Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-11-09
Battle of Leesburg.

The more We see of this battle the more we are
impressed with its Importance, and the gallantry
displayed by our troops. All the regiments fought
WELL but especial praise is due to the Virginia 9Th.
A correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch says:
The 9th went at double-quck across the open
field in 'front.' reached the left of the woods in front
of Capt Ball, and formed line of battle The charge
soon followed and the cavalry participated in it. dis
mounting and fighting the enemyS advance guard
on foot. The engagement soon become vigorous as
the incessant hring-more uninterrupted and vio-
lent, think, that at Manassas-indicated. Once OF
twice the noise OF the muSketry and the cheering
seemed to roll nearer and show that our troops
were wavering and falling back. But Col. Hunton
assures me that such was at no time the fact. d" 1t
was one steady advance" he declares To notice
more particularly, however the mode of attack
adopted by the Sth the writer of this with the
piece of artillery above alluded to, and denied
all participation in the battle; but many of the regi
ment officers and privates, related the circum-
stances. On entering the woods, the regimen was
at once deployed and advanced thus towards the
enemy, through the dense thcket. Their fankers
soon met, and the engagement soon commenced al
most Immediately all along the line. The enemy
had crossed their forces with three pieces of artil
ery-two navy howitzers and one heavy rife gun
in flats, had assembled by winding road the steep,
rocky bluff of some two hundred feet, which here
extends along the rivers bank, and had deployed
their column right and left in the woods.
The 9Th went into the fight, running and cheer
ing The 18th arrived in good time entered the
woods, in the and the right flank of the Sth
and commenced their attack with all that desperate
valor which characterizes the great Of which
they were on this occasion the worthy representa-
tive. The engagement, which had begun to Ian
gush upon our side, in some degree, from the ex
hauStion of our troops, thus recommended with new
fury. The yolleys were incessant, and the cheering
rung above the woods like the shout of victory
Let this fact here be placed on record in words
plain that no one can misunderstood: From the
beginning TO the end Of this tace to face combat, BE-
tdoesn 4, 900 NOrteTners and less than 900 South
erners, there ne1e7' paS moment achen the SOUTH
erners gdre back one inch-Uery increment tcaS for
aodrd their OUR officers could not control Them md
iofthOut advantage Of ground, opposed more than
taco to one and knowing hat Federal requirements
oere continually crossing they Gdranced d0ggedLy,
step by STEP and By simple superiority Of hearts and
arms, arrested the CictOry from the enemy. Happy
and glorious men! True sons of the sres of the
Revolution; and noble ofShootS Of the Southern oak
You hai truly hearts of oak On that day the men
of Virginia and Mississippi covered themselves all
over with undying glory. There those Of your
brethren, near at hand who listened to the mortal
voleyS, and with flushed faces and hot tears burned
to leap to your rescue for the honor of their blood
and race, and stand or fall with you. But this
denied them, and the glory remains all your own"
We find in the Richmond Enquirer a most in
teresting letter from lady to her brother dcscrlb
ing the Battle of Leesburg, from which we make
the following extract Speaking of the glorious
Virginia 9Th, she says:
Now don't you think this was pretty well for
old quiet Union loving Loudoun. She may be called
first in peace and first in war Those who chung
most tenaciousy to the Union, have been the most
forward to take up arms in defence of our rights,
when they were invaded"