Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-10-28

| earth trembled under the confused noise of th
battle. Every division, brigade, regiment an
company, and might say almost every ma
fought with courage and GOODNESS, as though tn
frescit,depended upon one as much as upon al
Forward our men advanced and, though man.
OF them tell before the terrible fire of the enem
from heavy guns, field pieces and small arms
Forward still they advanced. And now there
was grand charge all along our lines. The en-
emy held his position until our men had reached
the very mouths of his heavy guns, and fired on
MS gunners as they stood at their posts. Then
however, his advance was thrown into confusion
and scattered away in haste, leaving his heavy
aftlilery and, some say, number of field pieces
IN our hands Our loss here was very heavy
but having gained the last line eefentrenchments, of
our brave troops seem to have won the day.. In
! fact, If our men, though much reduced by the
casualties of the day, could have been support
ed by reserves even equal to the dead and wound
ed IN number, they, in all probability would
have been crowned victors Of the well afonght
held. But, alas fresh troops were not at hand
and rhe enemy bringing up his heavy reserves
about II O'clock, and hurting them against our
lines particularly the centre-our brave troops
were obliged to yield the ground SO gloriously
won by them. Suffering intensely from thirst
hunger and fatigue, they were but poorly pre-
pared to meet this onslaught from fresh men;
and besides many Of them had exhausted the
last round OF ammunition, and no further supplies
were just at hand So, under the necessities OF
the case, they fell back and though in doing so,
they were exposed to a terrible and destructive
nre, there was no panic, no rout-the wounded
OF Gen Prices army, except those who fell
right at the entrenchE ents, having been nearly |
all brought away. Our army retired to the
woods at a distance of 600yards and there, while
our artillery resumed fire and kept it up for a
snort time, formed again in order Of battle
But the enemy appearing indisposed to renew
the conflict, Gen. Van Dorm, at 8 O'Clock, drew
OH his whole force, being most ably supported
In doing so by Gen. Price and the other general
officers. The enemy attempted no pursuit dur
ing the afternoon, and that night our army camp
ed securely in the neighborhood of Chewalla
Sunday morning. at $3.50 O'Clock, our advance,
consisting of General Phiter's brigade, and Col.
Whitfeid's legion, with one battery-not exceed
ing one thousand five hundred in al--croSSed +,
The Davis bridge at Hatche river, to engage the
enemy, large body OF whom, from Bolivar, had
Inc day before reached that point, and had there
oeen held IN check by Colonels SlemmOn'S and
Adams cavalry, with one battery. Our advance
having crossed the bridge and gone little dis
;ance, received heavy fire at short range from
J concealed battery, which was followed direct :
y by charge from largely superior force. I,
Our troops retreated IN good deal of confu- :
zion across the bridge-haying suffered a loss, :
perhaps, of 900 killed wounded and missing Re- !
arriving, our troops formed IN line. :
md fight with musketry ensued and was kept :
up for some time across the river, with very :
little loss on our side. Meanwhile, our field :
pieces opened upon the enemy, and, they reply :
ng, cannonading was continued during the great =
u art OF the day, During this time, ad- :
rance was gradually withdrawn, and following :
he other troops, with the long wagon train OF :
upplies, wounded, &c.-the artillery having ?
'iso been brought OFT made successful cross !
ng OF the Hatchie river scme miles higher up : !
he stream. And now our army is in camp lit :
lie north of Ri ley; and it is rumored that the :
enemy is advancing, and has reached point on :
y eight miles distant from our lines. Our loss :
vas heaviest on Saturday-perhaps much heavi- ),
'r-as matter of course, than the enemy's. :
hink our loss ogether-Friday, Saturday and :
sunday perhaps reach 8 ZOO killed, wound :. :
ID and missng-not many prisoners, chiefly =
Wounded and stragglers. l can give but few :
lames. Col. Martin of Memphis, commanding a | :
,rigade-a gallant officer and excellent gentle
killed On Friday. Col Hodges and
japt. Chatteson of Texas, here seriously but t
lot dangerously wounded-also others. b
The enemy's loss was heavy. We captured a
everal hundred prisoners and besides these v
doubt If the enemy's loss will fall below 1000 t
men. t
lave been published, making matters much @
worse than l have detailed them. My informa- s
ion is from sources eminenty trustworthy, and v
hough necessarily imperfect in certain degree, v
ou may, think, rely upon the main points. +
The future is dark in this part OF the country. t
fear other reyerses in store for US, includ- C
bg loss of much ground now held by US. The b
nemy can readily, in few days, concentrate {
hree to one against our forces.
a CIV. c
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss, Oct. 8, 1862. #