Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-07
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LANCASTER G. e., Va !
June 18th, 1861. Z

June 10Th, 1851.
70 the Editor Of The Whiq.
forward 10 you an account of an engage
ment which took place on Monday afternoon.
Oath inst.) twelve miles from the mouth of
the Rappahanock, at Pop Castle the residence
of Mr.. Jas. W. Gresham far down in the
Northern Neck. The Yankee Vandals have
been attempting to celebrate their demon or
gies with fiendish fury among us, aud were
repelled with soldiery valor and promptness
On the afternoon above mentioned, a large
war steamer entered the Rappahannock and
steamed up fifteen miles to Towles, Point,
with u 5. flags flying from stem to stern.
Then returning, she drew up off Pop Castle,
the elegant residence of Mr.. j ames w. Gresh-
am, bristling with cannon and mortars. She
sent large barge of with some thirty men,
carrying two swivels, and all armed cap-a-pie
with rifles. shot-guns. reyolvers and swords.
The barge being unable to near the Shore
twenty men were dispatched in a yawl boat,
who landed and walked up, thoroughly arm
ed, to Mr.. Gresham's house where th, y were
conducted and introduced by Mr.. Phillips.
who had often received acts of kindness under
this roof, so proyerbial for its geatlemanly
and generous hospitality.
Mr.. Gresham took Phillips aside and en-
quired the nature and object of the visit,
which be stated to be for poultry and eggs.
Mr.. Gresham informed him that he knew be
would not sell him either, reminded him that
Mrs Gresham was indisposed, and his moth
er, a lady of lightweight years of age, con-
fined to her bed, and advised bis leaving im-
mediately, lest he might be attacked by Capt.
Currel's company, who were encamped three
miles off. Scarcely was the interview ended,
when the fire of musketry announced that
our soldiers had engaged the remainder of
the enemy on the sbore-having heard by
their vidette that very large war steamer
had entered the Rappahannock. The enemy
fed in confusion to their boats, though they
were well armed and outnumbered our m-n.
They left behind them several rifles, revolv-
ers, swords and shot-guns, as trophies to us,
of their ingloriOus flight. Some were SO
alarmed as to rush into the river. The
steamer Immediately opened her port holes
upon our soldiers, firing shells, shot and
grape until firing ceased from them, when
she turned her batteries upon the beautiful
residence of Mr.. Gresham and tore it in pieces.
Twenty balls struck the house, making it
wreck of what il had been a few moments
before.
The yard and trees were much mutilated
by the bursting of shells. Remarkable to re-
late, no person was injured, though balls and
shells passed all around them. A ball passed
within six inches over old Mrs. Gresham, as
she lay helpless invalid in her bed, and i'm
mediately it was succeeded by another pass
ing through the mattress beneath her, tear
ing it in pieces and raising her body. That
no one should have been hurt is truly
wonderful, while every house on the premises
was shot. Whether We killed any of the enc
my as they rowed off, we are unable to say,
but presume that some were killed or wound
ed, as the number i'll the boats was observed
gradually to decrease. The number of shot
fired by the Yankees was fifty three, of which
twenty nine struck houses or trees. Some of
the bombs and balls were found a mile be-
yond Mr.. Gresham's house, in an adjoining
plantation. We return our thanks 10 Al
mighty God for his miraculous preservation
of our men and of Mr.. Gresbam's family from
the truculent and tiendish designs of mer-
cenary and hireling foe. "lf God be with us,
who shall be against US " CLERICUS.
P. 81 reopen my letter to mention that
an engagement took place at Pop Castle"
during the war of 1872 and 1914, at which
Mrs. Gresham's father commanded. and that
while balls were shot in every direction
around by the British, not one was shot at
the house. Old Mrs. Gresham, being eighty
eight years OF age, has lived during our three
wars, but it has been reserved for the MUIR
derous conductors of the present war alone, |
to prove themselves to her regardless of the |
sacred rights of private individuals, of the |
sanetity of age, and the purity of female |
character. The outrages which have been
committed during the progress of this brutal |
and nefarlous war, upon private property |
and the persons of females, are sickening to |
humanity, aud would be degrading even to
S avages. Though my calling is one of peace, |
and inculcates peace on others, will say woe |
betide the miscreants who would so trample |
on the rights and pollute the purity of our |
Southern States. Oh, my countrymen On |
to the contest Our wives, our children and |
our homes are desecrated, and we will trust |
in the name of our God to avenge our wrongs |
and spend our blood freely in defence of |!
right, religion and virtue. l call God to wit |
ness the truth of what l say. GLORIOUS.