Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-10-08


We publish the following exsraots from
a private letter from an officer in the army
to bis relatives 10 this city: g..
. CAMP. NEAR MARTINsBURa, Va
g.. September %, 1852.
We are encamped on the Opequant river,
a short distance above where it empties in
to the Potomac. r. >..-,- b.. :. e.. -
Well, I suppose you would like to hear
something of our trip into Maryland! : |
cannot say With the song, "2aere is life in
the old land yet." We saw bat little en-;
thusiasm among the people, the majority
looking sour and sullen as we passed through
the towns. ...-,.. - - Z
We had a fight with the Yankees on
Sunday, the 14th September, at a Gap in
the Blue Ridge mountains near Boonsboro', i,
in which We we're worsted ; the fight clos
ed at half:past nine o'clock at night when we
retired two miles and half, and took new
position about eight o'clock next morning !;
the enemy did not follow us We then retir-
ed to Sharpsburg, and that evening the ene-
my came in sight; and on the 17th (Wed-
nesday) we bad terribly magnificent bat
tie, commencing on the left of our line and
ending on the right, = distance Of FIVE miles
The enemy were repulsed at all points, al
though they out numbered as atleast three
to one, with an immense artillery force
On Thursday, the 18th, both armies lay
facing each other all day; the shirmishers
deployed to the 'front.' carrying on scatter
ing fire sll day along the whole line. About
four o'clock it begain to rain, and | sup.
pose General Lee knew that the Yankees
we're only waiting for further reinforoements
until they could have FIVE to one against US,
determined to re-cross the Potomac, which
was two and.a half miles in our rear, be
fore it got too high to ford We crossed
tne Potomac in the night at three fords near
each other, and did not lose wagon horse,
mule or anything else, except few strag.
glers who would not stay in the ranks, and
ought to be shot by US whenever exchaug-
ed.
The Yankees acknowledge we killed l0,-
QUO of their men in the last fight; We Ger.
tainy did not lose FIVE thousand. They
have made two attempts to cross the Poto-
mae since the last battle, and have been
whipped back both times, and We hear
have marched down the river to Harper s
Ferry.
Many here belive that the campaign is
over, and that there will not be another
fight until next spring; which time the
Yankees will have drilled their 100000
men 1 do not think so. Mcclellan will
make another effort to get to Richmond
this fall in my opinion. We are ready for
him, let him come when he will. I have
lost in the two battles of the 18th and II
September some of my best officers I
went into action with about 400 on the
18th, and have lost, in killed, wounded,
and missing, in the two battles, eleven Off
GERS and one hundred and ifty-seven men,
besides my poor friend Clarke, who was
killed dead whilst extending an order for
me. He was a manly, noble fellow, and
had endeared himself to me very much
1 was in command of Drayton's brigade in
the fight of the 18th, and am still in com.
mand, as Drayton is commanding three
brigades.
l have now with me 271 men and officers
of my regiment for duty, with great
many sick at Winchester and other places.
l have sent to the papers in Columbia a
list of the killed and wounded by name
If you write to any one at fathers, give
them all the information herein | met
since my last with Wilmot Gibbes, in a
Mississippi regiment, DeS Edwards, lieu
tenant in the Brooks Guards from Charles.
ton, and DeS. Burroughs is my orderly,
aud quite we'll. Mr. Boydin, DR.. Wallace,
and myself are all safe and sound Capt.
Cantey was shot through both thighs in the
last battle, but is doing we'll.
WAR NEws.-From gentlemen who on