Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-28

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His men obeyed the call, and, at the head of his
| column, the very moment when the battle was turn
| ing in favor, he fell mortally wounded. Gene
raj Beauregard was heard 20 say he had never seen
such gallantry. lie never murmured at his suffer-
ing but seemed to be cOnsotd by the reflection that
| he doing his duty.
From Gen Wiss's Division
From the Richmond Wing, July q.
BRILLIANT CAMPAIGN IN THE KAVAwHA VALLEY.
letter from an officer in the Wise Legion. receiy
ed in this city yesterday gives some interesting
particulars of the recent brilliant action in Western
Virginia. We have been permitted to make the
folio wing summary of facts from the letter:
The battle took place the afternoon of the I7th
near the mouth of Coal River, on the Kanawha The
enemys forces were twelve hundred strong and
were led by Col. Norton, the commander of the
Federal expedition sent against Wise. Our own
strength did not exceed nine hundred and fifty, of
which not more than four hundred were at any
time actually engaged, under command of Capt
George S. Patton. formerly of Richmond. The at
tack was made by the enemy, most Unexpectedly
to our men, who had been informed and correctly
informed, by scout. that the Federasts were on
the other side of the K4nawhl river the latter hav
ing rapidly crossed in steamboats, lower down the
stream without the knowledge Of Captain Patton.
The battle lasted four hours and proved
most disastrous to the enemy. At one time
our thrown iRtO some disorder, but
their brave leader quickly rallied them again. and
upon the opposing column, in which he fell smartly
wounded. The confusion naturally created by his
fall under the CALLING fire OF the Federal artillery
was but mOmentsry. The command was at once
assumed by Col Anderson of Nicaraguan fame; or
rather this officer, who was posted adjoining
hill with q reserve, rushed forward 10 assume the
command, but before he could reach the spot an
other reserve, on the enemys flank, had put them
completely to rout wOunding and taking prisoner
the ColOnel-i1A 6ef. The disparity of arms was
~ that n nuuahprS T'ha had
several heavy rified cannon ; our forces had but
two small SIN 10th bore pieces. The following off
GERS were taken prisoners, and will probably be
sent to Richmond: Col Norton commander in chief
of the expedition Gel Vilers, Col. Woodruff Lieut..
Col. Nef, Captains Hard AMI Austin, and Lieutenant
Brown. The battle was fought our side entire
ly by Virginia troops. Two hundred and thirty of
the enemy were killed. Our loss WAS but three
killed and a few, very few, wounded, among whom
was Capt Patton, who was in fine spirits laughing
and talking with Col Norton, who was wounded
and prisoner Il the same room.
The rout complete that it Is not likely that
the enemy will show themselves again towards
ChariestoWn:
CHARLEsrOwX. Va, July is, lS6l.-7o the B3itors
of the Whg:-Belieyng that you would like to hear
of the result of the battle which took place on the
18th inst. l6 miles below this place. IgiYe you the
facts which have gathered from several of the Of
icers and men engaged in the fight. Six hundred
men, under Major Georgs S. Baton part of the
22d Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, achieved a
most glorious victory over 1900 of the Federal
forces under the command Of Col. Norton, at the
the mouth of CeaTcey Creek, Is miles below Char
lesion, en- the river. After warm contest of four
hours and 20 minutes our forces succeeded in COM
pletely routing them, driving them back four miles,
killing, wounding and capturing a large number.
Among those captured are Col Norton, Col Devil
lers, Col. Neff, Lieut.. Col Woodruff Capt. Austin,
and another Captain whose name did not learn.
Upon our side, we last three killed and five
wounded, among the latter, am sorry TO say, is
Major G.. S. Patton. lie struck down by a
lister shot while in the act of cheering on his men.
lie is wounded in the arm. near the shoulder, but
the wound though serious, Is not considered dam
gerOus He is brave and brilliant young officer.
Lieut. James WEIGH of the artillery killed
while dischargng his piece; he was struck by can
non ball on the head which nearly severed his head
from his body lie was noble and brave fellow
and died, where he wished, in the service OF his
country, and by the side of his gun.
Our forces only had two cannon, Founders,
while the enemy had three brass pieces of heavier
calber than ours, and decided advantage under
which Major Patton labOred, it is indeed, brilliant
victory. and the first in the defence of the Con-
federate Suites over in the Valley of the Kanawha.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A gentleman in Richmond has received letter
from a distinguished friend in the Kanawha Valley,
and the Enquirer is permitted to publish so much of
it as is of public interest We make the following
extracts:
Our little army, consisting of nine hundred fight
ing men, stationed below the mouth of Coal River,
were attacked on yesterday by force of 1000 men
of the enemy, with reserve of 1000, and after
most gallant defence our part, the enemy were
beaten out of the field, falling mile and half, and
pursued by US for that distance. They have steam
boats () and it is said this morning have crossed
to this side of the Kanawha iVer to their entrench
ed camp at the mouth of Pocatsc0.
Our loss is the brave Lieut.. WEIGH, of the artillery
killed instantly by cannon ball, some two or more
of the soldiers, and a few wounded. Among the
latter George S. Patton, who had command Of
our forces at Coal His wound is broken arm,
(the right near the shoulder We have sent from
town all of our most skiful surgeons, and pray
that so useful and brave a man may be spared to
his country.
We have taken prisoners. Coils Norton and Lewe
and Lieut. Col. Nef, their principal engineer,
French captain (Lalroder they call him. and few
other officers and men. The loss of the enemy in
killed and wounded, is variously estimated at from
two to four hundred
It certainly looks prOydential for with the ex-
ception of our loss on yesterday, not man has
been killed by the enemy in our valley, while oar
troops in the various skirmisies and battles we
have had with them have killed outr h. not l s
than 200 of their men.
Col, Merton is badly, though not dangerously
wOun led, by shot in the hip He is said by those
especially the ladies, the Ohio border who have
fallen into his hands, to be brave and humap man
in fact, gentleman. lie will of course be treat
GU rs sucLl. every pTlsOleT IaASh W Our eI'LJB
below the rank of commissioned officer, is either
Irish, German or WEIGH. They have committed
most wantOn and uncalled for injuries the citi
zehs in the counties below US, taking every thing
movable and destroying by fire and gun every
thing they could not take with them. l heard of no
insult to our women, which is strange for although
their officers appear to be men of honor their men,
especially when drunk, not to be controlled by
t1em. There is thing certain, they make no
distinction between Union men and SecessiOnists,
If they want anyt thing N the possession of either.
Tie Enquirer learns from a reliable source, that
the enemy are committing all kinds Ct rObbsr-
les and depredatons on tue people of Braxton and
Lewis counties. They take the horses of the citi
zens and whatever else they want and then destroy
wantonly what they cannot use. They are pushing
their invasion into the interior Northwestern coun-
ties as fast as possible but from intimaton we get
we think they will meet with pretty form dabe Op-
position before they get much farther.
WASHINGTON AND OLD PoNT-The following from |
the Fredericksburg Herald of the 24tb, shows that
the terrified wretches at Washington trying to
save themselves and the city by summOning troops |