Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-11-18

-9Sss.1-
| The Fight near Kefiy,s Ford Saturday-.F ufth-
s;,-.. ~. - :, %: er RAFticulafsa ,a, "
= The excited reports circulated ipthe city 4Sats
day, about thecapture Of two brgades Of Cen.
fsderates on the tRappahanuock by the .Yaakees,
turn quito have been greatly exaggerated We are
enabled, from eanversation with numbsrt OF Noua-
dea officers and men @he wsre In the 6Sht, forgive
fuller apd more relebie narrative Of the aar than
shss been published. Tas fight occurred near KsliIs
Ford, our forces being On the further side Of the
river, and the Yankees appearing in forcesto drive
them off and force q passage of the stream. The
Gonfedefutes engaged were Hayes brigade, consist.
ling of the 5ah, Sth and 9th Louisiana regiments,
commanded BY Gen. Hayes; and the 9Th and 3oth
! N. G. regiments Of H0ke's brigade commanded BY
Col SArchibaies C. Goodwin. t''F ,,;le..5 Tai
These troops hadbssn stationed on the north side
of the Rappahannock doing picket service, when,
about IL O'clock on Saturday morning the drums
brest to quarters, and orders were given that every
man mast fall into the ranks and be prepared for
immediate attack. In q very short time our out
post pckets and the enemy skrmishers were hotIy
engaged, our own pickets gradually yielding the
ground to superior numbers. The main body of
the enemy was not long in making its appearance,
emerging from the woods, and soon our smaA force
were confronted by overwhelming numbers, estima-
ted at between ten and fifteen thousand Then com.
menced a terrific battle, which continued without
intermission from two O'clock in the afternoon till
dark at which time, It seems, we had been entirely
surrounded, and large portion of our troops had
already fallen into the hands Of the Yankees The
situation becoming desperate and it appearing that
the longer resistance was confirmed our side the
less chance there would be Of escape, orders were
given for . retreat which was done under very
great disadvantages. The bridge crossing the Rap
pahannock being commanded BY the enemy in such
MANNER as to render it madness to attempt to cross
by that means, the whole of our retreating force
took to the river, which they forded.
The number which fell into the hands Of the enc
my Is about fifteen hundred. Welearn that the 9th
NorthC Carolina regiment entire fell into their hands,
aud that about 4oO Of Hayes brigade also failed 10
escape. -" x go 's'r- = T.. -, ~
The fight is represented to have been ofthe most
terrific character, and when we take into considers
ton the great disparagement in the two forces en-
gagged it is remarkable that any Of our gallant men
escaped at ALL For the space of three miles in al
open field, we learn that the ground seemed lite.
rally swarming with Yankees. who, to adopt the
expression Of one ofthe wounded seemed to rise up
out of the ground In this tight their artillery was
used with great efficiency, and, unlike what has
hitherto been their practice it was used at shorter
range than usual. Part Of the time the conflict was
hand to hand, and it was in this manner that the
most Of our men were pressed upon by overpower-
ing numbers and compelled to Yield W to them.
1t is regretted that our artillery were not sup
piled with shrapnel shot, as it is believed greater
des tructon could have been done with them than
the solid shot which were used. Never were guns
more stubbornly defended OF more efficiently ma
noeuvrcd and charge after charge was repulsed be-
fore the enemy finally succeeded in capturing
them.
at one stage Of the battle the impetuosity Of Gen.
Hayes led him into the very heart of. the enemy's
ranks, and before he was aware Of it be was hemmed
in on all sides Drawing his sword and putting
spurs to his horse, he dashed through them, and
finally escaped capture In bis fight be leaped
parapet Of considerable height and plunging his
horse into the river reached the south bank Of the
uninjured.
Col. Peck, Of the 9Th Louisiana regiment Lieut..
Col. Hodge of the same regiment aud Lieut.. Col.
Terry, Of the 7th Louisiana regiment were also tn.
ken prisoners at one time, but succeeded in making
their escape. /
Among the prisoners are COL Penn, Of the 7th !
Louisiana regiment and Capt. John Angel, com.
handing the 9Th LOUISIANA regiment l: is also be-
lleved that Col A. c. Goodwin is prisoner, as on |
Sunday, the day after the battle, both bigades were
under the charge OF Gen. Hayes
The list of killed and wounded on our side will !
probably not exceed three or four hundred, a yery
small proportion Of whom being officers Col. Sci !
ers, Of the soth North Carolina regiment received
mortal wound in the right breast This otRos-
ed his regiment into the fight on foot and srepre.
ented to have showed great fearlessness and cour.
lge. In the early part Of the engagement he re-
;eived q. severe wound in the arm, but refused to
cave the field, and continued to cheer on his men
Ill later in the evening, when he was struck the
second time, and had TO be borne off the field. -
,apt John Weatherspoon, of company K, 30th N. |
,. regiment, Was also severely wounded /
Among the Yankees it is believed that several
General officers were killed, al shofs time before
he close Of the day, and when perhaps the e..emy
thought they had captured Ill our troops, group
If mounted officers evidently prominent leaders,
ode right into party OF our troops who were in q
ayine, when they immediately rose up and fred
Not one Of them escaped as they we're seen 10 fall
apparently lifeless from their horses. Previous to
has one Yankee officer was seen to fail wounded,
nd afterwards, in . PROSTATE condition, continued
or several minutes to fire at our men till well !
directed shot succeeded in ending his career on this
arth. g. -,
There was no lighting yesterday, but information
vas received through the wounded that on Sunday
heavy fight occurred about one mile beyond Gull
'epper e. Il. From all indications we may reason.
ely look for q renewal Of the conflict in few days
m general scale. "a -r..
About one hundred and fifty Of the wounded
we're yesterday received at the Seabrook Hospital,
Who had their wounds properly attended to, and
vere afterwards assigned to the different hospitals
n the city-Riskmsoad Di.patch. - .
..-- - ----------------------- -. ..--
GEN. scoTT-HIS LAST WORDS.
The veteran hero Of Bull Run, Gen Winfield
Scott has returned to New York and, taken rooms
It Delmonico's The New York papers say sgreat
naLy of the personal admirers Of the General
ave called to - have q shake Of the dis
inguished old soldiers hand" A personal ad
nirer !" connected with the New York T;nss called