The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-18

eminences beyond the creek and on our
right would have greatly strengthened
our position. but u force was too weak
to admit Of the occupation OF more
than one of them. A battery was laid
out on it for one of Randolph's howiCz-
ers. We had only twenty-five spades.
six axes. and three picks, but these
were businly piled all day and night or
the 7th and all day or the sth. On the
afternoon of the Sth I learned that a
marauding party of the enemy vas
within a few miles of us. I called for
q party of thirty-four men to drive
them back. Lieutenant Robert of Com
pany Z of my regiment, re-
sponded, and in five minutes his CON-
mand was en- route.
I detached Major Randolph with one
howitZer to join them, and Lieutenant
Colonel Lee, First regiment North Car
DINA volunteers, requested, and was
granted. permission to take command Of
the whole. After a march of FIVE
miles they came across the marauders
busy over the spoils of a plunde-ed
house. A shell soon put the plunderers
to flight. and they were chased OVER
New Market bridge, where our little
force was halted, in of a
considerable body situated on the other
side.
Lieutenant Colonel Lee brought in one
prisoner. How many Of the enemy
were killed and wounded is not known.
None of our command was hurt. Soon
after Lieutenant Colonel Lee left 2 c.t-
izen came dashing in with the informa-
ton that seventy-five marauders wee
on the Back river road.
L called on Captain McDoweII's COM
pany (E), of the First regiment Of
North Carolina volunteers, and in three
mlnllra it was in hot nr1rc,,;t T.,
tenant West. of the HowitZer battai-
ion, with one piece, was detached 10
join them, and Major Lane, of nv reg
iment , volunteered, dispersed. and
chased the wretches over the New Ma
ket bridge, this being the second race
on the same day over the New Market
course. in both of which the Yankees
reached the goal first. Major Lane
brought in n prisoner. Reliable citi-
ZenS reported that two cart loads and
one buggy load of wounded were taken
into Hampton.
We had no a single man wounded
or killed. Colonel Magruder came ND
that evening and assumed
On Sunday, June 9th, a fresh supply
OF tools enabled US to put more men TO
work, and when not engaged in reli-
glous duties the men worked vigorously
on the entertainments. We were arous-
ed at 3 O'Clock on Monday morning for
a general upon the enemy, and
marched tt. ee and a half miles, when
we learned that the foe, in large force.
was within a few hundred yards of us.
We fell back hastily upon our en-
and awaited the arrival of
our Colonel Stuart
of the Third Virginia regiment, having
come with $50 men, were stationed on
the hill on the extreme right, beyond
the creek, n Company G, OF my regi-
mont Unc o1cn fhrauv, o-yo H. -
to protect he owitzer under Captain
Brown.
Captain Bridges, of Company A, First
North Carolina regiment, took post in
the dense woods beyond and to the left
of the a Major Montague, with
three companies of his battalion, was
ordered up from the real and took post
on our right, being at the church and
extending along the entire front on that
side.
This fine body of men and tne gallant
command of AFOREMENTIONED Stuart
worked with great rapidity, and in ar
hour had constructed temporary shell
tiers against the enemy's fire.
Just at 9 o'clock a. m, the heavy
columns of the enemy were seen ap.
preaching rapidly and in good order.
but when Randolph opened upon them
at 9:15 their organization was complef.
ly broken up. The enemy promptly re-
piled with his artillery, firing briskly but
widely. He made an attempt at deploy
ment on u right of the road under
cover of some houses and paling. He
was, however, very promptly driven
back by our artillery, a Virginia com
pany-the Life Guard-and Companies
B and G of my regiment. The enemy
attempted ne d~epToyment With mus
kerry range during the day, except I'm
der cover Of woods, fence, or paling.
Under cover of trees he moved q
strong olumn to an old ford some
three-quarterS of a mile below, where I
had placed a picket of some forty men.
Colonel Magruder sent Captain Worth's
company, of Montague's command with
one howitzer, under Sergeant Crane, to
drive back this column, which was
done by a single shot from the howitzer
Before this a p~riming-wfre had been
broken in the vent of the howitzer
commanded by Captain Brown, which
rendered it useless.
A force at 1,500 was now
attempting to outflank US and get in
the rear of Lieutenant-Co Colonel Stuart's
small command. He was accordingly
directed to fall back, and the whole. of
our advanced troops We're withdrawn.
At this critical moment I directed Lieu
tenant-Colonel Lee to call Captain
Bridges out of the swamp, and ordered
him to re-occupy the nearest advanced
work, and I ordered Captain Ross, Com
pany c., First regiment, North Carolina
volunteers, to the support Of Lieutenant
Colonel Stuart.
These two captains, with their COM
panies. crossed over to R~andolph's bat
terry under a very heavy fire in a most
gallant manner AS Lieutenant-Colone
Stuart had withdrawn, Captain Ross
was detained at the church, near Ran
dolph's battery. Captain Bridges. how
ever, crossed over and drove the Zou-
ayes out of h advanced howitzer bat
terry and r~eoccupied It.
1t is impossible to overestimate this
service. 1t decided the action in our
favor.
In obedience to orders from Colonel
Magruder. Lieutenant-C Colonel Stuart
marched back. and in spite of the pres
ence of a foe ten times his superior in
number. resumed in the most heroic