The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-04-01

Lieut.. Col E. G. Haywood; on the right of the
7th were placed two pieces of Capt. Brem's lat
terv, commanded by the Captain; on the right of
these guns was posted Col. Sinclair's 35th, COM
manded by their Colonel, and next on the right,
near to the railroad, the militia were posted under
command Of Col Clarke Tn rear of the Both
and the militia its right resting on the railroad,
Col Avery's 33d was in reserve, and Oh the works
along Bullens branch extending back from the
extreme left, which was supported by two pieces
of Brem's battery and covering about fuur-siXths
of the whole distance to the railroad, Col fance,s
2Gth was posted, supported by a few pieces of
artillery The left Of the 10Th was commanded by
Major Carmichael the centre by Col Vance, and
the right BY Lieut. Col Bur2wyn. In rear Of
the 2Gth Spruill'S cavalry was posted, except two
companies wing dsusOuntcd and in the
trenches. General Branch and staff occupied
cxposcd position in rear and to the left of Sin
Glars Both On the evening of Thursday two
pieces of field artillery had been moved from the
railroad, which they never intended to command
by Major Thompson, in command of that branch
of the service, and were placed upon the right Of
! the Goth. In their place, were two field 2i-
Founders found next morning when The fight be-
gan lying the ground, lie having elected to
see them mounted. These were to hive been
commanded by Capt w. b, Rodrnan, who found
them in that condition when ordered to that
point. The right brigade, extending from the
old Beaufort road to the railroad, commanded
by Col. Campbe the left brigade, extending
from the Beaufort road to Fort Thompson
was commanded by Col. Lee. Gen. Branch
commanded in chief
Orr FORCES.
! In the works on the morning of the battle our
forces were nearly as follows: The 9th, GOO men;
! the 37th, 600; I.athanI's battery, about 80; the
/ 18th, $50 mcr; 35th, $50; Militia about 400 33d
n. oh 4 4. ,h. H..
sections Of batteries &c exclusive of the cavalry,
which numbered probably 800 mcn-makng Il
total force Of less than 1000 fghtn. mon.
/ TO understand the position fully. the
reader will please observe: The distance from
Fort ThomT son the railroad is just one mile
/ The brcastworks extending from to the other
I of these points, run nearly at right angle with
! the river anG the railroad. Mid way between
t! csc points the line was intcrsccted by the old
Beaufort roa! runnin" parallel with the river and
! the railroad. As before stated the right of the
line Of works rested upon an ombankmcnt caused
by cut in the railroad from five to seven feet
deep, up which troops could readily climb
from the road. On the opposite side Of the road
the works fanked by u pancoupe battery,
and in the of this, extending still to the
right in line with the works ust described, ran
BulIen's branch, deep, muddy stream, with its
banks washed into alternate hills or nolIs and
.
crn bank, upon the nolls erected series of
redans with Pancoupe batteries, extending to
Brlces creek or swamp, the extreme right,
another mile-@iving line Of works just two
miles long. In front Of the breas tworks extend
ing from the river to the railroad a cleared
space Of 32J yards, beyond which the country
was well wooded. In front of the works extend
ing from the railroad to Brcc's creek, on the
right and across Bullen's branch, the country
was rugged and broken, with scruUby timber and
fallen tees.
THE BATTLE.
Before daylight on the morning Of Friday the
Nth, the lickcts that had been sent out be-
before dark the previous evening, were driven
in and reached the entertainments firing reporting
that the enemy had landed during the night at
Fishers landing and advancing in force.
Our men had been in the trenches all night ex-
posed to drcnching rain, and now reused them
selves to their work. \ dense fog enveloped the
scene. After pause rattle of musketry com
menced upon the left, and spreading rapidly to
the right, 1t was soon discovered that our men
were dlScharging their wet guns for dry charge
with which to commence the fight. Another
considerable pause aud ..rcat suspense Seven
o clock had now arrived, uuu still the fog hung
heavy and thick. Immediately, keen eye from
the left of Campbells reg iment discerns moving
mass in the dense fog, not more than thirty yards
battery. and another, and third, promptly re-
! spouded to by volley of musketry from the
Yankees in the cleared space in front-anG the
/ fog rolls upward and back ward from works
aud the masses of the enemy are uulna<ke ed.
l.ahamS and Brcms batteries shower grape and
canister out upon them, amidst volley after voley
OF muSkctry from the left to the right 4 mo-
mcnt the Yankee masses stagger and then fall
I back to the shelter Of the woods-our mer
/ SprinUinU uDan the breast ,uJ CHI ac
they fed.
! The firing generally ROW ceased for some five or
/ ten minutes, the Yankees again opening it with
several pieces Of artillery, upon the left division
! of the works, where was posted Laham's battery
Up to this time the firing had been coufncd to
the works extending from Fort Thompson to the
railroad. And DOW it Was discovered that the
enemy had advanced in two heavy columns-one
up the old Beaufort road, the other up the rail
road, throwing some eig't regiments into the
woods SkirtinE the cleared ground, between the
railroad and the river. Their artillery was rapid
y and effectively replied to by Latham and Brcm,
and then their sharpshcoters began to crawl ous
upCn hands and knees from the woods and take
shelter in the open space bchincd logs and brush
diminishing then progressed with the fight of the
artillery. In the mean time heavy masses march
ing IN fours moved cautiously towards our left
and threatened that flank. Fort Thomrsoa, with
Its two heavy guns culading the open space and its
ried pivot Gun steady upon it's axis was as silent
as the grave On the dark masses come nearer
and nearer, aud now they clear the line Of the