The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-05
HEApo'R Rs Me NfxHBY LINE,

HEApo'Rs Mt NTKRBy LIH.,l
Camp Allegheny, Dec 10 h, 1861. :
C0lona: have the honor to submit he fol-
lowing repor: of the engagement with the
enemy which occurred at this place On the
18th ih slant.
On the 18th, sent ont a scouting parsy OF
los mec. commanded by Msjor Ross, CT the
SD Viz Iginsa volun sers, with In stru, tons %
ambascade point on the pi he bey ond Ga 10 D
Baxter, ON Green brier. On the feernoon OF
that day thu adv ncrd guard of the enemy
approached, Were fred into by M,j r Ross
command, and many of them KILLED or
wounded Immediately the maiu body OF
the enc ny approached in force deploy ed and
advanced upon our scout, party, who "a
tired and came into camp that night On
the morning of the 18th, about A M I
was aroused by the fficer of the day, who
rsporte firing at the advanced picke's on
the pike in the direction of the enemy i'm
mediate1y turned cut the whole of my COM
IN and and prepared to meet them.
l ordered Hansborough's battalion, the
oist Virginia, commanded by NJ ior RoykG,
and Reager's battalion, to occupy the crest
Of the mountain on the right 10 gu ird agaiost
approach from that quarter 90 this mill
there were no defences There were some
fields and felled timber beyond, viii :h reach.
ed the crest of the mountain. The entmv
advanced to our front, and conducted by u
guide, n Union man from Western Virginia,
who Was familiar with the roads and trails
IN the vicinity turned off from me tnrnpise
ABOUT mile from our position, near the base
of the mountain, and reached our right by II
trait which led into 4 road coming irto the
field slightly in our rear as they arproa he'd
this position, p'ckets thrown out from Hans
borOugh's battalion discovered then and re-
ported them as advancing In strong force -
About a quarter past A. NJ. the enemy ad
vanced, and a t. t-rrific fire commenced. The
enemy on this Hank Il um bered fully two thou
sand. They were gallantly met by ou- troops,
who did not exceed three hundred at this
time. As soon l heard the firing, or
drred two companies of the l2:h Georgia,
III awkins and Biandford,) who had ~ the
nrst alarm oeen posted on the pike about 4
quar- ter OF mile in front, down the noun.
tain to move up Immediately to the supper,
or our forces on therigat. Three other com
panies of the 18th, Davhs's, Hardemau's and
Pat.erson's Uiedtenapt ". T. Moore com
mandlng,) We're also ordered to the support of
those on the right NhO were making IL gal
liant defence anu h lldine the position against
immense odds. Gaiiantiy did The Heorgi
ans move up,and, taking position on the lett,
received a terrible fire from the enemy. BY
this time The extreme right had teen forced
back. but seeing the GeOrgtans, who came
on with shout, they joined them and moved
upon the enemy, who, taking advantage OF
some fallen trees. brush and timber, poured
npon them a terrific fire. Our men were
checked, but not driven back. They did not
yield an inch, but steadily auvanced-cheered
and led ON by their officers. Many Of the
officers fought 10y the SIDE of their men ard
led them on to the confiG l never wit
messed harder t,ghting. TGe enemy behiLd
b
decidedly the advantage, but our men soon
came up to them aud drove them fro N their
cover. l cannot speak N terms too exasRsr-
ated Of the un1iinching courage and dashing
gallantry of those five hundred men who
contenGed from quarter pas. A. nj. un nsi
u quarter 20 r. Id, against an Immensely
su perior force OF the enemy, and finally
drove them from their position and pursued
them nile or more down the noun tain.
cannot name all who deserve articulsr
mention for their .liantry and good con-
duet.
Colonel Hansborough, whilst gallantIy
leading his battalion, was wounded by pis-
toi shot and carried irom the field. Soon af
ter the fig ht became general, toe sra*e Lieu1.
l.. Z. Thompson, of the 3lst Virginia, fell
severely wounded hD good conduct bad TT.
tracted my attention., and ne fell within
few feet of me. C+ptain Mollohan, whilst
cheering and leading bis men III ursuit OF
the enemy, fell mortally ~ounjet Lieu!.
