, 1862-10-09

tills, to the front, and In IN hour more he
Was In position on the right. Here, aboun4
o'clock, the enemy had made another bold
demonstration. 49, 900 OF their troops In one
mass bad charged our lines, and after yainly
resisting them we were slowly giving back
before superior numbers.
Our total force here Was less than 5000
men, aud had It nos been for the admirably
planted artillery, under command of Major
Garnett, nothing, until the arrival Of rein
able defeat know less Of this position If
the field than any other, but from those who
were engaged heard glowing accounts Of the
excellent behavior Of Jc0kins's brigade and
the ID and 10Th Georgia, the latter under tie
commsnd Of Col. Cummings. Tae last two
regiments hsge been especial subjects Of COM
ment, because of the splendid manner iu
which they successfully met and defeated
seven regiments Of the enemy, who ad-
vanced across bridge, and were endeavor-
river. They tought until they were nearly
CUT to pieces, and then reheated only
because they had fired their last round.
It was at this jurc,ure that the immense Yam
kee force crossed the river. and made the dash
against our line which well nigh proved q snc-
however. with fresh troops entirely changed
the fortune Of the day, and, after an obstinate
contest, which lasted from 5 o'clock until
dark, the enemy were driven into and across
the river With great loss. During this fight
the fede1a1s had succeeded in hanking and
the f1rIgade OF Gen. Toombs. Instantly dis
mounting from his horse and placing himself
at the head Of his command, the general, in
bis efec' i've way, briefly told them that the
battery must be retaken If 1t cost the life OF
every l1an in his brigade, and then ordered
into what seemed the very jaws Of destruc-
ton, and after . short but fierce struggle they
had The satisfaction Of capturing the prize
and restoring It to the original possessors.
The results of the battle may be briefly
summed vi. Judged By all the rules Of war
fare, it Was victory to our artns. # we failed
TO rout Inc enemy, it was oaly because the ma
turc Ct tht ground prevented him from run
ring. Wteleyer We whipped him, we either
drove him aGainst his own nasscs on the right,
! left ard ceIire, or Into the mountains; and
| against the latter position it would have been
| Impossible to operate successfully. Nowhere
d. he ever gain any permanent advantage over
| The corfedeIates. Varying Us may have been
thc successes Of fhe day, they left US intact,
| unbroken, and eqnM masters Of the field with
| our antagonist.
Nc t:ok ftW prisoners, not more than GOO
or 7l0 in all. The Federals fought we'll, and
we1c handled In mastery manner, but
1neir loskes have been iulnlense-p1ob1bl5
not lees than 10000 killed and wound
ed, They had the advantage not only O
nuHpelsr out VI Pos1Sluh !Fon "AiCl
they could assume an offensive or de
ftneive attitude at will, besides which thei
signal stations on the Blue Ridge commanded
view Of our every movement We conIi
not maneuyer in front or rear that was no
Instantly revealed to their keen 1ook-outs
and as soon as the intelligence could be com
s:unicated to their batteries below, shot an
she'll we're launched against the moving col
umns. It was this information conveyed b.
. the little flags upon the mountain top that n
donbt enabled the enemy to concentrate hi
1orce against our weakest points and counter
act the effect of whatever similar movement
may have been attempted by us.