Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-28
CONFEDERATE DEFEAT AT LEw1sBURa-Loss

THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED. WITH FOUR PIECES
OF ARTILLERY-0UR FORCES RETREAT INTO
MONROE COUNTY.
We are under the painful necessity this morning of
reporting disaster at Lewisburg the county sea. of
Greenbrier county Va Let correspondents tell the tale
UMox, MONROE Co. Va, Nay 2Srd.
To the Editor of the Wig:
After q weeks hard marching, am again permitted to
address you q few lines.
did hope when last wrote you that would be my
pleasure to chronicle succession Of events favorable to
our cause but such Is not the We have possession
Of Monroe county, but have failed to drive back the tide
of invasion in Greenbrier.
Our forces under Gen. Il. Heth crossed New River at
VOLTS Gap, on Mondsylas During the march nothing
occurred worthy OF note until We arrived at the Salt
Sulphur Springs, which was reached Wednesday
evening" there learned that the enemy only nine
miles below this place. Col. Fnney's Battalion CON-
posed of portions OF the 6Oth and 5lst Regiments and
Oeys Battery of two pieces forward to occupy
the and prevent, if possible the further progress
of the enemy which done without any resistance,
the Yankee advance guards .etreating. On Thursday
we moved on towards LsWisbug, at which place, the
enemy had force, vAriousy estimated At from 500
to 900 men. We arrived at Greenbrier River late in
the evening and halted for the night. Friday morning,
advance guard charged the bridge and captured
of the enemy's pckets and possessed themselves of
hill overlooking and commanding the town, the main
body of our forces followed and formed line OF battle
on is brow.
ARA. NJ, the battle opened on our left, by Brysnt's
battery throwing shell into the lower portion Of the
town and upon hill covered with thick underground
OF trees where the enemy thought to be posted
This cannonade continued for time without the fire
being returned by the enemy when the order given
for the infantry advance which they did in good or.
der the 22i Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Barbee,
on the right, the Ash Regiment, Colonel Brown, and
Finneys Battalion, the left They moved on steadi.
ly until they arrived within four hundred yards of the
hill and had penetrated the heart of the town, when
| terrific fire opened upon them by the enemy who
posted in houses behind fences and in thick Of
chard The 22i Regiment drove the enemy before them
up hill and had turned the left and centre Of the
N.Y. When forces the left gave way, and despite
the eIerons Of oficers could not be rallied. During
this time FIVE pieces OF artillery two Of 0eys Battery
and three Of Brans had been ordered TO change posi-
ton and move forward 10 the 'front.' Every piece of
tlery wgs thus Withdrawn aud infantry WAS left
without any protection. o:eys Battery into posi-.
ton under gallr fire. and while the 45!h and 5Oh was
retr ang, the enemy seeing the confusion, advanced
killing nearly all the horses attached Bants Battery
and capturing the guns-ths third piece of 0ey Bat.
terry, under Sergeant v. Gordon, became enanged in
fence, and despite the eIertions of himself and men,
who showed great determination and bravery to eIr!-
cate it, had TO be left behind. The fourth gun linz
oered up by the Captain and FIVE Of the gun detachment
and carried from the field under heavy FIRE from the
enemy, who we're only hundred and fifty PAGES from
them.
The estimated loss ia from 800 TO 400 killed. wounded
and missing Brants Battery lost five killed,
ded, one elk FOUNDER twelve FOUNDER and one six
FOUNDER rifle piece O:eys Battery lost six FOUNDER
riff piece none killed Captain g. g. 0;ey's horse
shot and he wounded ID the shoulder badly, though not
seriously. The loss Of the enemy not so great,
owing to the cover afforded by the trees 1t is howev
er, fully two hundred killed aud wounded. In our re.
treat we we're compelled to burn the bridge Green
brer river which prevented an advance Of the enemy
in force. We are still the move. ! will advise you
if anything occurs worthy Of note.
| Yours, PLURBrs.
Another correspondent writes as follows from the
same place, and under the same date
We have been marching for week without stop
page-slespsg without tents-eatiDg ABOUT one meal
day. and that of hard crackers-hardy knowing what
We would do Il we did chain something from the
farm houses Have been retrestpg oil day from Lewis.
burg where we attacked the enemy, who repused us,
| owing to mismauage ment and bunders The battle
commenced at at we had whipped them driving in
their centre and turning their left wingOur left gave
way, owing the heavy fire directed upon them by the
euemy who were under of trees fences houses,
a., The artillery was ordered firing and change
position at a time the most critical. Durrg the time
occupied by this, the enemy came from under cover,
aud from their position hill poured furious aud
ling fire upon men. They withstood t for some
time, but it Was too much for human endurance, and
they gave way and I'D precipatey. Ny gun was near
them and they fed by us, the enemy in hot pursuit.
never heard such Whiz of bullets in my life. expect
ed every moment 10 fall but Providence favored u.s. ard
We came out without the loes OF a Capt Otis Tfa
slightly wounded and we lost the third piece, rHe
gun. Our loss was between 800 and four hundred m'n
killed. wounded and missing, four guns and about ten
horses The bridge Greenbrier river was burr {,
thus preventing the enemy from pursuing We fell bsf
to this place in good order bringing moot Of our wound.
ed A.A.
LETTER FROM A SOLDIER
ARMY MAR RICHMOND May 26.b, 1852.