Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-10


that large body of Yankee cavalry repulsed ard
driven back by small body Of armed ciuzens while
the only damage done was the destruction Of few
houses We 90 not deem it necessary to give the ac-
count in full, but commence with quotation from the
official report of Lieut. Col. FranSliu:
Every unexpectedly to Col TolSnd, and entirely con-
trary to our previous information the enemy we're found
TO have taken their position in the houses OF the town.
both public and private besides leaving force in re
serve on the street Nevertheless, Capt Gilmore led
his command forward with great gailantry, charging
through heavy fire. l roget to state here that the
Second Virginia Cavalry did not behave so well but
we're thrown into considerable confusion, many of them
dsmounting aud leaving their horses while they sought
| their own safety.
| , 1.-THE Thirty fourth Regiment was Immediately dis
| mounted and ordered forward on tie double-quiCk.
| Just At this junctue, Col. Powell fell dangerously
wound d. with pistol ball 10 the back (suppo ed 10
have been shot by some OF bis own command and the
Second Virginia avslry not led into the fight
| regiment The Thirty-tCurth moved forward and az
tackled the courthouse and several private budngs that
were garrisoned by the enemy. The fire of the enemy
was very murderous at these buildings, and here Col
Toaud fell pierced through the vitas while in the
of urging his men forward, and making disposition Of
/ his forces"
Now for some of the correspondent Munchlunsen-
isms
| Captain Gilmore pressed forward towards the de-
DOT, where he found the enemy in small force, but
strongly pc sted with pieces Of artillery. Lieutenant
| Abraham, Of Capt GimOres company. with detach-
ment of the Tnirty fourth Regiment enlarged upon the
guns, shot down~he gunners just they prepar
ing to fire their second sho and captured both pieces.
The Thir'y-fourth deployed through the town in
the meanIime, fighting ard capturing The soldiers,
and even some OF the women, fired from private dwell
ing houses.
court-house and adjacent buildings from which the fire
had been bottest we're fred by order of Lieutenant
Clark, Acting Assistant Adutaut General, and subse
ouepy the main part of the town fired and reduced
to ashes One short bridge and cuvert the rail-
rold were destroyed By order of Lieuten INT Colonel
franklin left in command by the death OF Colonel To-
land aud Colonel PoWells wound. BY eight o'clock
the fight having lasted an hour and haf-the rebels
we're driven from every part OF the town In ormation
soon came from the rear that force of three hundred
cavalry had attacked guard and recapured the
priscrC's taken Abbs Valley, together with several
of ur men, including Capt. Cutter, OF the Thirty
| fourth.
By this time the detachment which had been sent to
the Mount Airy Depo. returned and reported that a
force of 800 R9tsls occupied tie place, and tht the
bridge over Reee Creek strongly guarded. After
consultation il was deemed advisable to draw of the
command, and at 8 o'clock A. NJ, July H. the return
| march was commenced
The writer foots up total Yankee loss of Sc. in killed
wounded and missing while he says the Confederate loss
il not less than 200! He concludes:
Captain Oliver, commanding the battery, and the
Major commanding the rebel cavalry, are known to De
| killed, and five commanding ohcers were captured
Five humid ed stand Of small arms, captured at Wyhe-
Vile. were destroyed. The total captures foot up
Small arms 1900 1900; cannon 2; stand Oh coors
horses 200; prisoners paroled &c.
| Wytheyile is a town Of about six thousand inhab
tants, and was pretty effsctually destroyed