Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-08-01

enemy seems to be making an attempt to
cross at Mitchell's Ford. All at Mitchell's
Ford is feint, and it is now certain that
the grand battle ground for the empire is
now to the west, beyond the Stone bridge,
on the Bulls Run, and I go there. ..t
Evening.-At two o'clock l arrived on
the ground; but of the further scenes Of
this eventful battle I have nothing more to
say, save this only, that at five o'clock the
enemy was at last driven from the field,
leaving most of the guns of Sherman's bat
terry behind them, with an awful list Of
dead and wounded. .-.
1t will be evident to any one who becomes
familiar with the events of the day, that; l
Inexperienced many of the occurrences
The attack was made at a point above the
Stone bridge, on Bulls Run, by the whole
disposable force of the enemy, led by Gen.
Mcdowell. The importance of the move
ment was not at first estimated, and it. was
met by Gen. Evans with only the fourth
South Carolina regiment, Col. Sloan, the
Independent Louisiana Battalion, Major
Wheat, and two guns of the Washington
Artillery. The charge of the enemy was
met with an lntrepedity that was beyond
all praise, and the whole column Of the
enemy was held at bay until reinforeements
came. These were led Oh by Col. jackson,
Col. Barlow, Gen. Bee, and Gen. Jones.
The conflict went on in fierce and ter
rible struggle of the Confederate troops a.
gainst great odds, and amidst terrible
slaughter. S.. a..
At the crisis of the engagement two
regiments of South Caroliuians, Kershaws
and Cookies were ordered to advance
Kemper's battery was attached to Ker-
shaw's. As these troops advanced, they
were joined By Preston's regiment, Of
Cookies brigade. A tremendous charge
was made, which decided the fate of the
day. After acts of incredible ralor, the
enemy were driven off far to the north
As they retreated on the Braddock Road to
Centrevile, charge was made upon them
by portion of our cavalry, and / think Of
the Ranford Rangers. They dashed upon
them about mile away, and the dust
above them for ten minutes rose up as from
the crater Of a volcano. The punishment
was severe and rapid. ,~
Colonel Hampton's legion suffered great
ly. 1t came last night and marched di.
rectly into battle When went upon the
ground l heard that Colonels Hampton
and johnson were both killed, but after.
wards l met Colonel Hampton riding from
the field, wounded badly, but exhilarated
at the thought that his men had exhibited
SURPRISING intrepidity, and that General
Beauregard had himself relieved him and
led his legion into battle. (
Col. Sloan's fourth regiment South Car
olina volunteers suffered as much They
stood decimated at every fire until reinforce
ments came, and they exhibit sad rem.
nant of the noble body of men that entered
into battle.
The second regiment, Colonel Kershaw,
did fearful execution at the crisis of the
contest, but suffered less D., s
The Fourth Alabama Regiment, Colonel
Jones, and the Eighth Georgia Regiment,
Colonel Gardner, suffered greatly.
Wearied and worn and sick at heart, I
retired from the field whose glory is scarce.
ly, equal to its gloom, and have, not the
time or strength to write more. send my
geld notes as they are.
President Davis came upon the ground
Just as the battle ended, and the widest
cheering greeted him He rode along the
lines of war-worn men who had been drawn
off from action, and he seemed proud of
them and Of his right to command such
noble men, but it was tempered with
feeling of regret that their right to his res
pect had been vindicated at so dreadful
sacrifice Many wounded stood in the
ranks, and exhibited the unalterable pur-
pose to stand there while they had strength
to do 40.
How many Of the enemy were killed We
have no means of knowing, but it must
have been much greater than our owu.-I
Our men shot with the utmost possible
GOODNESS and precision, and they must have
claimed this compliment. !
We took Sherman's Battery, sixteen
guns, and three guns from those batteries
that opened upon US first above Mitchell's
Ford
These are facts reported to me on the
ground at suudown, but they are not ne.
cessariy correct have hesitated to state
anything, but upon the whole have thought
it best. I will send a correct list of our
casualties to morrow.
There was an engagement at the bate
ries above Mitchell's Ford, in which the
Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth South Carroll,
ma Regiments were engaged, but the facts
have not transpired beyond the taking of
the guns. L. W. s.
About half the mem bers of the Federal
Congress were distant spectators of the bat
tie. At Centreville vas found table
bounteously spread, surrounded by empty
seats and twenty baskets of champagne,
where Senator Wilson was in the act of en-.
tertaining a large dinner party on our arri,
val. He got out of the village 10 the dis.
guise of driver of market cart. Among
other curiosities seized there, we're mum.
ber of bills of fare of dinners, Mcdowell
intended to give at different points, all in
French, and elaborate as to the cuisine.-