Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-23

with the force of white Yankees across bridoe
which had been built Sandy creek on the night OF
the 25th This force was thrown against the 39h Mis-.
sissppi regiment, commanded by Col Shelby. About
800 negroes in front ADVANCED at doubleouok within
$50 yards Of the works when the srtlery On the river
bluff and two light pieces Col Sbelby's left opened
upon them, and at the same time they were received
with voleys OF muskery from FIVE companies of the
39th The negroes fed every way in perfect confusion
without firing gun, probably carrying with them in
their panic fight their sable comrades further ia the rear
for the enemy Themselves report that 600 Of them
persisted If this be So they must have been shot down
by the Yankees in the rear for the execution we did
upon them did not exceed $780, and indeed volleys Of
musketry we're heard the direction of their fight
Among the slain were found the bodies of two negro
captains with commissions in their pockets.
The let Alabama, 1t. Col Locke, aud the lO,h Ar
kansas, Col. Witt, engaged the enemy outside the
works, in the thick woods, and fought most gallany
but we've compelled by the heavy odds brought against
them to fall back the creek and within the works
In this action Col Witt was captured but was not fated
to remain loug prisoner being Of the daring band
who effected their escape from the Maple Leaf while on
their way TO Yankee prison.
Col johnson, with the 18th Arkansas regiment, num-
boring about 800 men, occupied hill across Sandy
Creek which he had been certifying for the previous
week. About 5000 of the enemy came against this
posi- ion, moving dowo very narrow road and many of
them succeeded in gaining the breaslworks but thew
were repulsed and compelled TO fall back into The Gods
leaving so or 80 dead in front of the works.
On Gen. Beales left, consisting of the LIST Mississippi
and the 4gth Alabama the enemy advanced in strong
force, and were driven back with great sau ,hter The
repulse on Miles left was decisive.
About three O'clock the Yankees true 10 their knav-
ish national instinct raised the white flag and under it
attempted TO make rush with their infantry. This
being reported TO General Gardner he sent orders 10
the different commanders not TO gnize any white
flag unless sent by the Federal commander himself At
sunset the firing ceased after holly tested engage
meat of twelve hours, during the whole OF which
men had behaved with una nching CALAMITY and bad
completely repused the enemy at every point. Every
man along the entire line had done his duty nobly.-
While this assault going on, athe gun and mortar
boats kept an ncessant firing upon the lower bate
ties, but without intiicting any damage.
On the 2SLh, General Banks sent flag proposing a
cessation of hostites for the purpose OF buryng the
dead which granted. About 3 o'clock p. NJ, the
truce ceased aud the enemy, in heavy force, made
furious attack upon the lst Alabama, which was gal
lantlv repulsed. ..
From this time till June 18th, heavy skirmshDg was
constantly kept up the men behind the breast
works night aud day, and could scarcely show his
head an instant without beipg made the mark Of sharp
shooter Many wee sick frou exposure to the and
other causes. The enemy were, meanwhile engaged in
digging dch?s erecting batteries and advancing heir
parallels The gun and mortar boats kept upa contn-
ua fire by night and day, MORE IL would seem, for the
purpose of eXhausng the garrison by wakefuness than
FROM any hope of direct advantage.
Monday the 18th of June, communication was re-
ceived from General Banks, demanding the uncondi-
tional surrender of the post lie mpimented the
garrison and its commander in high Their
age, he said amounted almost to herosm, but it was
folly for them attempt to hold the Place any longer
as was at his WILL and he demanded the surrender in
the name OF humanity 10 prevent the sacrifice Olives
it would be impossible for his commanders save the
garrison frOneing put to the sword when the works
ha riad nv lie he
was equal any in extent and efficiency, and his men
outRumbered ours five to He knew to what a
condition they were reduced, rs be had captured
General Gardeners courier sent out with dispatches to
General Johnston. As these deJIaches were in cipher
il is probable that Banks exaggerated the amount of
information he had derived from them.
Gen. Gardner replied that his duty required him to
defend the post and he must refuse to entertain any
such proposition.
On the morning CT the l4h just before day. the feet
and all the land batteries which the enemy had d.
ed in erecting at 100 to 800 yards from our breasw orks
opened fire at the time. About day iyht under
cover of the smoke, the enemy advanced along the
whole line and in many places approached within ten
feet Of our works. Our brave fellows wide awake
and opening upon them with buck aud ball" drove
item back Ia confusion, great number OF them being
left dead in the dtches One entire division and br
gade we're ordele1 to charge the position of the Let
Mississippi aud the 49Ih Alabama and by the ply.
steal pressure of numbers some OF them go. thin the
works, bu: all those Immediately killed Every
regiment did its duty noby, bu. this the main at
tack After a sharp contest OF two hours the enemy
were everywhere repulsed and withdrew to their old
line but heavy SIX rmshiDg was kept up most Of the
day.
After this repuse General Banks sent no flag Of truce
to bury his dead which remlined exposed between the
lines for three days At the end of that time General
Gardner sent flag TO Banks, requesting that he would
remove them Banks replied that he had no dead there
n hon Raala a
flag TO General Anger aud request him to bury the dead
OF his DIVISION which lay ia front of the lst and 49h
Anger replied that he did not think he had any dead
there bus he would grant cessation OF bostiltes to
ascertain Accordingly, parties were detailed to pass
tue dead bodss the Yankees and 260 odd we're
removed 6pm this portion OF le works and with them
one wounded man. who had beeu yng there three days
Without water, and y blown from head 10 foot Ii
was surmsed that Banks was unwilling that his meu
should witness the carnage which had been committed
but if that the he only made matters worse
by this delay for much evaporation manifested al
the sight OF the wounded man, aud great many we're
heard say that if that tie way wounded were
to be treated they wanted to be Gu: of the army.
great many Of the dead must rave persisted during the
three days interval. In front OF Johnson, Steadman
and elsewhere buried aud the bodies of the
slain could be seen from the Dreastworks on the day
the surrender, twenty-six days after the fight.
During the res: of the mouth there was heavy Skin
mishing daily with constant firing night and day IRON
the gun and mortar boats aud the works generally
drawn close to line, which, it may here be remarked
was about three miles in extent aud 10 the centre
three-fourths of mile from the river. Batter OF
Parrott guns had been erected the river which
we're well served by the United 5 ates regulars, aud
maintained continuous aud very effective fire upon
river batteries, disabling many Of the guns. Ga the
land side formidable battery of seventeen 8 AID 10
inch columbiads was established $50 PAGES from cur
extreme right, Of seven guns in trout of General
Beales centre Of six gus in front of the l' Mis-
sissipp on the jackson road and seven guns and
tlrs were planted in front Of Col. S.eadman. From
these fire was maintained day and night, doing but
little damage to our men, but the siege continued,
most of artillery disabled, only about 10 pieces
remaining uniDjured at the time Of the surrender.
During the siege Of six weeks from Nay 27th to July
7th elusive the enemy must have fred from fifty to
seventyve thousand shot aud SHE'LL yet not more than
twenty five men were killed by these proecties. They
had worse dangers than these TO contend against but