Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-11-11
RoMOHATTANooGA.


Tho following letter from an officer Of the
5th Regiment s. @. ", has been handed
to us. The writer did not intend it for
publication, but as it contains much that is
oflocal interest, che party to whom it'was
addressed has kindly furnished it to Us for
the public
CAxp OF 5rH RrexRST, 8. C. ".
Near Chattanooga, Tenn, Oct. %, 1853
I take up my pen this evening, my heart
burdensd with sorrow, TO give you the par
ticulars Of the battle of last night, in which
our regiment Was engaged. Our Brigade,
With twoether Brigades of Gen. Hoods
Division, were sent over Lookout Noun,
tain to intercept the large wagon trains OF
the enemy and to cut them of. We cross
ed the mountain after dark, and marched
down to where Gen. Laws Brigade had q
fight the dsy before. After passing Gen.
Laws pickets we crossed q creek and form
~ / /. -
ed line of battle, threw out. administers,
and advanced for a mile and half down
she Railroad, when we come upon the wag,i
son train and the pickets Of the enemy, the
latter of which we're soon driven back. Our
regiment was ordered to get ready to charge.
We could NOW see the Yankees trying to
sswhipu their trains out of the way, hear
them forming their lines and bringing the
artillery into position. .Assoon as the reg
sinaent on the left was formed, che command
was given to se5aryet'' We aised the
srabel yellv and charged forward in the
face Of q calling fire, passed the wagon
train, which was parked in an open field,
and moved forward, without hating, for
three hundred yards, until we arrived at
gully, some two feet in depth. Here We
halted and opened FIRE, and waited until the
LIST regiment got on a line with US when We
sgain moved forward until within hun.
dred yards of the enemy. A terrific fire by
overwhelming numbers was opened upon
Us, and We were. compelled to lie down
fiat on the ground. We returned the fire
and held the position for one hour, and
until nearly all eur men were either killed
orsHounded, when We gere ordered to fall
back to to the gully mentioned above, where
We remained until nearly the last cartridge
was expended.
My company fought until nearly all were
killed or wounded, and when the order
came to retreat, the little squad of brave
men now composing company E, moved
offin good order. carried into the fight
forty.oue, men, rank snd file. The follow
ing isa list Of casualties:
KNsd-sergeant j. 7. Collins, Corpo-
raj J. B. Humphries, and Private W. j.
Minter.
Aortazly aoounded and left in the hands
r of the. e.enemy-Lieutenan William Crosby,
thigh broken; Lieut.. Felix 81. Mullenax.
in knee; Private W. J. Smith, in breast
D. W. Crosby, in abdomen; John Poag in
bowels.
Severely nded-Corporal James A.
NeilI, in leg; q. H. Grant, id hand; pri'
Yates W. A. Isom, in shoulder; j. Bradley
RaMls, in hand; Martin Rawls, in arm M; ;
B. Pool, in side, and q prisoner; William
Brake6eld, in leg; s. P. Drum in foot and
aprisoner. .....-.
Sziglsly Roanded-Sergt. NJ. S. Lind
say, in arm; privates j. A. Cabiness, in
arm; James Ghilders, in breast; h. B
Thomas, in side; R. B. Thomas, in leg
w. T. Mcdonald in face; W. c. Carson
in hand; James Lowry, in breast; Benja
min Moore, in arm
Missias-Privates NJ. S. Pool, j. W
ClsGk.
Our wounded had to be carried on litter
on mems shoulders, some fvesmiles, so yo'
can see why SO many fell into the hands o
the enemy.
never saw Lieut.. Crosby after he wa
wounded. I was in command of the Com
pany, and he was at his post on the left
He was wounded in the charge from tn
gully to the place where we came upon tn
enemy. Lieutenant Mullenax and Bradle
Rawls went and offered to bring him OF
but the brave fellow said to them, ego OF
you are needed in front, and my thigh is
broken to pieoes--you can do me no good.
These are the last words he spoke to any {
the company.
Lieut. Mullenax was wounded on ou
advance line. He hobbled back to th
gully With his leg broken. When the ree
iment fell back to the gully, and was know
we would have to retreat, I went and tol
him would try and carry him off on m
back. He was willing at first, but be b.
came apprehensive that we might both /
killed, and he told me to leave him to b
fate. I could not help shedding tears whe
We parted.