Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-24

For the Daily Spy.
From the ThiCty-FOurth Regiment -
The SkirmIsh near CharIestOwn.

The SIxirmish near CharIestOwn.
HARPER's FERRY, VA, Oct 20, 1868.
Without doubt you have received, By tele
graph, report of the important skirmisf
which took place in the vicinity of Charles.
town, Va, on Sunday, the 18th inst. Though
having no participation in the affair, my close
proximity TO the scene of the engagement
places me in the possession of few interest
ing facts. The town of Charestown has for
some time past been occupiedby detachments
from the 9th Maryland infantry and Coles
(Maryland) cavalry, numbering in all over
four hundred.
On Sunday morning at daylight, the pickets
of the force occupying the town discovered
that the place was invested by Il large force of
the enemy, consisting of artillery, cavalry and
mounted infantry. AT an early hour (about
Z A. NJ the.rebels opened their batteries, con-
sisting of about four pieces, upon the village,
the shells falling most thicky in the vicinity
of the court house. At or near eight o'clock,
the enemy sent forward flag of truce and de-
manded the immediate surrender Of the town
Col. Simpson, who was in command of the
post, is reported to have replied to the demand
thus IF you desire to take possession of
the town, take it," Again the rebels opened
upon the town, and the small force of Colonel
Simpson being sorely pressed, and he having
no hopes of receiving renforcementS from
Harper's Ferry before noon, finally surren-
dered Several of Coles cavalry detachment
succeeded in etlecting their escape
News Of this disaster reached HEADQUARTERS
at Harpers Ferry at about o'clock. Gen.
Sullivan, who commands this district on re-
ceiving this intelligence, Immediately sent for
ward the brigade commanded by Col. Geo ID.
Wells. consisting of the 34th Massachusetts
infantry, Minors Indiana battery, Coles cav
airy, and the 10th Maryland infantry. Our
cavalry came up with the enemy about a mile
from Charestown in the direction of Berry
vile. Here a slight skirmiSh took place, in
which we sustained but a trihing loss In
mediately after, our artillery (six pieces) came
up, and opened brskly upon the enemy, who
were soon obliged to fall back. At this iunc-
ture the 34th Massachusetts arrived, having
marched from Harper's Ferry. ten miles dis
tant, in an hour and half. The rebels con-
tinued to retreat slowly, until o'clock p. NJ,
when they made stand, at which time took
place the principal action of the day.
The position during the engagement was
this accompanies + and C of the 3+th were
in the advance, deployed as skirmishers, and
the main body of the regiment was a short dis
lance in the rear, passing along the Berryvile
road. Coles cavalry was deployed on the
right and left of our infantry skirmishers. The
rebels in considerable force were posted on a
commanding position at the right of the road
No sooner had the 34th come within range
than the enemy opened upon them. The
34th Immediately took safe position behind
a bank at the side of the road, and returned
the enemy's fire with vigor and precision.
Owing to the safe position of the regi-
menr its loss was quite small-only two
killed and three or four wounded. The reb-
els must have lost very heavily indeed. At
ter this engagement had continued for about
twenty minutes, our artillery, which had been
quite a distance in the rear, came up, and,
opening upon the enemy, drove them from
their position. Our forces pursued them to
within two miles of Berryvile, and then re-
turned to Harper's Ferry. On their return
several buildings, belonging to rebels, were
burned by our cavalry. Our entire loss in
killed, wounded, and prisoners, including that
of the 9th Maryland, is about $50 The fol-
lowing are the casualties i'll the 34th:-
KIlled-Corporal G. NJ Gage of Co. E,
color-0e private F. A. Clarke of Co. X.
Wounded Lieut.. Cook of Co. c, in head,
SeTlOuSly pilNdtS "a AIO"S vi W. W III
chest, slight private John Moakley of Co. c,
in leg, slight; private Isaac A. McDanielS Of
Co. E, in foot, slight
The GOODNESS and bravery of the 34th under
fire was deserving of much praise. This reg
iment, while in Washington, by its excellent
discipline, its good behavior, and its splendid
appearance on parade, won for itself the name
of being one of the finest looking regiments in
the service, and we assure its friends that it
will not be long in winning the laurels of the
brave and courageous. The manner in
which the skrmishing companies rallied and
repulsed the charges made by the rebel cav
airy was laudable indeed.
LArER.-The rebel force in the engagement
of Sunday was commanded by Gen lmboden,
and is estimated at about three thousand.
Charlestown was not occupied by the rebels
on our withdrawal, but to-day has been occu-
pied by large Union force. Lieut.. Cobb of
Lancaster, who was wounded, is in very
critical condition, yet hopes are entertained
of his recovery. There seems to be much
blame imputed to the 9th Maryland for not
having more obstinately resisted the attack
ing force. How much resistance they did
make, or how much they were able to make,
we cannot say. 1t is, however, very evident
that somebody blundered." H. E. t.