The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-26

CAMP FLOWN" SPRINGS.

Jefferson coupty.-Na, Oct. Il, 1861.
Having been engaged iii the battle on Boil
var hill on yesterday, the 10Th inst, we have
concluded to give you a trne statement of the
same. Early on the evening of the 18th we
received orders from Col. Ashby TO have one
days rations cooked, and placed in our haver
sacks, ready to take up the line of march III
daybreak. Accordingly we were all early on
the line of march on the morning Of the 18TH,
and ready to meet the enemy. About : o elk A .
NJ, we came in sight of the enemy, who Were
encamped on Bolivar hill, having their breast
works made with heavy logs. We planted
our cannon, consisting Of one twenty four
pounder and one six -po6nd rifle cannon, upon
the hill about halt mile this side OF Bolivar
bill and commenced firing upon the enemy.
they firing upon with their small arms
without any effect. We soon drove them
from their breas tworks We then attacked
them on the right and left, the first regiment
marching through the field 10 the right: the
second, straight forward, at dou hle-quick
time, from our position TO the ground the
enemy occupied II few moments before. The
second regiment then marched on through a
strip of woods and field, III plain view and
In range of the enemy's guns, the bullets fall
ing like hail in our midst and around US. But
through the interference OF klnd providence
We all gained the cover of the HILL except one
man, who received slight wound upon the
hip.
After gaining the cover of the hill, we all
lay fiat on the ground whilst the balls of the
enemy were whistling fast and thick over our
heads. The cavalry that Were with the
second regiment, kept up fire upon the
enemy, whilst they We're .iring upon us from
the windows OF the buildings IN Bolivar. 1t
was therel ON this Hill that several of the cav
airy fell belonging tn Col. Ashby 5 regiment.
II is due here to state that Maj. Finter and
Adlutant Grays0n acteH with the greatest
coolness and bravery, riding backwards 3nd
forwards on the top OF the hin III plain view
and in range of the enemy y's fire. watching the
movements OF the enemy. mayor Flnter mere
seeing the first regiment on the right re-
a .,lf
10 fall back TO the ground we first drove the
enemy from, and in a few moments the an
KEGS came up the pike charging and yelling
like so many devils.
The second regiment here being Joined by
two companies Captains Manck and Tay-
lor's) of the first retreating regiment, opened
fire ON the \ KEGS, and repulsed them with
considerable loss. our regiment not losing a
single man, and having only one signify
wounded Ii Is due here TO say that the n Ell
of the first regiment are not TO blame for re-
trea ting, as they had orders from their Col,
who retreated with them.
The enemy, by this time, having received
reinforcem ents and cannon, commenced IrlH Z
hombShells in our ranks, aud our force being
very much weakened by the greater portion
of the first regiment retreatng, the hand
ful OF men that Were left by order of Colonel
Ashby, fell back on the hill where we first
made the attack III the morning.
We here opened fire upon them again with
the small rife cannon. The enemy occnpy-
morning, commenced firing upon again
with bombshellS. Our ammunition in the
meantime giving out, and the "a FOUNDER be
ing of no more use 10 us, its axletTee having
been broken i'll the comm encement of the en-
gagementD was spiked, thus rendering IL USE
less TO bose whom it fell in the hands Of
The evening being now far spent, We W2re or
dered back 10 our encampmen
There was only one killed on the Confederate
side-a MIR. Immer, Of the militia, from
Shenandoah, and seven or eight wounded
The loss upon the Federal side, according TO
their own acknowledgement in the Baltimore
Iaa, is about eighty killed. But tor the acci-
dent to our gun, the enemy Would have been
cut 10 pieces. As it was, however, they lost
IN their flight upwards Of cne hundred coats
and blankets, besides other trapplngs, and Il
number of firearms. The victory Oh the Con
federate side was com plete the enemy making
tracks in hot haste 10 Mary land. The Con
iederate force was 500 militia and about Zj1
cavalry, and that of the enemy 500 or 96o, but
We're subsequently reinforced to about :, 900.
We captured seven of the enemy in the engage
ment. The prisoners say that 'ttc d--d militia
fg0led them, and that ''they fought ike derd> wlh
0at ang officers. The Yankees took it fof gran ted
that we had no officers, they had laid aside
their uniforms, and taken guns as common
soldiers. J. j. Z. & J. W. T. ).