The Greensborough Patriot
July 17, 1862
Page 1
Battle of Tuesday, 1st July, 1862.
The
Richmond Dispatch gives the following account of the terrible battle on the Williamsburg road, on
Tuesday the 1st inst. It will
be seen that Gen. Ransom’s brigade covered themselves with glory, they having
made a most desperate charge in the face of a battery supported by five
brigades of the enemy:
TUESDAY’S
OPERATIONS.
During
the forenoon of Tuesday there were no regular engagement, but much desultory
firing along the whole extent of retracting and advancing lines. In the afternoon, about 2 ½ o’clock, a brisk
fight was commenced on the right and left wing of our army. Jackson’s
corps, then situated convenient to Dr. Poindexter’s farm on the Williamsburg road, and directly opposite Turkey Island
creek. The character of the country here
is slightly undulating, the intervening ground between the belligerent parties
consisting of open, cultivated fields, whilst the extremes are dense woods of
heavy timber and thick undergrowth. From
the situation occupied by our troops, the enemy was discovered in large force
deploying their troops, and placing their artillery in position. Bodies of skirmisher were thrown out from our
column with a view to test the disposition of the enemy. This required but a short time to accomplish,
as a brisk fire _____ opened upon them.
Our artillery then opened fire upon the batteries of the enemy which had
the effect to produce _____ “artillery duel,” lasting for one hour and a half,
both parties serving their _____ with decided skill and alacrity.
Heavy
bodies of infantry were advanced to the support of our artillery, and a general
fight opened, which resulted in the repulse and temporary withdrawal of the
enemy; but, ultimately rallying and bringing to their aid a battery on their
right, they opened a fierce oblique fire on the left flank of our forces, then
in action. This fire, which was
excessively severe, was continued without intermission, and responded to with
spirit by our own artillery until 6 o’clock, p.m.
An
intermission of some half hour then occurred, during which time, according to
the representation of prisoners subsequently captured, the enemy at this point
were heavily reinforced, when the fight was again renewed, our center and right
of line becoming engaged. For three
successive hours there was kept up one unbroken roar of artillery and musketry,
which for its fierce intensity, exceeded anything that has occurred in the
whole series of bloody battles around Richmond. The very earth trembled beneath the deafening
and incessant peals. Notwithstanding the
fatigues and well-nigh exhausted condition of our men, from their almost
superhuman labors of the previous six days, they entered this fight with an
ardor and readiness, p____ly indicating their unchangeable determination to
conquer or die. About 9 ½ or 10 o’clock,
our artillery ceased firing, having effectually silenced the batteries of the
enemy. This, however, it is due to say, was
the only perceptible advantage gained by this wing of the army in the
afternoon’s operations. The loss
sustained by both contending parties was heavy.
How many on either side it is impossible to state, or even give an
approximate estimate.
While
these operations were going on on the left wing of our army, a scarcely less
severe fight was progressing on the right, where the division of Gen. Huger was
engaged. The brigades of Mahone and
Armstead had been exerting themselves against a largely overwhelming force of
the enemy, but being compelled to fall back in order to rest their men, Gen.
Ransom’s brigade was ordered forward. It
consisted of five regiments, viz: 24th, Col. Clark; 25th,
Col. Rutledge; 26th, Col. Vance; 35th, Col. Ransom; and
49th, Col. Ramsuer, all North
Carolina troops.
They were ordered to charge two heavy batteries; that were supported by
not less than five Federal brigades, and all the while they were marching up to
make the charge were under three fires.
They did not falter, however, but went forward into the very teeth of
the enemy without the slightest indication of hesitation. It was, beyond question, one of the hardest
fights, and one of the most desperate charges that has been made during the
whole war. This one brigade engaged the
main body of the enemy’s army at this point, and when compelled to withdraw did
so in the most perfect order, and with the most undaunted spirit. Gen. Ransom fearlessly and intrepidly led his
brigade on horseback, and was, during the whole continuance of the fight
exposed to the leaden hail of the enemy.
Col. M. W.
Ransom, of the 35th regiment, was wounded in the early part of the
fight by a Minnie ball in the arm, but remained at the head of his regiment,
rallying and cheering his men till struck by a piece of shell in the side and
prostrated. Lieut. Col. Pettiway then
took command of the regiment but was most immediately killed. Col. Ramseur, of 49th,
was wounded and the casualties are very large throughout the entire
brigade. But we held our ground, and
General Ransom and his men slept upon the field they had formerly occupied, and
but for the pelting rain would have renewed the fight yesterday morning.
There
were, doubtless other divistions and brigades engaged at different points along
the line, who acquitted themselves with the same heroic and determined courage
as that of the gallant Ransom; but being unapprised of their particular
participation in this grand struggle for the defence of liberty, we are now
prepared to notice them specially.
