New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-16
TIE sKIRMlsH AT PATTERsoNs CREEK.


The following is extract from letter received in
Warrington from Col Lewis Wallace Of the Eleventh
Indiana Regiment, who 10 o brother Of Senator Lane
Of Indiana;
"My report Of the skirnish on Kely's Island, near
Paitersons Creek Ia not only true, but in fact too
lightly colored. There but thirteen OF my picket,
and At least sereHty Of the enemy engaged. On my
side there but kuledi on the enemys
side twenty seven killed, including those who
have since died. This disparity IL accounted for By
the fact that my men were on the island under cover,
while the snemy had TO the creek directly under
our fire. In the first engage meni, the enemy In the
despei aiiOn Of fear pured their horses headlorg into
enlyer where, beaped into helpless mass they fell
an oasy prey. light Of them died there and eft
on the track. Hay, my corporal, lod the ATTACK To
illustrate his perfect cooness: Turning sharp elbow
closs by the r.lroad he the enemy, and counted
them ~ In all; fearing the effect OF the number upon
bis ,quad he shouted ~ tho rebes Halt turn and
fight you d--nd SONS Of - TLen 10 bic neni
Forward boys-iheres only twenty-cne OF them.
Let out-the beat horse geis the hrst man. On they
rode each ore Ike Nolan at Balaklsva-Hsy at their
head. Splendidly mounted, the gallant fellow soon
overlook the flying enemy and closing with them, AZ
their horses tails empted every barrel Of his revolver
al the time brushing their pistols out Of bs face as If
IIn further illustraiion one OF the pickets, boy
named Ilollowell, ~ years old, fired away his hst
cartridge and having nothing ese 70 do turned to pick
ing rnspberries pairing only to ye There's another
Again a built graYea the right corner of Iouis
Forey's forehead and knocked him down con plstely.
Three men rushed out 20 kill him. O1e's arm was
raised 10 strke-a bullet from the Island stretched him
across Forleys body. Another pat pistol ct Foreys
bead-whir came another ball, and the second rebel
went down upon the first. The third ran. Forley
recovered shook of his dead enemies, up 10 run
ard after few steps fell sgain, this time into pile
Of friendly grapevines under which he bid ill dark.
While be was thus concealed the enemy searched the
ground Some Of their expressions wee very amnsingi
Come away from there yelled an officer, while the
A. ht was "a progress. "D--n you, don't You zee
we re fighting the whole regiment - The idea was
that the 3 my entire reg ment, and % te Secss
son journals reporting II. In the fame way Forey
overheard them at each shot from my picket; Who
4. hit nowr' There's another goner' When my
BOYS q, last scattered, two OF them were compelled
throw away their rides. Instead OF leaving them
where the enemy could get them each one pitched bis
weapon iuto the canal. big fellow was in the act
of plunring his sword into Hays's back, when little
Hoiowe eyeled him with the bat Of his gun, break
ing IL into 50 spinters But j. is going further.
1 could Gil pages with the incidents Of this fg1t.
a. The Romney fight was my own. can say nothing
about that except that the Southern accounts Of is
have given me great amusement hardly lees than the
freouent assertions which have fallen under my eye
tbn il was ordered frs, by Gen. Patterson, then by
General M6rns. The whole thing was Of my own
planning and ordering.
"say to the President, II you .e. him, that II the
Government must 90 down, let him exhaust IT, TO the
Last dollar and the sst man. these scoundrels who
are seeking ia destruction. Somebody must expiate
this rebellion.