Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-30
Important from South Carolina.
Gen' Mitchell Invades the Railroad Line,
and Beats the Rebels in Two Battles,


From Hilton Head we have news of an ex-
petition of Gen. Mtchells troops to DESTROY
the trestle bridges on the Charleston and Sa-
vannah railroad They beat the rebels in
two fights, and tore up a portion of the rail-
road, but failed to demolish the bridges. The
expedition landed at Mackey's Point. The
enemy retired seven miles, fearing the gun
boats. Our troops followed them. Here is
an account of the operations =
The road alternated through dense woods.
and through marshes, only passable over
narrow causeway, save at one or two points.
Choosing position at the opposite end of this
causeway, the enemy opened furious fire of
shell and canister on our advancing column,
which was promptly met by the battery under
Lieut.. Henry. Immediately the order was
given by General Brannon for his brig
AIDE to form line of battle, the center rest
ing on the causeway After brisk fire
OF both musketry and artillery, the rebels
retired to the dense woods in the rear.
tearing up the couSeway- bridge, which de-
layed the advance of our artillery until it
could be repaired. Meanwhile the first brig.
AIDE pressed on to the woods, which they pen
etrated, driving the enemy before them, and
closely followed by the second brigade, under
Gen, Terry, who came up with cheer, and
were quickly III the engagement. Here the
hight, 1t may be said, fairly commenced
This action begun between twelve and one.
ana lasted about an hour, ending In the re-
treat of the rebels to another position at
Frampton's plantation, which lies two miles
beyond. The enemy was closely followed
and after fight more hotly contested than
the first, our troops were again victorious. the
second time driving the rebels from their well
chosen position, and two miles beyond, which
brought them up to P0cotaligo bridge mot
the railroad bridge over which they crossed,
taking shelter behind earthwortks on the
tarthest SIDE. 10 this point our troops nearly
approached, but found farther progress i'm
possible, as the bridge had been cut by the
enemy on his retreat. Frequently, while the
fight was progressing, we heard the whistles
OF the railroad trains, notifying us of rein
torcements for the rebels, both from Charles
ton and Savannah, and even if we had had
facilities for ing the river, it would have
been unwlSe to have made the attempt in view
OF these circumstances. The prisoners IN
formed us that Gen. Beauregard commanded
in person.
While these events were taking place be-
tween the main forces. Col. Barton of the
4Sth New York, with 800 of his own men and
so Of the Sd Rhode Island regiment under
command Of Capt. j. IL. Gould, went up the
CooSawhatche river, to within two miles of
the town OF that name. A march was made
to the village through which runs the railroad
arriving here, they commenced tearing up
the rails, but had scarcely engaged in the
work when long train Of cars came from the
direction Of Savannah, filled with troops.
This tirnI intn b,r1 In:
the engineer and a number of others. Sew
eral soldiers jumped from the cars while they
were In motion, and were wounded. One was
taken prlSoner-thirty muskets were captured,
and colors OF the Whippy Swamp Guards
taken from the cOlOr-bearer, who was killed.
The work of tearing up the rails was not ac-
compHshed IN time to prevent the onward pro-
gress OF the train, and our men afterward
completed the job-aso cutting the telegraph,
and bringing away portion of the wire with
them. Col Barton next attempted to reach
the railroad bridge, for the purpose of firing
1t, but was unable, as it was protected by a
battery OF three guns"
Our loss was 10 killed, log wounded, and
two missing. James Baynes and Francis A.
Bliss of the Massachusetts cavalry were
among the wounded, and also corporal n G.
Bowman and Josiah Thompson of the Rhode
Island artillery. The losses of the Connect
cut regiments were as follows =
SIXTH CONNECTICUT, COL. cHArFIELp.
Hounded-Col. l.. S. Chatteld, hip, Sc
verely; Lieut.. Col John Spidell, arm, severe
ly; Com. Sergt. W. II. johnson, leg, severely.
Company B.-hiiled-Private James Nc
Kinney. Wounded - Edward Loughberry,
head.
Company c. WouRdsd-First lieutenant
John P. King, leg; corporal Fred. Hartung.
arm; private Valentine Blind.
Company D. Wounded-Privates Dennis
Burns, chest; John Hassenan, leg; Henry
Hoyt, ankle; Joseph TOPPER, hand; Angus
tus Provost, shoulder; Smith Scofield, hand;
VIM. Sherwood, chest; Robert Wilson,
shoulder; Chas. II. Weed, hand Albert w.
Crocker foot.
Company E.-Kiued-Private Daniel Mat
thews.
Company F. Wounded Privates Bruce
Baldwin, Hubert S. Holbrook. Missing
Sergeant George W. Caldwell, private L. ID.
Booth.
Company .-Killed-Private Henry AL
len. Uounded-Privates George Ainsworth,
shoulder; Lucius Leonard, Marshal Dowd,
Raphael Nance. MiSSing-Private Edward
Haugh.
Company H Wounded-Private Emil His
srich, shoulder
Company l. Killed-Orderly sergeant r.
&. Gage, private Henry Deli. Wounded-
Lieut.. Daniel j. West, leg, slightly; Corpor-
al David Shepherd, MORALLY; privates Thorn
as Taylor, MORALLY; George Bouton, Sc
verely.
Company X Wounded - Private A. L.
Wilcox.
SEVENTH CONNECTICUT--COL. HAwLEY.
hthed-James Cook, Frederick G. Eaton,
Co. l. Wounded-Sergeant S. w. Reynolds,
Co. A, since dead; VIM. Keefe Co. A, Sc
yerely; corporal Robertson, Co b, slightly;
corporal Dennis O'Brien, Co. c, severely
Wm Saby, Co. G, dangerously; corporal
Schoheld, Co. ID, seriously; Henry Irwin,
Co. ID, dangerously; John Roberts, Co. ID,
severely; Charles c. Dolph Co. ID, slightly;
VIM Ray, Co. E, dangerously; Edward
Smith, Co. f, severely; John IL. Riggs, Co.
f, slightly corporal John Botsford Co. G,
severely; Willis c. Thomas, Co. g. danger
ously; Isaac Holt, Co. &, seriously; serg't
Charles A. Wood, Co. II, severely; VIM. j.
Holland, Co. ii, severely; Joab Jeffrey, Co.
II, severely; VIM. Crabb, Co. II, severely;
Chauncey Geer, Co. IL, dangerously; David
Sanders, Co. IL, slightly; Lorenzo Hail. Co.
II, slightly; Elisha WEIGH, Co. II, slightly;
VIM Arnold, Co. IL, slightly; Martin Sathe.
dy. Co. IL, slightly Michael Guinness, Co.
IL, slightly; S. b. Pcttingill, Co. X, slightly.
One of Captain EricsSons nine Monitors"