Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-21
THE RICHMOND WHIG.
HALLS HILL-THE BURNING OF TIE MANSION

HALLS HILL--THE BURNING OF THE MANSION.
A correspondent Of the Dispatch, writing from Nun
sons G Sept lTb gives the following account OF the
late dissdsement Of the Yankees from Halls Hill, aud
the destruction Of the building which at once their
shelter aud observatory:
While 81 dinner Oh Friday last Capt. Rosser, Of the
Washington Arii-Ty second company, received orders
from Colonel StuarE to take section OF lis oattery
consisting of howl and rife, ard 10 hasten "a
soon as po-sibe report himsl 10 Colonel Wnder oil
the Sixth South Caroiira who ieadOg the advance
a, the ime and vino had already led out portion o.
his fcI Co.
Phe o'jsct of the expedition can be stated in few
words Upon hill known as =" Halls Hill Is large
wh;e house witch hss been used for some time as
paint Of lookout or observa.oy forihe Federal ofie
and ciyars pho Win the aid OF their powerful glasses
weIe accustomed 10 spend great portion OF the time N
endeavoring TO get some knowledge OF our strength
and position. IL Is eminence commanding view OF
Up.oD's Hill bus Rrrsons 10 entirely hidden BY an IN
tarvenirg height, covered with heavy oak timber The
house, which appears from cur point OF seS to be
large and rather re o1e is said to belong 10 Mary BALL.
Rouan celebrated In Washington life as dishing To-
re,te aud VINO reported 10 have the qneenly qualities
oe ScmirsmiI united with the fIates o! a Piryne-
This house had also been made ieudtZTous tor the re-
lief pickes Parties were constantly a!Iyrg from 1t 20
annoy our sentilels and force them bsc; from the
lines Il dc, mel necessry therefore, to dssSoy tSe
house and drive away the Yankees, who clustefed
As have previously stated tbs artillery corps werc at
dinner wheu Col s ulIt command was Iec ged. Hav-
ing the horses constantly IN harm the battery was on
the road In less than ou, minutes lr the cepton OF
the order Cap. Rosser imreiilely reported himself
to Col Windcr OF his bycuac and tho two III made
reconnaissance Of the field. Seeing bJ careful examn
aiiop there would be immediate cppcsiion and that
good position could be gained before dnco'ery tie
iufutry ard the blteIy moved on together Upon
approaching the pekes Of the enemy the artillery open
ed fire. under OF wch tie South Csroiniauf, ur-
der Ccl MinGCr advanced a1d drove theGl ifom the
woods Having u Ia possession Of their ouipos,s. Our
res were Immediately Strengthened and skirmishers sent
on, TO Icour the forest Col STUART coming up at this
time with few Of his cavalry, twas consdsr'd prudent
20 proceed up the bii and IL possible, TO destroy the
house. wtich then about mile away. The column
was ordered forward. After going short distance the
Federals we're seen at distance of thousand yaros,
close by the house Of man By the name OF Miner and
sea tered about in his feds. ApprosepG this cautious
w. concealed by the dense woods and thick under
growth of brushes the how,zer run out into the
road before its presence known and shell thrown
seemingly into cir very midst This caused some con.
serpa ion and Instantly the South CsIolniars with por
tions OF Virginia and Maryland regiment chnrged in
upon them aud the Yankees fed before them.
About this time force seen hurrying towsrds the
left of our iine evidently with the intention o. aAnkrg
u.s. but howzer cent to the relief OF the att wing
and the Yankees FELL back there Ia Miners house some
prisoners wsrs taken and among them found in the c
lar WAS minister and four women The women
released but the parson sent to our rear evidesty
to the great distress OF the weeping females
Near this house Col AiGms, an amateur h ghter from
Ms:i sirp saw Yarkee enceevorng TO cut the trace
Of barn, So in order get holss from ambulance
70 run away with Col Ad ms advanced upon, and with
tbs uuoadod gun frightened away the Yankee and drove
the ambualce hastily out of danger Two good horses
were secured By this feat l-3' q
short dis arce bsyond Miners was housa owned
by a free negro, 10 which it rumored that eight
Federpls we're eo-cealed in tho cellar Captain Rosser
and Mr. Sanders independent scout, from hissssip
p sent forward 10 naks reeonn0 sance, end then re-
turned for reinoIcemen;s but before thscoud return
the Federas had Gsd Halls house was about three bua
drsd wards from here and still occupied by tie gallant
soldiers of the grand army. The howiz'r was again
bought forward aud shell thrown upon the premisfs
which drove the enemy cut after fSipg ieS scattering
sbo,s The infantry then advanced, and br ordtr Of
Colonel Stuart ths house was fred. In lew moments
II was mass OF srnou iering ruins. gr Er. ss
Two dead bodies and Que mortslly wounded were
found on the field. The next morning two more dead
bodies we're found 10 the wood-haviDg been killed by
the explosion Of shell. On our side there VS. mo.
body hurt "
During the skirmih the Federais.s sent up their bal
Icon to recoanoilro wbereupon force hastily ir
to the icket aud neghborog ccppces to- prevent the
real force being seen and afterwards most Of the fight
iig was done from these covers. s
Thus ended this brilliant little skmsh, and having
gained the o. ject desired and having intention Of
irving to hoG the hill Col Stuart withdrew bic force
By il we gained the following poicts ls The Yankees
we're taught lesson for their impotence in pressing up
on our outpos,s ID Oar line Of pckets was straight
ancd and better positions gained 3D. The observatory
was burned To these may he added the fact that the
house of harlota den OF nf4my has been dss royed