Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-11-20
For the Standard.
TIE BATTLE OF LEESRURG.
CAap AT CAREERS MILLS,
Eight miles south Of Leesburs. Fa.,i
Monday, Oct. 18th, 1861.

DEaRP. Al P: Your kind letter Of the 18th in
stant came duly to hand and was gladly received,
for | had been snxiously looking for letter from
home.
Since writing to you last we have had some warm
work here, doaet you have by TINS tllne heafu.
We have, indeed, gained most signal ana glorious
victory over the FederalS near LeesbuFg. nave
learned since the battle that the enemy force was
about seven thousand We did not have exceeding
three thousand men in the engagement; yet the
Yankees were completely routed, with loss OF be-
tween fifteen hundred and two thousand in killed,
wounded ana prisoners, besides four pieces Of artil
lery, and large amount Of small arms.
You would probably like to hear something of
the particulars Of the tight and as was an eye reit
aess, will try to give statement OF things as they
happened
About daylight on Monday morning, 2lst Octo-
her, our pockets from Smart's mill came into our
camp at Rig Spring and reported the enen y cross
ing IN considerable numbers at the Big BinS, about
a quarter of q mile below the mill. Capt. Duff
immediately called his men into line and marched
off in the direction Of the mill Ill search of the enc
my. Arriving within about tont huadred yards of
the mill, behind hill covered with timber, Capt
buff ordered halt, and threw out six skrmishcrs
10 scour the woods above and to the right OF the
mill lie then marched his company by file right
I'D deep ravne or hollow to the top of the hill and
10 the right OF the timber. On reaching the top OF
the hill We the enemys scouts on the edge of
the woods to our left and coming in view of Mrs.
Jacksons house saw large body Of the enemy
marching past the house in the direction of Lees
burg then IN full view. The enemy on seeing
came to halt, and threw forward two companies
with the view, We afterwards learned, of taking us
prisoners. As they advanced upon US, We slowly
gave way down the hill towards Leesourg, with the
view of drawing them as far from their reserve
possible We reached kind of hollow behind
little ridge at the foot of the hill and to halt.
The enemy advanced upon us in quick time. in the
most perfect order, with their guns at "make
ready" When they reached the brow Of the hill
above US, and about sixty yards distance, Capt
duff called to them to ''halt;" To which they an
severed friend" but still continued to advance.
Duff repeated the command To halt six times. The
enemy answering friends" every time aud still,
advancing Duh's command now was. "kneel boys
and take good aim, PRE-" His command was obey
cd to the very letter-we did take good aim, and
with deadly effect. The enemys ranks were brok
en-. They commenced firing upon US, aud the firing
was now vigorously carried on hy both parties
We could see them from our position carrying off
their dead aud wounded. They stood it pretty
bravely foi about twenty minutes when they broke
and fled in confusion, leaving several of their dead
and wounded on the field The enemy fell back
upon their reserve behind the fence at Mrs. Jack
sons We fell back to the top of hill between the
enemy and Leesburg and about four hundred yards
distance from the enemy, to position where We
could command the main road leading from the d.
rrction of Su'arts mill to Leesburg Here we stood
exposed to the fire of the enemy long range guns
for two hours, waiting for renorcements and hold
ing the enemy in check until they should arrive
In this engagement we killed fifteen OF the enemy
ard wounded about twenty more. We had one man
severely and two slightly wounded None killed
We had only forty men in this engagement. The
'enemy'S force was about one hundred and twenty.
five, besides their reserve of three companies OH the
hill kept up continual fire upon during the en-
tire engagement We loaded our guns kneeIing, or
mostly lying on our backs The enemy over shoot
ing us all the time Our officers and men acted as
cool!y as if merely on skirmsh drill.
About 10 o'clock, We reinforced by COM
pany OF cavalry. CourierS arrived from the reg.
inents, and an attack was planned. Two companies
from the 18th and one from the 18th Miss. were 10
attack them upon the front and lett flank assisted
by the cavalry, while our company turned their
right flank. About II o'clock, we saw the three
companies of infantry and the company Of cavalry
advancing through skirt Of timber upon the enc.
my. We Immediately started double quick upon
their right, being reinforced by our picket guard
from Oft the river, our company numbered six
ty men. BY the time had got within three hun
dred yards OF the enemy, the firing commenced -
The cavalry was dismounted and charging into then
with dotbe barrel shot guns the three companic.
81 Infantry were pouring III their fire wi h deadl,
effect. The enemy's fire was brisk and hot W,
now came in contact with their right, but had onl,
time to pour in round or two till the enemy flee
IN disorder across little field and into the tmbe
vt the back of it. disappearing from our view. The,
were completely routed and driven from a yer,
strong position We had in this charge one mar
wounded, soldier from the 18th, who fell in will
us at the commencement of the charge One or twt
IN the cavalry were wounded and some two or three
In the COMPANIES FROM the 18th and 18th, Miss
The enemy had several killed and number wound
cd. They. as usual, oter-shot us. while orr shot
told with terrible effect among them The 9Th vi,
glEa regiment came to our relief or assistance
and it was determined to drive the enemy bac
across the Potomac. The sth Virginia was to talk
the rght-the three companies OF infantry and tn
dsnlouhted cavalry the centre. and our compan
the left and to in the direction of Smart's mil
"ethrew out skirmishers about twenty yards apar
and nifty yards in front Of the main body. and
tins order proceeded through the timber in the
rectIoa OF the river. After marching abopt half
mile the skrmshers in front of Duff * comn.nv a;
covered the enemy on the opposite side deep rayir
and little to The right Of our company The On
my was almost completely concealed in the dom
under growth and timber. The comnanv s;lsn.
approached through the timber to the edge of Il
raVine and were fired upon by the enemy. "
protected Ourselves behind the timber and return
the fire with vigor and effect for some twenty mi
utes'it was one continuous roar of musketrv''> n
enemy had been throwing shells from the opnos
side of the riyerfor half an hour, keeping up h,
Wy cannonading, but doing no damage. as the she
tell in the fields towards Leesburg. Now AZ I
roar OF musketry and tho heavy booming Of cam
we're we're interminglsd, tho music was grand sublu
Alter contest Of about twenty minutes the eneI
sate way and retreated towarIs the river-leavir
podz mir :.
raj wounded on the field W. learned A.. a. shs ~ =
ne from some prisoners, that we had accidents
,e. ,ne right wing Of regiment in this 81
were hrins upon U.S. but from the roar Of their .,
nn must :: nave been heavy We aid not hare =
,s"re IN ma engagement. BY this time some ~
scouts, who had approached the river r,r,hsr ~
NV 'u came back aud reported the enemy cross
D Jury 'e'0" ana coming over in heavy force