The Camden daily journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-10-15
Tlle Balale of Of saIsvil.e.


The Battle of saitEtlse.
The Abingdon R1irginiass .of Friday, con-
tains the following particulars of the battle at
Saltyille:
The enemy reached the vicinity of the Salt
Works on Sunday morning, between 0 and 10
o'clock, when the fight commenced near the
residence of MFR. Saunders, commonly kiowl as
Gov. Saundele. Prisoners captured concur in
the statement that Burhridge had three full brig;
AIDES, including one negro regiment. in all about
1000 men, about $500 Of whom were in the
fight. The number engaged on our side did
not probably exceed 1000. As mas been the
Yankee custom, the negroes were put in front,
and were held to their places as long as it was
possible to do so BY the hayonets of their breth-
rem with whittier skins, but blaekcr hearts. The
reserve and detail ,battalions were under the
command of Colonels Robert Preston, of Mont
gomery, Smith, of Tazewelf, and James l. Pres:
ton, of Washington. The whole under the
command of Gem a. E. Jackson. Gen. Gil
mer's men had disputed Burbridge's advance
for several days, and added new aurcls to an
already enviable reputation. Men never fought
with more bravery and determination, as Gid
also the command Of Gen. Williams, the lat
ter having came in after the fight had coih-
menced, but before it had grown hot and fu-
rious. But all concur, both officers and men,
in the need of praise to the reserves and detail
ed men, who had been hastily drawn together
for the occasion. Ali the Generals say they
fought with all the GOODNESS, self, possession and
bravery of regulars, and it was mainly to their
gallantry and GOODNESS that the victory was so
complete This shows that the blood of Kings
Mountain still flows in the veins of the yeoman-
ry of Southwestern Virginia.
Gen. Breckinridgc reached the field about
the close Of the fight, and Gen. Vaughn, with
his own, as well as Gen. Dukes and Gen. Crcs-
by's brigadcs, reached just in time to hearthe
shout OF victory and to engage in the pursuit Of
the flying Yankees. Gen. Vaughn had beea
hastily ordered from Tennessee, where lie had
been fighting and driving back the enemy un-
der Gillem for several days, and only succeeded,
after forced march, in reaching the scene of
action after tie battle had been fought. Had
he remained in Tennessee, Gillem's forces
would have been gobbled up before this time,
and as his face is again in that direction, we
will be disappointed if he does not do so before
many days.
Our loss in the engagement is variously esti-
mated, but the nearest We can get at the truth
is about twenty killed and about sixty wounded
The loss ofthe enemy is estimated at from four
to six hundred in killed and wounded, and
some forty or fifty prisoners.
Burbridge was greatly deceived, as he ex..
pected to take the works without much difficulty
He didn't expect to encounter any but force
Of some four or FIVE hundred reserves, and also
expected the cooperation of Gillem from Ten
nessee, but Yaughnhad @scotched the snake !"
After be found hilrselfwhipped, he asked Mr.,
Saunders what troops those were who fought
so desperately, and, on being etold that they
were the reserves and detailed men, he swore
be didn't believe it. Col Hanson is somewhat
skeptical on the subject
The men fought like veterans and were high
ly complimented BY the General commanding.
The odinm hithsESp attached to reserves aud
detail forces is removed now, since all have
acted so gallantly, and as one of the Yankee.
wounded remarked in the hospital, "if your mi
litia fight SO well and stand so staunchly, do
not want to meet your regulars" This is COM
pliuent enough for our brave men who acted
10 nobly.