The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-11
Further Particulars of the Fig hit or New
Years Day.

The Charleston Mercury has some further
and very interesting accounts Of the fight
which took place in the neigh ghborhood of Port
Royal, Wednesday last, the 1st inst. The ma p
rative of the affair, as published in the Mer-
curry, ofSaturday last, and which was trans
fered to our columns, was in the main cor.
rect. Our forces consisted Of Col. Jones'
Regiment, S. 9. V, a battalion of three com.
panies from Col. Dunovant's Regiment, S. e.
", under 1t. Col. Barnes, and a detach .
ment of mounted men under Major Oswald.
Of Col. Martin Regiment of cavalry. The
Mercury, of the eth inst, adds:
After it had been determined to attack the
enemy, 1t became necessary to have heir
position, mum bsrs and material carefully re-
connoi tered. Ibis duty Was cheerfully un
dertaken by Orderly Sergeant Thop1as Il,
Chaplain, of the st. Helena Mounted Rifles.
On the night of the 3lst, he mounted his horse
and rode down to point wi thin sight of the
Yankee camp, where he dism oUn ted-hid his
horse, and being fam iliar with every road
and path, approached to within forty yards
of their bivouacs. He was SO close as to dis
cover that they had lanterns, with blinds on
their sides. SO as not to be seen either in front
or on the fianks.
Following tn. instructions OF his General.
he counted the bivouacs and sentlnels, and as
certained that there were about 500 men on
the west side of the Ferry. He then sought
his horse, (Which he was for some time una
BILE to find, owing to the care with which he
secreted him y and then rode over to the other
side of the Ferry, where, by similar means
he ascertained that the main body of the
enemy, consisting of about $500 men, were
on the east side. After gaining every possi-
BILE information, he returned to headquar ters
at daybreak, having been in the saddle, or on
foot, all night. When starting on this peril :.
GUS under taking, he left his roll book with
his Colonel, lwho gave him the necessary
| a
he was taken, he must destroy it--s'I don't
intend to be taken aliye'' was his reply.
One of the principal features of the fight
of Wednesday was the deployment of an en-
with the view of crossing Ksan's Neck, in
order to turn our left. They were met by
our skirmishers, conspicuous among whom
was Captain Tompkins's company, from
Jones's reglment. Tnese brave fellows left
their mark upon the invaders, and many a
Yankee fell before their unerring aim; but,
owing to the complete arrangements and
forethOught of the enemy in providing litters,
removed. During their retreat, Major Os-
wald's cavalry, with dou ble- barrel guns and
revolvers, did good service
II is due to truth to state that the Yankees
did not, as at first stated throw away their
guns. In advancing, they were never be-
yond the range of their gun. boats, and were
always we'll covered by the forest or under
growth. Just as the enemy had reached the
shore, Gen. A. j. UOnelson, with Moore's lst
regiment Tennessee volun teers, came up
flushed with their quick march-a noble set
of fellows. Great was their disappoin tment
at finding the enemy gone.
Capt. Croft, Jones's Regiment, graduate
of the Citadel occupied an advanced post on
Chisholm q Island, and marched his compa- J.
ny In retreat in complete order. He remain
ed in the rear with FIVE others, and tore up
tn bridge on the causeway, which effec.n.
ally prevented the crossing of the enemy 4
artillery. So arduous was this task. that
the delay occasioned painful suspense, and
at one time it was feared that he was cut of
Soon after the fight, Col. w. Martin, and
Lieut.. Col. s. McGowan, OF Jones' regi.
ment determined 10 Teconnoiter the field
They galloped rapidly through an old field
down the cAuseway, tn the spot where the
shell had burst among our troops, for this
purpose Of ascertaining the number Of our
wounded.
This brought them within loo yards Of the
enemy's infantry, who were in Chaplin .
house, and within range OF their howitzers
They found five or six South Carolina sol
diers helplessiy wounded. As they could
not be removed on horseback, both ofiAcers
retired, and securing q wagon, with proper
escort, reached and removed these brave
men. Before moving on DR.. Turnipseed, had
TO take mp an artery, and during all Lhil
up q sharp fire Of sheils at the waGo.i and
guard, fortunately without damage.
The enemy disappeared ON the Eight Of the
Sd. Colonel Savage, with q battery Of tho
10th Tennessee Regiment, went down to the
causeway, and did not SEQ them.
We learn that our men have always held
RaGe'S Point. and do 90 now