Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-20

our own. army, ana our pflso'eis "eie "
generally with kindness by the officers. =,
Capt. Anderson escaped by going around
through Pendleton, and is now safe in Staun'
ton. He had started, together with Lieut.
Raine, with a gun to my relief, but before DC
could reach US, his horses were shot aud gun
thrown down the mountain.
The detachment Of twenty-one, Of the Lee
Battery, under my command, acted throughout
the whole conflict with GOODNESS and courage.
@. W. STATnAM,
Ist Lieutenant Lee Battery.
[rrou the Petersburg Express, August lG.l
The Surrender OF Colonel Pesram's Conn
maud at Beverley.
HANDEx SIDNEY COLLEGE,,
August 10, 1861.
Sometime last week there appeared in your
paper z most unjust and gratuitous attack up
on Colonel Pegram, of the Goth Regiment
The number Of the Express" containing the
article referred to I have not been able to pro.
cure, but of its general tone, as well as OF its
specific charges, I have been sufficiently in.
formed. Be assured that it exhibits feelings
the very opposite to those generally entertain
cd by Colonel P.'s late command, and that 1t
prefers charges which we are ready emphatl-
callv to repel. Mingled indeed with regret
thai any assault should be made on one whom
VIC all so love and honor is satisfaction that the
occasion afforded Of giving expression to our
estimate Of the character and conduct OF cur
gallant leader.
From the time Col. P. took command of our
regiment at Richmond, till the day he was
left i prisoner on his sick bed at Beverley, |
was almost constantly under his immediate
command, and therefore enjoyed ample oppor,
tunity Of forming Il correct judgment OF his
character as u man and us IN officer. As the
result Of that observation, [ do not hesitate to
rank him among the noblcst men, and most
gallant and efficient soldiers with whom it has
been my good fortune ever to become acqualn-
ted. 10 advance to the utmost the military
spirit and efficiency of his regiment, seemed
the ever present desire Of his heart. He con;
stantly set an example Of self denial and oil
diligence in the fulilment of every duty which
il would be hard to equal and almost impossi.
bic to excel. Most unmarried in his attention
to the drill and scarcely bearing with remiss.
ness on the part of others, he showed the
highest regard for the true well. being of his
men, and provided for their comfort by a per-
sonal oversight Of the commissariat of the regi-
mcnt. 1t was by these means as well as by
bis reputation for courage and skill in the
field, C. reputation fully sustained during the
e%venttul days that ended in our capitulation,
that Col. Pegram secured in so extraordinary
q degree the confidence and affection Of his
men. | believe this day there is not one in
twenty of US who would not choose him as our
commander among all the Colonies in the Con.
federate service.
Strange 10 say, the conduct Of Col. P. in the
battle Of Rich Mountain, has been cenSured by
your correspondent as evincing a Y want Of cour-
age. Now whatever may be the character Of
!hia witness, uho has not seen good TO gire ms
I'M and whatever his opportunities Of FORM
ing q judgment, his testimony is oTerborne by
that Of multitudes in both armies who saw the
fight, aud who declared that Col. P. exhibited
the utmost bravery on that trying OCCASION
Such was the testimony Of the Federal officers
at Beverley, such that Of Gen. Mcclellan him
self as reported in q letter which l have seen
from one Of its aids. Such is the witness
again OF almost our W officers and men en-
gagged in the battlc-your correspondent, the
"priYate," being as far rs | know the only OK
ccption. Indeed, SO reckless seemed Col. 2.
that day in the exposure Of his person, rs to
awake in some minds the suspicion that uH-
willing to survive the defeat which he saw to
be inevitable. he had determined to throw
away his life on the field of battle. This sus.
picion I believe cnjust, but its very existence
is the best answer to the charge Of unmanly
solicitude for his uwn safety.
was not with Col. P. in the actual fight at
Rich Mountain, but did accompany him in his
retreat and join in his surrender. Of his con
duct in these circumstances, then, | can say
with confidence, and in my judgment it GER
tainly accorded with his high character. At
the vcrF commencement of the retreat none Of
US were in a fit state TO enter upon q toilsome
and p~erilous march. Col. P himself had been
sick for more than q week and had only been
kept up by the excitement Of preparation for
battle. During the engagement he was severe
ly injured BY throwing himself from his horse
on the rocky turnpike, and was so completely
exhausted by his subsequent exertions, that on
his return to the camp at twelve o'clock at
night he was unable to utter n single connect.
ed sentence. The men on the other hand had
been called from their tents 10 meet the enemy at
10 o'clock in the morning. Momentarily ex-
pccting an attack, they continued in the posi-.
ton assigned them till past midnight, when they
were drawn off in the retreat. Meantime they
had had no opportunity to sleep, nor to prepare
dinner, nor supper. Many had not tasted food
since leaving their tents in the morning; indeed
a few had eaten nothing since the previous day.
Others, again, had swallowed lnorsel or two of
scarcely half.cooked bread, brought TO them Just
before retiring from their position. Thus i'll
prepared for q retreat, VI evacuated the camp
at about one o'clock Friday morning. Head
ing the long line flor We were obliged to march
in single fle) supported -alnost borne up
by 4 man on either side, Col. P. led us into
the painless wilderness. With characteristic
magnanimity he determined 10 take the d.
rection to Laurel Hill, where Gen. Garnett, he
was confident, would greatly need reinforce
mrnts, rather than the way towards Huttons.
vile and the east, by which We might have
certainly made our escape. Still without lood
we continued our march through the rugged
forest all day Friday, now and then ascending
and descending some of the steepcst mountains
it was ever our hap to climb over. Towards
sunset we fell into little road for which Col.
P. had all the TING been aiming and which
was to conduct US to LeadsYille or the turnpike
to Laurel Hill. Now no doubt our leader
supposed q successful retreat almost certainly
effected. What must have been his disap.
pointment Mt presently learning from a
friendly countryman that Gen. Garnet had
r~etrcated from Laurel Hill, and that that post,
Leadsville and Beverley were all in the hands
of the enemy. Upon the reception Of these
tid;ngs, Col. Pegram determined TO halt his
command, and under the cover Of night to
20 alone to Lcadsville and learn himself the
truth Of the report. At Leadsville every
thing was confirmed, and during the absence
Of our leader, We we're fired upon in the
darkness, by q cavalry picket Of the enemy
Col. P. returning, ordered US to fall back 10
~ -- L. LII Ii 1881