The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-23
THE FIGHT AT IEaRpER's FERRY
ofrAE RICHMOND pt-rArcH
CHARLEsrowS Jfferson Co, Va. }
flafgb.... Injh

~N'f
October 18TH, ls6l.
the ami Fersary of the attack on Ha rper's
.EerFy, by cid bs.aWattomie Brown which
nay ne sara to be the beginning of this terri
n't war, in WHicE we are now engaged was
s.%eiebratei on Tuesday last Che TGfh5 hv ,,
very spirited fight, between Col. Ashbv ana
3hoSe hhdeF his coH11hani, nun boring q bout
At'- aIit' q cody Of rderaiiSts supposed 80 tr,
! i,'"" stroHg. a L tcld you in 4 former icf-
( Ter, the enemy had taken posscssion Of \ hjU
FWO miles this side of tho Ferry ,t1,t,a which
th"Y had erected Qualifications Cot Asbbe
! having reeei we'd information, t,rouph y at,,.
Iler. that considerable force, with several
pieces OF cannon, would march from Lee. f,uru
anu take possession OF The Leudoun hei.tt<
80 order to assist him in driving the enemy
from their stronghold, made prepar4t,ous IL
commence the atttcl of. .his side of the town
iheSe irienfI0ns becoming generally known.
every oAe was on the gai afse aud between
seven auu eight 0 clock on Tuesday lncrl3!ug.
Z fdiid G}Nchdlge of musketrv ana fiA 19p,,
booming sound OF the cannon told ffaf
tue hght bad bagun The road tai,.inr
from this place to the scene OF conflict ,rae
ilued WIN strong men, vending their Aav 10
ltt neal est point OF r'en roHsiftH1 scj5B >iJsg8.
Tad they been patriotic and courageous
/ enough 20 hare taken their guns. pistols
pitchiorhs, or GDy other deatil dealing irunla-
nent they could find. they raigt,t have rem
Gered most Efficient service. and by their pres
enCe and 20 operation, spirr,i our m litarv
with fresh courage: but. being mere CyfioGs
spectators, they were very serious obstacles in
| ftiet, tor when The balls ieli tbic- and fast
around them, they scamperrd Of without re-
garo 10 consequences, which nli ght have been
'ely disastrous, rs their -.ampe,la had The
effect Of starting The uii tia ana il was with
difficulty that their comma ui.er cOula rat!
them again. However he did succeaI
in doing It, and they fought well. and
drove the enemy from their 3,osif;on
upon which our cannon was then planted
consisting Of one twenty four and one six
pnunder.
Our guns from the Virginia mountain theu
opened fire in order 70 drive the Yarl,aas
from the hCusrs Ia which they had talfan re-
Iuge. some Of these shot tCCk fatal effect
, ojhtfs He'll short c!it II drew upon them the
IRE OF 4 concealed battery, the Fedevalists
had on the Maryldn heights and their guns
being managed by ACCOMPLISHED artii|erists
soon obliged our men 10 fail back, and in so
DONG one OF their principal guns broke down
rendering II entirely useless
On the other side of the rtlIagn tb. fCht
was very Cesperat" and again we had .hn
misfortune TO lose the use of our !3rg4s.
cannon by its breaking down. These TWO
cts.,@Ihr5 io>t US the Ytcsory; for our men
were obliged to retreat, leaving the
uIii and one twenty four FOUNDER in the
h"hHS CT me enemy. II Is greatly TO be re-
GREETED thatW had not force enough TO pursue
the advantages we first gained; but our OBJ
Iect has been accom- plished, for the Fedora =
isis nave evacuated the Ferry. and returoed
10 their encampmcnt on the other side G the
river.
VIII leave a more military ds~cyint,on of
this fight 10 be given by these more compe-
tent than am, being 4 lady. I, Of course
was t,ot present, and only give the facts
as heard them from Others and as each sen 3, :,
uldcrrnt version OF the affair, it was with
difficulty that | was enabled to get as near.
the truth as | think have done
We had one man killed ana nine wouhded
All OF the latter, including one Yankee were
brought to This place, where they are being
kindly cared tor, and every effort made ro
| 'lI'Fl'tte t'tif s0lierIngs. The loss Of the
| + fe''rr2iistS 1t Is impossible 10 estimate ac-
curately, but we hear It was heavy
The jiey. Green North is Il prisouar in the
hanCs OF the en-2nY. Ills non appearance on
| the evening Of the fight and the return
/ on MS morse badly wounded, cauzed
| hlS trends great anxiety, and early
the following morning a dag OF
truce was sent oyer the aver, when 1t was
asceTt1in'd fha BE was prisoner, but un-
IUIt' lie is q troe-hearted f'ontheTncr and
Wal not conceal his sen timents even TO pro.
cure ms release, but hope that after ey-
aminiEg hia case. ana finding him & non com
batanI they viii have The magnanimity to
Ielejse hilH without insulting him bv retEir-
inS nan TO take the oath Of allegiance.
There II one who was engaged in this fight
ana was desperately wounded, who dcseri IS
special mention. John. +. Beale mem be :
OF CanLaiH b. Il. MOOTe's company, from,
This place. has been faithfully serving his
country ever since the beginning Of the war
and had returned the evening before ON 4
FI~it 10 ms home Tor the purpose OF recruit
e"htrhl plated, he unhesitatinsiy offered his
stF' le' ;, and was, ny one Of those Mysterious
2cfs q frovideute, cut down in the midst al
ms usefulness. We sincerely trust that his
wound Wlli not prove fatal.
Ioo much praise cannot be bestowed unon
our CiieeTs and men, aGd in the name OF tho
ladies / return 5hem thanks for the noble
manner ia which they have sustained the
honor OF the service, and for the energy and
Determination tAey have shown in oar de-
fence.
The fate of H&rr-r's Ferry - sea led, and
before many days II viii be q heap OF srloul-
dering ruins, aud there VIII be very few in
this county who win not rejoice ovrr It's de-
Atructlon y JEFFERSON LADY.