Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-03-07

order to perpetuate the memory of the
gallant deeds of the officers and men
engaged.
Marker Number Twenty. Three.
Col. TURNER AsHBY's BRILLIANT Elk.
PLoIT AT BoLIYAR HEIGHTS.
The following is report by Col.
Turner Ashby Of the fight Of the 16th
of October 1851 with Federale on Boil
var Heightsf ~,
CAMP EVANS. HALLFowH. VA. OeF.
II, 1851.
My DEAR SIR;
/ herewith submit the result Of an
engagement had with the enemy on the
10th at Bolivar Hill The enemy occu-
cupying that position for several days.
had been committing depredations in
the vicinity of the camp. Having At
my disposal three hundred militia arR-
ed with flint lock- muakets and two COM
panies Of cavalry. Turner's and Ma
sons Of Cloonel McDonald's regiment.
wrote to Genl, EyaAs to cooperate
with me, taking position ON Loudoun
Heights and thereby prevent reenforce-
ments from below. and at the same
time to drive them out Of the Ferry
where they were under cover Of tho
buildings. On the evening Of the 18th
I was reinforced by two companies Of
Colonel Donald 4 regiment Captain
Wing6eld)s fully armed with minie
rifles and mounted Gaptaa iliars
about 80 men mounted. the balance on
foot and with flint LOCK guns. had
one rifisd four-pound gun and one a.
pound gun badly mounted which broke
an axle in Bolivar, and / had to spike
it. Nv force on the morning of the
attack consisted of 900 militia, part of
two regiments commanded by Colonel
Albert of Shenandoah and Major Finrer
of Page. / had $50 of Colonel McDon..
AIDS cavalry Captain Henderson's
menl under command of Lieut.. Glenn,
Captain Baylor's mounted militia, Capt.
Hess about Is men.
The rifled gun was under command
of Captain Averitt, the M-pound gun
under command Of Captain Canfeld.. |
made the attack In three divisions and
drove the enemy from their breast
works without the loss Of q man, and
took position upon the hill. driving the
enemy as far as lower Bolivar. The
large gun broke down and this materi-
ally effected the result. The detach-
ment from the large gun was trans
ferred to the rified piece, and Captain
Averitt was sent to Loudoun Heights
with message to Colonel Griffin. The
enemy now formed and charged with
shouts and yells, which the militia met
like veterans. At this moment Iordef-
ed a charge of cavalry, which was
handsomely done, Captain Turner'S in
the lead. In this charge five Of the en-.
envy were killed. After holding this
position for four hours the enemy were
REINFORCED by infantry and artillery,
and we fell back in order to deposition
their pickets occupied in the morning.
The position Colonel Griffin held upon
Loudoun Heights was such as to De of
very little assistance tous, being 90 ele-
waited as to prevent them from ccntroll-
ing the crossing. Ny mAiip force is at
Camp Eyans while ! hold all Of the in
termediate ground. The enemy left
the ferry last night and encamped on
the frat plateau on Maryland Heights.
Ny loss was one killed and nine wounds
cd. Report from the ferry states the
less Of the enemy "a Is killed and .
number wounded. We have two YAM
kee prisoners and eight Union men CO.
operating with them. We took large
number Of blankets, overcoats. and
about dozen guns. | cannot compi-
ment my officers too highly for their
gallant bearing during the whole fight.
considering the bad arms with which
they were supplied and their inexperi-
ence.
] cannot impreas too forcibly the ne
cesaitY Of the perfect organization Of
my artillery and the forwarding st :
very early day Of the other gums prone
iaed. These guns are drawn BY horses
obtained for the occasion. and are
worked by volunteers. We are in want