The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-11-01
The Battle Of Leosburg

We are enabled to lay before our rea-
ders some interesting particulars of the
great battle near Leesburg, received from
a gentleman who was in the immediate
vicinity Of the fight. These statements,
it will be remembered. embody observa.
tions made on the evening of the 2lst.,
before the full extent of our victory was
ascertained. The battle commenced early
Monday morning, and lasted throughout
the day. The Yankees crossed the Poto.
mac the previous night, and continued toI
come over in large numbers as the fight
progressed, until from eight to ten thoui
sand were landed on the Virginia side.-tt
They were met by the forces under GEM
Evans, viz the Sth Virginia. reginienV
Col. 1lunton; the 18th Mississippi, Cologsr,
Barksda,e; the 18th Mississippi, GowaS,h
Featherston, and the 18th Mississif ~
Colonel Burt. The engagement very soon
became general, and the fighting was ter.
rible on both sides, the Yankees being
protected by heavy forest and having
the advantage in ground and position.-
They were routed three distinct times at
the point of the bayonet, and as often
heavily reinforced. In one charge the Sth
Virginia captureda splendid brass battery,
and put its men to inglorious flight. The
enemy were finally pursued to the rivers
brink, where, being unable to recross
with facility they made desperate stand,
but their doom was sealed. Our brave
volunteers charged them and scattered
them like leaves to the winds and waters.
Our informant states that they were cut
all TO pieces and that the battlefield was
thickly strewn with their dead and wound
ed. The prisoners, Of whom great num-
Der were taken, said without hesitation
that our gallant troops fought like
devils"
The loss upon our side hud not been
ascertained with accuracy on Monday
evening, though our telegraphic advices
have since reported it at three hundred
in killed and wounded. This, however
is not comparable TO the loss of the ene-
my. We have at this time no particulars,
except that Col. Burt, of the 18th Missis.
sippi, was. badly wounded, and Colonel
Tebbs, (of what regiment is not stately
slightly. Our informant saw 800 Yankee
prisoners marching by, and upwards of
200 more We're captured. These men re-
ported that at least 300 of their comrades
were drowned while attempting to recross
the Potomac. r... .........
Our troops fought under great disad-
vantages. They underwent heavy march
on the previous day, with but two meals;
slept on their arms in the open air all
night, and went into battle on Monday
morning with but an apology fora break
last. They fought all day, without re-
freshments of any sort, and without rein
torcements, against vastly superior force,
to which constant additions were made
from the Maryland shore. Truly, Provi-
dence has once more prospered our cause.
Our victory is glorious and complete.-
Not one man on our side exhibited any
signs of fear, but all fought desperately
and bravely; to adopt the language OF our
informant ''as only gentleman can fight"
| The object of this movement of the
Federalists seems to have been to outhank
our army on the left, as part of McClel-
lan's plan for an advance upon our lines
The result was so disastrous that the as.
piring Federal General may have to draw
largely upon his strategical science in the
adoption of some other method or posi-
bly, he may be superseded in consequence
f this great reverse at the outset of his
career. ~
Other verbal accounts of the battle on
Monday represent that the scene at the
river, when the enemy attempted to re-
cross, was fearful The rattle of musketry,
and the sharp crack of the Mississippi
rifle, mingled with shrieks of drowning
men, and the panic was scarcely lesswide-
spread than that of the 2lst of July, just
three months before. The Federal pris-
oners, numbering 523, were under guard
on the battlefield of Manassas Yesterday
morning. .. A.. .f H..
LATER.-Among the casualticg on our
side were the following. ..,.
Lieutenant Benjamin G. Qrter, Sth
Virginia, slightly wounded Privates
Hatcher and Donahoe, of thdsame regi-
ment, killed. Doctors Martin land Brock,
!, thought to be of Mississippi, btdly wound
ed.
, Col, Burt's wound, though severe, is not
considered mortal. Col. Tebls is Lieut.
l Col, of the Sth Virginia. Dan.
The First Company of Howitzers were
not in the fight no artillery having been
engaged on our side. IY#
Fighting Population of the South.
A New York paper complies from the
; United States census of 1860 the number
of men in the seeded States between the
; age of Is and As, which, we presume. i,
about correct: 'i
Alabama 100000
Arkansas $1,000
!, Florida $4,000
{ Georgia 10000 y
Louisiana 1900 ili
: Mississippi 7l,000 ni
/ North (sar<lfoo If ny 121 O00