Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-10-31
TIE BATTLE OF TIE YExAssEE, or OLD Pe
COrALIGO.


The Charleston Mercury gives Q full and interesting
description Of this bloody engagement, some portions OF
which We copy:
which Wilt raLk With Secesnonville. ~ one Of the most
unequal and hardest contested eonhios OF the war. In
All ia, features and incidents, dssperats-in its conduct,
rejecting honor and glory on the gallant Oolonsi WHO
commanded and the brave men who fought u IL was,
in many N soeys. q mo,t remarkable 6gh,. GA the one
hand, a srissds Of 4 900 infantry, vita nine guns aad
q feet of fifteen ,gunbosts 70 coVo: 'thsir saddsn land
ing; on the other, rs 1t happentd, q small body oil
mounted troops, two small companies Of infsnIy, and
eight field pieces, long bore the bfunt OF the attack, ior
IL was not k1o w, from the peculiar conformation oil tie
country where the impending tl3w would he struck.
The OH sct Of the enemy Wa, witbout doubt 10 burn
the railroad t;estle over the Ooosawbstcaie nter, apa
the landing OF his foneI simultaneous a. haekeys
Point and Bees Greek, was 10 render DOUBTFUL ala zeal
. tack, and cause I'd 10 separate our forees. In this the
enemy Was Isruy slccessiul; bat, a. the sequL show,
VIII |, thtii strategy was good, our movements TO check
them were, aLo, wisely COCO ayed and promptly eIecu-
t,d. Our active mounted MN soon gave inforns lon
| tiat the main column was movrg up hackey's road. and
our frees moved forward ~ mest them there, while lie
tresile word ct 0oosawbatchie was completely protected
by our artillery, previously Ieni for ward, with infantry
achievements &c hand to support them. How the bat
tie was fought At FIRST with odds Of eight to one, not BY
regular Intantry, with long range mutkeis, oat iof 'ne
N q. pars by mounted roopsrs, who cketed th.ir
horses, and, on foot, disput,d The ground i1ch oy inch,
with riffs and sho. guns, while our brave arullsrist', few
In number, but large Ia eoul, fought their gins, until the
enemys infantry columns we're within reach OF tner
pieces, We shall not att mpt 10 describe. We hear oil tue
long Ices of Infantry, charging and driving everything
before them ut Manassas Plains and Seven Pines-of in
msnss parks OF ARTILLERY, numbering forth their iron
he'll, until III, ground usmbled With the sbock OF battle;
but the history OF the war does Lot afyri q m r. orii
liant example oil p.tros effort than Mas exhibited BY the
defenders OF ADD Poootalgo" sgiiIs. The sudden attack
on the 22a 0atbsr.
A. q matter OF record, 1t Ia proper to state that the
battle WAS Won b,iore any re~itforcements reached the
soene Of action from bsyond Pocotaligo. A detGca
ment OF two hundred and hfiy men from the III, (Ls
Col. Nelson) 8. y. Battalion j,in,d In the fight at fur
o'clock P. L., just At tho nick Of time, and rushing TO
the font with a yell, they ioon mace themselves fell.
A corresponds cut gives tho following among ostsr In.
cidents Of tbs battle:
The Virginia battery has covered itself with glory
but it Ia II an advalcsd position, and 1t has Suffered ter
rib!y. Is guns arc siledsed, and dead men and hoIs 3
lay around them. oie Of their men. pointing to blood
upon hs arm, said TO g somrads, 'hasur, do you see
that: it Is the hearts 6iood II my only 6rethsr."