Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-11-19

roads, tie troops could not be marched to their respec
tive places until late hour il the night-probabY be-
tween and two O'Clock. The enemy occupied line
of hills psralel with the line Of the river IN the leigh
borbood of Browns ferry Law and Robertson the
same line of hills but to Lookout mountain, to
prevent an attack on Brattons rear, and BennDg po
sition on the left of the two last named being INTENDED
ss support to Col Bratton. These three brigades
as it wtre, covered the bridge Lookout creek
over which they bad rche and threa tened the line
of the enemy at Browns ferry. Col. Bratton, with
Jenkins brigade, low moved to the left mile or
up the valley to attack the supposed rear guard
and capture the wagon train.
Skirmishers being thrown out, the Federal pickets
were encountered. These falling back, the enemy
found in line of battle and instead Of being sur
prstd received our troops with heavy vCley 1t was
not long before it discovered that instead OF pal
try body OF wh0 would yield as socn as dlscovered
were fighting whole division belonging to the 18th
corps, Gen. Slocum who had closely followed ~ the
rear OF the preceding column and encamped after night
Nothing 10 be done but to fight it boldly out, and
make up in pluck and obstinacy what was lacking in
numbers. On our part we had but SIX regiments-the
lst, Col. fitzpatrick ID Rifles Col thomson; 9th,
Col Coward 9Th, Col. Bratton Palmetto Sharp
shooters, Col. Walker, and Hampton Legion, Colonel
Gary Steadily, as on parade, these filed into position,
and in few moments, artillery ard musketry were
playing with terrible effect through ranks. Fully
three hEs of the BRIGADE however had been wounded
in previous battles, and all had been tried by fire and
not found wanting thai the ordeal fearful as it ap-
peared, was encountered by men who feared not the
sacrifices demanded at their hands. The advance by
night necessarily slow but fairly at work the
pressure upon the enemy's line irresistible. The
blood of the troops fairly aroused, there was 10
thought that of victory. Even the wounded, a8
they lay upon the ground, would CALL out to their COM
rades whose ammunition was exhausted" " Here, take
mne crawling to their sides would bite the ends off
the cartridges, that time might be lost. Men never
stood up to the work of death nobly and none
have died during the more amGned than some OF
the splendid spirits who fell here.
Col III. w. Gary, of the Hampton Legion, being
dered to go in On tie right of Col. Coward seeing an
opportunity OF turning toe enemys left, assumed the
responsibility of making flank or Jackson move
ment" as it is very appropriately called by the men,
the result OF which was 10 break the Federal line
Pursuing his advantage Gary now swept rapidly on,
leaving wagons ald prisoners ln his rear until brought
to bay by battery. Here be rested for moment to
reform lis line. COL Walker, of the Sharpshooters,
meanwhile pressing the right flank of the enemy In
short the Federal line shattered, their troops de-
morazsd, the turning point OF the battle at hand
and victory seemed about to perch upon our banner.
The enemy is in the neghborhood of Browns Ferry,
discovering battle in progress had already thrown
forward two columns one OF which advanced to attack
the line occupied By General Laws ard Robertson,
while the other moved steadily past that 'front.' and aim
ed to penetrate the long Interval betwe Dtatton and
BenninZ, in other words, to cut Jerkl-s brigade OH
from the bridges over Lookout Creek The first column
met with little success being checked by the sharp fire
sed other results The situation critical one but
Gen. Jenkins quickly dvinirg the object of the move
ment met the by ordering Braton to return to the
bridges ard the remainder OF the division to hold Its
position at every hazard until the eys Of the former
was secured. Lieut.. Col Logon, of the Hampton LIE
gi0n, with IA companies whom he had relieved from
picket, having reached the field ordered to the lett
Of Benning, where, occupying hil, he extended our
ne and naturally contributed TO the CHECK OF the en-
envy.
Bratton now reluctantly abandoned his hard earned
advantages, which ten minutes more would have COM
bned to make our victory complete and enable US to
capture battery and bring away large number OF
we'll filled wagons fell back IN perfect order, and
fortunately reached the creek There be formed a0Oh
er lire of battle Law, Robertson and Benning cauti
ousy dropping back behind their skirmi8hefs and re-
crossed the bridges. The South Caroinans tnen fol-
| lowed, bringing away as many Ct their wounded as
could be safely borne, and behind all Gen Jenkins fol
lowed himself Col Logan with bis skirmjshers and
regiment from Bennings brigade alone remained on the
opposite side to protect the crossing OF the slightly
wounded who were slowly making their way to the rear
and finally, lie too retired and established bis pickes
at the bridge From these facts 1t will be observed
that there disorder, no irreguary CT any kind
and that tie division fell back Impressed and with the
same undaunted front with which it had advanced In
the encounter The Northern press with lis usual men
| dacty will probably claim to the contrary.
| Although We had not achieved q victory we had
| Judging OF results been blessed with Provdentai
success The Fedcrals encountered by jenkins brig
ade were doubtless the OF disastrous de1eat as
is shown By the facts already set orth-namely the
breaking of their lines and the falling back in 'front.'
uuti wagon traias and prisoners captured Ia the
rear. Ga the other hand the pressure OF the ankee
columns from Browns ferry, where it was known they
had at least two CORPS distant more than mile
and half, threatened tie integrity OF position
that it eventually became critical III the extreme.
Probably from seven to thousand troops enVeOped
the line designed to protect Bratton from attack
upon his rear and in a few moments they would have
intersected the only road By which he could return
Being unabe 10 cOunttract movement on SO gra0d
scale with the small force at bis command, Gen. Jen
kins did the next best thing, which was to recall Col
Bratton ard compel him 81 the momant Of success to
abandon the fruits of his srugg e, Wnlca had been SO
gloriousIy wrested from the enemy.
Instead of censup therefore, praise belongs 10 every
officer and man concerned in the expedition. Ga the
part of General L2ngstreef the design WIS Just like
hinself- bold daring, daahDg, ard had it not been for
the circumstances mentioned it would have resulted in
complete success. GA the part OF General jenkins, the
movements displayed ama5e tact, because upon bis
quick perception and prompt Judgment in an emergen
v which REQUIRED the alb eat geneashp, depended the
safety of 'he troops. Ga the part OF the latter hard
fighting, superb discipline coosness and order charac
terized their motions from beginning toend and all
these combined to We tie eCat Of succpes.
In brief while We failed to achieve entire victory anG
lis attendant train Of ntfts, suCcess was in fuli
est measure unil the eppcaranc7 Of overwhelming
forces from aG0btr drec ion, WhGn another success en-
sued in the withdrawal Of cur troopa without ae loss
of single in me act
TIE loss in Jenkins brigade, killed md wounded, is
three hundred sXty0ue. Ia tEe other br!gaGes az
: | am informed it is from thirty fly. The loss
the enemy is estimated by one Of scouts who coun
ted dead and woutded at IRON one thousand to tour