Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-10-31


fore Us life of peace and plenty, health
and happiness, that would charm miser's
soul. The "Orderly" thinks-and we are
inclined to side with him-that if one
could transfer Virginia grazing farm amid
mountains, valleys and gurgling streams to
South Carolina, it would be a miniature
Eden. Too lengthily,
OUR CORPORAL
WARREsroX, FAUouIrR, Va,
Wednesday, October %, 1861.
Dear Enquirer :--Another brilliant and
glorious victory was achieved for the South
near Leesburg, on Monday. For the num-
bers engaged on our side, We regard it as
one of the most successful and gallant feats
of the war. On Sunday night, or early on
Monday morning, Gen. Stones Massachu-
sets brigade, and Gen. Bakers California
brigade-with perhaps others, amounting in
all to five or six thousand men-crossed the
Potomac in boats with six places of artille-
ry; and advanced towards Leesburg, dri-
wing in our pickets before them. General
Evans, with only part Of his brigade,
consisting Of the 9th Virginia Regiment,
under Col. Eppa Huuton, and portion Of
the 18th and 18th Mississippi, under Coils.
Burt and Featherston, went out to meet
them. He was supported by the Madison
troopers, Capt. Thomson; Balls cavalry
from Chesterfield, and Mead's troop from
Loudoun, as we'll as BY few pieces of can.
non ; but the field chosen was so rough and
densely covered with underground, that
neither artillery nor cavalry could be made
available in the fight. He could command
the services of only about $500 infantry;
yet with this handful of brave men, be
went forth to meet an enemy between three
and four times their number, supported BY
a field battery of six pieces, which they sue
ceeded in planting, on the only open space
in the field, before the engagement. The
picket firing, which commenced early in the
morning, was succeeded about IL o'clock,
A. NJ, by heavy firing all along the lines
of battle. The tug of war-the deadly
onsets-the vollies of musketry-the char
ges Of bayonets-laStsd until our gallant
boys repulsed the enemy with frigbtful
slaughter. Rallyiug again, the same ter
rife scenes required, when they were re.
pulsed a second time, and finally. A 6t Of
the chronic, and it seems an incurable dis.
ease of the Yankees, seized them--the pan
ic spread and in "confusiou worse con-
founded" they fed, divesting themselves
of every encumbrance, to the banks of the
Potomac and not stopping there, we are
told, many of them in the garments which
father Adam wore, plunged into the river,
and swan to the Maryland shore, Or
drowned. A large number-500 is report.
ed-took boats, which being overloaded, or
from some other cause, sank with their car
90 in the middle of the river. During the
engagement, their battery was charged and
taken by the 9th Virginia Regiment ; but
was retaken, when the Mississippians rush
ing up with shout upon their flank, the
infantry fed preoipitately, and the guns
were secured to our side. The pride of
the artillerists is said to have sustained them,
and they stood to their posts until they
were either shot down or made prisoners.
The fight and the pursuit lasted until dark
the retreat must have lasted until bed
time.
We have this information from menu
Der Of the Madison cavalry who left Lees
burg at II o'clock, Tuesday morning; and
he says that our men were gathering in the
prisoners until then. He, and all We have
conversed with, report our loss at about 100
killed and wounded. The enemy's loss is
estimated at 1900 killed, wounded aud
taken prisoners. The Madisonian horse.
man counted 200 of their dead bodies lying
on the field; and $40 prisoners as they
came out of the building in which they
were put at Leesburg, toproceed to Manas-
sas. Our "Orderly" who returned from
Manassas this morning, states that 523 were
near there, awaiting the disposal of the
proper authorities-Col. johnson having
gone to Richmond to ascertain what must
be done with them. The boat load of 500
sunk, the 200 dead bodies counted on the
field, and the 523 near Manassas, make a
grand total of 1928; and it is quite rea'
sonable to suppose that the rough and shrub
by nature of the ground hid numbers of
! dead from the view of the Madisonian.
Among their prison ers are eighteen com.
missioned officers, of whom are several Ma.
jors and two Colonels. Among their killed
was Gen. Baker, Senator from Oregon
the man who said in their last Congress that
20, 900, 900 could whip 5000, 900, and hold