Mobile Register
July 7, 1861
Page 1
Affairs
in Virginia
From
the Richmond (Va.) Dispatch, of June 27, we clip the
following:
Fight in Lancaster
County—We are indebted to Addison
Hall, Esq., of Lancaster County,
Va., for the following statement:
To
the Editors of the Dispatch:
I will give you a
hasty but very nearly correct account of an encounter with the enemy at the
residence of James W. Gresham, Esq., on yesterday, June 24th. I am now at the house of Mr. Gresham, and
from him and others gather the following facts:
At about the hour of 4 o’clock P. M., the steamer called the Star passed
up the Rappahannock river as far as Towle’s Point below Urbanna, and returning
immediately, stopped opposite Mr. Gresham’s, and within about six hundred yards
of the house. A large boat armed with
two swivels, and a small row boat, containing together about fifty men, put off
for the shore, and the men landed. Some
ten or twelve men, armed with muskets and side arms, came up the bank to the
house, professing to be in pursuit of ____ which Mr. Gresham informed them they
could not get from him. Whilst in the
house, the company of Capt. Isaac Currell, at the time under the command of
Adjutant H. S. Hathaway, having had notice, made their appearance and commenced
a warm fire upon the men as they rapidly retreated to the barge, wading up to
the waist in water, which fire was continued with some ten or fifteen rounds
until the barge reached the steamer.
What execution was
done is not known, but it is very evident that a number were killed. As soon as the barge left the shore the
steamer commenced a heavy fire of cannon and bombs upon the men and the
dwelling house, which fire was kept up for an hour, and the house of Mr. G.
struck with 17 balls, weighing from two to 36 lbs., and also by several
bombshells. Eighty shots were counted,
and although the shells burst all around the men, not one was killed or
wounded. And, what is more remarkable
and Providential, none of Mr. Gresham’s family were touched though all remained
in the house most of the time. Mr. G.’s
mother, an old lady of over eighty years of age, was in her bed, and whilst
lying there a ball passed over her head through the house within four inches of
her head, another passed under her bed, tearing the mattress upon which she lay
very much without injuring her. She was
then removed to the kitchen, and soon after a bombshell or ball entered the
room and tore up the brick floor within three feet of her, and yet she remained
unhurt. The very large and handsome
house of Mr. G. is literally riddled, and some of the furniture destroyed. I write from his parlor, which is much torn
to pieces. Too much credit cannot be
given to the officers and men of Capt. Currell’s company for their cool bravery
on the occasion. The small boat was
taken with several guns, swords, etc. –ADDISON HALL—
Another Skirmish—The Staunton Spectator of the 25th
ult. Says:
We have learned from a reliable gentleman of this place,
who returned a few days ago since from our camp at Laurel Hill, this side of
Phillippi, that on Tuesday night last, one of our scouting parties, numbering
26, met a scouting party of the enemy, numbering about 50, within less than two
miles of our camp at Laurel Hill. Both
parties fired, and both retreated. None
of our men were hurt. A lady being in
that neighborhood wrote to a friend in Huttonsville that the enemy buried eight
the next morning.
Our party retreated because they supposed from what they
had learned previously that the scouting party of the enemy consisted of about
three hundred.
Arrival of Georgia
Troops—The Ninth Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, embracing nine companies
and nine hundred men, arrived yesterday, and were mustered into the service of
the Confederate States on the Capitol Square.
Previous thereto the men were reviewed by Gov. Letcher. The Regiments composed of very fine
material. Some of the men have extraordinary
longitude. All of them seemed hearty,
healthy and strong, and capable of doing their part towards expelling the
invaders of Southern soil. The Regiment
is to be joined by another company now on its way here, as was understood by
inquiries made of some of the men.
President Davis appoints the Colonel and other staff officers, and the
choice being confided to him, no doubt the “Ninth” will go into the field under
competent leaders. It is conceded by Lincoln’s soldiers that
those of the Confederate States are more ably led than they are. The Ninth Georgia Regiment brought a drum
corps with it.
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]
