Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-06
October 81, 1861.

owe mad quite an exciting time down here
Yesterday in fact we had an engagement
with the Yankees. l am glad to cay that
none of our side were hurt-whether any of
the enemy were hurt or not We are unable TO
say. The following are the. particulars: y,
Yesterday evening we saw "a sstearner
coming in very close to our battery. She
then turned round and headed of again SeV-
eral of us got into boat and sailed out
considerable distance to see if we could make
her out, but were unable to get near enough
to her. She was soon out OF sight, and no
more was thought of her until about half
past four O'Clock, when she was again seen
heading into the Bar. She continued to ap-
proach very G. ese aud at 1ast came to anchor
just out of gun-shot. Several boats, loaded
with men, put off from her and made towards
a schooner, which got ashore last Sunday, on
the breakers. The intention of the steamer
was evidently to set fire TO and destroy the
schooner. We were under arms in a very
short time, and marched through the woods,
covering ourselves behind the sand hills. A
detachment was also semitic the battery to
man the big guns just as the boats left the
steamer she fired four shots at the schooner.
The boats then made towards the latter. BY
this time it had become quite dark SO that
our battery had to fire by guess, as it was
impossible to see the steamer. The boats
shell the schooner, thinking that some men
were aboard, which, however, was not the
case. Capt. Anderson then ordered US to
commence firing our muskets, aiming as we
saw the fash of the boats guns.
sOur firing soon had the effect of drawing
the fire of the enemy to u.s.. He threw seve-
raj shell at US, some of which bursted quite
near US; one of them burst right into the camp,
doing no damage. We still kept up our fire
upon them, both from the battery and the
beach. L do not think we did much execu-
ton with our muskets, as we had to fire at a
very long range, and aim in the dark. What
execution our battery did, we were unable to
tell, but supposed it did some, from the fact
that the enemyis fire ceased altogether short
ly after we opened fire on them. A report
was now brought in by the pickets, that the
Yankees had landed On the beach. We were
then ordered from our cover and made to de-
ploy along the beach, a bout half mile. adj
vancing at the same time, anxiously looking
for the Yankees. was quite dark, and We
could see but short distance ahead. We
kept sharp lookout. We kept our pests
about two hours, in the meantime sending
an advanced guard ahead to see if the Yam
KEGS had really landed; as no mem were
seen, we concluded that the report was false.
After waiting until near ten o'clock, the ad-
vance guard was ordered to- retire to the
main body, when we all formed and marched
back to our camp, leaving our pickets dou-
bled. We arrived at the camp safe and
sound-"nobody hurt" The Captain COM
plimented us upon our behaviour, and told
us that we had behaved bravely, and that his
confidence in US was increased. We were
then dismissed, with orders TO be on the
alert to sleep with our guns near us. = We
all retired to bed, but do not. think there
were many who slept soundly as most of US
expected another alarm before morning
there was none, however. and we got up at
reveille the same as usual. There is no sign
of the steamer this morning; they left last
night without having accomplished their
purpose. We wefeivery glad of The result,
and it is very gratifying 10 us to know that
the first attempt of Old Abe TO make de-
probation upon Georgia soil was frustrated,
and that we had hand in the affair. Our
boys were altipeifectly cool, and there was
but little excitement while the engagement
lasted II. L,