The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-10-30
WAR NEWS.
From Richmond.
Southern Victory on the Potomac.

despatch from General Johnson
CESTREvILLE, Va, October %.
General Evans reports that he was en-.
gagged most of the day yesterday with
twelve regiments and five batteries of the
enemy, near the Potomac. They had
crossed under cover OF an artillery fire
He drove them back, with n heavy loss on
their side in killed; and .cSs .cSs 200 Of them
prisoners. Col. Evans had four regiments
and five guns. Col. Edwin d. Baker, of
Oregon, was killed. Col. Milton Cogswell,
U. 5. A., and ten other officers, and six pie.
ces of artillery, were captured.
have since received some further par.
tculars Of the battle. Our force. comman
ded by General N. q. Evans, of South Caro-.
lima, consisted of the 18th, l7lh and 18th
Mississippi Regiments, the 9th Virginia
Regiment, one company of the Richmond
Howitzers Is pieces), and detachment of
cavalry-whether these last were II detach.
mcnt Of the famous BLACK Horse" have
not been able to learn.
The fight was All obstinate one but,
considering the disparity Of the opposing
forces, our victory was a signal one. The
enemy's loss in killed and wounded was
500. Besides these, 800 were drowned ia
Gas already mentioncd) were taken prison.
ers. The loss OF the Confedera,es in killed
and wounded was 300.
RICHMOND, October 23-Thc following
despatch WAS received by the President at
half.past ten o'clock last night:
(OGcidi)
Headquarters, ARMY OF THE }
PoToMAC, October -.
To President Daris
In addition to the news already sent, con
cernng Gen. Evans victory near I.eesburg,
l have to report the capture Of nearly six
hundred prisoners aud twelve hundred
stand Of arms. The enemy's killed, woun.
ded and prisoners, numbered between one
thousand and tw elve hundred. The route
was complete one. 1t was an infantry
fight No artillery was fired BY us The
9th Virginia and 18th and 18th Mississippi
Regiments were the troops actually en-
gagged the 18th Mississippi Regiment
was held in reserve.
(Signed) THOMAS JORDAN,
Assistant Adjulant General.
| have private dispatches giving further &C.
counts Of the affair. The lighting was quite
severe, and lasted nearly all day. The enc
my crossed the river under cover Of ire
mendous cannonade from the Mary land
shore. When, at the close Of the engage.
ment, the enemy fled, in the atten.p pit to re q.
cross the river, at least 300 Of them were
drowned Our killed and wounded amour. L.
ted to 800. The Mississippi Regiments were
commanded by Colonels Featherston, Bart
and Barksdale.
IN. LATER.
Among our Casualties were the follow
ing:
Col. Burt, of the 18th Mississippi Repi.
ment, badly, though not mortally, wounded
in the thigh.
A son Of Governor Pettus, Of Mississippi
was killed.
Dr. Martin shot through the lungs
wounded mortally.
DIR. Brock, arm shot of.
1t. Col. Tobbs, Of 9Th Virginia Regi.
ment, wounded slightly
1t. Benz. G Carter. slightly wounded.
Pr!vates Hatcher and DonGho killed
The killed on our side is estimated ut
only 80 the wounded at about 800 Five
hundred of the prisoners taken will be here
Tomorrow.
The enemy is expected to renew the at
tempt 10 cross. Gen. Evans has called for
reinforcements, which have been sent To
him. The enemy are represented, in this
instance, as having fought like devils Our
men did their work mainly with the bayo
net. Gentlemen who participated in the
fight, ana who have arrived here, say that
when the rOut OF the enemy began, the
confusion even exceeded that which pre-
vailed among the Yankees after TIE BATH.
Of Manassas Plains. When our lyinp foes
took to the river, their heads in The water
were rs thick as flocks o: blackbirds and
II is impossible to describe the scene or to
estimate how many were drowned Hun
dreds were shot while swimming and strug.
Cling in the stream. Many of them left
their clothing behind them. They could
be seen drowning each other. ip their eager.
ness TO reach the Maryland shore
Most of our wounded will be brought to
Richmond.
a gentleman Just arrived here from
Washington reports Lincoln's forces in
Maryland, Virginia and the District Of Co.
lumbia, at 100000 men. They are we'll
equipped, with the exception of their cav
airy, which, he says, is much inferior TO
ours.-Mercury.
RICHMOND, Oct. 25.-I have just received
a trustworthy despatch from Norfolk sta.
ting that the larger vessels "f the great
Lincoln fleet, lately collected there, have
just sailed from the Roads, going south.
ward. About 20 steamers aud transports
still remained anchored of Fortress Mon.
roe. So that you may soon expect to hear
where the long threatened naval blow has
bSen struck.
Official intelligence received at the War
Department, to-day, announces that the
Potomac River is now com mpletely closed Ia
Yankee vessels. No steamer nor other
craft Of any kind has passed our batteries
during The las, two days
We have good news fran Western Vir
ginia gentleman arrived here this even
ing, who left Floyd's command on the 2Olh
inst. lie says that the enemy have evacu
ated the entire Kanawha Valley, aud that
Floyd Is marching towards the Kentucky y
line. When my informant left, Gsn Lor.
ing, after sending n detachment down the
kana~ha Valley. was returning with hi,
forces to Valley Mountain. Lee is still a
Meadow Bluff
Col: Richard Taylor, Of Louisiana, (sou