Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-11

tains. December 18th, 1861, Edward John-
sou, Colonel 18th Georgia Regiment Com
manding Monterey Line.
HEADQUARTERS, MONTEREY LINE,
Camp Allegheny, Dec. 1861.
COLONEL have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing report of the engagement with the enc
my which occurred at this place on the 18th in
stant:
On the 18th, sent out a scouting party of lug
men, commanded by Major Ross, of the SD Vir-
gnia volunteers, with instructions to ambuscade
point on the pike beyond Camp Barlow, on
Greenbrier. On the afternoon OF that day the
advanced guard of the enemy approached, were
fired into by Major Ross command, and many OF
them killed or wounded. Immediately the main
body of the enemy approached in force, deploy-
ed and advanced upon our scouting party, who
retired and came into camp that night. On the
morning of the 18th, about A. NJ, was arous-
ed by the officer Of the day, who reported firing
at the advance pickets on the pike in the dlrec-
ton Of the enemy. l Immediately turned out
the whole Of my command and prepared to meet
them.
l ordered Hansborough's battalion, the 31st
Virginia, commanded by Major Boykin, and Re-
gers battalion, to occupy the crest Of the noun
tain on the right to guard against approach from
that quarter. On this hill there defenceS.
There were some fields and felled timber hey ond
which reached the crest of the mountain. The
enemy advanced to our front, and conducted by
guide, Union man from Western Virginia,
who was familiar with the roads in the vicinity,
turned off from the turnpike about mile from
our position, near the base of the mountain, and
reached our right by trail which led into a road
coming into the field slightly in our rear; as
they approached this position, picketS thrown
from Hansborough's battalion discovered them
and reported them as advancing in strong force.
About a quarter past A. M, the enemy ad
vanced and a terrific fire commenced. The ene-
my on this flank numbered fully two thousand.
They were gallantly met by our troops, who did
| not number three hundred at this time. AS soon
as heard the firing | ordered two companies of
the 18th Georgia, (Hawkins and Blandford) who
had at the first alarm been posted on the pike
about a quarter of mile in front, down the
mountain, to move up Immediately to the sup
port Of our forces the right Three other
companies of the 18th, Davis, Hardeman's and
Patterson's, (Lieut. U. E. Moore commanding,)
were also ordered to the support of those on the
right who We're making gallant defence against
the immense odds. Calamity did the Georgians
move up, and taxing position on the left, re-
ceived terrible fire from the enemy. By this
time the extreme right had been forced back, but
seeing the Georgi4ns, who came on with shout,
they joined them and moved upon the enemy,
who, taking advantage of some fallen trees, brush
and timber, poured upon them terrific fire. Our
men were checked, but not driven back. They
did not yield an inch, but steadily advanced
| cheered and led by their officers. Many Of
the officers fought by the side of their men and
| led them on to the conflict. | never witnessed
harder fighting. The enemy behind trees with
| their long range arms at first had decidedly the
advantage, but our men soon came up TO them
| and drove them from their cover. cannot speak
in terms too exaggerated of the unflinch:ng cOur-
age and dashing gallantry of those five hundred
men who contended from quarter past A. NJ,
until quarter to 2 F. NJ :, against an immensely
perior force Of the enemy, and finally drove
them from their position and pursued them d
mile or more down the mountain. I cannot name
all who deserve particular mention for their gal
lantry and good conduct.
COL Hansborough, whilst galantly leading his
| battalion, wounded by pistol shot and car
ried from the field. Soon after the fight became
general, the brave 1t. L T. Thompson, of the 31st
| Virginia, fell severely wounded. His good con-
duct had attracted my attention, and he fell within
few feet Of me. Capt. Molohan, whilst cheer
ing and leading his men in pursuit of the enemy,
| fell mOrtay wounded. Lieut.. Moore, 18th Geor-
gia volunteers, whilst gallantly heading charge,
| fell mortally wounded This gallant officer was
| ever ready for any expedition involving danger
| he was truly brave.
Captains Davis, Blandford, Hardeman and
Hawkins, their officers and men, behaved admit
rably. Capt. Davis and his company were con-
throughout the fight.
| Adjutants Willis, Lieutenants Mccoy, Eth
ridge, Marshall and Turpin, 18th Georgia regi-
ment, deserve particular mention for their good
| conduct.
Lieut.. Col. Boykin, commanding 3lst Virginia
volunteers, his officers and men, deserve my
thanks for their unfinching courage thro ghout
the struggle. Ghis regiment suffered severely
Lieutenants Toothman, ]. Johnson, McNewman,
j. B. Philips, all wounded, deserve homo, able
mention, Capt. Thompson, S1st Virginia, de-
serves special notice. Adjutant Morgan, Lieu
tenants Robinson, Raymond, Sergeants Jarvis,
Racer, Pots, Ceilings, Musgrave and Green, Hans
borough's battalion, are favorably mentioned by
4 their commander.
i My command consisted of the 18th GEORGIA
regiment, under the immediate command of Lit
COL E. T. Connor; SD Virginia, Major Ross
Hansborough's and Reager's; Slst Virginia, 1t
i Col. Boykin; ssLee Battery of artillery, four
pieces; detachment of Pittsylvania cavalry
Lit. Dabney. The artillery was posted on the
hill left Of my position, which had been en-.
trenched.
| Immediately after the troops were turned out
the 18th Georgia and SD Virginia were ordered
into the trenches. The Pittsylvania cavalry, dis
mounted, under Lieut. Dabney, also went into
4 the trenches, armed with carbnes.
II large column Of the enemy, led by one Sla-
! ter, traitor, well acquainted with the country
approached the left of this position by road
| running alOnS leaOlng rlCge. About half an
hour after the attack was made on the right this
column came up on the left to our trenches. They
| were evidently surprised to find US entrenched
Here the brave Anderson, by fatal mistake, lost
his life. AS the enemy advanced, he rode to
T! the trench and invited them in, thinking they
were returning pickets, at the same time tell
| ing our men not to fire. He was instantly shot
down by the advanced body OF the enemy force.
Our men then opened CALLING fire upon them,
and they fell back into the fallen timber and
| brush, from which they kept up a constant fire
at our men in the trenches and upon our ar
tillersts. Ny A. A. A. General, Gait. James
Desher, of the artillery, whilst behaving most
gallanty, was shot down in the trenches by a
wound through both thighs. He efused to leave
the field, and remained in the trenches until the
day was over.
Capt. Miller opened upon the enemy with his
guns and behaved with great gallantry, exposing
himself at his guns to the fire of the enemy's
sharp-Shooters.
After the enemy's force, on the right, had been
repulsed and driven from the field, ordered all
our men who had been engaged in that quarter to
join our troops in the trenches on the left. They
took post with the other troops and opened fire
On the enemy as occasion offered. The enc
my, under the fire Of artillery and infantry, soon
retreated from the left, leaving their dead and
wounded.
/ The enemy's force on the left was larger, if
anything, than the force on the right They
numbered, in all, about five thousand men. who
/ had been drawn from Bealington, Beverly, Hut