The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-20

L send you brief history of the engagement
near williamsburg, viewed by one acquainted
with the occurrence that preceded 1t, and who
was 1. participant in the fight.
Our forces commenced the evacuation of the
Yorktown line on the night Of Thursday, May 1st,
and the division of army left the entrench
ments late on Saturday night, the Sd instant. On
Sunday morning, the 'grand army of Mcclellan
entered the abandoned ''rcbcl' Notifications, and
their advance guard rapidly followed, and con-
stanry harassed our rear on the entire march from
Yorktown to Williamsburg, a distance of some
ten miles.
THE FIGHT ON SUNDAY.
About two O'Clock Sunday afternoon, having
followed very closely they had arrived in front
of the line of redOubts just outside Of Williams
burg, which were occupied by Gen. Semme's
brigade and Manly's North Carolina battery At
this point the Yankees brought out in front of
our redoubts, and near the ed re of woods, field
battery, unlimbercd and commenced a vigorous
Smelling of the works, which was handsomely and
effectively replied to by the North Carolina
artillery. At the same time they advanced their
cavalry and infantry skirmishers who were en-
gagged by portion of General Semmes Brigade
deplOyed skirmishers AS our wagon trains
had not passed through the town, it was very
necessary TO hold the enemy firmly in check
AID accordingly Gen. Johnston sent for Col
anu COl a. IucluS DAVIS regiments
OF Virginia cavalry, and the lst Company Rich
mond Howitzers, to hasten back as reinfUrcements
Col. Wickhams cavalry moved to the right of
Fort Magruder, and Col Davis to the left, while
section of the Howitzer battery was planted in
the open field, in front of our redoubts on either
side of the fort The cavalry charged across the
field and down the road into the woods with great
gallantry, while the guns of the Howzer battery
kept up a rapid and we'll directed fire. On the
rInhf tha
ton of their artillery, whilst overcoats, knapsacks,
&c, covered the ground. On the road down
which Col. Davis charged, the Yankee cavalry
were drawn up and turned upon him with con-
siderable ferceness, but again driven into the
woods with some loss The result of this fo hit
was the entire repuse Of the enemy, and reflected
the greatest credit upon the gallantry of our
troops. A fine iron rihed gun aud three cassons
were captured, the artillery horses having been
killed or ridden off by the fugitive cannoniers,
the pieces were brought off the field by the How
itzer company. The gun, most excellent
weapon, was used against the enemy during the
entire fight of the following day, About fifteen
prisoners were taken in this engagement nearly
all of whom belonged to the 9th regiment of rrou-
lar L. S. cavalry.
Another account speaks of the part Capt.
Manly's North Carolina battery took in the fight
us follows:
Manly's battery was ordered to advance and
seize Fort McGruder before the Yankees secured
1T. Then commenced a e-arti, ry. cavalry and
infantry, had to the gauntlet of the rifle bat
terry fire for one and half miles to seize work
from which the Yankees were only distant quar-
ter of a mile; but our forces did it nobly. Capt.
Manly brought his battery into action in splendid
style, halted and fired five rounds to delay the
encmys advance and give infantry time to
come up and then limbercd up his guns and made
n dash for the rcdoubt, which he succeeded in
entering juSt in advance Of the Yankee force on
the right. From this point the battery did some
OF the finest practice that have heard of in the
record of any of our ''artillery duels." firing $50
shots In ~ lnutCS, dismounting pieces of the
rife battery, killing all the horses at two more
pieces and four cassons, Of which our cavalry tax
arg advantage made glorious charge on the
infantry and cavalry supporting the battery; and
cutting down all who yet remained The officer
commanding the Richmond Howitzer Battery.
Capt. Mccarthy, (havng detached some of the
horses from his pieces,) galloped forward, and
hiching on to the three captured guns and four
cassons brought them off in the face of the enemy
and gallantly offered them to Capt. Manly as the
trophies gained by the fine service of his pieces
Thus, in forty minutes our glorious fellows had
marched nearly two miles, captured three pieces,
four calssons, twelve horses, and seven prisoners
THE BATTLE OF MONDAY
Early Monday morning intelligence was brought
In that the enemy were advancing in heavy force
Shortly afterwards pickets and skirmShcrs
were driven in, and retired behind the redoubts
The field in front Of works was soon filled
with their sharp-shooters and skirmisherS, and the
guns of the Fayette Artillery and the Howitzcrs
were opened upon them from Fort Magruder and
the adjacent redoubts. An hour later they
brought into the field fue battery of riled guns.
which kept up rapid but very wild fire upon
our line whilst their infantry moved up and took
position In the edge Of the woods and cleared !
ground. About eleven o'clock the First brigade |
of Gen. Longstreet's division composed of the
LIST. 9TH, 11th, and 18th Virginia regiments,
were advanced on the right to attack tn, ir line !
This gallant brigade engaged the enemy with ill.,
Pincible spirit and energy. The fight now de- .
came terrible. TIE musketry was very heavy aud
prolonged, whilst our artillery kept up ant
fire upon the enemy's position. The contest was
long and stubborn, but the fire Of muskctry
gradually and surely reccdcd as Longstrect's
Division, with perseverance that could only re-
suit in success, pressed the enemy back. Further
and still further, were the Yankee lcgions driven
until the victorious I" rebels stood upon the
ground from which they had been driven and
had possession of their entire battery OF eight
guns. The Federal loss very heavy. The
field and timber were full of thsir killed and
wounded, and many prisoners were hurried 10 the
rear. In the meantime the FeGcra's had occupied
an abandoned work about three-quarters of a mile