Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-13
The Fight at Romney.
lFrom the Richmond whig.l

iFrom the Richmond Whig.l
We are permitted by the gentleman to
whom it is addressed to make the follow
ing extract from letter written by an Off
Ger engaged in the affair ct Romney, Octo-
Der 26th. II viii be seen that though our
little force was overpowered, the fight was
one of the most gallant and desperate on
record. To have fought at all, under such
circumstances, shows that in this war, the
men who are defending heme and country
are willing to throw away their lives, when
ever they can make the sacrifice count
something toward the sacred object for
which they struggle. When $50 men do not
hesitate to meet 5000, and are able to hold
them in check, as this heroic little mountain
band did, who does not see the folly of at
tempting to conquer people who have more
than million Of such soldiers But to the
letter, which is dated
HINCHEsTER, Oct. 81, 1861.
viii give you an
account of the fight at Romney of October
26th. On Saturday morning the enemy ad-
vanced upon Romney in two columns-one
1000 strongly way of Springfield; they
were met by the militia under Col. Edward
Mcdonald. The militia took up the planks
of the bridge over the south branch of the
Potomac, and there being no ford, the ene-
my could not cross, the militia commanding
the bridge and preventing the enemy, con-
sisting of three regiments of infantry, three
companies of cavalry, and three pieces Of
artillery, advanced by the Northwestern
turnpike, camping at Ridgeville Friday
night, and starting for Romney by daylight
Saturday morning. We had accurate infor-
nation of their strentgh and intentions on
Friday uight. We had 200 men, all cavalry,
so of them remaining behind for camp duty,
&C., giving US 100 men to fight against 3,00O
We also had brass 12-pounder mountain
howitzer and rife 3-inch (iron) gun, COM
manded by Lieut.. Lionberger. We started
about 8 m, and marched to Mechanics
burg. Meeting the enemy there, the cayal-
~ commanded by Major o. r. Funston,
kept the enemy at bay for q long time, grad
| ually retiring towards the gap "a mountain
pass miles from Romney.)
AT this place, Captains Stands and Jor-
dan distinguished themselves by their cool
ness and intrepidty. Our men held the gap
until Al P. NJ, when, finding that the ene-
my had covered the mountain above in large
Col. Mcdonald, they retreated across
the river Col Mcdonald placed 20 men
under Maj. Funston in the rifle pits upon
the cliff commanding the ford, bridge and
Moorefeld road; the hewitzer was left to
support them; the rife gun was placed
upon Cemetery Hill, position commanding
the Northwestern turnpike beyond the
bridge the 80 men were held as reserve
near the rifle gun, Col. McD. superintend-
ing in person the rifle gun / remained
| with the men at the rifle pits, encouraging
them and Watching the movements of the
enemy. The enemy, at this time, divided
their force into three equal columns, one
column crossing the river above Ginson's
Island, advancing by the Morefeld road,
completely aanking and partly surrounding
us, another advancing by the ford, and the
other by the bridge. Discovering the force
upon the Moorefeld road, advised Cap-
tain Stands to watch their movements, and
rode to Cemetery Hill one quarter of q
mile distant, to inform Col. Med, of the
movement, and remained with him. We
kept their force in check until half past
four, P. NJ, when the ammunition of the big
gun gave out, and the enemy, being un-
checked by anything but small arms, rush
ed up the bluff and carried the rifle pits,
our men retiring at the last moment before
their whole force. We made short stand
near Cemetery Hill, but being unsupported
by the guns for want of ammunition, and
the enemy charging with all their cavalry,
and their infantry swarming over the hill at
the same moment and fanking our little
squad, we retreated through the town, the
enemy following. Col. Med. sent an order
to rally upon the mountain beyond Rom
ney, but it was impossible to do so, for the
baggage wagons (which had not been or
into the town) blocking up the narrow
mountain road, threw our little force into
confusion, making it impossible to rally the
men. who showed willingness to fight
again; but whenever We succeeded in stea-
dying them, Q baggage wagon would rush
into their midst and start them onwsrds.-
We lost everything--cannon, ordnance
stores, baggage and wagons and teams,
tents, desk, books and papers and the pri-
yate effects Of every one, from the Colonel
down to the servants; the only thing saved
was the hospital wagon, with the sick, the
surgeons desk and some papers
Whist i was at the rifle pits, the enemy
fired their FIRST cannon this side of the gsp;
the ball passed about two feet over my head.
I, being the only one On horseback, made .
good target for them. After I rode 20 Gem
etery Hill, they commenced shelling il, eight
| shells bursting directly over our heads, the
| fragments falling all around us. and others
bursting around. us and furroHing ap the
ground in every direction, but fortunately
.sno one Was hurt. !" They fired with great
precision. Our shells frequently checked
their advance, and believe did considers-
bic execations orders swsre sent 70 the hos.
pital for the wagons to move, and q retreat
/ was commenced. An officer called q halt.
and succeeded in taking about thirty. and
/ was in the act of leading them against the
enemy's cavalry, then shout zoo yards dis
fant aud ceming up IN fts charge, when .
number Of cur men rushed up and rode
through his ranks, csrrying the thirty With
them. BY this time the enemy were within
| rs yards, firing their reviewers rapidly. 0Bs