Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-09
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OPERATIONS IN THE vA11EY--THE AFFAIR OF THE Al
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II lne illcDluO0Q ErQIRllaeT
from Winchester, under date of the I'd inst as fol-
lows:
At ten O'Clock this morning a courier arrived
from MartiusbUrg, announcing that large Federal
force under General Patterson, had attempted to
cross the Potomac ct WilliamspoTt, and were net
by Col Johuston's command consisting of four reg
iments of Virginia infantry, Capt Pendletons bat
terry of Flying Artillery and Col Stewards cavalry
numbering about five hundred men the whole
force amounting TO about 500 men. Assistance
asked from Gen. Johnston. Orders were i'm
mediately issued for three brIgades to march to
Martinsburg. The first Under Col Elsie, of the lst
Maryland regiment (successor of Col Hill } the I'd
under Col. Bartown, of the sth Georgia. and the Sd
embracing The I'd and 18th Mississippi, 4th Alabama
and LIST TENNESSEE under Gen. B. As WRITE they
are passing through Winchester their way to the
scene of action. / have been in bed for five days
and am forbidden by the Surgeon to join my regi-
ment, but | cannot and will not stay. | am not
strong, but have power enough left in my arm TO
aim rifle and pulla trigger, So, Tonight attwelYe
or tomorrow morning by day dawn at farthest,
shall follow the rest. l am mounted, and can easily
oYertake the rest
10 O'Clock p M-The stage has just arrived from
Williamsp0rt, bringing number of passengers, and
among them q wounded soldier of Col Stewards
Cavalry, who was in the engagement this morning.
From him and others present at the fight, gather
the following particulars: Last night, large body
of the enemy crossed the Potomac, some above and
some below Williamsport, and marched two miles
this side Of Falling Waters, SIX miles east of Mar
tinsburg. Col jackson hearing of it, advanced to
meet them, taking Col. Stewards cavalry, Col liar
per's Regiment Of infantry, and one piece Of Capt.
Pendletons battery.
The Vanguard of the enemy consisted of a com
pany of eghty-five men, distributed fifteen in front
thirty at distance Of two hundred yards from the
'front.' and forty three hundred yards in the Of
them. Colonel Stewart advanced within thirty
steps OF the first fifteen without receiving single
shot, the Yankees evidently mistaking his men
for friends. At this point, two of Col Stew
arts men dismounted and let down a fence
and Immediately the Colonel rode up TO their
line and demanded their instant surrender on pain
of DEATH with which demand they promptly COM
piled. The next thirty fred a few shots and did
likewise. OF the remaining forty, four we're taken
prisoners, seventeen were killed and nineteen wound
ed. In the meantime. portion Of the main body
came mp, and were engaged by Col Harper's Fegi-
ment with piece of artillery, for one hour and
half, when they 1.-THE enemy retired to Falling
Waters and Col Jackson prudently returned to an
entrenched position two miles west this side) of
Martinsburg. The number of killed on our side is
said to be eight and eleven wounded. The wounded
man who came here to>night is only slightly Djur-
ed. The loss of the enemy is variousy reported,
but take the minimum--siXty-seven killed, eighty
nine wounded and forty-nine taken prisoners.
The front of our column from this place is re
ported to be within seven miles of Col Jacksonis
present position. We shall have warm work to-
morrow, if the Yankees do not scamper back across
the river, as they have been heretofore doing.
