Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-08-07

and a position which enables the enemy to
en6lade the entire command. Balls strike
the left flank and crash on through the
double files, manning twenty or thirty at a
time. The sallen sthug" of the grape
shot as they barry themselves into the bod
les Of the men is an appalling sound-one
that can never be .forgottep--but all sensi-.
bility has now disappeared, and the one
thought is victory or death. The Federats
from their entrenchueuts in front, at short
range, are likewise pouring in assterribly
destructive fusilade; but it! is nothing com.
pared with the awful showers Of iron that
plow SO mereilessly through our ranks from
the batteries on the left. Whole companies
are decimated. In some not more than a
half dozen men remain untouched. 2 y
? The ground is covered with our dead and
wounded, and they are falling every second.
Is there no help for this carnage? None,
Othar troops are not at hand to engage the
attention of the batteries and withdraw
their fire, or if sc. are afraid to make the
attack, and the South Carolinians, left un.
supported by all save their own strong arms
aud stout hearts, have no other resource
but to press on towards the rear of the
heavy guns. For moment, the Palmettos
are staggered by the red hot tempest, and
they reel to and fro like brave ship bat
.tling with a gale, whose sailsare gone and
'bulwarks broken to pieces, but stillimpelled
by unquenchable energy holds on its des-
parate way. Even the maugled men upon
the ground, bleeding and agonizing with
pain, utter their feeble words Of eucour'
agement-'sGo on boys, don't mind us
but take care Of the old flag" The stern,
pale faces of the few survivors are turned
towards the Colonel commanding to read il
possible their fate, but no voice. can be
heard in such storm, and single wave
[of his sword points out the path Of duty
That is enough, and with teeth set, lips
compressed, aud determination written In
every line of their suu.browned features.
they close up the gaping ranks and move
forward. They know not whether it be te
annibilation or victory, but like . forlorr
hope their hearts of steel know no such
|&srd, as retreat. No wonder that tears FL
the eyes Of some, who have been looking
on, as they watch this devoted band march
ing through the valley of death. "A spec
tacie of higher or sublimer moral courage
was never presented in any country whose
best veterans have crossed arms upon 6eic
Of battle. -. -. =. = 90 -,
But little more remains to, be told. The
infantry of the enemy who bad held theil
ground behind their entrenchments, will
an obstinacy worthy of better cause, coule
not withstand the resistless onset which oul
troops now made. -..-
VolIey after volley was exchanged, bu
the tide of the charge rolled on, and whel
the works were reached, it was only to fnt
taem deserted aud the Federal columns
| flying from the place, with their dead ant
wounded covering the ground. II
The PaImettos followed some distance ii
pursuit, and it was on the rising ground q
this point that Colonel jenkins saw fe7
hundred yards away, at least ten thousan'
of the enemy huddled together in semi con
fusion. 1t was a propitious moment t
strike blow, aud'put them 10 utter rout
but the little command had already los
nearly seven per cent of its numbers, tn
sharp shooters alone had but It's left, =
Other regiments in the neighborhood re
fused to come to our support, and the gold
en- opportunity which would have prevent
ed the disastrous fight of the day followln
uuavoidably passed from our hands. Tw
thousand more men would have swept tina
Federal horde into the james, or capture
d majority Of its troops, Our part in tn
battle here ceased. =. ., -.
On arriving at the entrenohmeuts aboV
alluded to, and the battery which had bee
disabled, Capt. Fitzpatrick, of the .Palmett
Sharp Shooters, and Lieut.. Simms, of tn
9th Regiment, turned the guns upon to
enemy, and handsomely accelerated the'
I"change of base" This is the third bal
terry which has been captured by the brig
ade commencing with the fight ct Williams
burg, besides four stand of celors. +. =
Among the prisoners taken in the work
was Col. Simmons, an old Mexican soldier
He was mortally wounded, but took occa
sion to present to the Lieutenant who fouu
him, and by whom he was kindly cared fo'
handsome sword, which the latter office
has since presented to Colonel, or now Ger
jenkins. ~
In the course of his conversation, Co
Simmons observed, that our entire advanc
and final charge was one of the most brl
liant exploits which he had ever Known
He describes our fire as having been mu1
derous, and our troops as being irresistible
further adding that his only satisfactio
was that he had been "taken prisoner b
brave men who treated their prisoners Q
only brave men know how" Gen. Long
street also remarked, as tribute to the ga
lantry of South Caroinians, that he ,ha
found our dead farther in the advance tina
be had the dead of any other regiment W
on the field. .:
]. Our loss was A killed and 210 wounde
in Col. Jenkins regiment, palmetto Shar
Shooters out of 375 taken into the field
26 killed and 100 wounded in the Secon
J Regiment of Rifles, Col. John V. Moore
and ii killed and 73 wounded in the st
Regiment, out of ITO. In the 4th Batta
ion, do not know the casualties. Anon