Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-04
The Denartmental battalion

A bell tsps in Richmond. Several hundred cle ks
drop their pens aud being already in uniform shoulder
their muskes and Ia few minutes ready for duty.
They are wel-drled but have never been In action.
They march Eve six miles out Of the city, and form
in line of battle It is very dark rain and ssst fall
ing They charged by 800 of the picked cavalry Of
Meades army. Let US see how they behave. Sergeant
Gee. @. Weddsrbun Of %. A, clerk In the su g,oa
Generals office reports that the Battalion left Roh-
mond about P. N. the lat inst. aud were marched
out to the Wssham plank road as far Green's farm
where they halted and ordered to load They then
alvlrced few hundred yards 10 the 'front.' filed no
field the light Of the rad near Glentufy the resi-
dence Of Mr. Richardson drawn upin line OF battle
and ordered 70 lie down. SkrmisheTs were thrown cut
and in FIVE minu es afterwards they became hoty en-
gagged, and driven back upon the line. The Yam
KEGS at made drec. charge upon the centre and
right. receiving three vOleys IRON the Battalion, aud
we're driven blck in confusion. Our men were cool,
fred dOlib srately, and st the word Of command. A
second charge made, and the Yankees were again
repulsed. The Departmental Battalion was under the
Immediate command Of Capt Mckinney. Carter's Bat
talon composed Of clerks of the QurtermasteIs and
COnmsarys DtpTtments) occupied the left Of the
road, in front of skirt of wood, and though they
were not bsought into action they displayed great cool
ness and gnlsn.ry. ~ ..st1y I
'The Yankee cas- tiCs vera 10 killed and so sound.
ed. They left upon the field dead horses 100 olbnes
and is sAbres"
The report is brief aud modest bu; Il tels tAe story
we'll ItconTeys lesson TO the Vaneals, and tets an
s1 mple Of homs de.ercs 10 the whole Oonfederacy
When We remember the night, the rain Aad seet the
clerks, cid and young, 70: the first time in tssr lives
under fire. and covering the IetrSa of battalion which
had been surprised aud thrown into con fusion-wsen
picture the WhOs scene and see these Of,s clerks,
under macy disadvantages rp1lsing the determined
charges Of tie ca tagAly Of the Yankee service,
cannot repress our admiration and praise Both sdes
Yankees ard COniederates, viii do juJics to such
courage and cOOnees. The story will live in history
But there Il another side to the picture Sergeant
Wedderbufn reports casualties at one killed, SIX
wounded and thirty elk ssiDg. Captain Elery, who
Sss killed, was 4 most efficient civil as well as military
officer, and courteous gentleman. His sG,blit en-
deartd hin to all who came in contact With him =
How mADy 9th, missing captured, has not been
stated.
Several questions ari-e Will any number of Yankees
Fay for tie loss Of such Captain Elery2 Can
We afford TO les, forty three clerks dAyt Hsw long
eau We keep is upS Mast the public business be sus
pended every ZINE the Yankees choose to send few
hundred cavalry against US and all the great work
shops close : Ia word, ought the defence of The
Confederate Capital vita its manifold sr.olal and
material interests to be Let so.ey or even mainly to
clerks AID a,ti=ansS
Is will be said that this Is The 5; that can Be done
Could Ne believe that shouli have not one wsrd TO
say. But Is il tIe bes. that can b. sore? We link
no Tae Confederate Government has as much, or
mOIe at stake than ctz.us here and self
ton ID lbe Ist Law of NATURE Doubtless, matters will
be better managed in the future, and the blood which
has been shed will bavs been shed ia vain Trained
troops, and better system OF defence may be looked
for Nothing can be more encouraging to the enemy
than tie oompa atVey unattended condition in which
they Lave twice iound K c1m md. They taVs been
worse punished this time than any previous OCCASION
bu we owe il to ourselves and the public interests to
make the next raidfOr there VII Co snother-a terri
bic disaster Aud there Is way to do that with ab-o
Lutte certainty.