Hillsborough (NC) Recorder

July 24, 1861

Page 3

 

            THE BATTLE AT RICH MOUNTAIN—The Lynchburg Virginian publishes the following extract from an officer in the Lee Battery, engaged in the battle at Rich Mountain, to his father in that place, dated Monterey: they fell back in confusion, but their overwhelming numbers pressed forward until they discharged their pieces in our very faces: then we thought retreat better than a fool hardy death, and each one sought safety in flight down the other side of the mountain.

            The whole force of the enemy was said to have been eight thousand.  Three thousand advanced to the attack while the rest were held in reserve.  Our whole force in the engagement was about two hundred and fifty.  We held the enemy in check with this little handful for an hour and a half.  Leonidas with his three hundred Spartans could have done no more.  Our loss was, considering all the circumstances, comparatively small; sixty will cover the whole.  The Buckingham Lee Guard suffered most severely, having thirty men, together with Capt. Irving and Lieutenant Boyd killed.  Capt. Curry, of the Rockbridge Guard, and Capt. Anderson of the Lynchburg Artillery, were also among the killed.  Four hundred of the enemy found a merited doom in death.

            At sunset report says that Col. P. led six companies out from his camp up Rich mountain to retake his position, but mistaking his way he missed his mark, and told his men to save themselves as best they could; he would return and bring out the regiment.  In this latter attempt he was taken prisoner.  Many of his men cut through the enemy and came up with our regiment on its retreat.  This is the last we know of the affair.

 

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]