Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-11-13
Battle of Leesburg.

The more We see. Of this battle the more we are
impressed with its importance, and the gallantry
displayed ~ our troops All the regiments fought
we'll but especial praise is due to the Virginia Sth.
"A correspondent Of the Richmond Dispatch says:
The 9th went at donble-quick across the open
field in 'front.' reached the left of the woods in front
of Capt Ball, and formed line of battle The charge
soon followed and the cavalry participated in it. dis
mounting and fighting the enemy's advance guard
on foot. The engagement soon become vigorous as
the incessant fring-more uninterrupted and vio-
lent, think, that at Manassas-indicated. Once or
twice the noise of the musketry and the cheering
seemed to roll nearer, and show that our troops
were wavering and falling back. But Col. Hunton
assures me that such was at no time the fact. 1t
was one steady advance" he declares To notice
more particularly, however, the mode of attack
adopted BY the Sth the writer of this was with the
piece of artillery above alluded to, and was denied
all PARTICIPATION in the battle; but many Of the regi
nent officers and prvates, related the circum-
stances. On entering the woods, the regi ncnt was
at once deployed and advanced thus towards the
enemy, through the dense thcket. Their Aankers
soon met, and the engagement sooa commenced al
most Immediately all along the line. The enemy
had crossed their forces with three pieces Of artl
ery-two navy howitzers and one heavy rifle gun
in flats, had assembled by winding road the steep,
rocky bluff of some two hundred feet which here
extends along the rivers bank, and had deployed
their column right and left in the woods.
The 9Th went into the fight, running and cheer
ing. The 18th arrived in good time entered the
woods, in the rear and the right flank of the Sh
and commenced their attack with all that desperate
vaor which characterizes the great race of which
they were on this occasion the worthy representa-
tive The engagement, which had begun to Ian
gulsh upon our side, in some degree from the ex-
haustlon OF our troops, thus recommended with new
fury The voleys were incessant, and the cheering
rung above the woods like the shout of victory
Let this fact here be placed on record in words
PLAIN that no one can misunderstood: From the
beginning TO the end Of this face to- face conadat be-
taeeen 1000 Northerners, and less than 900 South.
erners there nerc' acaS moment achen the South
erners gaze back inch-cery Increment aeus for
'card their own officers could not control them, and
acithout adcontage Of ground, opposed more than
t'co to one and klouing that Federal oresments
'cere continually crossing they Advanced doggedly,
step by STEP and By simple superiority Of hearts and
arms, arrested the 1ictory franz the enemy Happy
and glorious men! True sons of the sires of the
Revolution; and noble oShoots of the Southern oak
You had truly hearts of oak! On that day the men
of Virginia and Mississippi covered themselves all
over with undying glory. There were those Of your
brethren near at hand who listened to the mortal
volleys, and with flushed faces and hot tears burned
to leap to your rescue Tor the honor Of their blood
and race, and stand fall with you. But this was
denied them, and the glory remains all your own y
We find in the Richmond Enquirer most in
teresting letter from lady to her brother descrb
ing the Battle Of Leesburg from which We make
the following extract. Speaking of the glorious
| Virginia 9Th, she says:
! Now don't You think this was pretty we'll for
old quiet Union loving Loudoun. She may be called
first in peace and first in war. Those who chung
most tenaciously to the Union, have been the mos
! forward to take up arms in defence of our lights
when they were invaded"