefore returned, recrossed near the
mouth of Goose creek, and took position on
It's northern bank, close upon Edwards
Ferry, On The Potomac, aud about three and
half miles from Leesburg.
Here we remained in the bushes through
the day until late ia the evening Sunday
when the enemy discovered our location and
threw over a perfect storm of shells from
their splendid batteries on the other side of
the river We changed our position to ano-
Their sheltering wood and after dark moved
up to make a night attack upon them, bnt
found that they had gone back over the river.
Here, then, we dropped into hollow, and
slept upon our arms and the cold ground,
within range of their shell.
Early next morning (Monday), we moved
silently away, and took position about half
mile nearer Leesburg, where We remained
several hours, waiting orders. While here,
right up to within twenty or sixty yards of
US. When they perceived US they discharged
their rifles, mostly at Col. Burt, who, in the
midst of this little shower of balls, yelled out
, with laugh for the regiment to run into
, line; but the dragons had wheeled, and
only few of the boys got sight or chance
to give them parting salute. Three of their
caps were dropped as they wheeled, and by
the few shots from our boys two of their sad
dies were enptied. We only captured these
caps, bloody gun, and large opera glass.
2 The TWO dismounted horses we're Acam-
. pering away, but their riders we did not find.
About this time firing was heard over to
the northeast of the town, and we soon learn
ed that the i" Magnolia Guards, of the 18th
Regiment, had CALAMITY repulsed a number
of the enemy much larger than their own.
The I. Burt ard q Clinton College Rifles
were Immediately detached from the 18th and
sent over, and in the evening these three com
q panies drove back six companies of the enemy
: in fierce skirmish. This occurred at about
B, half-past one O'Clock.
e We had up to this time been lying in line
e of battle, waiting for an advance of the ene-
d my from Edwards Ferry. The 18th Missis-
: sippi was by side. Presently came Col
0 Barksdale, leading up the bloody" 18Th
with orders to begin the attack at Edwards
It Ferry, to be supported by the 18th and 18th
Y But just about then heavy musket firing began
d at the north end of Harrison's Island, the
T place of the morning and evening skirmishes
: and about two and half miles from Lees
G burg, a little north of east. Immediately
came a courier with orders to suspend the
s attack upon Edwards Ferry, and for the 18th
n to 20 over and ''pitch in" at Harrison. Away
t, then, we went, at double-quick. We arrived
I, to find that the 8th Virginia Regiment anC
r, these detached companies of ours had beer
e engaged for more than half an hour with up
s wards of 1000 of the enemy's best troops
II and were, of course, overpowered and abou
y to suffer hopeless rout. Three might,
IS cheers we raised for Mississippi and for res
le cue as we double-quicked politely in tn
/ presence of the enemy. Here they opene,
d upon us, and here, from the nature of tn
lie ground and narrowness of the approach, on
ID regiment was divided, and the right wing
composed of Capts. Hills, Hamer's, Jerrold'
le and Jaynes companies, were led by our chiv
he alrous Colonel up into the face and within
al forty yards of the enemy.
in 1t was glorious aad cheering to witness tn
y action of these boys as they stood about I
; yards in advance of as, received the eoncen
10 trated fire of the enemy's line (they had falle
back, as we approached, from their advance
Ii position, and drawn up on the brow of hi
E. that skirted the river bank), and responde
F with an incessant roar of their guns. Her
as it was that cur gallant Colonel fell, severed
lie wounded in the hip, Capt. Hill shot throGg
IN the arm, and Capt. Jayne grazed by a ball o
Of his right breast
in Not the least confusion ensued ; but, bein
lie ordered they fell back with moody reluctanc
r and vengeance upon their faces until comm
T into line with the left wing, when the whol
e. regiment closed upon the enemy, at the con
1t. mand of our courageous Colonel Griffin, an
e., then oh. the terrible crash as our cool an