Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-27
Movements I'm Western VIrgInIa..-COIIIE-
ion with FEiends.--The Yankees Refuse
TO FiShGs


Since my letter of the 10Th inst. Gen Jackson
command has had rather an exciting and adventu-
rous time. The party which left this camp on the
9th inst, did not We suppose they intended Join
Gen. Lees column, bat went in nearly the same di-
rection as that taken by Col Rust's command in the
expedition Of which gave you an account ia my
letter of the 10th Dst their object also being SINH
lar to that expected to be accomplished by Colonel
Rust in his first expedition, viz: to get around on
the left flank of the enemy. This last party consist
ed of about 1000 men, commanded by Col. Rust.
The remainder of Gen. Jsckson's available force
left this camp, in compliance with his order of the
18th instant, about IL o'clock on last Wednesday
night and moved forward toward Cheat Mountain.
The rain which had been falling necessarily since
tt evening before, continued to pour DOWN heavily
for nearly two hours after we left camp, WHEN 1t
ceased and soon the heavens were bedecked with
myriads of bright stars that seemed to look down
upon our movements with an approving glsnce. We
were, no 1ever destined not to enjoy the beauty of
this scene long, for soon those sparkling gems of
night were obscured by dense fog which hung
heavily over the valley and enveloped the noun
tsinE.
Having secured our arm, so as to keep our pow
der dry, we slowly wendell our way along that cir
cuitous and muddy road, arriving about day at a
point within three miles Of the Yankee camp. Here
we halted for short time being near the enemy s
advanced post of piekets and it thought by tie
men and NEST Of our officers that we were awaiting
the signal of Gen. Lee and Col Rust-ths former Of
rear, and the latter on his right flank, for the at
tack, when it was supposed, we would rush up at
double quick in front. We had not stopped long
before the report Of a single musket was heard in
the direction of the enemys camp, which was quick
IL followed by ten or fifteen others Soon several
volleys of musketry were heard in the same d.
rection and we thought the ball had opened, as we
were Immediately ordered to aaaance. We had not
proee led far-thejNeWmsn Guards in the advance
before we were fred into, but without re-
al.
either side of the road, was q dense for
est and we ccu'd no. tell whence the shot came
A party of scouts were forthwith detached from
the vanguard, who fanked the road right and left,
and soon succeeded in routing the advanced pckets
of the enemy without any loss on our side and but
one killed on theirs. The whole column now NOV
ed forward but we had not proceeded far before Il
was announced that the enemy in force were COM
ing down on US. We could distinctly hear the
heavy trampiDg of armed men, and rumbling
noise, like that produced by artillery wagons roll
ing over q rough road at great distance from US.
we were nCV oriered to fall .out of the road aud
Re position in the bushes on the left-that being
the highest side of the mountain. We had not more
than got our position before the enemy, as we sup
nosed, were within 100 yards Of US, but the road
he e made such an abrupt turn, and the bushes
that intTvened were so thick as to al
most hide them from our view. Pretty
soon one or two guns were fired not far from
u.s. when the Newman Guards, which commanded
the road fred volley into the approaching mass
of men, which was quickly returned by them when
their commander Immediately gave the order to
charge upon US. Instantly our bayonets were fixed
ready to receive their charge. With loud yell that
rent the morning air for miles around, they rushed
down upon us, when the firing commenced further
down the line to the left Of Regiment by those
who had at first been prevented from firing in con-
sequence Of the dense forest which interviewed be
tween them and the supposed enemy. About this
time the cry, "Georgl&ns Georgians Georgians w
was heard to proceed from the ranks of tho
supposed enemy. We were at first not ia
clined to interpret this cry as it was intended
by those whence 1t proceeded, fearing lest it
might be q cheat and we were strengthen
ed in this belief when above the surrounding noise
we distinctly heard the stentorian voices of Gen.
Jackson and Col. Johnson cry Out-"It's cheat;
they lie, pour into them, my brave boys;" and we
were Just the act Of pouring calling fire into
their midst, when we discovered the white badges
on their hats and knew them to be our own men.
Two men-Sergeant Fielder, of the LIST, and soldier
whose name haven't learned, of the 18th Georgia
Regiments, were killed; two dangerously wounded
IT T. Brown Of the Newman Guards, and Corpo-
raj Hogue of the Oyethorpe Infantry; two slightly
wounded-W. B. W. Dent of the Newman Guards,
and private WEIGH, of the Southern Guards-all
except the second mentioned were of the lst Regi-
ment Georgia Volunteers. This was sad occur \
renee, but neither party was TO blame.
The causes which brought about this sad engage.
ment were as follows: detachment of so men
from the LIST and 18th Georgia regiments, under
command of Lieut.. Dawson, of the 18th, left this
camp several hours in advance of the main body OF
Gen. JacksOns column, with orders to effect pas
sage through the mountain, and form an ambuscade
near the road at some point between the enemy's
pickets and their camp, in order to prevent them
escaping from US when the advancing column
should rout them from their posts. This order
was executed, so far regards reaching the point
in the order, and forming the ambus-
cade; but Lieutenant Dawson had not been lozg
in his place of cOncealmeat before a gun in
the hands of one of the party accidentally fired
which brought out party of the Yankees stationed
near to investigate the cause of the firing Seeing
his ambuscade would be discovered, and finding it |
impossible to execute the order first given. Lieut..
Dawson determined TO sc as he thought best. He |
Immediately ordered his men to advance on the |
nearest post of pickets which was not far off and
happened to be the post at which was stationed |
The reserved force for the advanced pickets to fall
oSck upon. This force consisted of about forty |
men, who maintained their position bravely for |
lhort time.
But our men advanced on them so rapidly and !
poured such CALLING fires into their midst that they
we're soon forced to beat hasty retreat. Our |
men sustained no loss-nine dead bodies of Yam |
Ieeslay in the road before them; no doubt others
we're killed in the woods, and sixteen guns were
oCnd on the battle ground that had been in the |
hands of the enemy.
We now moved toward to within one and half |
niles of the enemys camp, aud the whole force was
leplsyed in an open field in full view of it. We re-
NAMED in the field, drawn up in battle array, ex-
'ecting the Yankees to come out and meet US, till
ate in the afternoon, when we were marched back
bout four miles, where we bivouaced for the night
an onan eld vifhout kanss or ANYTHING IN nPofact