The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-27
Interesting from North Carolina.
The Battle at Washington.
Full Particulars Of the Affair.

hutctl ~ correspondent OF q New Ork
paper from which we make the subioincd
extracts;
a body of rebel cavalry, some three
hundred OF four hundred strong, charged
down the front and main street in most
desperate manner In this wav thew
passed a portion of our battery, and
reached n position almost al the end Of
the town, in the opposite direction from
which they entered. Here they were
met and engaged in hand 60 hand en-
counter by Captain Gerard, of company
ID, Of The 81 New York cavalry. This
lasted in regular order for some 1--WE or
six minutes, when each party broke. and
becoming mixed up, fought Individually
and in squads with sabrcs and pistols
Owing 60 the denseness Of the FOG, and
the want of sufficient daylight, il was
very difficult, however, 10 distinguish in
dividuals and colors, and hence many of
the rebels, in attempting 10 escape from
a foe IN front, were met by a foe behind,
rendering cxirication q decidedly dan
gerous and difficult course Of action. la
consequence of the spirited manner in
which the rebels were met by our cayal-
ry-lor they expected nothing Of the
kind, but on the contrary, believed we
were all sleeping - they soon became
thoroughly confused and alarmed. and
retreated, lighting all the way to their
artillery where they were left alone tor
moment by the pursuing party.
As soon as possible additional comma
MES Of our cayalrY-companie G, ID, III.
and. were despatched TO charge through
other streets, parallel TO that on which
the attack was first made, for the reason
that the enemy appeared to be in force
on the flank as well as in front. Il was
well that this was done; for il not only
surprised and disconnected the enemy.
but had the effect of confusing those in
charge of their battery, and holding them
in check for over twenty minutes, there's
1 by allowing us sufficient time TO get in
fighting order two companies of the
| North Carolina,Folunteers and two com
/ panies Of the 9th Massachusetts regi-
ment. The cavalry afterwards was en-
gagged in supporting the infantry and ar
tillery, they having by this time got in
to active operations.
Battery II, of the third New York
artillery, under command Of Capt. Riggs,
was posted and its missiles turned loose
upon the rebels at the earliest practic-
able moment. In the outset of this oper-
alton Lieutenant MERGERS piece met a
force of the enemy on the corner Of the
maine street. and on receiving sufficient
support, engaged the enemy at short
range. The firing evidently daunted
the enemy, and prevented a second
charge Of their cavalry. The second
| piece Of artillery brought to bear was
that under command of Lieut. Fields.
| At first this lieutenant was placed in a
curious predcament All around him
were Union ,cavalrymen and others. and
he did not see how he could fire without
injuring more friends than enemies.
While waiting an opportunity to fire, a
| commanding officer Of the rebels rode up
TO him and said, "Who's there? Are
you the damned Yankees? Give us the
watchword.' He replied that il was
none of his business; and Just at that
moment, seeing fine opportunity for
shot, the Union cavalry and others having
changed their position, gave the order,
"tire." The friction primer failed
Then the rebel officer rode off some
twenty rods, to where his command was,
and gave the order "chargc" Lieut..
| Fields, about the same time, gave again
the order TO fire. This time the piece
| went of, and its contents had the effect
! of not only staggering, wounding, and
| killing many of the rebels, but also of
making them huddle together for the
moment and keep out Of harm way. re-
! nnFnIaEl of ,lterfYIir,R 4,.s1fN,.... I
| This piece Of artillery was then worked
brislly for quite little while, during
which period the rebels brought 10 bear
| against Il two pieces Of their own artil-
lery. This action was at short range, in
fact so short that Lieut.. Fields could see
the muzzles Of their guns, and the men
when they pulled the lanyards of the
gunlocks.
The enemy's first shot wounded one of
our men and took a horses Loo off Uis
second shot wounded another man. uia
| third shot took Lieutenant Fields horse
| from under him. After an engagement
of several minutes longer shot from
one Of our guns dismounted and dis
abled one OF the enemy's pieces. After
this steady clnnonading-m on our
side than the enemy 's-was kept up ror
over two hours. Another piece Of battle
~ II, under command of Lieut. O'Neil.
engaged the enemy for three quarters of
an hour on the main street. at The en-
trance 10 the long bridge over Pamlico
river, Lieut. O'Neal, with his gun, en-
gagged the enemy till every man except
one was shot from his post. Tie then, with
the assistance Of the remaining man,
Sergeant King, and some volunteers from
the infantry regiments, dragged the piece
of to place and position Of safety.
The two companies of the first North
! Carolina regiment which is composed Of
natives with the exception Of the officers
fought with the most undaunted bravery,
and received much praise and common
dation from Col Potter, who is command
ant Of the post. While referring 10 Col.
Potter ! may as well record the fact
that lac had his horse shot under him and
narrowly escaped serious injury, il not
death, while directing and overseeing
the movements of his command.
As soon as a portion Of the streets
could be cleared, Col Porter gave orders
TO the commanding officer Of the gunboat
Louisiana TO shell a portion Of The city,
which hc at the time designated. The
gunboat accordingly commenced with
shell, but soon got TO throwing grape and
canister. This the rebels could not stand
They fell back after two or three doses OF
cast iron compliments had crossed over
the water and landed i'm their midst
The shells from the gunhoat tore several
Of the houses and trees in a most con-
spicuous manner and the smaller shot
soon rendered the buildings especially
the quarters Of the Twenty fourth Mas
sachusetts regiment-little better than