Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-17
Graphic Description OF the Battle o.
AeesburEs
From dc Rishmsad EnqaiIer.

From The nshmszd Knqaifer.
We are permitted to make the following exsrae
from letter written by Hon. A. G. Brown of his
sissippi, who commanded company in the bril-
liant battle near LeeIburg. 1t is the NEST graphic
account of that engagement we have seen. Mr.
Brown, though sdJudged BY his State worthy Other
highest honors, msgnaniaously refused to accept q
higher command than that Of Captain, because OF
his want Of military experience.
MAR LRSBURo, Va, Nov. I2-Aenday morning
the 2lst October, musket firing was heard At A.
early hour in the direction Of Hsrrisons Ilasd or
the Potomac, and it was soon after ascertained that
Capt Duff of the nth Mississippi who had been pick
citing in that direction with bis company, had en-
countered and driven back the advance guard Of
the enemy. But ss II was known that they had
only fallen back to > stronger position, and mosg
likely on 3 stronger force, two companies of the
ls;h-the College Rifles, Capt WilbOrn, and the
Burt Rifles, Capt.. CampbeH-Wsre promptly dis
patched to the scene OF action Capt. Fletcher 81
the 18th, with his company, took part ia this affair
About ten O'Clock the firing became more general,
and it vas apparent that sharp conflict was in
progress. Inc enemy, for the first time at chat
point, opeRedEan artillery IRE, and the Sth Yir-
GINA, Col. Hunton was ordered up. He reached
the field, should think; after o'clock p n, and
before the vollies on both sides were general-the
enemy using their artillery only. q may mention
here that We had no artillery engaged in the fight
and did not FIRE cannon all day. We had 3 small
battalion Of cavalry but cannot learn that il took
any part in the hght-the ground, probably not
admitting of their movements. 20
While the forces just mentioned were engaging
the enemy at Hsrrison's leland, General Evans was
depoyiDg what was lefs Of the 18th, 18th and 18th
Mississippi regiments on the hiil~tOps and in the
plains Edward Ferry, two three miles far
Their down the Potomac. IL was here that he made
so much Of us. Ny company, with two others
Cspts. Kesrney snd BuFy-Were so posted ss to
make the enemy, If they Jaw as, believe we were
an entire regiment. l have no doubt al the others
were posted TO ike advantage. From promonts
~ near ny station, we could plainly see the YAM
KEGS with our naked eyes passing their reinforce
msuts across the river behind HsrFis0n,s Island,
and within few. hundred yards ST where the fight
was going on. or course we caused Gen. Evans to
be informed Of this fsct. Bat he held rs to our 20
siton. The enemy was crossing below us, at Ed
wards Ferry, 10 still greater force protecting their
advance and keeping Us at bay BY formidable
battery, so planted as to rake The country for st
least two miles around. All day we had not fired
gun. except single shot early in the morning
discharged by eur company ct squad Of Yankee
cavalry that dashed in among US, and then dashed
cut again. 1t was now near O'Clock; suddenly,
and as if by magic, the different companies and
squads were called together, and the whole force
marched forward, as if meant to attack without
regard to consequences.
The SIGHT at this moment WIS waxing hotter and
hotter 81 Harrison's leland, and we were marching
right away from it. You may imagine how the
souls of the brave but uninitsted priyetes and sub
ordinate officers ehsfed under such treated. Sud
denly again we were halted, and ordered ts coun-
termarch. Slowly we retrsced our steps. After
marching half q mile "a If we were going to q fun
ersl, the enemy looking on and doubling suppose
whether we were falling back to 3 stronger posi-
ton or to get some other way to advance on them,
we suddenly found ourselves covered from the
country in our rear, by bill and skirts Of wood;
instantly the order "double quick" was given, and
of We plunged, at q long trot, for the fighting
ground, new about two miles in our front leaving
the Yankees wondering what had become Of Us. In
less than thirty minutes the 18th and 18th hisss-
sippi in all their force were N the hottest of the
fRht The 18Th, Col. Barksdale, WAS left behind
to watch the enemy we were now leaving in our
rear, and, If possible, prevent their advancing
Here the 18th had the post Of honor, because it
was eminently the pOst Of danger; and right well
did they maintain it. Col Barksdse, at this point
and at this hour, with his single regiment, kept
back eolUmn powerfully reinforced, which Gen.
Evans han not dared to engage with his whole
army in the morning, before it was reinforced.
II this was not prodigy Of valor, there has been
no such thing on our side since the war commenced
Bsrksdale boldly sailed forth, and impudently lex
euse the expressiOn) boldly attacked the force. OF
course, if they had known his real strength they
would have walked right over him. He had about
500 men Of all arms, and they about 44e0, accord>
ing to their own account. Instead OF advancing in
ali their force, they kept feeling about to see what
had become Of US, until Bsrksdals went out AID
ing their General with little no loss to himself
and then thinking he was trying to withdraw them
into an ambuscads Of inJario.s rebels and masked
batteries they fell back under shelter Of their can
non gplanted on the opposite side Of the river. Here
they began throwing up bFeastWorks and rins pits,
a, which delightful work they toied al night long,
Poor devils with powerful batteries IN their rear
and bresst works in their 'front.' and no enemy at
lacking, they took fright, and Hneaked back in the
NIGHT across the river into Maryland, to meet their
diseoncerted and discOmftted friends from Hsrrl-
Ron's Island, Whist frightened them =.
The answer 70 this question leads me back to the
I'm and 18th Regiments. On they went, right into
tbe Bqht-the 18Th in 'front.' and the lIth close be-
hind. As we neared the field, the firing on our
aide became perceptibly weaker lust a. We were
fling down q small ridge, through wood, and
some Eve hundred yards from tAe enemy, We met
Cant. Wlborn's college Rifesi whe had been
beaten bacl They called out, "hurry up, the Virs
oinisns are out OF ammunition, and can't hold out
mDeb lonpsrw AT this critical moment, James
Small a private in my company, sung out, give
Jam 8 cheer. boysD The whole line caught the
inznirston, and such IN unssrthly yell as went ul1
hes not been heard since Pandenonium was inau-
gurats5. The Yankees from tina moment felt whip
bed. They knew that howl, for they had heard It
% Bull Run. On we went, plugging down q deep
decLyity and up hill, snd then we stood in less
than one hundred and fifty yards Of the almost
victorious Yankees. Z --.5T -. FL =,
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