The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-09-16
THE ATTACK ON WASHINGTON, N c,

THE ATTACK ON WASHINGTON, N G.
A highly intelligent and personal friend, who
il in the army stationed near Kinston, arrived
here last night direct from his camp, informs as
that he conTersed with Gen. Martin on his return
from Washington Gen. Martin informed him
that he took the town on last Friday morning, to-
gether with several prisoners and three cannon.
He held the place for three hours, when the enc
my were heavily reinforced by means of their gun
boats from Newbcrn, and he was compelled to
abandon the place, with considerable loss. The
General did not inform our friend what his loss
was, bat in coming through our camps below
Goldsborv', yesterday morning, he was Informed,
upon good authority, that the latest intelligence
placed it at about 90 killed, 40 wounded, and
some of our taken prisoners. We are led to
believe that the greater portion of our loss was
sustained in the evacuation Of the town We
learn that some of the women of Washington
have married Yankee officers, and that these det
icote sympathisers actually fred at our men from
their houses. Whether this latter report be true
not are not prepared to say, but from the
known character Of certain class in that unfor-
tunate town we are inclined to give it credence.
We regret to hear of the loss of SO many of our
brave men, amongst them none will be more re-
GREETED than Capt. Booth, who was mortally
wounded and died shortly after, and Capt. Nor
ment who was killed on the battlefield.
On the same day that Gen. Martin took Wash
ingtOn, Col. Connolly accompanied Major Neither
cut in an expedition in the direction OF Newbern
When within seven miles of the town they sur
prlsed and took camp Of l6 negroes and two
white men, also over 500 in specie. Proceeding
two miles further (about five miles from Newbern)
they routed another camp Of Yankees. We did
not learn whether Maj. n. succeeded IN capturing
any of the enemy at the latter camp.
o.,,lo- 4 L. Gt>,A
work in Eastern North Carolina and from what
may be Judged of the character Of our command
crs and men we have much to hope. The Yam
KEGS will probably discover, after awhile, that our
army are not such very great towards after all.
L. S.-We learn from a gentleman who has
seen and conversed with Capt. McRae, who led
our men into Washington, that the most of our
loss sustained in the streets. The enemy got
into the houses and fired at them from the win
dows. Captain hlcRae was the last to leave the
town and is presumed to know the particulars.
He reports II killed, 81 or SO wounded, but lost
no prisoners. We took IL prisoners and captured
four pieces IF artillery, which brought away.
- Wilmington Journal 9th.
From the Wilmington Journal of the 10th
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Much interest being felt in reference to the re-
cent capture and evacuation of Washington by
portion of our troops, we have endeavored to OBJ
tain the facts as nearly accurate as possible. The
following statement has been prepared for us by
friend, whose facilities for obtaining information
are of the best kind -
The affair at Washington turns out to have been
more important in its results than rumour had at
fist led US to suppose. The great object of the
expedition, to wit: the capture of the large num-
Der OF negroes who had gone there from the sur
counties, was a failure, because the
enemy, getting wind Of the movement, had sent
them down the river two miles, to Rodman's farm !
N flats and boats, and there protected them with !
\ gunhoat But one of the officers was captured, |
he rest making the best of their way to places of !
'oncealment. Of the privates taken, number of
hem were dragged out Of houses, from behiud !
loors, and out Of closets.
Our forces entered the town in three directions
whipped the enemy at every point where they
made their appearance, kept possession of the
own two or three hours and retired when there
seemed to be nothing further to accomplish, and
It their lelsure-the enemy longer making
heir appearance. 1t is true that the gunboat
Loui$iano piled up and down the river, firing
occasionally up the cross Streets and to have held
urther possession Of the place would probably
AVE endangered the lives of hundreds of women
md children 1t is not true that our forces were
riven from the place.
he action, exploded her magazine, killing twenty
# her men, and burned to the waters edge 1t is
lot known how she was set on fire.
a merchant of intelligence who left Washing
on on Monday succeeding the fight, says the en-
my's acknowledged loss is one hundred and
lxty. This does not include the prisoners can
ured BY us. Quite number of houses in the
western end OF the town were shattered by the
nemy shell, and some riddled by shot from
ur Own battery. No woman was killed. and but
me, Mrs Redding, was slightly wounded
Our infantry entered the town at the west
through the field of James R. Grist, and first en-
ountered the enemy at the back of his barn,
hey (the enemy were driven from there. and
ur forces charged up Main Street and Second
'treet, meeting at the Academy on Bridge Street,
there the battery Of four guns were captured.
lost OF the fighting took place on Bridge Street.
etween the Academy and the foot of the bridge,
7here the enemy had planted battery. They
'ere driven from it three or four fines.
fuckers and Booths cavalry behaved nobly.
'ooth was wounded badly Git is hoped not NOR
'Ily) early IN the action Tucker charged down
sack Street, routing the enemy's cavalry at the
African church, killing eight pickets at the foot
the W illamston road, and then taking the cir
ut OF the town charged up the entire length of
lam Street, doing much damage to the enemy. :
Lieutenant was killed by this force in front of
he Lafayette Hotel Adams battery entered
own about midway from the back street. and did
ONE hrlnG but was not in the hottest of the en- /
agement. They also traversed a considerable
Ortion of the town.