The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-04

Correspondents Of the Ric ,mnod pi-n.,ch
MatAfas' Point Engagement Thers-Tns Eas-
my Routed-Etme Yankees Certainly KILLED,
DC.
Poar CONWAY, Va. JAY l.
Our hitherto quiet little county, wnicn mas
almost grown proven bial for the peaceable and
law abiding character of its citizens and So
free from public connections Of any sort that
1t has been regarded by some of our neigh bor-
ing counties IA comparatively insigni ficant.
has suddenly become the theatre of i'm port
ali hillary operations.
Point Matthias, fifteen miles below and in
sight of Aqua Greek, has for some time pas,
been nursed by the enemy with steam tugs
and occasionally with ships of a larger
grow h; but no serious attempt was made by
the vandats to land and obtaiu a footholo
possession of the Point, until r. few days ago
On Thursday last company of Is Yankees
landed under the guns of a steamer and IN
dertook the erec ton of a battery faw yards
from the edge of a high bluff that overlooks the
Potomac Tor many miles either way. While
these men were thus engaged, the guns of the
steamer were constantly employed in throw
Ing balls. bombs aud grape shot, in every Iii
rection through the surrounding country
About six O'Clock in the afternoon, Il Get,.ch-
ment of our troops, composed OF the Sparta
ireys. Capt Iouldn, aad the Potomac Ri
las, Capt. Cox, were sent forward to drive
OF the in vaders. Through constant show
er OF grape shot and ball, these gallant South
erners moved forward TO the execution of the
perlious work assigned them. The Greys
taking the lead, soon came upon the enemy
tnd with their we'll AIMED and stesdy rifle
soon succeeded in dispensing, and finally in
driving OH, their co wardIy foes. Upou tn
appearance of the retire iting Yankees upon
ne shore, and of our troops in close pursuit.
or them, the steam tugs began to move off,
their remaining crew being evidently fright
ened az SO near an approach of our rifles
toe fankees upon shore, alarmed at this
cruel deseTtion of their steamers to which
they were feelng for safety, cried out t,ly
in their distress, and only succeeded in bring
ing the tugs about by a threat to desert ana
JOIN the Southern forces. The Sparta Greys
kept up their fire upon the enemy all the
while, Killing humble which were seen to
tall from the boats. Oce small boat, con
timing some three or four men, was complete
- cleared and afterwards seen floating down
Inc river We could not ascertain correctly
tue extent OF the damage sustained on the
Diner side; but this we know, that not a man
on our siGe received the slight. s. injury. We
know, 100, from a reliable source, that at
least nine OF the enemy were killed, while
large mum Der We're badly wounded. The
Yankees, in their hasty retreat, left upon and
near the shore a number OF sand bags, picks,
spades and other implements useful in the
erec ion of batteries. besides many cartridge
boxes and valuable rifle. Thus ends the
FIRST chapter OF Matthias The second, II
c''l-d for, will be lust like it, only "a lit lie
more so.
feiore close. allow me- to notice briefly
paragraph which appeared in letter from
ttiiS county Ill your issue Oh the .it0 June
Ihe writer, i'll referring to a cavalry company
that recently orgtniZ ID in the county, but
which afterwards dsbanded or account of cir
uustaucrs beyond their control, not only
does Injustice 10 the worthy officer who acteo
as captain during the existence of the COM
pany, out indirectly casts an lmpu Jation up
on lis mem hers, which i feel called upon l.,
repel. The company was originally formed
as guerilla force, and during its tormh-
ton was regularly drilled such by DIR
Richard Il. Potts, an officer in every re
perhaps, In thai his physical condition was
not adequate 10 the full performance HI once
OF active service The C pany were all ap
prised OF ;his by the Doctor himself, and al
though 1t was desirable TO have man to lead
US VINO was capable OF greater endurance, yet,
III view OF his superior knowledge OF tactcs,
the company, by a large majority, tlece ed him
captain This was tenn porary eiec ton, held
While the ranks We're yet untitled. Subse-
Quentiy, when more than the Tt nisie mum
Der had been obtained, and at u fuiI meet
ing of the company, Doctor p was unani
mously chosen as the commanding officer
The first elec tioD was not UNANIMOUS and
some IN. maers at the time w.thciI Z W; bat
their val was ing to the tact that
their fdvorIte was not elected, ana he left as
he publicly ayoWed at the time, because he
was not chosen captain The pany, many
weeks after this, disba nded because there was
no provision Tor guerilla service ana, W fisn
offered AS regular cavalry, weIe rejected be-
cause there was already sufticiepcy CT that
service il the State. And yet your cor
respondent states that the King George Cav
airy We're disbanded for want OF qualified
captain. The sixty MN who composed the
company were OF a different opinion.
REXAB.