Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-06-12
THE GREAT BATTLE.

THE GREAT BATTLE.
As was generally anticipated, from the
position occupied by portion of the enc
my's force on the South side Of the Chick
ahominy, on the right wing of General
Johnston's army, the battle was opened be.
tween nine and ten o'clock, a. m, on Sat
urday, by an attack in force of Lon.street's
and Hills divisions on the enemy's posi-.
tion at Bottom Bridge, near the line of the
Richmond and York River Railroad. The
enemy, in large force, had entrenched them
selves behind consecutive batteries, and
fell trees crosswise in front Of them, so as
to render the approach of our troops the
more difficult After musketry and can
non skirmish, during the continuance of
which our brave troops withstood the full
fire of the batteries, and charge was or
dered and nobly made by Gen. Hill, the
Second Florida, Sixth Virginia and Fifth
South Carolina leading the charge up to
the very nuzzles of the guns under ter
rife fire of grape, canister, round shot and
shell, that cut them down by scores. Mount
ing over the first battery, they took posses
sion at the point of the bayouet, the Yam
KEGS fleeing to the next in position in the
rear, which, in turn, opened its fire, and
in turn, was taken, large numbers of the
Yankees being killed aud taken prisoners
After an obstinate fight of two hours the
enemy fell back, leaving sixteen 'pieces of
artillery, composing three batteries, in pos.
session of our victorious troops. Our loss
here was heavy, including several officers.
The Yankee loss was not ascertained, but
it is supposed to have been equally heavy.
The behaviour of the, troops was splendid.
One company of the North Carolina regi-
ment alone took one hundred and sixty five
prisoners, and brought them to the rear
The enemy's force was estimated at fully
10000, aud reinforced constantly y.
After the cessation of the firing on our
right wing, the enemy attempted demon.
stration, across the Chickahomiuy, on our
left wing, north of the Mechauicsvile turn
pike, and on the Nine Mile road. He was
here gallantly opposed by General G. w.
Smiths division of Infantry and General
Magruder's Artillery including General
Writings brigade of the Sixth North Car
olua, Eleventh and Second Mississippi, and
Acting Brigadier- General Colonel Wade
Hampton's command of the Sixteenth n.
Carolina, and the Fourteenth and Nine
teenth Georgia.
The Hampton Legion, supported by the
Sixteenth North Carolina and Nineteenth
Georgia, attempted to capture battery
from the enemy, but, finding it too heavily
supported, fell back. but not until after re
ceiving its fire and giving their own 10 re
turn, and forcing the enemy to resume the
defensive. Our loss on the left was not so
heavy as on the right wing of the army !;
but among the killed We have to lament
several gallant and distinguished officers
On the left wing fell Gen. Pettigrew, of 5.
Carolina, name that became ilustrious IN
this revolution. He fell and died on the
field. General Hatton, of the Tennessee
brigade, was shot from his horse aud died
in tue arms of an aid. Colonel Hampton
was wounded slightly in the foot, but re-
mained at his post. His horse was shot
twice.
The fighting extended gradually from the
left to the right again, about 5 o'clock, and
continued up to near eight o'clock 10 the
evening, when darkness put an end to the
conflict, our army resting on their arms IN
the positions from whence the enemy had
been forced.
The strength of the enemy is supposed
to have been very great on both wings, and
his loss proportionately heavy.
The sullen booming of artillery heard
occasionally in the city on Saturday morn.
ing had prepared the people for the tidlngs
from the field. About Eoon it became ev-
ident that bloody work was doing along the
lines. The ambulanccs and surgeons had
gone out, and our citizens remained in a
state Of anxious suspense, but not alarm ;
they knew too we'll the invincibe army 10
whom they had confded their trust. Soon
persons iu vehicles and on horseback began
to arrive from the direction of the lines,
and they were eagerly surrounded BY groups
of citizens and soldiers, to whom they de,
tailed the news. Their presence was mark.
ed everywhere by attentive groups of list,
eners. ave have repulsed the enemy !"
passed from lip tolip, and cheering beam
of satisfaction lit up every face, saddened
only by the record of the gallant men who
had fallen aud were still fallingin the fight.
Towards evening the wounded began to
come in from the several scenes of action,
aud were carried to the hospitals, hotels
and residences. Many appeared to be only
slightly wouaded, barely sufficient to dlsa-
BILE them, and laughed aud chatted with
the hundreds Of sympathizerS who gathered
around the ambulances. Others, whose
WOUNDS were through the body, and more
serious, lay stretched out, and some 10 the
agonies of death.
Throughout Saturday night they were
being brought in, up to yesterday morning