Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-06-15
.17TH RFaIMENT s. @. v.
SoUrH SIDE, june Sd, 1864

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changed our position three times since we
came here, and. we are now on the right
wing, next the Appomattox river. We had
quietstims until the LIST instant, when our
truce was broken up bya heavy, cannona-
ding from our batteries, responded to by
those of the enemy. On the night Of the
day mentioned, the enemy ceased to reply
to our eannonade, and we rather suspected
that most of their force had been sent to
Grant, SO at day light on the morning of the
2rd, our entire picket line in front, was Or
dered forward, to charge the enemy's works,
occupy and hold them, if possible. At a
given signal, oar advance took place, and
very soon, on our extreme left, the rapid
firing of musketry told us our line had
struck the enemy in that direction. We
still moved forward, not yet meeting the
enemy but the firing gradually neared US,
until the left Of our regiment was engaged,
it metthe euemy,s pinket's, and after aaharp
and rapid fight they were driven in, With a
loss of 5 killed and two prisoners. Our
loss, two men severely wounded, as follows:
in Co. K, Capt: Crawford, Black Davidson
10 j
and j. A. Lockhart, none killed. In the
meantime, the piekets of our regiment ma.
king very extended line, and having to
pass through densely covered swamp, be.
came separated, and the works ofthe enemy
bending OF towards the river, in our front,
the right, with which was your correspon-
dent, passed beyond the line of works in
front, and to distance Of some 1a.miles
from our own works; finding that our left
was uncovered, we changed our front and
sent courier for orders: who returned with
an order to fall back, as our left had already
returned to the rife pits We returned in
good order, with the right wing. .unhurt.-
Our advance had accomplished the design
in one particular, in ascertaining the posi-
tion-of the enemy's works, although fortu.
nate in not striking the enemy. Our entire
line was under command of Capt. J. T.
Steele; the piokets of the regiment, under
Capt Vim. Dunovant.
The operations Of the troops upon our left
was of more sanguiuary character. The
22d s. G. Y, led by their Colonel, charged
the works Of the enemy, capturing some 60
prisoners; but were repulsed from the enc.
my's main works, with some loss. Among
the killed was their brave leader, O. NJ.
Dantzler, whose body has just been sent
into our lines this morning. He was brave
perhaps almost to rashness. I learn he used
a gun, and BY example urged his men for.
ward, leading apd firing as hewent, almost
within the shadow of their huge fortifca-
sions. His regiment will sadly miss him.
The whole number of killed, wounded and
missing in the 22d S. G. v, I learn is only
about Is. Stillto the left of that brigade,
the contest &axed warmer, Ransom's North
Carolinians, Wiso's Virgiuians, and John
sons Tennesseeans, occupied the rife pits
of the enemy's pickets, capturing in all
some two to four hundred prisoners, and in
hicting heavy loss upon the enemy. I can
learn nothing definite, this morning, as to
our casualties in those brigades. Rumors
are as rife along z line Of battle, .as in
crowded city, and many of them entirely
unworthy of credence. During last night,
although the rain was pelting down on our
uncovered heads, the din of battle was heard
on our left. Commencing slowly at first, it
would increase, until the mind can conceive
Of nothing as comparison, except fire
raging in dozen cane brakes, when dry,
and stiff breeze stirring. can assure
you there is nothing romantic in the sound
of it, to man who has made the bottom of
ditch his bed, for fifteen nights. though
to the Yankee bugler, who stood insidethe
ramparts ofhis fort and sounded the charge
which was taken up by a drummer along
the line, it may have been. Our boys al
most understand their signals. In their
night attacks, an artillery bugle, generally,
is frat heard, then some later, drum, and
then comes the "tug Of war" Ihaee re-
ceiyed no correct account Of the result OF
the firing last night, but rumor says they
assaulted our lines four times and were re-
pulsed. One thing know, we still hold
our lines and portion Of the Yankee line
captured on yesterday. Our. men ore begin
ming to feel the priVatiOns to which they are
exposed; good many are sick, but many
are coming in daily, which keeps us up to
considerable extent. Our men have labored
hard here. Itwould appear almost incred-
ihIa If co,,ld desoriha the amount of work