Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1863-11-27
DISASTER TO GEN. HOKEs BRIGADE.
AT Our OLD CAMPS ON THE RAP1DAN

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To tie Editor Of the Richmond Eron,.
iner: A history of the misfortune which
bcfrl our brigade on the afternoon Of S IT.
urday, the 7th inst, is due to the f,"n,l> Of
the unfortunate officers and soldiers nj
home | tho efore beg Irave to offer, for
the information of such, only such iufor-
rna,i"n as have been able TO gather from
the officers vino escaped: On Friday, the
Loui LANA brigade, under Brig. General
Hayes, wa: sent acrosa the Rappahannock
to act as picket guard at the point where
the railroad from Culpeper Court House 10
Whils, the enemy held this road during
the latter part Of the summer he had
thrown up line of breastworks from "a
point shor: llstnnce below the end OF the
railroad bridge, on the other side, which
works faced from the river and extended
s"me distance up, aud diverging from the
river. The Loui.ianians orcup,rd the lower
part of these works. The pontoo, bridge,
the only place Of crossing Ier infantry, he
ing upon their left, and about one hundred
yards above where the railroad bridge had
heen burned. At half past Q o'clock p.
IN, the loug roll was beat in our encamp-
ment, and every m,n fit :or duty called
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had II" artillery. the day being quite win
dy. AID our ramn belng aboui six miles
from the river The whole of E E.rly'a di.
vision was marched rapidly to three reg
iments. the Sixth, Fifty h,nrh, and Fifty
seventh. row commanded by Col. A. e..
Go'iwin. formerly frs: provost marshal #
Richmond, was ordered over the river to
"rrup, The extreme lett Of the hreast~ ork~.
'I,,., lain Il
w fire Of artillery, (inr the Lnuisian,ans
we're already sustaining furious fire IRON
sevcra! bailvr,es) Tnis fi,c from the ar
t1rry and sharp shooters was kept up
until after sunset. Tie other two br,g.de>
of Gen. Early's division, cnr"man'ied by
Brig Gers. Gordon and Pcgram, were
h. III in position on this side the river. BY
sunset the enemy had extcuued lis lines.
in the form # - half moon, 20 a. TO envpl
"p onr forces entirely, his right and left
resting on the river shove and below. At
,hr sane tia.e he had formed three lines .!
aItat k. one behind the other, tn a.saul, the
works held by Gen. Hayes aml the right
IF Likes hr,ga'le. Tie sun had gone
down when this terrible onset was made.
: Although The odds were greatly against
~. aud *e had "nlv four pieces of artil-
lrry on that side Of the river, our men
received the Sh"ck as brave men only ito.
The Louisianians f"nuh, wnb n desprra-
lion. The enr,nv's font lire was torn to
pieces and sea tered in confusion. Being
rei'.f"rc"d by the second and tfi,d lines
. the enemy again advanced upon the works
and hy empowering numbers, leaped the
works into the ditch, and came 10 a hand.
: 10 hand fg't.
O"r brave men, being thus SO greatly
onnu'nhered. were compelled to Weld.
Some surrendered others rushed tn the
p"nto'n and escaped SOME othors, being
cut off fr"m that. plunged into the river
below AMI swan across, a few being drown
al. Gen. Hays escaped afirr lie hal sur
rente,ed; C"ls. Mn',4gan and Peck sw IN
the river. MoIe than half this br ga.le are
missing. The extreme ri s,ht Of Gen Hok.s
brigade fought with equal valo- and shared
similar fate. Ths posse: sion of the works
hes'i ty the Luisi,nians gave the enem,
Possession Of the p"ntoon Lrlys, aut thus
cnt OIL Gen. El"ksS brigade from any ca
cape exrcp! hy swimming. Oar extreme.
'isht he,ng thrown back, the hrav. Col.
Goodwin, although surrounded Oh all sides.
except Oil the rver SIDE, s,I! Tough, o.,, and
when compelled to yield g'ourd 10 ever
whelinns odds. fell hack with a force nf
about >eveny-tire men, still returni,g r the
enr'nv'a fire, and refused TO surrender unit!
lighting WAS useless.
The Casualties IF our brigade are small
IN killed AID wounded: a jutani NJ bsne,
ut the 6:l. wouhie.i il, a:,.: aud side: Wm
Johns OH, Capt. Whites company, wU',n-
.iel in thigh sever Iy. :hough not nortal!y;
Srrg't. Crs,n"", Capt Hooker's company,
Killed, he brigade is almost anniLiIaied.
The 54'h regiment has only one cap. ain
(Pasch.lD left, with five i,euteu:,nLs and
about fif ren men remaining. Til. frsy,uei,,p
+ the brigade are now col e ted under the
command of Lieut. Col. Tie, Of the 9th.
and attached tn the Louisiana brigade.
These Fragments no~4humbering about 275
men. This Is Serious dis ,sier, so iar AN
our feelings are concerned, but it does nnr
shake onrh"peI as to success. This sad
'atla'r took pac in the presence of Gen.
Lee and Maj. Gen. Ear;y. who had arrived
on his side the river.
The loss .: the enemy has been serious.
as the ground in front Of our works was
literally c"vered with his dead. At IN u
night, OH Satn!d,y ,.ight Gen Lac bc- an
10 faii back. On, Sund.y mornng. he
10 n.ed the line fb..tl. beyond Culpep
er; bur alt. er,gb The enemy lad forced
the guard q, K-ly> Fo,d. aud co,np.liel
Gen Rhodes to Ia l'a k, with loss of
2oO men. ki lrd, wounded and missing, yet
no attack WAS made on us bv tho .nfani.y. |
H. u. afternoon. 'hs enemy's cavalry at
ta' ked Gen. W.irox's hrigatle, and were
ha,iiy cat up. Duri"g Sunday ni.ht. Gen.
Lee fell back to his I'D p"siti"n, South oil |
the e-Rar'dun. JOHN PARIS,
Chaplain 54h Regiment, N G. T..
I ( From susFoLK The Petersburg Er |
press has received information from SUI
folk, sl,s, -i,ce Col. falIlaferros visit to