Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-06
THE FIGHT AT RONNEY.

10 comparison to theirs.
THE FIGHT Ar RONNEY.
We are permitted BY the gentleman to whom Il ID.
dressed to make the following extracts from letter
written BY an officer engaged 10 the tfir at Ronnsy.
October 2sh. IL viii be that though u tie force
was overpowered the Hght was one Of the most gallant
end desperate on record To have fought at t under
such circumstance shows that In this war; the men who
se defending home and country willing to throw
away their lives whenever they ATE tho sacrifice
,unt s,msthing toward the sacred ofjse, for which
III ' struggle When $50 men do not hesitate to meet
5000 are abls TO hold them in check this heroic
I.ls mountain band did. who does not the folly Of
attempting to Conquer . people who have more than
million Of such soldiers. Blu, to the letter, which 10
dated-
wtxoaurER, Oct 81, 1881.
= viii you give you N scc1untof
the fsht Of Romney Of October 20 b. On "a uIdsy
morning. the enemy advanced upon KINNEY in Two col
umns-ooe 900 strong By way OF spins6.l9 they
The militia took up the p.pks of bridge the south
beanoh of the Potomac and there being ford, the
enemy could not cross. tho militia commanding the
bridge and preventing the enemy from mp rng IT, TIE
other column Of the enemy consisting Of three gmer
Of infantry three companies OF cavalry, and three pieces
of artillery, sdvsDced by the Nortbwss turf ke,
s,mpiDg q Ridgevile Friday night and airing Tor Rom
uey by daylight Saturcsy morning. We had accu ae
Information Of their str.pgh and infections en- IA y
night We htd 200 men, all cavalry % OF III IN remain.
Ing behind for camp duty, a., g,iig Us $50 en- to
6sht against 600 We ai-o bad brDs IL pouIder
mountain ho.irer and Q 8 inch iii (,ro. g. n
msnded by Lieus. Lionberger. We started .bju A.
\ and n srehsd 10 hecbaLicsburg heetiI tue enemy
there, tho cavalry commanded BY T. j,r D. Fanft.n.
kept the enemy bay Tor long Tine, u.lv ret ring
towards the gap {, mountain o. : mics non mo.yl
At this place. o ains Sbauds AID Jordan dsl gui.hed
themselves BY their coOlnets aud ntr dry. Or men
held the gap until II P. L., vhen nnang that The enc
my had crossed the mountain above In large force an
would surround US, By order Of COL hcD1na'd they
treated across the river o. Ned onad placed 70 meu
der Nj Bunsnn Ia the fs pits upon the tiff mmst
log the lord, bridge and hooredeld roar the bowltf
vas lef support them; the rid, gul VAS placed ups
Cemsary Hill position commanding the ! orlh o. . .r
turnpike beyond the bdds,; the 80 men we're u u a.
reserve near the If Eul Vol "a cup n'eldipg ia
p,rson the rife ga. / remained with the IN at the
IiH pits, encouraging them and watching he now.
nts Of the enemy. Toe enemy, as this time, divd'
their force into three co is columns column
ing the river above Giosops Hand advarc ng by the
Moor G Id road completely h.okiug and partly sur.
rounding N, other sd'a lcig b. tie fer and the
other by the bridge. Discovering the force upon th,
NooreH,ld road advised Capt Stands to watch their
movements and rode to Cemetery Hill, one qisrsr d
mile distant 10 inform Col Md. of the smeGt ~
remaned With him. We kip, their whp. force 10 Il
unul half-pss four P. L., sher the AMMUNITION forI
Dig gun gave out aud the enemy being unchecked
anything but small rushed up the blCd aud cad
the rife pits, retreatDg at the iast mod
before their whole forc,. We made a short stand
Cemetery q " but being unsupported BY the gupl
want pf ammu1ition and the enemy charging VII
their cavalry, spd tber infantry s~srning over n
at the same moment ard liDkiDg our little iqlad
treated through the town, the enemy 70 lo"icgf
Med. sent an order 10 rally upon he mountain b
R,mney, but 1. was impossible 10 do 80, 10. The
wagons which had not been ord red TO move tn
enemy coming into the town blocking up tnsl
row mountain road threw our M ls force INTO coniust
ms king IL impossible TO rally tie men, who thOEf
willingness TO hit agri but Whenever we succe'3
| steAdying them, baggage wagon would rush in'9
midst aud start th m Ard.. We lost eveiyY
cannon, ordnance stores birgsee and w. gotsandl
tents desks books aud pspsTs 40 the private o.,
every one from The Coouel down TO the ssrvaptl
only thing saved vas the hospital wagon, With Ill
tho surgeons deck add some papers. Whilst ! TssJ
the I'D pu the enemy fred their q 3: csnnon this
OF the esp; the ball pass ahoat two ies over ny
T. being the only one on horseback made o eooS "a
for them. Afte rode to Cemetery u u, they com2
cd shellirg Il, eight shsls bursing cir ely
heads, tbs fragments falling ell around ~, a.
bursting around and furroSirg up the gro
every direction, but fortunately mo one was III
They q red With great precision. Our shells ir Q
checked their advance, and believe DID consde
execution. Orders we're sent 10 the hospital 10
wagons TO move and retreat wss commeIc
officer called . halt aud succeeded III isihg
thirty, and was in the as OF leading then sga
suemys cavalry, then abou, 500 yards distant an
Ing up at full charge, when q lumber OF our men
up aud rode through his ia4ks, carrying the ,hr y
them. By this time, the enemy were within Is
firing their revolvers rapidly. une hospital wagon
retreat vas faved The other 9Th toe hospital 81
,uld have escaped but TOR the giving out Of one
6orses, vhsp it vas absrdoneJ, the e. ms btiSg
twenty yards. Lieuteta ant Lionb'rser, during w
treat, halted bis gg1 in the eat, Capt Jor
porting him with his company. They ia.eodtd
then charging, but were ordered not 10 9 IN
and bad to retreat Lieut. L. acted very ess
made every eIertion 10 rally the men. y
acted with great GOODNESS and bravery, b
and retreat, using every eIertion TO fern
p'acirg bis horse across the road, and
to halt aud endtsvor TO recapture the b
have succeeded in nlyDg the men
horse striking bis horse and throWng
Violently To- the ground, h. urirg bin
A wagon comirg up, he was placed
safely Of 0.hero flcers scted gaian
yndsr my notice. can't oeak OF the
lad been sent a. at the proper time
been no roui; We would hare covered
honor and glory. $50 men holding oq
10 A MAk{ P l1his an uneaaaledN
sers
rounded (tsamsters) al
T. u. n.