The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-04

OFFICIAL REPORTS.

REPORT OF THE ENGAGEMENT cF
THEsETEEIa BRIGADE "a L;, WITH THE
2aD OF OCTOBER, AT LEEsBUR0, VA
BR10ADlER-GENERAL EVANS CON.
MANUIN0.
HxADoUARrERs 7rH BRI8ADB,
I.sbrBrKG, Va, Oct st, 1891. !
Colonel: beg leave to submit the follow
ing report of the actin Of the troops Of tn Q
'th brigade In the battle OF the 2lst and I'D
instant. with the enemy at Leesburg, Vir.
EiDta.
Ou Saturday night, the 10th instant, about
O'Clock p. N. tn. enemy commenced q
heavy cannonading from three batteries. one
playing on my eAtrsDchment, (kuown as
Fort Evans one ON the Les sburs Turnpike,
and one on Ed wards's Ferry Heavy firing
was also heard In the direction Of Dranes-
Vile.
At l2 O'Clock at night ordered nv entire
brigade to the burnt bridge on the turnpike.
The epemy had been reported a. approaching
from Dranesville in large force Taking a
strong position on the north side of Goose
Greek, awaited his approach.
ReconnOitering the turnpike on Sunday
morning, the courier of Gen. McCali was
captured, bea ring dispatches to Gen Meade
to examine the roads leading to Leesnurg
Prom this prisoner learned the position OF
the eneIny near Dranesyille. DariDG Sunday
shs enemy kept aP deliberate nre, without
Eariy on Monday morning. III. 2,s. instant.
heard the firing OF nv pfcke:s at Big Spring !.
Who bad discovered that, at An unxuarded
point, the enemy had Effected a crossing, in
force OF dve com pantes, and were advancing z
on Leesburg. Captain Duff, Of the 18th reef-
meut. immediately attacked him, driving
him back, with several killed and wounded
On observing the movements of the enemy
from Fort Evans, at six O'Clock. A. M. 1
found that he had effected u crossing both at
Edwards's Ferry and Balis Blum, aud
made preparations to meet him in both posi.
tons. and Immediately ordered four com pa.
MES infantry, (two of the 18th one of the II, III
and one Of the 13lh,) and a cavalry force to
relieve Captain Duff; the whole for ce under
the immediate command of Lieutenant Col
w. II. Jentfer, who was directed to hold his
position till the enemy made further demon :
stration OF his design Of attack. This forcs
soon became warmly engaged with the nemy,
and drove them back for some distance In the
woods
at about 10 O'Clock. l became convinced
that the main point of attack would be At
Balls Bluff, and ordered Col. Huntnn wit h
his regiment, the sth Virginia. volunteers to
req ir Immediately to the support Of Col.
Jenifer
1 directed Col. dunton to form line Of bat
tie Immediately in the rear of col. J enifer g
command, and to drive the enemy to the
river; that :! would support his right with
artillery. About twenty minu .es past IL
O'Clock, M Colonel Hunton united his co m
mand with that of colonel Jenifer and both
commands soon became hotly eng aged with
woods. Watching carefully the action,
saw the enemy were censtan tly beinr rein.
forced, and at haii-past two clock, p. N. %,
ordered Dol. Burt to march his regiment,
the 18th Mississippi, aud attack the left flank
OF the enemy, while Cols. Hunton Rnd Jeni.
Ter attacked him in front On arriving at
his position, Col. Burt was received with u
tremendous fire from the enemy, concealed
in ravihe, and was compelled TO divide his
regiment TO stop the flank movement Of the
enemy.
At this time, about three O'Clock, finding
the enemy were in large ~ rec, ordered Col
Feathersion with his regiment, The 18th MIS-
slssippi, TO repair at double Quick to the D.
port OF Col. Burt, where he arrived l. TWEEN
~ minute, and the action became general
along my whole line, and was very hot and
brisk for more than TWO hours, he enemy
keeping up a constant fire with his batteries
on both sides OF the river.
