The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-09-16
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
From the Richmond Enquirer.

Counting the stragglers and deserters, we think
the enemy must have lost at least fifty thousand
of his veteran troops by the battles of Sudey and
| Manassas We dare say the number is even con-
| siderbly larger. The arms and munitions cap
tured will prove also valuable addition to our
supplies
In addition to tie facts made known in Gen.
Lees letter. we enabled to give some interest
ing details of the battles, which haye received
from officer and gentleman of the, highest re-
spectablity and intelligence and whose statements
entitled to the most implicit credit, because Of
his habits of close observation as we'll as careful
| narration. This gentleman, as Is known to US, Is
| thoroughly acquainted with the scene of bat
| ties from his youth. He commanded also COM
pany in last years Manassas battle. On the pres
ent occasion he was spectator Of the Saturdays
| fight from the emnence occupied by General Lee;
and on the next day, in company with number
| of Others he devoted six hours to ride the
battle field.
| The battles Of Thursday and Friday were both
fought in the neighborhood of Sudley, where
Jackson held position, and where he still was on
| Saturday morning
Our line of battle, on Saturday morning, was an
obtuse crescent in shape, and at least five miles
{long Jackson's line, which formed our left,
stretched from Sudey, on Bull Run, along the
partly excavated track of the Manassas Independ-
thence towards point the Warrenton Turn
pike about a mile and a-half in rear or West Of
Groveton.
Longstreets command which formed our right
wing, extended from the point on the turnpike on
which Jacks0n's right flank rested, and prolonged
the line of battle far to the right, stretching be-
yond the line of the Manassas Gap railroad.
| 1t is thus seen that point the Warrenton
Turnpike, mile and-a-half West of Groveton, was
| IL e
| crescent, whose conyexity towards the West.
1t was here, in an interval between Jackson's
right and Longstreets left that our artillery was
placed. Eight batteries were planted on
manding elevation, and were greatly distinguished
early in the battle by their brilliant execu-
ton.
The enemy's line of battle conformed itself to
ours, and took, therefore, crescent form, OF which
the centre or more advance portion at Grove
ton, whence the wings declined obliquely to the
right and left. Their batteries were in rear Of
their infantry, aud occupied the hills which they
had held in the fight of July, 1861, but pointed
differently.
Battle was joined between the artillery about
IL o'clock and the terrible execution of ours was
evidenced by the mangled corpses Of the enemy
which our subsequent advance disclosed. A num-
Der Of them lay in the road at Groveton, ana on
the hills around. Not long after, Jackson's wing
battle was raging along the whole line.
| The bearing of our troops, as they pressed for
ward to the battle, is described magnificent.
Jackson's left advancing more rapidly than his
right, swept around by the Pittsy vania House and
pressed the enemy back towards the turnpike
while Longstreet making an analogous move on
his wing, crowded back those in front Of him to-
wards the Henry hills
Hoods Brigade formed Longstreet's left, and,
of course charged next the turnpike. In its track
it met Sickles' Excelsior Brigade and almost an
initiated it. The ground piled witE the
slain Pckett's Brigade on the right of
Hoods next came jenkins Brigade, and next was
Kempcr's which charged near the Conrad House
Evans and Anderson's were the reserve, and sub
sequently came into action.
Thus moving, army drove. the enemy on
both wings, pressing them across the Henry and
Robinson ridge, and through the pines and copses
beyond, and across Bull Run. Long after night
fall artillery still laundering at the retreat
ing enemy 1t is remarkable coincidence that
one of the numerous batteries captured by our
army, was taken the precise spot where
Ricketts, battery became ours on July 2Ist, 1861
The guns, as before remarked, pointed, however
in different directions on the two occasions.
i The ride over the battle field on Sunday, reveal
ed a scene of carnage of which this war had furn
ished before no equal example. The heaps OF the
enemy were thickest where they had assailed Jack
sons line at the railroad excavations They here
almost paved the ground. Another scene of great
carnage was in the road which across the
turnpike near the Henry house. The enemy had