The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-07
Battle in South Carolina.
FEDERAL ATTACK ON THE CHARLESTON
and SAVANNAH RAILROAD.
The Rebels Driven over the Pc.
cotaligo River.
The Enemy Reinforced and the unionists
Withdraw, &C., &C.. &c.
Correspondence of the New York Herald

MAckAY's PoNG BRoAp RIVER, s. CO.
/ have to write you of another hard
fought battle. The brigades of Generals
Brannan and Terry encountered the enemy
yesterday at point four miles from POGO
taligo, ON the Charleston and Savannah
Railroad. They routed the rebels from
their position, drove them back, pushed
them across the Pocotaligo River, the
bridge over which the enemy destroyed,
thus preventing further chase. The con-
test resulted in victory for our troops,
purchased, however, at fearful cost.
The expedition, whose history I am
attempting, under many disadvantages, to
record, had this for its object: First, COM
plete reconnaissance of Broad River, to-
gether with its tributaries, the Coosa-
watchie, the Tulifnny, and the Pocotaligo;
second, to test practically the rapidity and
safety with which landing could be
effected; third, to learn the strength of
the enemy on the main land, guarding the
railroad between Charleston and Savannah;
fourth, to accomplish so much of the de-
struction of the railroad as could be done
in a single day.
The land and naval forces participating
in the movement, sailed from Hilton Head
at about II O'Clock, on the night of the
21st inst.
Mackay's Point, which we reached
shortly before daylight, is at the confluence
of the Broad and Pocotaligo rivers, and has
been for several months occupied by a
strong picket of the enemy. Its distance
from Hilton Head is twenty-four miles,
rx-hi1a tho ,-;11ora Of Doaofo1;mn liz, oho,
eleven miles to the northwest. From the
Point to the village, the roads lead through
fertile cotton lands, and cool, shady groves,
past a few fine plantation mansions and
neat negro quarters; yet the lands were
neglected, the dwellings were deserted,
and only the tramp of the enemys videttes,
it seemed, had prevented the obliteratiOn
OF the narrow path.
Over this road, at an early hour, the
brigade of General Brannan took up its
march, the artillery of Lieutenant Henry
in the advance, supported by the Fifty-se-
venth Pennsylvania, and followed by the
Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania, the Sixth Con-
necticut and the Fourth New Hampshire.
Close behind followed General Terry's
command, comprising the Seventy-sixth
Pennsylvania, the Seventh Connecticut,
the Third New Hampshire and the New
York Volunteer Engineers, preceded by
section of HamiltOns battery, under Lieu
tenant Cuttings. Your correspondent ac-
companied the Seventy sixth Pennsylvania
regiment, marching portion of the dis
lance by the side of Captain Hamilton,
whose death / am grieved to record.
From the fact that the attempt on the
part of Captain Gray, of the Sew nth Con-
necticut, to bag the picket at Mackay's
during the night, had resulted merely in
surprising them, it was inferred that the
enemy had timely notice of our approach,
and would be prepared in strong force.
We met him at noon about seven miles
out. The rebels had stationed field artil-
lery on the other side of the road at the
summit of a slight ascent, to reach which
We were compelled to cross an open field
and narrow causeway. Here, as the
Forty-seventh Pennsylvania came up, the
enemy poured in upon us a fearful fire of
grape and shrapnel, which was promptly
answered by our musketry. Lieutenant
Henrys artillery also pressed forward at
great speed, and got so close to the rebels
as to play upon them effectually with grape
and canister AS the ball opened, and the
echoes Of the artillery grew more frequent
our boys pressed on with cheers that were
caught up by the entire column, and in ten
minutes the rebels had been forced from
their position. They fell back, fighting as
they went, our troops crowding them a
distance of mile and half
The rebel fire was from the first well d.
rected and well maintained. 1t was hot
and terrible beyond anything l ever saw
before, excepting, perhaps, that on James
Island. A single shell, exploding in the
midst of Lieutenant Henry's guns, killed
one man and wounded four others. Still
his pieces were served most faithfully, his
gallant artillerists standing to their work
till only three were left to man his right
piece. The battery of Lieut.. Cuttings, of
the Third Regular Artillery, was also badly
cut up Each of the sections lost one
killed and seven wounded.
The brigade of General Terry was at
once thrown forward, and in few moments
from the opening of the battle were active
ly engaged in assisting General Brannan's
troops. The third New Hampshire and
Scrolls Engineers were held in reserve,
and though through the day these troops
were under severe fire, they escaped al
most entirely without injury. The Forty
seventh Pennsylvania and Fourth New
Hampshire, which supported Henry's guns
in the advance, were terribly shattered.
The former lost one hundred and forty, and
the latter about fifty, in killed and wound
ed. These figures embrace their entire
casualties; but the greater portion of them
Is due to the furious fire which fell so sud-
denly among them as the conflict COM
menced.
After the rebels had assumed a second
position, our ammunition had become par
TALLY exhausted, and our fire was in a
measure moderated, but as the enemy in
variably redonbled their exertions as we
slackened ours, another advance was made.
The rebels resisted stubbornly, but were
again forced back, and took up third
position at the iron bridge across the Poe
otaligo, half mile this side of the village.