Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-23
Rebel Account of the Battle Mt Rich NJ Oun-
tain,


rFrom the Richmond Wing, l6thJ
RICHMOND, July 15th-Il is a sad pleasure
to communicate to you state OF affairs in
northwestern Virginia that at first sight may
appear disastrous, but which upon closer eX-
animation sheds many rays of satisfaction
and encouragement on our future career-salis-
faction that our late ill success has lost to our
| state that portion which should never have
been defended, and encouragement from the
fact that our gallant boys fight with SO much
success against thousand. odds.
Camp Garnett is situated in gorge just be-
| You'd the pass that runs between Rich and an
other mountain. The low slope of this latter
mountain retreats from the camp, and cOnse
| quently does not command ii, but the more
perpendicular slope OF Rich Mountain is ada
cent to the position, and upou it there is an
eminence that is considered the very key to
| Camp Garnett
On Tuesday last, Col. Pegram, knowing the
importance OF this point detached three com.
| panies, buckingham Lee Guard, Rockbridge
Guard and Pryor Rifles, and one gun from
the Lynchburg Artillery to secure the posi-.
ton at all hazards. They gained the height.
and about ten O'Clock had built the breastwork
to the height of twologs; meanwhile the enc
my guided by the Union mountaineers, had
| by squads and companies, reached point he
| You'd the breastworks, and little more ee-
| waited.
Immediately they commenced an attack up
| on our unfinished breastwork, from the dis
lance of fifteen hundred yards. They adj
vauced and fred with Mimic rifles necessarily.
| No execution, however, was done with these
| arms.
Our loss was at shorter distances from the
| deadly fire of our brother Virginians. APP.
preaching within five hundred yards, they be
gan TO feel the fatal shots from our boys. At
this and shorter distances they were moved
down like wheat before the blade. AT every
volley from us they Tell back in confusion, but
their overwhelming numbers pressed forward
until they discharged their pieces in our very
faces; then we thought retreat better than a
foolhardy death, and each one sought safety in
flight down the other side of the mountain.
The Whole force of the enemy was said to
have been eight thousand. Three thousand
advanced to the attack, while the rest were
held in reserve. Part OF the reserve occupied
Rich Mountain, while part descended that
mountain, crossed the pass, and occupied the
side OF the other mountain not far from the
road-thus being on both sides OF the road, in
order, suppose, to cut off Col. Pegram, if he
should attempt a retreat to Beverly. Our
whole force in the engagement was 250, We
held the enemy in check with this little hand
tul an hour and half. Leonidas with his 800
Spartans could have done no more. Our loss
was, considering all the circumstances, CON-
paratiyey whole
The Buckingham Lee Guard suffered most
severely, having thirty men, together with
captain Irving and Lieut.. Boyd killed. Capt.
Curry of the Roekbridge Guard and Capt.
Anderson Of the Lynchburg Artillery, were
also among the killed. -Four hundred of the
enemy found a merited doom i'll DEATH