Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-23
NASHVILLE. TENN. SATURDAY. NOVEMBER %, 1861
AN INTERESTING ARTICLE,
THE LEESBURG BATTLE.
fFrom the Richmond Whig.

that a multitude of details have already
been contributed by volunteer correspond
ence, and more reliable stock may soon be
expected fromlforthcoming official reports.
There are, however, two points (if l mis-
take not, hitherto unnotieed, which l beg
leave to hold up to view SO far as / suppose
reliable information has reached me.
1. ANTAGONIST PLANS OF BATTLE.-The
Northern General crossed his forces at two
points, in apparently equal eolumn-one
openly at Edwards Ferry, the nearest pub
lie thorodghfare, where he fortified himself
formidably; the other clandestiaely, mile OF
two above opposite to Harrison's Island, on
portion Of the Virginia shore, marked by
precipitous cliffs, deep ravines and impene-
trable thickets, wild, woody, unfrequented
territory, where military forces might well
be supposed to be easily concealed. General
Stone very probably anticipated an instant
attack upon his lower column, from his dash
ing West Point old friend General Evans
intending, no doubt, when the battle waxed
hot, to have advanced his concealed column
upon his rear, and thus, placing Evans be-
tween two fires, surprise and overthrow him.
. 1t is some confederation of this sketch, that
at the close of the battle, Col. Cogswell-I
think it was-now prisoner. is reported to
have addressed to General Evans this witty
critique upon the conflict of the day: Had
you fallen into our trap, / should have been
the Brigad er, and not you.
Gen. Ev rs soon acquainted himself with
the fact of the double approach Of his en-
emy, and instantly resolved to hold one di-
vision at arms length, while he demolished
the other. Accordingly, he took position,
in person upon the high, intermediate ground
which..commanded the best view of both
positions of his enemy-stationed a regi-
ment or two to hold the Edwards Ferry
forces at bay, and felt his way to the main
body of the upper column by successful
picket and skirmishing through the early
and central portion of the day. Through.
out the fight, his general command to his]
officers was this, "Make more use of the
bayonet than the bullet. Charge the enc
my instantly and furiously upon sight -
Whenever the reports of the firing and OF
his incessant couriers gave notice that the
always outnumbering enemy was holding
'this ground, he would order a reinforcement
First by one regiment, then by another
And when the day closed, he had executed
his work perfectly, and utterly demolished
the Harrison Island column of the enemy's
forces.
The terrified remnant of the enemy's ar
my at Edwards Ferry succeeded in gaining
time and retreating to the Maryland shore
with very little loss, by playing cur General
a Yankee trick. Before the dawn of day
they had managed-it is believed through
Union emissaries-to fill our Generals cars
with the reiterated tidings that Banks and
Stone had landed 20, 900 men on the Lees
burg side of the Potomac during the night
and would soon invest the city. This
prompted him to act on the defensive, and
thus the enemy succeeded in making his
escape.
2. The perfidy of the Northern soldiers in
the Leesburg fight.
1t is an undeniable fact that, from the
commencement to the conclusion of the bat
tie, the Northern soldiers frequently ad-
vanced upon the Southern with the cry
ave are friends!!" and this always to de-
ceive and destroy. ~uhout self exposure.
At o'clock in the morning-in full view
of Leesburg and within mile Of the town,
and before the first gun was fred-Captain
Duff, of the 18th Mississippi regiment, in
quired of a number of Federal soldiers ad-
vsneing upon him, "Who are you2" They
responded, "We are friends but still ad-
vanced. To the same question, more en-
phaticslly repeated by the Captain, the same
answer was returned and the same advance
prosecuted; whereupon the battle of the day
was commenced by the Captains order to
fire upon them. Captain Duff and forty
men, all of whom earned laursls for them
selves and their country on the morning of
the 2lst, stand ready to attest the truth of
this statement.
1t was probably in the second skirmish of
the day that Northern Lieutenant and a
portion OF his men very unexpectedly en-
countered Captain Singleton, of the 18th
regiment, and some of his COM
pany, in the woods. The Captain inquired,
" Who are youe" They responded, "FFiends'
He stepped up, and raising the cap of the
nearest man, Indignantly exclaimed, sYou
deserved to be shot for your duplicity."
for two OF their number were made priso-
ners and one was shot, in attempting to es-
cape.
The Burt Rifles, company of the 18th
were the first corps ordered up
as reinforcement to the 9th Virginia regi-
ment. On their way to the battle field, when
exhorted by fellow soldiers stationed at in
termediate points to deport themselves
bravely, with lively step and a gallant air,
they responded, "On the ground where VIC
meet the enemy we will bury them, or be
buried" Nobly did they redeem their pledge
but sorely did they suffer from the duplici-
~ Of the Yankees. Early in the heat of the
great battle, number of Federal soldiers,
ABOUT TO De shot down by them, exclaimed
Don't fret Don't fire! zoe are .triendsl,'-
The Confederates believed them, aad instant
y obliqued their guns and discharged them
to the right and left. The clock scarcely
ticked, ere these self-styled friends brought
their guns to bear upon the very men who
had SO generously spared their lives and
shot them to the earth. 1t was in this man
ner precisely that Gov. Pettus' son, and
other gallant young men of that noble corps
were slaughtered. The slayers, we need
hardly say, were made to bite the dust by
the enraged companions of the murdered
Capt. j. c. Campbell, j. S. Pool, 7. Virder,
W. E. Cunliffe, and many others, stand
ready to confirm this statement
While passing through the gully which
divides the field of battle, the Beauregard
Rifles, Capt. Kearney, 18th Mississippi reg
menf, discovered ar line of soldies drawn
up across the field, on the hill, and halted
for moment, They instantly exclaimed
Friends, don't fire." A soldier of the
Rifles cried out, in loud, indignant tone,
captain, they are not friends; they are
Yankees" Immediately the whole line.
rom shoulder arms" leveled and dis !
charged their weapons upon our soldiers
Turner Tsylor, j. 7. Tanier, G. w. Shackle-
lord and c. NJ Sparrow, win verify this