Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-11-17
Viroinia Correspondence.

Camp Near Germantown, Fairfax, va,
9Th Regiment S. c. ", Sept. I, 1861.
Dear Enquirer: In consequence OF
the indisposition of Our Corporal
who has been absent from the camp
for some two weeks, l offer you and
your readers, a brief and hurried note,
giving you an account of an attack
made by us a few days since. On
Tuesday evening last, Sd instant, about
o'clock, p. m, we received orders to
be ready to march in half an hour. At
the appointed time we were in readi-
ness, and took up the line Of march,
accompanied by the command of Lieut.
Moorhead, whose services were inval-
liable; the whole being under the COM
mand Of our gallant Colonel, NJ. Jen-
kins, and numbering about six hum
dred and seventy-five effective men.
The night was dark and gloomy, so
much so that oftentimes a soldier
could not see even his file-leader, but
by indomitable perseverance, we man
aged to make our way over the rough
hills, through the dark valleys and
narrow defiles which lay in our way.
After having travelled the whole night
in quick time, over distance of twen-
ty miles, with blanket, one days ra-
tions, gun, accoutrements and forty
rounds of cartridges, we found our
selves near the banks of the Potomac
at a point known by the name OF
Great Falls" some twelve or fifteen
miles above Washington; and some
fourteen miles in advance of our ad-
vanced pickets. The sun had just risen
high enough to exhibit the glittering
dew drops as they hung upon the ver-
dant grass, which covered a hill over
looking the Potomac, at a point oppo-
site where the enemy were encamped,
when our battery was ordered to as
cend it, At about u o'clock a. m, our
commander had us in position-plac-
ing the battery upon the hill of which
We have first spoken. Captains Goss
and Walkers companies of Light In
fantry, out as skirmishers, a few hum
dred yards to the right, fronting the
enemy's barracks, and Capts. Seay'
and Seabrooks' about half a mile still
further to the right, fronting a ferry,
while Capts. Carpenter and Jackson,
with one company of cavalry, were
placed about two miles still farther
down, to prevent the crossing of the
enemy over a bridge known here by
the name of Difficult Bridge" The
post was considered quite dangerous
one figuring from what l have seen of
the courage and GOODNESS of these men,
displayed in past engagements / have
no doubt. should the enemy have at
tempted to cross they would have dis
puted their passage as gallantly as did
the brave Spartans that Of XerXes'
hosts at the pass of Thermopylae.
Capt. Foster with the other COM
pany of cavalry, was posted higher up,
to the left of the battery, and Captains
Glenn. Giles and Bower in rear as 4
reserve. At s precisely, the command
surprise of the enemy, Lieutenant
Squires opened his battery upon them,
scattering them in every direction. Af-
ter firing some ten minutes upon what
we believed to be their headquarters,
they hosted upon the building the yell
low hag-sign of the hOspital-when.
though doubling their veracity, our
fire was Immediately changed and di-
duct, which, l believe. supplies the city
with water, and to scattering groups
who were trying to conceal themselves
behind bushes and rocks along the
wide and the country so rough that
we found it impossible to use our in
fantry to much advantage. Two COM
panies, however. Captains Seay and
Seabrook), succeeded in getting to the
waters edge and kept up pretty con-
slant fire with considerable effect-the
former captain, with his long ranger.
killing two of them himself. After hav-
could see them, which was between
three quarters and an hour, killing, as
near as we could judge. some twenty
five or thirty (although l have heard
subsequently,, more). without their re-
turning a single fire, with the eXcep-
tion of few muSket shots that were
fred without effect, by some of their
pickets or advanced sentinels, the
whole command, was ordered back
upon the reserve and. agreeable to or
ders, was Immediately put upon the
march for our encampment, to prevent
the thousands who lay, both above and
below us, from marching across and
cutting us off, which, had they known
our position, they might have easily
done, though | believe we would have
pershed or cut our way through rather