Al about six O'Clock p. NJ. I saw that my
command had driven the enemy near the
banks OF the Potomac; ordered my entire
force to rharge ana dr. We him in to he river.
The charge was Immediately made by the
whole command, anu the forces OF the enemy
were com pletely routed, and cried out for
quarters alon- his whole line.
In. this charge tne enemy were driven back
at the point OF the bayonet, and many killed
by this formidable weapon In the precipi.
tate retreat of the enemy on the bluffs OF the
river, many of his troops rushed into the
water and were drowned, W bile many others,
In overlooking the boats, sunk them and
shared the same fate. The rout now, about
seven O'Clock, became complete, anu the en-
tIny commenced thro wing his arms into the
river.
During this action, held Col VIM. Barks.
dale. with nine companies OF his regiment,
the 18th Mississippi, and six pieces OF ar.ii-
lery, a Il reserve, as we'll as to keep up q de.
m0nstration against the force Of the enemy
1T Edwards's Ferry.
de red his force ut Balls Bluff, and the pris.
oners were marched 10 Leesbnrg.
then ordered my brigade twith the ex-
ception OF the 18th regiment Mississippi who
remained Ill front OF Edwaros's Ferry TO re-.
tire to the town Of Leesburg and rest for the
night.
On Tuesday morning was informed by
Col Barksdala that the enemy were still in
cons 'derable force at Edwsrds's Ferry l
directed him TO make q thorough reconnoi.
sance Of the position and strength OF the
enemy and attack him. At O'Clock p IL
he Eailantiy attacked much superior foy CO
In their entrenchMen driving them to the
banx Of the river, killing thirty or forty and
wouudiug con'iderable number.
About sundown, the enemy being strongly
reinforced and 6 tarioned In rife pits, Colonel
Barksdale wisely retired with his regime n t
to Fort Evans, leaving q guard Of two COM
panies to watch the movements Of the enemy,
who, evidently expecting renewed attack,
retired during the night and recrossed the
river at Edwards's Ferry.
On Wednesday morning, finding my bri-
gade very much exhausted, lett Col Barks.
dale with his regiment, with two pieces OF
artillery and a cavalry force, us a grand
guard, and | ordered the other three regi.
ments to II back towards Carter's Mill, to
rest and to be collected in order. Col. Hun
ton, with his regiment and two pieces OF ar
tillery, were halted at st,opg posi- on on
the south bank Of the Sycolin, about three
miles south of LeesburR
] would here state that in an interview on
Monday night with the com On issi oned officers
OF the Federal army taken prisoners, an
con vinced that they expected to be recap.
tured either during the night or the next
day, and, as the captured officers refosed
their parole not to take up arms against 'he
southern Uonfederacy until duly exchang ged,
ordered the whole number to be imm-dl-
ately marched TO Manassas. This parole wa Q
only offered 10 give them the liberty OF the
town, as did not wish to conflne them With
the privates.
In the engagem ent on the elst OF October,
which lasted nearly thirteen hours, our loss
from force of seventeen hundred ana nine.
aggregate, was as follows:
EishM R,g't Va Vols. Killed. Wounded.
Com missioned of1icsrs....
Non.commissioned ed offi cers 8
fHVates. ..........,....... D 81
1Otai-.. -.............,. D ~
Sinca dead OF WOands, three privatss and
one Lie 1tenant taken prisoner.
7Air,esnA Reg. Miss. pols Killed. Wounded
COmmiesn'd Cf6eeIs (2Id).
Non com mmissioned officers Q
FTlvates. es.....-.............
1OtdI
One private taken prisoner.
ssrsn,senth Reg Mise. Hols Killed Wounded
Commissioned q oflcers.... 0
Non commissioned officers
FflvAtss
| Gightrenth Reg. Miss. Yols Killed. Wounded
Com m issioneu officers. o
Non com m issioned officers 2
Er1v0te8.. 10 30