From gentleman who arrived in Richmond on
the 4th, from Manassas Junction the ITaminer
gathers the following:
! learned to day from two officers, one immedi-
atelY from Gen Johnston's camp, the other from
Winchester that, on Tuesday morning, company
of cavalry, under Colonel Stuart captured SO men,
The vanguard of 1000, without firing gun. A
short time after, regiment of ours, 600 strong,
with SIX pieces of artillery, came upon the 600
Federal troops and caused them for time to retreat
that then they commenced to advance upon our
troops, who, their turn retreated, but very slow
y taking advantage of every position as they fell
back The enemy threw 96 shells, and in the en-
tire engagement lasting from A n. till after y,
we had lost only men killed and or missing;
while the enemy's loss reached at least so. AL the
tents belonging to this regiment fell into the hands
of the enemy, owing to the fact that there were
wagons to transport them. Our informant stated
that the men captured by cavalry said they had
not much objection TO being taken, as they were
nearly half>starved. General Johnston within
miles of the scene of action, and would ubtless
arrive in time to take part in it. Indeed, it WIS
said that matters were proceeding in accordance
with his own plans.
The Examiner adds
a legion of rumors were afoat in this city yes
terdsy (the Ith) about a fight, or 8 number of
fights said TO h3 We occurred within the past two
three days in the neighborhood OF Martinsburg.
AIlSF an tracing OF tleSe reports,
we have come to the conclusion that there GER
tainly has been recently, somewhere near that
town, at least one fight OF considerable Importance.
We give what we believe to be the authentic ac-
count of gentleman who arrived today, by the
Central railroad cars. and who represents that he
has his information from an officer directly from
the locality wherein the engagement is said to have
taken place. On Wednesday morning, between the
hours Of nine and twelve O'Clock, six hundred of
our men encountered a large force of the enemy,
L..
ensued, In which the enemy was worsted, losing II
killed and IS prisoners. The loss on our side was
five killed and two missIng whether they were
captured by the enemy OF killed was not known.
There is also an account of fight, said to have
taken place on Tuesday last, IN which 700 of the
COnfederates are said to have routed large army
of the enemy, killing forty and taking eighty priso
ners Whether this is the same fight described III
our yesterdays issue, we have no means of ascer-
tanning.
The Richmond Wing of the 9Th says:
Our intelligence is very meagre and unsatisfac-
tory. We have two repOrts: One that Johnson is a
few miles this side of Martinsburg, and Patterson
a few miles beyond-snd that battle impends; the
other, the more probable, though more discredita
ble that Patterson, on Johnson's advance had has
tened to recross the Potomac.
In the fight that took place with Jacksons detach-
ment it is reported that we lost killed and
wounded and the enemy so killed and wounded,
and As prisoners, cavalry, with their horses An
other Teportrepresents the enemy loss at between
5 and 600, killed and wounded
Pennnylyania is determined TO maintain the rep
utatiOn she won in Mexico.
The Lynchburg Vrgiaian of the 4th says:
An officer belonging to the 18th Mississippi Regi-
ment arrived in this city yesterday afternoon from
whom we received the following statement He re-
ports that clergyman, well known to him. arrived
at Manassas on Tuesday night from Winchester,
bringing intelligence that heavy fight had been
going on within twenty miles Of Winchester,
between the Yankees and portion of Gen Johns
ton command.
Large reinforcements were hurrying forward
from Winchester to the scene of action, when the
person in question left Winchester No further par
Iicuars are known, though the above is deemed re-
liable. There are also rumors of action below or
Harpers Ferry, which resulted in loss of 500
Yankees, but the accou 1t is not authenticated
FROM MANASSAS IuNCTIoy--A BATTLE THOUGHT To HAVE
BEEN FOUGHT.
The Lynchburg Republican of the 4th has the fol-
towing:
From the mail agent on the Orange and Alexan-
dria road. learn that heavy and continued can
nonading was distinctly heard at Manassas Junction
about day yesterday morning, from the direction of
Fairfax court house and that it the gene al belief
that battle had been fought. Some supposed that
it might have been the trying of cannon, but it would
seem unreasonable that so early an hour should
have been selected for that purpose.
In this connection, we publish the following dis
patch from Washington If there is any truth in it.
may probably explain the supposed battle:
WASHINGTON, July 1.-The Federal forces are or
dered to occupy Fairfax, Virginia, on the Fourth
of July.
An order has been givep IN sunnIv the whole