Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-05-01

were grand beyond description. TWAS the
awful Hymn of Battle, rolling upward to
the skies and literally shaking the earth
beneath 1t was solemn anthem, the
notes of which were traced In blood and
uttered from brazen throats, that might
have satisfied Mars himself.
The Confederates stood their ground a.
gainst the furious onset, and for the fourth
time the enemy was compelled to retire
1t was now one o'clock. Our men were
greatly exhausted; they had fought eigh'
teen hours, and withal had slept but little,
having been engaged much Of the prece,
ding night in searching out and taking care
of the wounded. It was evident, too, that
the enemy had been largely reinforced, and
that each succeeding attack was made by
fresh troops and overwhelming numbers
In view of these facts, and in order to rest
his men, and to prevent an unnecessary loss
of life, Gen. Beauregard availed himself
of the falling back of tho Federals, to with,
draw his troops to the enemy's line of en-
campment, where we rested last night
This was about mile and half from the
point where the fight commenced this NOR
ming.
The enemy hesitated for some time, but
finally came up and renewed the conflict
He was met with undiminished courage
and resolution by the Confederates, who
displayed the greatest possible gallantry-
The battle ragged on, aud night alone sepa'
rated the combatants. At length the ene'
my fell back, and so did the Confederates
both sides badly worsted and severely
punished Hardee, who commanded the
.fropt line or corps, held his ground until
the enemy withdrew. Our reserves had
been engaged throughout the day, and
Polk, Bragg, and Hardee, each in bis
proper position, were in immediate COM
mand upon the field, and nobly oo.operated
in the work of the day. They deserve
great credit, as do the brigade and regi.
mental officers, and the gallant spirits whom
they led to battle. Gen. Breckinridgs
particularly distinguished himself Though
not military man by profession, General
Beauregard'is reported to have said that be
displayed great aptitude and sagaeity, and
handled his brigade with skill and judg'
ment.
Having said thus much, I feel it to be
nv duty as a faithful chronicler of the
times, to refer to a matter here which had
a controlling influence upon the fortunes o.
the day.
Our attack yesterday was so sudden and
successful that the enemy found it impos
sible to remove his quartermaster and com
missary stores, or even to save the baggage
of the men. The temptation thus present
ed was too great for our troops to resist
Sunday night, large numbers Of them
supposiag there would be no more fighting,
set to work to gather up such spoils as the
Federal eneampment contained There
were arms, over-coats, caps, shoes, coffee,
sugar, provisions, trunks, blankets, liquors,
private letters, and numberless other things
which the enemy had been compelled te
abandon. Such of our troops as were not
engaged in searching ont the wounded and
dead, or were not restrained by sense oil
duty, wandered from their respective camps,
and spent much of the night in plundering
Orders had been issued by General Beau
regard positively prohibiting anything o1
the kind, but many of the troops are raw,
and officers aud meu were alike elated al
our success, and, consequently, the neces
sary steps were not taken to enforce the
orders of the Commander-in- Chief. At ar
early hour this morning, the men renewed
their search after the spoils of victory, and
many of them were separated from thei1
commanders when the enemy renewed the
battle. Some of them had even started
back to their camps, loaded with such ar
ticles as they had been able to find.
After deducting the killed and wounded
and those who were engaged in removing
the wounded, it would be no exaggeratior
to say five thousand sound and able bodied
men had thus wandered out of the line
and took no part whatever in the battle to
day. On the other hand, the enemy hae
been largely reinforced.
Thus, with diminished force on ou
part, we had to meet fresh troops aud
more numerous army than that We encoun
tered yesterday, and thus, too, the spoll'
have prevented us from again driving tn
enemy back into the Tennessee, notwith
standing the great odds in his favor.
1t was well enough, while the confiic
lasted, that our troops should exchang
their smooth bored muskets and shotgun
for the splendid arms thrown away by tn
retreating foe; but there can be no excus
for the disgraceful proceedings to which
have alluded.
The spoils of victory are not less demon
alizing than defeat and disaster. Such
the lesson taught by history in all ages q
the world, from the time when Achan wa
reduced by the "wedge of gold," down t
the present day. 1t is hoped that the ez
perience of this day will not be thrown
way, either by our officers or soldiers.
P. W. A.
Fort P1LLow.-The siege Of this fol
was commenced on the 18th instant, by tn
enemy's guu-boats. The fort is situate
about eighty-6ve miles above Memphis, an
is said to be one of the strongest points O.
the river. 1t is on the Tennessee side.