Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-06-26
Letter from Beaufort.
BEAUFORT, g. c., June 2, 1861

|
the fatigue On Wednesday, May 2sth, our
regiment as usual was called out on brigade
drill from four o'clock P NJ, to six P M-the
weather extremely hot and suffocating. At
dark an order came to be in readiness to u march
Immediately, with forty-eight hours cooked
ratons. Ill hands were eager for the move,
sick men were well, rheumatism left in the
tents aud at balfpast ten o'clock P. n. the
regiment was 10 line, and the object mace
, known to the men, viz to march on the main
land to the railroad bridge across the Pocota-
| go river, aud destroy it and tear up the track
Off we started, and arrived at Port Royal
Ferry, ten miles from Beaufort. before daylight
An accident happened here that caused little
delay. Lieut.. Rush, of Company B., slipped
and fell on his revolver which exploded the
ball entered the lower part of the abdomen
and came out near the left hip, mortally
wounding him be died yesterday afternoon.
We crossed over the Coosan and all was in
readiness to move on the main ut daylight -
After marching about two miles, We came to
the first re bel pickets they fred one shot and
| jumped on their horses and skedadded they
went double quick to the Pocotaligo and te!e-
graphed TO GrahQmsville for reinforcements,
| probably anticipating our design. Our forces
consisted of the then available portion of our,
the 50th regiment P. Y, one Company of the
Michigan 9Th, one Company Of the 10th r.
| Y v, and supported by one Company of the
Massachusetts cavalry, and one section of the
| Connecticut battery. At Gardner's Corners
| fresh sigus of cavalry were found We took
a circuitous route, making about TWO miles
more travel than We should have had, if we
had gone direct we were pioted through by
coutrabands. Nothing Of interest took place
| until within two miles of Pocotaligo bridge,
where we met the advance Of betaliOn of the
South Carolina mounted rinemen. Our ad-
vance drove them about onehat OF mile
when we found the main body at short curve
in the road, at the edge O: a swamp and low
bottom land, formerly used as rice fields, also
q stream coIfued by high embaukmeutS, across
| which was bridge twenty or twenty-five feet
in length from which the rebels had uuceremo
uiously taken the planks. On either side of
this bridge and causeway they had secreted
themselves behind the embankments iu such
position that they could have rakng cross
fire where we were Obliged to pass. Our right
and left Companies were dep!oyed to guard
against the enemy's flankng us Our men then
came up by companies, Companies C GOOD.
l.
three companies on The left covered by trees,
while two companies passed over the bridge Oh
the string pieces, aud placed themselves be-
hind the embankment while in this position
the firing was sharp aud iucessant for some
time on both sides, the cross-fire was chiefly
where we were, as we were at the end of the
bridge could not compare the whstng of
their balls to any thing but swarm Of bees
Upon consultation, it was decided that the
only means OF driving them from their cover
ing was by charge, which was first made
upon the right, uuder Capt. VIM. II. Teford,
at which time the enemy on our left attempted
TO advance, but was promptly Get and charged
upon by Capt. Dlmmock, when general rout
and stampede ensucd followed them about
three fourths of mile when we halted, ex-
hausted by fatigue aud the excessive heat of
the sun. AT this stage of the action the ar
tiIlery came up, their horses being very tired !
they halted at Gardners Corners to feed aud
rest, and did come up in time to fire a shot
Our engagement lasted for two hours The
enemy had decidedly the advantage in both
position and arms their guns were HulFs !
carbines, loading at the breech, and can be
loadeI and fred three times to our once we
had the old u S. musket altered from flint to
percussion lock, except Companies A and X,
who have as fanking companies the Spring
field, or MIME rife
The enemy had four hundred men in the en- |!
gagement and one hundred reserves, while we
at no one time had over one hundred and fifty |
in the action. Our guns would heat by firing !
four or FIVE times, then changing, to let them |
cool Our loss in killed and wounded is as |
follows: Company A, Robt. Mcclellan, NOR.
tally wounded-snce died j. D. Sherer, |
slightly U. Wenrick slightly Company b.
Corporal Hoffmaster, severely Company D. |
c. NJ Sterling, severely; Company G., John
S. Wood, sghtIy-fesh wound in the left arm;
Company H, Capt. Charles Parker, killed
Company L., A Oxrider, slightly wounded |
j. Deuison, slightly Company K, Manly
Stevens, of Franklin Bradford county, killed |
Total, two killed and eight wounded, Lieut. |
Rush mortally wounded while marching out
none missing. The enemy's loss was heavier
there was tea seen carried of dead, and nun
Der wounded. One of their wounded fell into |
our hands ; he was a lad seventeen years old, |
smart, Intelligent youth, and he has won the !
admiration and sympathy of all who have seen
him !: be was badly wounded, but will probably |
recover We also took one man With his horse |
and equipments. l cannot give our command
ing officers too much credit, Colonel B. c. |
Christ and Lieut. Colonel Brenbots) for the
course pursued by them in this engagement in
planning the attack ct moments notice in
so uufavorable place, while placing the men
by companies under cover as much as possible,
and whenever occasion required would expose
themselves to the sharp fire of the enemy
nothing daunted aud with perfect presence of
mind would cheer the men on to victory. y ~
After resting for half an hour we deemed Il |
inexpedient to proceed farther as advices had
been received that strong reinforcements had |
arrived at Pocotaligo from Grabamsville, with
three pieces OF artillery We turned our course