Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-11-20
For the Standard.
For the STANDARD
THE BATTLE OF LEESBURG.
CAMP AT CARTER's MILLS,
Eight miles south of Leesburg, Va,
Monday, Oct. 18th, 1861.

ONSp
home.
Since writing to you last we have had some warm
work here as no doubt you have by this time heard
We have indeed, gained most signal and glorious
victory over the Eederals, near LeesburS. We have
learned since the battle that the enemy force was
about seven thousand We did not have exceeding
three thousand men in the engagement; yet the
Yankees were completely routed, with loss of be-
tween fifteen hundred and two thousand in killed,
wounded and prisoners besides four pieces of artil
lery, and large amount of small arms.
You would probably like to hear something of
the particulars Of the tight, and as was an eye wit
ness will try to give statement of things as they
happened
About daylight on Monday morning, 2lst 0cto-
Der, our pockets from Smart's mill came into our
camp at Big Spring and reported the enen cross
ing considerable numbers at the Big Bluffs, about
quarter Of a mile below the mill Capt. Duff
immediately called his men into line and mar, he'd
off in the direction of the mill search of the
N.Y. Arriving within about four hundred yards of
the mill, behind hill covered with timber, Capt.
Duff ordered halt and threw out six skirDiSherS
10 scour the woods above and to the ri ht of the
mill lie then marched his company by file right
mp deep ravine hollow to the top of the hill and
to the right of the timber. On reaching the top Of
the hill we saw the enemy's scouts the edge of
the woods to our left and coming in view OF Mrs.
Jacksons house we saw large body Of the enemy
marching past the house in the direction of Lees
hurg then IN full view. The enemy on seeing
came to halt, and threw forward two companies
with the view, afterwards learned, of taking us
prisoners. As they advanced upon us, we slowly
gave way down the hill towards LeeS0urg with the
view of drawing them as far from their reserve as
possible We reached kind of hollow behind
little ridge the foot of the hill and to halt
The enemy advanced upon in quick time, in the
most perfect order, with their guns at make
ready" When they reached the brow of the hill
uS anil ahopf VIZ ward: distance
Duff called to them to halt" t" which they
severed frieRds," but still continued to advance.
Dufrepcated the command TO halt six times. The
enemy answering :" friends every time and still
advancing Duff's command now was, ~ nesl boys,
and taEe good aim, fre!H His command was obey
cd to the very letter-we did take good aim, and
with deadly effect The enemy's ranks were brok-
en-. They commenced firing upon us, and the firing
was now vigorously carried by both parties s.
We could see them from position carrying off
their dead and wounded They stood it pretty
braEely fo about twenty minutes when they broke
and fled in confusion, leaving several of their dead
and wounded on the field The enemy fell back
upon their reserve behind the fence at Mrs. Jack
sons We fell back to the top of hill between the
enemy and LeeSburg, and about four hundred yards
distance from the enemy, to position where We
could command the main road leading from the d.
rection of Smart's mill to Leesburg. Here we stood
exposed to the fire of the enemy long range guns
ing the enemy in check until they should arrive
In this engagement killed fifteen OF the enemy
ard wounded about twenty more We had one man
severely and two slightly wounded. None killed.
We had only forty men in this engagement. The
5eneniy's force was about one hundred and twenty
five besides their of three companies on the
hill kept upa continual fire upon US during the en-
tire engagement We loaded our guns kneelnS or
mostly lying our backs. The enemy over shoot
ing US al the time Our officers and men acted as
cooHy as if merely skrinish drill
About 10 aclock, we were reinforced by COM
pany of cayalry couriers arrived from the regi-
ments, and an attack was planned. Two COMPANIES
from the 18th and one from the 18th Miss were to
attack them upon the front and LETT flank assisted
by the cavalry, while our company turned their
right flank. About IL o'clock, we saw the three
companies of infantry and the company of cavalry
advancing through skirt of timber upon the enc
my. We Immediately started double quick upon
their right, being reinforced by our picket guard
from of the river, our company numbered six
ty men. By the time We had got within three hun
dred yards OF the enemy, the firing commenced
The cavalry was dismounted and charging into them
with double barrel shot guns the three companies
at infantry were pouring Ill their fire wi h deadly
effect The enemys fire was brisk and hot We
now came i'll contact with their right, but had only
time to pour in round two till the enemy fed
in disorder across little field and into the timber
at the back oft disappearing from our view. They
were completely routed and driven from a very
strong position. We had in this charge one man
wounded soldier from the 18th, who fell in with
us at the commencement of the charge. One or two
in the cavalry wounded and some two or three
in the companies from the 18th and 18th, Miss -
The enemy had several killed and number wound
ed. They, as usual, oyer-sh0t us, while our shots
told with terrible effect among them. The 9Th Vir-
giEla regiment now came to relief assistance,
and it determined to drive the enemy back
H. nti. Il.
the right-the three companies of infantry and the
disnosnted cavalry the CENTRE and our company
the left aud TO move in the direction of Smart's mill
We threw skirDishers about twenty yards apart
and fifty yards in front of the main body, and in
this order proceeded through the timber in the d-
rection of the river. After marching about half o
mile the skrmshcrs in front Of Duffs company dis
covered the enemy on the opposite side deep ravine
and little to the right of our company. The enc
my was almost completely concealed in the dense
Under growth and timber & The company silently
approached through the timber to the edge of the
raVine andsyere bred upon by the enemy. We
protected ourselves behind the timber and returned
The fire with ygor and effect for some twenty min
utes it was one continuous roar OF in,isketry The
enemy had been throwing shells from the opposite
side of the river for half hour keeping up hea
Wy cahnonading but doing no damage as the shells
fell in the fields towards Leesbnrg Now as thu
roar of misketry and the heavy booming of cannon
were interRingled the music was grand sublime
After contest ofabuut twenty minutes the enemy
gave way and Tetreated towarvs the river--leayinr
aswe afterwards aseertained, eight killed and seve
raj wounded on theield. w learned after the bat
de from same prisoners, that we had accidental,
fell npOn the right wing of Regiment in this skin
mish We couid not see much Of the force tina
9ere firing upon us but from the roar OF their gun
it must have been heavy. We did NOT ktrs a ma
hUrtin this genasustsS by this time some of on
scouts who had approached the river forthes to on
left, came back and reported the enemy crossin
srt.llery below and coming over in heavy force.-