Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-19
sPIsudid Fighting at Washington, North
Carolina.

Carolina.
OF the late rebel repulse at Washington
North Carolina, correspondent of tn
Tribune gives these particulars:
1t appears that Lieutenant Colonel Mix
Of the Sd New York cavalry, with fOu
companies ofhis command, were at Wash
ington, North Carolina, for the purpose o
fitting out an expedition for some othe1
point, and all (tbe four companiesl werl
in their saddles at daylight, when sudden
ly a wild yell of the most startling charae
ter was heard in the other part of the city
as though ten thousand sayages had sprung
forth from their hiding places. Aceompa
nying the wild yslls, was the rapid report
Of musketry and artillery. In an instaa
it was discovered that the enemy was in
possession of the city with force double
our own. TheirsiK companies Of infantry
in less than five minutes from the first
alarm, had surrounded the brick barracks
which contained our four infantry compa-
nies, two Of which belonged to the Isl
| North Carolina Union Volunteers, and the
other two TO the Path Mass. The barracks
are situated on the banks of the river, un-
der the cover Of the gunboat Louisiana,
which lays within ten rods of them. The
rebels demanded surrender from cur in
fantry companies, who told the enemy that
| they would see them in hi first and at
the same time they opened FIRE on the reb-
els from the windows. The demand for &
surrender was made before half of our
troops were awake, all Of whom were
sound asleep when the enemy first made
his appearance, il being a complete sur
prise, as the distance between our pickets
and the barracks was too short to admit of
anything else.
The moment that it was ascertained that
the enemy had attacked the city, Lieuten-
ant Colonel Mix, with his four companies
Ofcavalry, wheeled about and charged down
the street, to meet the desperate charge Of
the six companies Of rebel cavalry, who
howled like 50 many wild demons as the
two flying forces were coming together in
mortal combat. The satanic yells Of the
traitors had no terror to the fearless Mix,
who, with many Of his officers, are old
Texan rangers, who have been in the SER
vice many years on the plains, where they
have met saYages before.
Soon they we're engaged in q hand to
hand encounter Of the most desperate char
acter which was of short duration, as the
enemy were unable to Withstand the supe-
rior discipline Of our troops, who, from
all accounts, fought on this occasion as no
regulars were ever known to fight. The
rebels broke and beat hasty retreat, pur-
sued by Mix and his fearless followers, who
strewed the streets with the enemy's dead
in all directions.
- l. Al o1ysrr
Lieutenant Colonel Mix, at the head Of his
men, wheeled about and came to the relief
of our infantry, who we're still housed,
lighting superior numbers through the few
windows of the brick warehouse. Anoth-
er desperate charge was ordered, and our
cavalry were again in the thickest Of the
fght, cutting and slashing away at a Wig
orous rate. The rebel infantry were oblig-
ed to fall back some distance, which gave
our infantry an opportunity to get out Of
their barracks, which was gladly embraced,
and then they went at the rebels in good
earnest, who by this time were reinforced,
when a most terrible fight followed. The
dashing Lieutenant Colonel with his hero
ic followers were everywhere present, max
ing n series Of the most desperate and dar-
ing charges that were ever witnessed, cut
ting their way through the solid columns
Of the enemy, whose presented bayonets
were skillfUlly turned in every instance
Our four companies Of infantry supported
the cavalry in the most admirable manner
and followed up with the bayOnet every
charge made by the Lieutenant Colonel
thus making it a hand to hand fight for all
engaged, which gave the enemy no time to
al gk,o1rg
shattered and weakened their columns al
every dash.
The two companies of loyal North Car
olinians engaged, who belong to the lst
North Carolina Union Volunteers, behaved
in the most praisewOrthy manner. They
were obliged to fight more desperately than
the rest Of our troops owing TO the fact
that sentence Of death has been pronounced
upon them by the Rebels, who it is thought
made the attack in order that they might
capture these brave defenders Of the old
flag, and thus carry out the execution. Not
long since, a like attempt was made by
force of armed Rebels, who stealthily erept
to the outskirts Of the town, at the dead
of night, where these loyal soldiers were
doing picket duty, and assassinated some
of them, whose brains were beaten out af-
ter they had been shot, leaving the piekets
belonging 10 the Northern regiments un-
harmed. All the officers belonging to these
loyal North Carolina companies behaved
with the utmost gallantry, as did the Off
GERS and men of the two companies B and
d. Of the oath Massachusetts Regiment
Colonel Potter of the 1st North Carolina
Union Volunteers, who had horse shot
under him, was everywhere present, behsv-
ing In the most cool and courageous man
ner, and was ably assisted by Lieuts. Pen
dleton and Strong (aids to Geu. Foster)
who are highly spoken o. by as rendering
important service while in the most expos
ed position.