Mobile Register

July 11, 1861

Page 1

The Engagement at Falling Waters

[From the Lynchburg Virginian of Saturday]

After the fight between Col. Jackson’s detachment and Patterson’s army at the ford near Williamsport, Gen. Johnston made a forced march to encounter the enemy, and halted his troops to rest at Falling Waters, six miles east of Martinsburg, where he was attacked on Wednesday by Gen. Patterson. The enemy were repulsed three times, and finally driven before our troops into Martinsburg. Gen. Johnston had ordered the citizens to leave town, having posted a strong force upon the heights, and surrounded the enemy with every assurance of a victory on Thursday. The affair at the ford was much more serious for the enemy than was at first reported, their loss in killed and wounded being about three hundred, ours about twelve. This intelligence comes to us through Mr. Jno. G. Meem, of this city, just arrived from Manassas, who had it from a gentleman who left Winchester on Tuesday evening, to which place the report had been sent by an officer of Gen. Johnston’s army. We may hear further particulars to-day, and as our force is said to number 15,000 and the enemy’s 18,000, victory is almost certain to be on our side.

Passengers here by the South Side Railroad yesterday afternoon report that the Governor had been telegraphed to prepare accommodations for four or five hundred prisoners.

The Richmond Dispatch, of Saturday, published the substance of the report which we gave in our issue of the same date, relative to the affair in the neighborhood of Martinsburg. The Dispatch had its information from ex-Gov. Lowe, of Maryland, who was direct from Winchester. We have little doubt, therefore, that Johnston had the enemy cooped up in Martinsburg. We could learn nothing further that was very definite on Saturday evening when we went to press. We saw a letter, however, from Capt. Joseph Holt, to his brother in this city, dated Fairfax Courthouse, which stated that an official dispatch had been received by Gen. Beauregard, informing him that in the affair between Gen. Jackson and the advance guard of the enemy, numbering 4,000, about 500 of the latter were killed, and 100 taken prisoners, whilst Jackson’s loss was but twenty-five, and his whole force engaged but 2,000. We give this statement precisely as we have received it.

--Virginian, of Monday--

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]