Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-07
FaR LIfE YI6fif an taEfOs, pTss.

4 correspondent Of The Jackson hlsslesippau gses
the following sketch Of thu Js.e engagement at Can.
ton:
Cd the 18th inst scouts reported to General jackson
that large force of the enemy crossing Big Black
at Messengers Ferry, and wero advancing towards
Bro wnsvle telling citizens they were going 70 Canton.
The General determined to concentrate his COM
mand. and give them battle BY the 10Th they had ad-
yapced through ownsville-General Writ Adams COM
handing let 66gade--tkrmishing heavily with them
On the 10TH our forces being in position, the enemy
commeL ced their advance aud were met at the bridge
over Straight Fence creek. General jackson ordered
General Adams to tear up the bridge, remove hls horse
to position out of range Of the artillery ire, and to
hold bis posiion-that Colonel Logan would assist him.
This he did all day long: The enemy succeeded in
crossing the creek four timee and CALAMITY driven
back eacE time.
This fight will always be remembered as one Of the
most holly contested made by cavalry; position
could not be linked except on another road, and the
enemy had TO move up face to face with US. During
the hottest fire. General Jackson rode out in the open
field in the most exposed position, where he met Gen.
Writ Adams directing the movements OF his brigade.
As the General approached, Gen. Adams raised his hat
the General uncovered, and these brave, noble COM
mauding officers stood moments in conversation
the cannon balls tearing up the ground around them
&C.. Adams remarked that "hs brigade and Logans
men were standing up we'll" The General replied she
had seen no better fighting during the var" Riding
off few PAGES, he approached Kings celebrated MIS-
souri, battery engaged in furious contest with Fed
era Missouri battery each party trying to excel one OF
the enemys Shots passing close by him, broke wheel
belonging to one OF our rih, guns just then three
long, hearty cheers gwen by them, which sounded
above the of their guns for "Gsn. Jackson the
cavalry S:onesall of this WALL"
The General thanked them, and told themto do their
best that his brave troops we're fast winning the Stone
wa title Tor his division that they checking the
advance of 1000 Dfaatry that they must hold their
poston save the desolaton OF many homes, and they
would receive the thanks of the citizens OF the State
This was received with renewed cheers, another wheel
was soon The as gun, and its stern echoes mingled
with those around they Numbered at the foe. At
nghtfa the enemy fell back having only advanced two
miles in "a hours. Our forces slept in line Of battle
At sunrise the morning of the 18th the enemy sgan
commenced their advance another road, 10 command
which, General Jackson had placed General Whithelds
Texas brigade supported by Col. Logan. As their ad-
vance approached Croft's Georgia battery opened OIL
them with lh:ir magnificent Napoleon guns, and the
pungyg shot was seeI 10 open gaps III their ranks,
when their whole line gave way, aud reforming moved
Dy the right s5k they then deployed for hours, when
disco veiing that the Texas brigade would be flnked
Gen. jackson ordered Gen. Whitfield to fall back 70
another position.
As the enemy would drive US off one hill, we woui
fall back and make a stand upon another, each time
driving back their advance, aud compelling them to
form line of battle every thcket and copse OF woods
was ambushed, and thus they only permitted to
advance five miles on the third day. Abou. o'clock,
D. M, a strong position seecsed for the Texas br
gade aud LOganS men, which the-eaemy, after Smelling
furiously, charged three times slowly gave way. On
the morning of the 18th, they again attacked pot
tion and finding it TOO strong, commenced falling back
rapidly. Gen. Jackson ordered Wh field and Logan 10
pursue and attack them aud all day long victorious
columns firing into them, and buying them on
Big Back.
Their retreat towards the last became a race and
thus ended the second grand raid against Canton. Oar
loss is about fifty killed, wounded aud missing.