The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-07-08

! LARGE NUMBER OF PRISONERS,
; GUNS, AMMUNITION AND STORES CAP
! TURED,--iNCIDENTS, &c.
! From the Richmond Dispatch, Enquirer and Whig.
| When Gen. A. p. Hill had steadily driven the
enemy from Meadow Bridge, on Thursday evening,
June 26th, and had taken up the line of march
towards Mechanicsville and the road, evening had
far advanced and it was supposed that halt
would take place. Gen. Ripley, however, with the
! 14th and 4Sth Georgia, and I'd and Sd North
! Carolina, made an attack upon the Yankee fort-
! fications at Elyson's Mills, in which the 44th
/ Georgia and Sd North Carolina suffered extreme
| w. and did not succeed in taking them, owing to
| the mpracticable nature of the ground. Opera
tions were then suspended on our SIDE, but the
enemy kept up deafening of artillery till ate
| in the night. Longstreet's forces had meanwhile
crossed, and marched parallel with the Chickaho-
miny The brgades of Gems Featherstonc and
Pryor were in advance, and proceeding some dis
tance, halted for the night. About midnight,
Feathcrstone received orders to change his posi-
! tron, and to occupy skirt OF woods near Beaver
| Dam Creek, and facing the Federal batteries. lie
! did So and the men scarcely asleep when,
/ twilight approaching, the enemy discovered the
bivouac and Immediately commenced to shell it
vigorously. The men thus unceremoniOusly
aroused, seized their muske and fell in, and Gen.
Fcathcrstone just arrived from headquarters, led
them to storm the position-mOunting ten guns,
and supported by two or three brigadeS. Sharp
fighting now commenced on all sides, when Gen.
Pryor sent for assistance. and Wilcox soon came
upon the ground. To cover the infantry attack,
and draw off the artillery fire, the Sd Richmond
Ilowitzcrs, some pieces Of the Donaldsonviie and
Thomas Artillery, moved up and played upon the
euemys position magnfcently. Having engaged
the enemy for u long time, and finding it impossi-
bic to the creek without bridge, was
constructed by some Of the 10th Mississippi and
I4th Lou s:ana under fire. when the whole force
advanced and closed up with the enemy, driving
them in great confusion from the field, The diff
fcuItics Of attack at this position were such that
it Is impossible to give correct idea without maps
the battery being on height, fanked by rifle
pits, deep creek at the foot Of the HILL and cover
Cd with thick hedge
The attack OF on this position was i'm
petuous and daring, but the loss was great, for
the foe were so screened by their position it
impossible to get at them properly. Their loss was
severe. Gen. Fcatherstore's Adjutant-General,
Geo p Footc, was shot while riding far in advance
Of the 18th Mississippi, and although hailed to
return, he did not, and was quickly singled out
and nsortally wounded. His body was shortly af
tcrwards found despoled-watch, money, and
sword gone. The 18th Mississippi went out in the
morning with 397 men, lost in this engagement
II killed, G8 wounded, and 8 missing; the rcg-
ment was commanded by Major W. II. Lilly, who
wounded leading charge. The 10Th Missis
sippi went into action with 521-had 81 killed,
100 wounded The 2nd Mississippi battalion,
Col Taylor, went into action with 234 men, and
had 80 killed and wounded.
Fight at EHyson's Nils.
While FcathcrStone, Pryor, and Wilcox were
thus successfully engaging the enemy on the
right Of our advance, len. Maxcy Gregg and his
brigade were also hard at work, and successfully
sormed the strong position of Elly>ons Mills, and
! took up the line Of march on the left They did
not advance on the Mills by the road. as had been
done on Friday evening by Ripley, but simply
made teint in that direction, crossed the main
body higher up the creek, took the redoubts and
rife pits en- flank, carried them with the bayonet,
pushed through the camps, and followed the road
towards Gaincss Mills, whittier the enemy were
retiring
At Guine's NUs
From prisoners captured at both positions-who
proved to be of the Valley Army-it was ascer-
tanned that we might expect stout resistance at
GaineS's Mills, since three four whole divisions
were strong y encamped there, Mcclellan COM
nading in person, with Major Generals Mccall
Porter, Sedgewick, and others-ther estimated
force being not less than thrty-odd thousand men.
As our three columns moved by parallel lines, we
followed aud couversed with prisoners, who in
formed us that their loss on Friday at Meadow
been fearful, and that the whole night had been
occupied in burial. The FeieraIs carry off all
their dead and wounded, as fast as shot and we
only discover those who fall and are left at the
actual moment of retreat.
The heads of our three columns having reached
Walker Hogans farm, north bank of the Chicka-
honiny, about miles northeast of Richmond, all
came to halt and Gems Lee and Longstreet
took W quarters in the house and made DISPOSE
tions for further advance towards Gaines's Mills,
distant about mile through the woods Feath-
erstones brigade having suffered much in the
morning, Wilcox led, being followed by Pryor,
and Feathcrstone in reserve The composition of
Wileexs command is mostly Alabamians; Pryor
has the 18th Louisiana, st. Paus battalion Sd
Virginia, and one other regiment; Featherstone
has the 10Th Mississippi and ID Mississippi batta-
lion.
TThe attack on the enemy's Notifications was
assisted by the I'd and Sd North Carolina regi-
ments, who fought bravely and suffered much
Storming Entertainments
1t now beings p. NJ, and :he head of our
column in view of the Federal camps, Gen. Pryor
was sent forward with his brigade to drive away
the heavy mass of skirmishers posted to our rear
to annoy the advance This being accomplished
with great success, and with little loss to u.s. Pryor
returned and waited orIerS NeanubiIn tha