The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-11-22
South Carolina first in the Field
and last Out--An UnrcCOrded
Rattle.

II
Battle.
During the closing scenes Of the late
war, many gallant and stirring events oc.
CURED which, amid the confusion and ex-
elements of the hour, were suffered to
pass unnoticcd alike by the Southern and
Northern press. One ct these took place
on our own borders, and was participated
in by some Of the sons of the Palmetto
State. AS chronicer of events it is our
duty, although at a late day to record the
Battle of Asheville. Brief mention of it
was made, we believe, at the time in the
columns Of one Of our Grecnvi!le cotcmr0.
raries.
Some tine after the surrender Of Gen
eral Lee, and while Stoncmans command
was east OF the Blue Ridge, force of from
1,500 to 1000 Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
Infantry, was sent from East Tennessee up
the French Broad, probably with view
to meet Stoneman's command on its re.
turn.
Col. j. b. Palmer. commanding the
"Mountain District of North Carolina"
had Withdrawn the greater portion of the
few troops ut his disposal from the Ten
nesscc line, anu stationed them adjacent
to the Blue Ridge, with u determination
to resist the passage OF Stoncuan.
A portion of "Palmer's Brigade" occu,
pied Asheville. The garrison consisting
OF dctachments of the cd and 9th North
Carolina regiments, under that gallant
West Pointer Col. q. w. Clayton, the dis
mounted portion Of the Goth North Caro-
lima regiment, Lieut.. Col. j. l.. Henry,
t.,,,-
Erwin, and the McBcth Light Artillery,
OF which that model officer, B. y. Jeter
of Union, in this State, was captain. Capt
Jeter being absent on sick leave, lst LIT +,
S. w. Porter of Union, was in temporary
command OF the battery, the aggregate OF
the garrison being about 300 men.
The scouts in advance having reported
the arrival of the enemy ut Warm Springs,
dispositions were made To give them as
warm reception as the force under Col
Palmer's command would permit. That
night the enemy encamped at Marshall,
aud tho next day, by one o'clock u. NJ,
reached the vicinity of Ashevil.e. Here,
as had been intended by our forces, the
action commenced.
Jeter's battery was promptly placed in
w. Porter. Lieut.. Bunce, OF Uuion, i'll
this State, applied for permission to arm
20 Of the AlcBeth Light Artillery as sharp
shooters, which was accorded, aud no Crl-
mean Iouaves were ever more energetic
and dashing, than these Palmetto boys
Nothing but disciI line p-evcn ed them
from impulsivcy charging the enemy with
out orders. Col Clayton with Il portion
of the cd North Carolina, and about ~
men of the 10Th North Carolina under
Captain League, which latter arrived after
the action commenced, was sent ty Col.
Palmer to take possession of ridge on the
right. The detachment of the 9th North
Carolina, Captain Nj iris, commanding,
and the McBeth Light Artillery, occupy
ing tic centre and left under the personal
command OF Col. Palmer. The action
then commenced, continued all the after
noon, the enemy being driven back one
and half miles. At 10 o'clock l.. Nj. .,
the pickets of the Fcderas were driven in,
and they commenced rapid retreat, du
ring the prevalence of most fearful storm
OF wind and rain, and at daylight next
morning, were at Marshal, 20 miles dis
tabt to which place they were followed by
Col. Palmer, and beyond that, aud into
East Tennessee, by detachment of caval-
ry, with which as volunteers, were the
gallant Col. Lee Of Ashcvile foster parent
Of LIT. Gen. S. ID. Lee and Captain Nelson
of Spartanburg, in this State. The unfor.
tunate necessity for keeping troops near
the Blue Ridge to oppose Stoneman' S
command, alone prevented the utter ami
hiIation of the enemy.
Another brave officer, Gen. Robert
Vance, though paroled prisoner, and
therefore unable to participate, could not
resist getting under fire, and watching
passively, the progress of events.
This was, probably, the last Confeder-
ate victory of the war, and, as such, We
take pleasure in chronicling it--pecular
pleasure in noticing the fact that some OF
our own sons were SO prominently and
gallantly engaged. Wo are assured that