The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-11-25
REroRr OF COL. nARToN.

. part Of the expedition which was un.
der the immediate direction Of Gen.
Brannsn and Gen. Terry.
II was. as whole, an unfortunate
and costly expedition on our part.
The enemy had timely knowledge Of
the movement, and we're fully pre-
/ pared for H.
After our troops had landed, the
ground was found to be quite adyan.
/ tageous to the rebels, while the ad.
vance Of our columns over a narrow
eauseway, was exposed TO the hre Of
artillery from the opposite side or end
of the bridge. II was while repairing
this road or bridge here, and making
their way over it, that cur troops were
exposed to deadly fire and here
the greater part Of the casualties oe-
CURED. The loss was very incorrect.
1 y stated where il was said TO amount
to LOG killed and wounded. By com
pairing the published reports Of the
various regiments which took part in
the fight, any one could see, by the
long list Of names, that the number
must be great deal larger than that.
Yet many Of the papers published that
error in giving an account Of the ex-
petition. But after while, letter
reported TO come from an officer at
Hilton Head, and who saw the men
as they returned, put our loss al 1000
men. This was another error. The
whole of tile killed, woun led and
missing, was about 800. OF these,
about 250 were wounded, and from 40
to so killed,
This was scy re loss, considering
hcw little was accomplished by the
expedition Bat the detachment un-
der Col. Barton seem to have been
more favored, and though but partial
y successful, yet performed their part
Hith great courage and intrepdity.
In The recent attack on the Charles
ton and Savannah railroad, while Gen
Brannan was operating At Pocotali-
20, a smaller force under Col. Barton
landed near Coosahatclie and destroy
Cd a portion Of the railroad there
Col. Barton has made bis official re-
port Of the affair, Of which the follow
ing is the important portion -
" Throwing few shells into the
woods, ] disembarked with my infant
ry and engineers as expeditiously as
possible, taking with me the boat how
ifzer, in charge of Capt. Gould, Sd
Rhode Island artillery, and detach-
mcnt of twelve Of his men. The
swanpy nature Of the ground rem
dered landing difficult, but losing no
time, | advanced toward the main
road, sending request to the officer
in command Of the PATRON, the gun
boat nearest TO me, and about a mile
and halt astern, 10 cover the road in
my rear as | advanced. | should
state here that both OF the gunboats
were unfortunately aground and were
thus prevented from taking a position
nearer to the Planter My advance
reported squads Of cavalry in sight,
as the main body Of my forces enter
ed the road, which il did at right an
sles TO the point Of Decentralization
The road proved to be an excellent
one, hard and firm, and evidently re-
paired but an hour or two before, the
dirt being still fresh, and the tracks
upon il showed plainly that artillery,
infantry and cavalry had just passed
over it. ! continued my advance
toward the town, driving in the enc
my's pickets and skirmishing tie
country as thoroughly as possible.
When about one mile from tie vii.
lage the whistle Of locomotive was
heard. | was informed by the con-
traband who Lad been furnished Us as
a guide that il was the dirt train,
which always passed at that hour, and
which, he said, was well on its way 10
Savannah. Afew moments, however,
proved that be lad misinformcd me,
for, when the main body Of my forces
arrived at a point within few hun
dred yards Of the town, and when the
skirmi.lers had already reached the
railroad track and telegraph line, the
train was heard and seen rapidly com
ing down tie road. ! quickly placed
my battalion, in position, and as the
train approached, directed rapid
and heavy FIRE upon il with grape and
canister and muskeiry. This Gre was