Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-08-28
IUIIsy VT IU'VCVtlUT!'
W. il. NORRIS.
From Wcs,crn Virginia.

The iullnwiag extracts trrm n letter of Lieu.
JuuS X. ELocK.R. of WISE's Legion, to his moth.
cr in this District, will hc read with interest:
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, va, aug. ltl.
"Tkc day after We left Charleston. wc cnwpcd
in two miles Of M"j. Patton in cr:,an,l Of part
of our forces. a; . o'clock, ?. IL, "e received
dispatch from linn urging us to come immcd;
aiely, that the enemy were in a mile d; him. Gel.
AnlersonS Regiment Immediately :c, ont, and
wh in iails nf him we heard the eep roar of
cannon which told u* the fight ha'' ;;taa'y c'rr-
menced We made ali possible haste. :nl o.. ar
rsng Oh the field saw d: t@o e9Ttsn Eng parties
drawn up on opposite hills. The cncmy number
ing 400 continually advancing upan 100 under
Maj. Patton, drove hi" from hi: position and be
fell mortally woUn.cd his men scattered in every
direction in great confusion. Dut seeing rein
frrcemerts. they rallied. The enemy rctreated q
little ana mrlc II stand. Their grape, canister
and rifle raan.n balls fell as thick rs hail. and
strange 20 say ruO of our men, on an open field,
with no protection (cxceft that afforded by few
trccs) stood before mn enemy of l.iGO men con-
cealcd in negro houses, corn cribs, &c., for four
hours. snd had only three men Killed and five
wounded although they Lad the superior rife
cannon, only one of our men was xii ed by can
NON bal, whilst their papers report they lost
ooe Hundred killed and wounded. Vt least half
Of our guns were the old fashion squirrel rife.
We had no rifle cannon and used canister and
trace chains on them in abundance; when chain
woul,l sweep through the ranks you would see the
whole line give way. After they retrcated VIC
feared another attack, and set fire to the houses
they had used as barricadcs. Seeing the fire and
nat surprising are wcui burn our own houses,
they thought they had gained The victory, and
two Of their Coloncls came galloping up right
amongst us, cxclaiming, "Well, boys, you haro
scattered Tie rebels have you.' We inrited them
to dismuunt, which they very reluctantly did We
took from | to Is priSoners-three Colonels, one
Lieut.. Colonel and two Captains. We remained
here week after the battle, and hearing that Nc
Clcan was coming across to Lewsbu,g fell back
ON that point; the Manassas victory however
seems to have changed the programme. At Lew
ishurs we met Gen. Floyd who was well equipped:
he will keep The enemy in check while we have
come on here to drill. Gen. Wise had been so
pressed by the enemy that lie had not time to
solidatc his troops, hut had them scattered in
numbers of only two three Companies and is
n,w Eere To organize the Regiment and form =
camp Of Instruction preparatory to forward and
united movement with Gen. Floyd
"Gcn Wise held his position in the kanawha
valley for six weeks without tents for his m.n,
AMI armed with squirrel rifles aud shot guns
You may soon expect 20 hear Of our move. Col.
in command. lie is It, Col. l suppose tienc:ul
Ilenningscn will bc the Colonel. Gen. Wise wi
probably encamp here for two weeks l"nser. but
as matter of course AL his plans are kept secret
out between Gen. Fnyl anil himself. I would
not he surprised il one or tic other did not join
Gen. Loring. who is Gen Garnctt's successor.
"Gibbcs, Mowry and myself are the only South
Carolinians here. Every body is busy at work
here the Companies arc drilling all hours Of Tie
day. In the Kanawha We had all our baggage
cut off by the enemy. lost my valise with tic
Bible in it ;hat you gave ME when I left homo
for West Point three years ago. 1 regret it so
much, as priced i; more than anything else I
have in the world.
"ArGrST 18TH This has been written two
days We have information that We will leave
here in week. Before this reaches you, We will
all probably bc in the kanawha valley