Moore, l2ih Georgia volunteers, whilst gsi-
lantly headiug charge, fell mortailY
wounded This gallant officer was ever
ready for any expedition involving danger
he was truly brave
Captains Davis, Blanford, Hardeman, nnd
Hawkins, their officers and men, behaved nd
miraoly. Captain Davis aud his company
were conspicuous for their e-.lautry ana
good conduct throughout the fight.
Adjutant Willis, Li.utenants NcCcy,
Ethridge, Marshall, and TurpiI, 12th Georgia
regiment, deserve particular mention Tor
their good conduct
Lieu,. :, oil. Boykin, commapping 3lst yir-
zinia volur teefs, hts officers and men, de.
serve my thanks for their unflin ching cour
age throughout the struggle. This reg iment
suffered severely. Lieuienants Too inan,
johnson, McNes man, + Is. Philips, ali
wounded, deserve honorable mention. Capt.
Thompson, 3lst Virgibia, deserves SPECIAL
notice. Adj tAnt Morgan Ii, tenants oh
irson, Raymond, Sergeants Jarvis, Ra ,
Pots Ceilings, Musgrave. AND Green, II
noreugh's battalion, are f.vorabiy men tion-
=
My command consisted of The II Ii G., orgie
reg iment, under the lmm ciiats comm ud tf
i.ut.-tol. +; I. Gonnor; 52t Virginia,
Majors RosS'-, Hans sborough's sand q oea. e. Sc
3lst Virgini', Lieut.-sol. Boykin; 'tLee
Is ,ttery" of artillery, four pieces, Capt. T
Il. Anderson; Captain miileI's battery, four
pieces; de,ae hment OF pittsy iyania cayai.
ry, Lieut.. Dapney The artillery wae posted
on the hill left of my position, which had
been entrenched.
Immediately after the troops we're turned
out the IL Georgia and 62i Virginia were
ordered into the trenches. The PittsylvaHia
cavalry, dtsmounted, under Lieut.. Daoney
also went into the trenches, armed with
C rbines.
a large column Of the enemy, led by one
Slater, traitor, well acquain.e with the
country, approached the left of this position
by u road running along leading ridge
A bout half an hour after the a tack was made
on the Iignf, this coinmn came up on the lett
to our trenches They were evidently sur
prised to Hnd us en.fep ched. Here the brave
Andersen, by IA tai mistake, lost his life
AS the eIemy advanced, no rode TO the
trench and invited them in, thinking they
were our returning piokets, at the same
time telling our men not TO fire He was
instantly shot down by the advanced body
OF the enamy's force. Cur men tnen
opened CALLING fire upon them, and they
fell back INTO the fallen tim bar and brush ,
from which they kept up q constan, fire Il
our men in the trenches aod upon our artii-
Ierists. MY A: A. A General, Captain IS.
Deshler. OF the artillery, whilst behaving
mCst galIantly. was shot down IL th- trenches
by wound through both thighs. He re-
fused TO leave the field, and remained in the
trenches until the day was over.
Ceptain Miller opened npon the enemy
with mis- guas, and behaved with great tgri
lantry, exposing himself at his guns to the
fire of the cnemy's sharp shooters.
After the enenly's force, on the right, had
been repulsed and driven from the field, /
order cd all CT our men who had hesp en-
gagged In that quarter to Join our troops in
the trenches on the left. They took post
with the other troops, and opened fire on the
enemy as occasion offered. The envy. under
the fire OF artillery and infantry, soon re-
treated from the left, leaving their dead and
wounded.
the enemys force on the left was larger, /.
anything, than the force on the right. They
mum bered, In all, about nve thousand men
", Huttonsville, Elkwalsr. and Cheat Noun.
tain.
NV force did not exceed twelve hundred
effective men OF all arms.
Gen. Rey nolds, u. s. a, commanded this
whole Of the enfmy's forces. and General
Mi'roy the attack on our right. General
Milroy is reported, by prisoners captured
TO have been wounded The enemy lsf. upon
the field thirty Ave dead and thirteen wouu d
ed. They carried from the field large nun,
hers OF dead ard wounded This get from
citizens who raside upoa the roads along
which hey retreatsd. Ten or twelve amou.
lances were seen conveying their wounded
We captured three prisoners, and about one
hundred stand Of arms, which the enemy }
had thrown away in his hight.
Althoul lh We have reason 70 bs than kful te