Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-11-06
The Fighting In south Carol,ns.

The Fighting In south Caroline.
/ he following are the particulars of the re-
cent Lighting near Charleston:
The movement against the rebels was made
I by combined land and naval force, which
| left Hilton Head at II o'clock on the night of
| the 2lst inst The special design was to de.
stroy the trestIe-work bridges of the Charles
ton and Savannah railroad, crossing the Poe
otallgo, Iulhny and Coosawatchie. These
streams are all tributaries Of the Broad river ::
and to approach them ii was determined to
make landing al Mackay's at the junction of
the Broad and Pocotalgo rivers, distance of
twenty-five miles from Hilton Head, where our
troops could be debsrked under cover of gun
boats, and march of eleven miles would take
them TO the village of Poootslgo, at which
place ii was supposed the enemy would make
stand. The attack WAS intended as a sur
prise and while our main force was to adj
vance, smaller body Of troops, commanded
by Col. Barton, Of the Forty-eighth New
York volunteers, WAS TO create diversion bv
penetrating to the Coosawatchie Bridge in the
steamer Planter, conveyed by the gunboat Pa
troon; but with imperative orders 10 retire
should they encounter superior force By
cutting the railroad in the manner proposed.
communication between the cities of Savannah
and Charleston would be DESTROYED, and the
way opened for a sudden blow upon one or
both of these places, at the discretion of the
Commanding General
The troops were landed at Mackavs Point
(at the confluence Of Broad and Pocataligo
rivers) on Wednesday morning, and immed-
ately marched towards the village Of PocotaE-
go,
For the first seven miles no enemy was en-
countered. The road alternated through dense
woods and through marshes, only passsble over
a narrow causeway, save at one or two points.
Choosing position at the opposite end of this
causowav, the enemy opened furious fire of
shell and canister on our advancing column,
which was promptly met by the battery under
Lieut.. Henry. Immediately the order was
given by Gen. Brsnnan for his brigade TO form
into line of battle, the centre resting on the
causeway. After brisk fire of both musket-
nv and artillery, the rebels retired 10 a dense
woods in their rear, tearing up the causewav
bridge, which delayed the advance Of our ar
tillery until it could be repaired, Meanwhile
the first brigade pressed on to the woods which
they penetrated, driving the enemy before
them, and closely followed BY the second brig
AIDE, under Gen. Terry who came up with
cheer and were quickly IN the engagement
Here the tight, 1t may be said, fairly com
menced--the enenly's .harpshoossrs picking
of our men rapidly. The artillery fire from
our side was not slaokened while the bridge
was being repaired, and it was not long before
the batteries went forward TO the work in sup
port of the infantry. a~@
This upfIun bpnor, hstn txr,l,-o "A orn
and lasted about an hour, ending in the re-
treat of the rebels to another position at
Frampton's plantation, which lies two miles
beyond.
The Enemy were closely followed, and after
fight more holly contested than the first, our
troops were again victorious, the second time
driving the rebels from their well-chosen posi-
tion,snd 2miles beyond which brought them up
to Pocatalgo bridge (not the railroad bridge], !
over which they crossed, taking shelter behind |
earth works on the the farthest side To this |
point our troops nearly approached, but found |
farther progress impossible, as the bridge had |
been cut by the enemy on his retreat This |
we cOnstrue into a clear acknowledgment of |
his defeat. Although these events are thus |
briefly noted, it required upward of five hours |
OF impetuous and gallant fighting to accom-
plish them.
While these events were taking place be- |
tween the main forces on either side, Colonel |
Barton, of the forty-eighth New York, with |
800 OF his own men and so Of the 81 Rhode |
Island regiment, under command of Capt. J. |
II. Gould went up the Coosawatchie river,
conveyed by the PATRON, to within two miles
OF the town OF the same name. Landing this |
force here, march was made to the village,
through which runs the railroad. Arrived |
there, they commenced tearing up the rails,
but had scarcely engaged IN the work when
long train of cars came from the direction of
Savannah, filled with troops This train was
fired into by our party, killing the engineer
and a number of others. Several soldiers
jumped from the cars while they were in mo-
ton and were wounded One was AIKEN
prisoner; thirty muskets were captured, and
oolors of the Whippy Swamp Guards taken
IRON the color-bearer, who was killed by our
hre' The work of tearing up the rails was
accomplished in time to prevent the onward
progress OF the train, and our men afterwards
completed the job; also the cutting of the tel
egraph and bringing away portion of the
wire with them Il
Coi. Barton next attempted to reach the
railroad bridge for the purpose offring it, but
was unable, as 1t was protected by battery
Of three guns. Fearing that his retreat might
be cut off by the enemy's cavalry, he gave the
order to retire to the steamboat, which was
done successfully. His men had nearly all
when the cavalry boldly came IT,
'ectly under the guns Of the Planter and Pa
room, and fired upon both steamers. A few !
POUNDS OF canister dispersed them, and the
'nly damage which they inflicted was the Sc
lons wounding of Lieut.. j. b. Banding, of
he Third Rhode Island artillery.