The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-07-24
From the Petersd"ry Erpress.I
Skirmlshing on the Peninsula.

Sir Yankees hilied and E1eren Taken Pris.
oners
The following particulars Of Z skirmsh
which occurred in the peighborhood OF
Newport News, on Friday morning, between
Confederate and Federal forces, we gain
from II gentleman ust from Jamestown. It
Is confirmed by II gentleman who arrived
yesterday afternoon from Yorktown The
Innkees at Newport News have for some
time past been sending out parties for the
purpose of PiIlasing the farms OF the resi-.
dents of the Peninsula -robbing meat
houses, stealing fowls Of every kind and
driving oft cattle, hogs. &c Accounts Cf
these contemptible doings had on various
occasions reached ten. Masruder'S lead
quarters, anh Were known To his forces, but
no successful attempt to prevent the dcpre,
datons had been made. On Thursday last.
Gen Alagruder left his Headquarters at
yorktown, and went over to jamestown to
view the lortihca,ions ut that pont. lmmr
diateiy ate. his departure, an expedition
Was set on foot TO surprise and il possible
capture some OF the thie,ing Yankees, VINO
were fast becoming terror in their neigh
bothood. Accordingly party of 80 pick ed
men was formed, composed Of members
from the Nottowny aud Dinwiddc Cavalry
and possibly some from the Iien:ico Dra-
go"ns. After proceeding for some distance
an the direction of Newport News, they di
vided into two communicative to act ns in.
fautry and the other as cavalry, sent out
their pIckets and encalnped for the night
The infantry were some distunce in advance
OF the cavalry, and the men and horses of
both parties were entirely hidden from view.
should the enemy appear. About nm hour
before sunrise on Friday morning the pick
els brought the welcome news Of the enc.
inys approach. The number was not less
than l25, and most probably reached as
high rs l5O-nearly double the number of
our forces. But brave men are unap2alled
by numbers, and II fearless, determined
heart, is equal to half II dozen cowurds.-
Everything was put in order, and arrange
ihehts as to the action OF our two conpun
les quickly completed Meantime the enc.
my last approached-apprarcd in sight and
was ailo"ed Ia pass the position Of our for
ces. The time for action now arriving, our
infantry closed III 'he road behind them. -
discovering this, The enemy irnn.dinirh
wheeled and fired, but without 80 mu:h ns
even hitting any of our men. The fire was
returned by our side, and five of the Yam.
KEGS fell dead in their tracks. Our cavalry
''D' Oul blc enc
my, trained in the art of running. had got
Lon wind OF their true situation, and with
out losing their "presence Of mind" for an
instant, turned ana sped like Wild turkeys
through the woods. All We're no so tortu
nate, however. for between the two divisions
OF our f"rccs-each aiding the 0,her--elev.
en- OF the invaders were captured, together
with the wagon and horses ,hey had
brought alo"g To haul their i'll COTTON spoils
In the wagon Was found another dead
body, which the Yankees had pitched in
making the number killed six. Pursuit was
made after the retreaIing Yakecs, but the
woods were too thick to make it effective
The prisoners, and we believe all the dead
bodies were taken to Yorktown on Friday
whence special messenger Was dispatched
10 Gen. Mnernder, ut jamestown, 10 inform
him OF the affair Thus we have another
successful and daring encounter TO add to
the list Of brilliant deeds performed by
Southern men during the shor, period OF
this contest The fight took place about
six miles from Newport, but we are un ,le
to give the names of any Of the parties en-
gagged.