The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-09-11

had IN engagement there with battery of
the enemy, which they had taken, but had
retired after being fired on by the heavy re.
serve corps which intervencd between them
and my command. This cavalry had come
into the road by Lewis Ford, below the
Stone Bridge, and neither of us knew of
the position of the other until some time
after. At this point Capt Rndford, Of Vir-
ginia Cavalry, was found mor,aly wounded.
Here tie enemy opened upon us fire in
front, and again formed line Of battle, my
regiment and the cavalry on the right of
the road, in the wood, with field in front
the Hampton Legion ns u reserve, and Col
Cash in column on the left, ready to deplov.
Here staff officer rode up and gave me
an order from Gen. Beauregard not to en-.
gnge the enemy until reinforcements ar
rived, stating that they were on the way.
Soon after Capt. Kemper overlook me with
his battery, when formed column with
my regiment and the Legion on the right,
Col. Cash on the left. and the battery 10
the road. At the request Of Major Hill, he
was permitted to 90 in advance with Capt.
Cuthbcrt's Company, deployed AZ skirmish-
crs, and in this order tho whole column was
moved on TO the hill commanding the Sus-
pension Bridge, where our skirmishcrs be-
cane engaged with the enemy. directed
Capt. Kemper to unlimbcr two Of his pieces
on the hill and open fire on the enemy,
while dcploycd my regiment on the right
with the Legion, and retained Col. Cash in
column on the left. The main body Of the
enemy were retrcating by the Sudey's
Ford road which comes into the turnpike
at the Suspension Bridge, on the south
side Of the Run. Capt. Kcmper fired from
one gun on the culumn retreating by the
former road, and from the other along the
turnpike. The effect Of tho firing was
most disastrous. The reserve which we
" ere pursuing meeting the main BODY Of
the enemy coming by the other road, just
at the entrance Of the bridge. completely
bio, kcd it and formed n barrcade with
cannon, cassions, ambulances, wagons and
other vehicles, which were abandoned, with
horses and harness complete, while the dri-
vers fled Many Of the soldiers threw their
arms into the creek, and everything indica.
ted the greatest possible panic.
The venerable Edmund Ruihn, who fired
the first gun at Fort Sumter, who, as "A
volunteer in the Palmetto Guard, shared
the iaiigues and dangers of the retreat from
Fairfax &. H., and gallantIy fought through
the day ut Manassas, fired the first gun ut
this rcireating column Of the enemy which
resulted in this extraordinary capture. Al
this point, received II peremplory order to
return to Bull Run, aud to take my posi-.
ton at Stone Bridge. Here, also, the skir-
,nishes recapturcd Gen. Stuart, Of Mary
land, who had been for several hours in
custody of the enemy. Reluctantly | or.
dcred my command to return, but directing
Col. Cash TO remain, went with detach.
ment of twenty volunteers from his regi.
ment TO the bridge, where ! found Ii cut.
Col. Munford, with n portion Of Virginia
cavalry, extricatlng the valuable capture
They had arrived by the Sudley's Ford
road, having pursued the enemy from the
battle field, and came up to the bridge
when Capt. Kempcr ceased firing Here !
remained until 10 o'clock at night, aiding
Col. Munford, when ! returned to camp.
Col. Cash's regiment remained 10 position
until one o'clock, when the most valuable
of the captured articles had been secured
and carried 10 the rear. am informed
that about thirty pieces Of cannon were
taken at this point
At the time when we We're first ordered
forward, Capt, Perryman had been sem,
with his command on scouting duty, across
Bull Run, and despatched my MD. de. camp.
Mr. Ell ward Wallace, TO conduct him to
Lewis. Arrived there, finding The Regi
nent had entered tie engagement, he went
with Mr. Wallace in search Of his comrades,
but not being able to obtain any informa-
ton Of our position, he attached himself to
Col. Hays Louisiana Regiment. and enter.
eG the fight iu time to participate in the
final charge and pursuit Of the enemy on
the Sudleys Ford road. Capt. Perryman
reports himself as much indebted to Mr.
Wallace for his efficient aid in conducting
his Company through the engagement, and
particularly mentions his GOODNESS and gal.
Iantry. One of my personal aids, Mr. W..
II. Hardy, was most scrviceable during tho
engagement, gallantly bearing order after
order with promptness and intelligence
Having been sent by me to conduc, Col.
PrestoD's Regiment TO a position on my
left, he was shot in the breast, at the head
of that regiment, before he had proceeded
sixty yards, and died instantly. A youth OF
pure and gentle spirit, he evinced on the
field tho cool, self possessed heroism Of the
veteran soldier.
Mr.. John A. Myers, private in Capt Cas-
sons Company mounted Mr. Hardy's horse,
and rendered the most efficient aid curing
the remainder of the day