Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-06
HKApoUARrER's 7ru BRIGADE.


C.MNASDISG.
HEADQUARrER's 7ru BRIGADE
L.esburg, Va, Oct. 3lst 1861.
CoLoNKL beg save 10 submit the folosipg report
OF the action of the troops Of th brigade in the bat.
tie of the 2,t and % instant with the enemy at Lees
burg Virginia
Ca saturday, night. the I9 b Instant about o'clock,
P. N the lemy comme0c ID heavy oaading from
three batteries one playing nv entrel chment known
as Fort EgGns) the Lcesburg Turnpike, aud one
on Edwards Fry. Heavy firing was also heard in
the direction OF Dfaresyis.
At IL o'clock at uight ordered my entire brigade
to the burnt bridge on the turnpike The enemy had
been reported approaching from D'anesvle in lag,
force. Taking sirorg position on the north side u
Goose Cre,k, | awaited his approach
K conneiteiing the turnpike Sunday morning, the
10 Gen Meade 10 examine the roads leading 10 Lees
burg From this prisoner learned the position Of the
enemy near Dranesve. Daring SUI dly the enemy kept
up deliberate FIRE, without any effect.
Early Monday morning, tie 2lst instant, l heard
the rirg of my pickets Big Spring. who had discoy-
cd crossing, in force OF five companies ard were ad
vaueng on Leesburg Capt. Duff Of the l7Ih regiment
Immediately attacked him driving him back, with seve-
raj L led aid wounded.
o. observing the movements Of the enemy from Fort
Evans at six o'clock A. NJ, found that he bad fleet
ed crossing, both Edwsr6s' forry aud Balls Buif
aud made paratious to meet him in both positions
and Immediately ordered four companies Of infantry
two OF the Is b. of the l7th aud OF the lS
aud cavalry force TO relieve Capt. Drh; the wbol
force un der the immediate command OF Lieut.. Colonel
w. Il Jenifer who directed 10 bold his position till
the enemy made further denomination OF his design OF
attack This force soou became warmly engaged with
the enemy, and dove them back Tor some distance 10
the woods
At about 10 o'clock became convinced that the main
point of attack would be lis Bluff and ordered Col
Hunton with his regiment the Sh Virginia Volunteer
to repair immediately 10 the support OF Colonel Jeni-
fer
directed Col Hunton TO form line OF baltic immed.
dately in the reac Of Col JeDifers commard and TO
drive III, enemy 10 the river that would support bis
right with artilsy. About twenty minutes past twelve
o'clock NJ Col. Hunton united bis command with that
of Colonel Jsnifer, and both commands soon became
hotly engaged with the enemy 10 their strong position in
the woods Watching carefully the action, saw the
my were constantly being reinforced and at half past two
odJck 7. M or terCd Col Bnrt TO march his regiment
the Mississippi and attack the LETT tink OF the
emy, w0iie Co.'s. Hunton and Jenittr attacked him In
front On arriving At his poson Col Burt wSs receive
With tremeudOu. FIRE from he Iemy, COZ cealed in "a
VIE aud Vas compelled divide his regiment TO stop be
dank movement OF the enemy.
Al this time about three o'clock fading the enemy
we're IN lar ge force Old red Col Featherston with his
req m, Mt the IL Mississippi to rpair at double quick
10 he support OF Col Bur-, where he arrived in twenty
minutes and the action became general along my whole
line, and was very hot and brisk for mlre than two
hours, the enemy kePing upa constant ire with his
batteries on boil AID q of the river.
At about six O'Clock p saw that my command
had driven the my the banks OF the Potomac;
ordered my entire force TO charge and drive him into
the river The charge Was Immediately made by the
whole command aud the forces OF the enemy com
pleiely routed, and cried out for quarter along his
whole line.
Ia this charge the enemy driven back at the point
OF the bAyonet, ard many killed By ttis formidable
weapon la the precptate retreat Of the enemy the
uts Of the river many Of his troops rushed into the
water and drowned while many 9th, r. in ovroad
q the bla s. sunk them, Al shared the same fate
TIE now, about seven o'clock, became complete,
a1d the enemy commenced throwing his into the
river.
During this ae,iCn | held Col WIN. Blrksdale, with
nne companies Of his regiment, the lsh Mississippi,
aud six piests Of artillery, reserve as we'll as TO
keep up demonstration against the foIcs Of the enemy
at EdNsrts' Ferry
AT o'clock NJ the enemy surrendered his forces
at Balls Bluff, and the prisoners were marched to Lees
burg.
then ordered my brigade with the exception Of the
Is regiment Mississippi who retained In front oi
EdWards Ferry to retire to the town OF L,esburg aud
res. for The night
On Tuesday morning | was Informed by COL Birks
dale that the enemy still in considerable force at
EIwards' Ferry, l directed him TO make thorough
connossance Of the position and strength OF the
and attack him Al O'Clock N. he gaIlantly attack
ed much superior force in their entrenchments driving
them to the bank Of the river killing thirty forty and
Woundirg a considerable number.
About sundown the enemy being strongly reinforced
and stationed In rid, pits Col B,rksiale wisely retired
With his regiment Fort Evans leaving guard OF two
companies to watch the menls Of the enemy who,
evidently expecting renewed attack retired during the
night aud recrossed the river at EiWards Ferry.
0i Wednesday morbiug, finding my brigade very much
exhausted, eft Col Barksdas with h' regiment, with
two pieces Of artillery an cavalry force as grand
guard and ordered the three other regiment 10 fall
back towards Carers Mill to rest and to be collected in
order. Col Hunton and two pec's Of artillery, were
hsed at strong position the South bsuk OF the ST.
colin, about three miles South Of Leesburg.
would here state that in an interview on Monday
night With the commissioned officers Of the Federal
my taken prisoners, convinced that they expected
TO bs p,ured e her during the night the day.
and az the captured oil ers refused their parole not 10
take up arms against the Southern Oonfederacy until du
ly exchanged ordered the whole number TO be mme-
dately marched TO Manassas This parole Was only Of
red to give them the liberty OF the toWu, ss did net
wish to cobhue them with the prvates.
In the engagement the 2lst OF O,tober which last
ed nearly thirteen hours, our loss from force Of sew
enteen hundred and nine, aggregate, was a. fellows
Eighth Rsg't Ia. Tol'. Killed. Wounded.
Commissioned ofhceri, %
Non.commifsonsd officers, g
PrVAtes, 81