The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-25

breastworks and captured the
greater portion of the enemy's
force-Gcneral Hackman and
over eie1t hundred privats.
While this was going on along
our left our centre and left were
also pressing the enemy with
great success. A change had
been made upon his centre: across
the turnpike, by Ger. Hoke, and
he had been driven back from
each of his positions. Here the
enemy had no rcgul;r " l6ftifc;l-
lions, but was well protected by
abattis formed by feeling trees
and other temporary defences.
;,tf" artillery was used against
him with great effect. The wash
ington Artillery, supported by
Uagood's South Carolina brigade,
whoactcd most gallantly through
out, succeeded in silencing a bat
terry Of the cnemy's, consisting
OF three ~ FOUNDER Parrots and
two l2-pounder Napcleors. One
Of the PARROTS was turned upon
the enemy, and contributed tc
putting him to flight.
Up to this time the enemy had
fought well and with great stub
bornncss, but, driven from his
Notifications and pressed on all
sides, he began to fall back
rapidly. Our victory now be-
came easy. Dispiritcd and di*s
comfitcd, the enemy showed but
faint resistance, and the retreat
'*as but Il step removed from a
rout. In charging upon them a
whole regiment threw down their
arms and rushed into our lines.
From a. dozen, sources We
have rcpots Of their dcmoraliza-
ton. On official authority VIZ
learn that several hundreds Of
prisoners captured in the retreat
expressed the greatest alacrity
to come on to Richmond, saying
that their tnne was nearly out
that they were tired Of the war-
and that if they would "only
show them the roadto Richmond,
they would come over without
any guard being placed. over
/ them.
The retreat once began and the
enemy gave way rapidly: Our
army continued to press hlm, and
up to4 clock yesterday we had
driven him two miles and a half
Our forces Kept well onhis heels,
and captured Il good deal Of artiI-
lcry, stores, arms and ammunition
which he had strewn along the
way. Several hundred prisoners
were picked up in squads, and
many Of them were under the
influence of liquor-showing that
Butler like Grant, had piled his
men with whiskcy before going
into tattlc. This is. confrmed
by dozens Of person from the bat
tie field, and admits of no doubt.
1t is impossible to state just
now the fruits Of our victory, but
there is no doubt that our army
won yesterday, under the gallant
Beauregard, a most brilliant sue
cess. The fight was commcnc.
ed yesterday with the enemy
posted in his lortifcations but by
seven o'clock our army had dis
! lodged. him, and before the setting
of the sun he had been rcpulsed
and driven back to Proctor creek,
a distanc of two miles or more.
The number Of prisoners taken is
not yet knowu, but it may be put
down considerably over a thous-
and Il Brigadier General among
the numbcr-and, perhaps later
accounts may swell it to several
thousand. We captured, also a.
great deal Of artillery some say
as much as twenty six pieces
besides Il quantity of stores, am
muniUion, SC. tmay he a day or
two before we can know the eX-
tent of our success, but in the
meantime let US be content with
theassurancc&at our army, un-
der the inFiciblc Bcauregard has
won great victory.
GcncItl Ionustreet was struck by a