June 23, 1861
Page 1
A correspondent, under date of Yorktown, Sunday, June 9th, says:
P. S. I open my letter to announce a skirmish that took place yesterday (Saturday) between a detachment of howitzers belonging to Standard’s company, supported by a detachment from Company E, of the North Carolina regiment, and a party of seventy-five Yankees. About 11 o’clock yesterday, Major Randolph was informed at his camp, two miles below the Halfway House, that a party of Yankees were plundering the house of a gentleman named Whiting, about three miles below. He immediately started in pursuit, with one howitzer and a detachment of North Carolina infantry. They soon came upon the rascals, who abandoned their plunder and fled. A shell was fired at them, which did not explode. Major R. started in pursuit, but had not proceeded far before he met a scout who informed him that a party of seventy-five were about three miles below, plundering at large.
Upon receiving this information, he sent back for another howitzer, and a further reinforcement of infantry. When it arrived, he divided this force into two armies, he (Major R.) commanding one and the Lieutenant of infantry the other, each party taking along a gun. They then took two different routes. Major R. missed the rascals, but the other party came up with them.
They stood to their arms and both parties fired. But Yankee pluck could go no further, and the whole body took to their heels, with the exception of one—an Irishman—who was taken prisoner while in the act of ramming down a cartridge, the North Carolina lieutenant in command actually riding up to him, and placing his pistol at his head, before he surrendered. The curses of this man upon his Yankee comrades, for their cowardice, were loud and deep.
The skirmish happened at the bridge over Black River. It had been broken down, and the fugitives had to cross upon planks. In the act of crossing they were subjected to a full volley, which must have done considerable damage, as a preacher who came into Major R’s camp, from Hampton, reports that they have brought in a wagon load of wounded and dead.
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]