The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-11-06
The Battle of Leesbure.
Position Of the Forces-The Casualti.
nm Roth SiIes


on Both Sides.
The recent victory Of Gen. Evans over
the enemy near Leesburg continues the
prominent topic Of conversation, and eve.
~ new fact or incident is received with
the utmost relish. DR.. Geo. w. Stewart,
Of Madison county, Miss, has placed US
in possession Of some interesting infor
nation cont scted with the battle, gath
cred from soldiers who participated. II
appears that a report reached General
Evans that the Federals were crossing
the river at Edwards Ferry on Monday
morning, aud the 18th Mississippi regi
ment was sent down from Leesburg 10
keep them in check and under the be
lief tha, the heaviest portion Of the enc
my's forces would cross at that point, the
18th Mississippi followed. 1t turned out,
however, that another place was chosen
by the enemy. some two miles higher up
the river, where the channel 10 from IT'S
TO 200 yards in width, and not foldabIe.
They crossed in flat,boa,s and skiffs, and
the first engagement was between the 9th
Virginia regiment and the advanced COZ.
ums Of the Zoe. The skirmisbing con,
tinued with considerable severity for
some hours, and the 18Th Mississippi,
hearing the firing, marched in double.
quick time to the scene Of action the
18Th remaining at Edwards Ferry, to
prevent the enemy's crossing there and
executing a flank movement. The grand
and closing fight Of the day took place
about 4 o'clock +. NJ, when the Federals
made desperate stand on the bank OF
the river In a clear space between two
growths Of forest, our three regiments-
the 9Th Virginia and the l7th and 18th
NJ ssissippi-hsd the enemy partially
surrounded, forming a sort Of semi circu.
lar trap. from which the victims had no
means Of escape by the river, O, through
the woods on either side. The latter al
tentative WAS adopted BY some, who
were afterwards captured. The fighting
now became terrible. The contendine
forces were in close proximity, and We
are informed that not only bullets and
bsyone;s, but even bowie knives were
used with fearful effect upon the enemy.
The latter finding they were overpowered,
made an effort TO reach their boats.
which a large number .succeeded in do.
ing but the rush VAS so great that sew
era! boats were overturned or sunk, aud
the panic stricken soldiers were drowned
IN large numbers. We have no means
Of ascertsining how many reached the
island in the river but il is not SO diff.
cul: 10 ray how many failed in the a..
tempt. Those who were left on the
shore then laid down their arms and sur.
rendered, and this terminated the battle.
The entire casualties upon our side
may be considered definiteIy y ascertained,
since dispatch WAS received Yesterday
by President Davis from Gen. Besure.
gard. based on report from Gen. Evans,
in which the Confederate loss 10 stated at
81 killed and 100 wounded. The Fed
eral loss is set down by the came high
authority at 1900 killed. wounded Or
captured. We have no doubt Of the
entire accuracy Of this inform alton.
As We stated yesterday, there is no
truth in the rumor that Gen. Evans has
fallen back from Leesburg, though il
seems TO be the general impression that
the enemy crossed the river subsequent
TO the battle and again retired TO q more
secure place. We have reports Of rein.
forcenents being sent up to Gen. Evan,,
but not in n form sufficiently authentic
TO justify publication.-R Richmond Dis.
patch.
RICHMOND. October 2s.-No Official
report Of the battle at Lsesburg has yet
been received a, the war Department,
but Colonel Festhers,one, Of the l7th
Mississippi Regiment. reports the follow
ing prisoners taken Total number 720,
one piece Of artillery. four horses, sixteen
hundred stands Of arms, and a quantity
Of clothing. The Confederate force EN-
gagged WAS fifteen hundred, while the
Federals had at least seven thousand
The Confederate loss WAS one hundred
and fifty, killed and wounded (; the Fed
eral loss near one thousand.
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