Southern
Watchman – 30 April 1862
“The Third Georgia at South Mills”
We are indebted to a friend for the
following extract of a letter from an officer of the Athens Guards, giving an
account of the late fight at South Mills:
Bank of the
Dismal Swamp Canal, N.C.
April 21st,
1862
Just after
sunrise on Saturday morning last, the men who had not awaked were aroused by
the keen report of cannons. This was continued for 20 or 30 minutes, when the
companies in advance of us passed by the church at which we were stationed, and
we received orders to fall back with them 4 miles to an entrenchment. Halting
them for a moment, Col. Wright sent an order from South Mills to fall back
there instantly, that was 5 miles farther. We had insufficient transportation
even for our sick, and had to lug our baggage or lose it.
We were ordered,
with the Young Guards, to remain at a bridge, under command of Col. Lee, and
burn it, and thus protect the approach from E. City, while the balance of our
forces were to engage the enemy then advancing up the other side of the river
from Camden C. H. The firing soon commenced and we could hear it distinctly.
You cannot imagine the impatience our boys felt to leave their posts and pitch
in, for there was no appearance of an enemy where we were. But we had positive
orders, and therefore dare not leave.
After several
hours artillery fighting, and about one hour musket firing the noise suddenly
ceased. Just as the sound died away, a shout ensued, and all noise died away.
Then it was that we were ordered to join the other companies. We met the
falling back in good order, but the Yankees did not follow. We took a stand
while the other companies fell back still to the rear, and seeing a detachment
of Capt. Hendon’s company out skirmishing in front of us, we mistook them for
Yankees, and Major Lee ordered the cannon which we had kept with our two
companies, to open upon them. Our boys were so anxious to shoot that they also
fired upon them with their Enfields, and we had almost destroyed
them before they could get out of the way. We did not, however, (thank God)
hurt any of them. But this firing and the sight of our two companies strewn out
as we were when we brought up our reinforcements together with the tremendous
resistance our men had made in the fight, determined the Yankees to fall back
also; this they did at night, but knowing they had five thousand men and could
be largely reinforced before day, and not knowing they had any idea of retreating,
Colonel Wright called a counsel of war, and finding that we had less than one
thousand men, and but little more ammunition, none for one of our cannon, the
counsel desired him to fall back to a safer place and await reinforcements in
as much as our position could there be turned with ease by so large a force as
the Yankees had.
We fell back
several miles that night and received a force yesterday so large as to make us
eager to return to the contest. But just as we were about to move forward, a
dispatch was received by flag of truce from the Yankees, asking permission to
bury their dead, &c. – We do not
know certainly how many Yankees were killed. But it is thought by those who
were in the fight that at least 500 were made to “bite the dust.” I suspect this
is a large estimate, but our men did certainly fight like devils. We lost only
about 10 or 12 killed and as many more wounded. Lieut. Wilson, from Bairdstown,
was wounded and taken prisoner; a Mr. Jernigan, who refused to leave him, was
also taken. Doc Elder, of Capt. Hendon’s company, was, we fear, taken prisoner.
He has not come it. None of his men killed, unless Elder was. All Capt. Billup’
boys are safe, of course, as none of them were engaged but Buck Vincent. He
fought with Capt. Hendon’s men. Capt. Beall and Capt. Griffin’s men were not in
the fight, but in reserve. We did not have more than three hundred men in the
fight, besides Capt. Comas’ Artillery company. We had three pieces of artillery
and the Yankees three. Capt. Comas was
killed. I have lost all my clothes. Many of our boys had to throw away
knapsacks in the rapid march; but we are all eager to meet the Yankees in
anything like equal combat. Gen. Blanchard, Col. Wright, and a thousand troops
have gone to the battle field – went last night. Major Lee and the balance of
the forces are awaiting here above South Mills for orders.
After the
foregoing was received, and too late for this issue, two letters from the
“Clarke County Rifles” were received. This company not only participated but
bore a distinguished part in the engagement. We regret that we have no room for
these letters. The following extract from the Captain’s letter gives a list of
the casualties in that company: “Wm. Loving killed; Wm. C. Wright, severely
wounded in the face; James M. Leeroy, slightly wounded in the spine by
concussion; Walden Wise, slightly, in the hand; Wm. C. Nunnally was grazed on
the face; Lieut. Chenshaw had his cap knocked off and his sword bent by a ball
– he took his place in the ditch and fired 27 rounds. Dr. E. Elder is missing.”
We learn by another letter that Mr. Elder is a prisoner in the hands of the
enemy.
There is no
doubt but that our Clarke boys acquitted themselves with great credit.
Southern Watchman – 7 May 1862
“Our Army Correspondence”
South Mills, N. C., April 22, 1862
Friend Christy:
- To relieve the anxiety of our numerous friends, and especially those who have
husbands, sons and brothers in the Clarke Rifles, I send you, for publication,
the following account of the casualties and the part we bore in the late
engagement near this place.
Early in the
morning of the 19th inst., heavy cannonading was heard in the
direction of Elizabeth City, and about 8 o’clock we learned that the enemy had
landed a large force about 12 o’clock the preceding night, and were advancing
on South Mills by the Camden Road, with the evident intention of cutting off
the seven companies of our regiment stationed on the E. City road and avoiding
the entrenchments in that direction. Immediately knapsacks were packed, arms
inspected and everything in waiting for orders to march. About 9 o’clock our
company was ordered to move forward and take position about two miles Southeast
of the Mills, on the Camden road. Being a little nearer, we were the first to
arrive on the ground. I deployed on the left of the road, with a large
plantation in front, surrounded by a ditch 2 feet wide and 1 ½ deep, with a
fence on the inside and a heavy growth of young pines in the rear. The fence
was pulled down and piled up on the bank of the ditch, which afforded a pretty
good protection against musketry. Shortly afterwards, Col. Wright, with two
pieces of Capt. McComas’ Artillery, arrived and took position in the road in
the edge of the field. The Dawson Greys and Home Guards soon came up and were
deployed on the right. Col. Wright, with the eye of a veteran and a true
soldier, immediately made his dispositions for the approaching conflict. Some
houses in the way, on either side of the road, were burned. The ditches
crossing the plantation were filled with rails and fired, to prevent the enemy
from occupying them. The Brown Rifles and Burke Guards, who had been stationed
at the entrenchments, came up and were deployed on our left. Two companies,
under Col. Read, were held as a reserve, and the Athens Guards and Young
Guards, under Maj. Lee, were left to burn Pasquotank bridge and defend the
approach from E. City. The 1st platoon of my company, in command of
Lieut. McRee, were thrown out on the extreme left to act as skirmishers and
prevent our being flanked in that direction. This heroic band, in their
eagerness to find the enemy, which they did, and succeeded in killing and
wounding a number of them, were cut off, and wading almost impenetrable
morasses, finally succeeded in rejoining the company, “all safe.”
Thus arranged,
with only four and a half companies and two pieces of artillery in line of
battle, we calmly awaited the approach of the enemy, 6,000 strong, resolved to
give him battle. We were not long kept in suspense, for soon the head of their
column came in sight, advancing along the road. The ball was opened at the
distance of 500 yards, by one of our guns, which immediately stopped their
advance. They were doubtless surprised to find us there. We lay down, expecting
a shell in reply; and sure enough, here it came, whizzing through the air. This
was the first we ever heard; it passed high over our heads, however, and fell
in the woods far beyond. I passed along the lines to see how our boys took it.
They were laughing and cracking jokes, as though they were going into a game of
town ball. For three hours we lay thus exposed to his fire – the balls singing
over our heads, tearing off the limbs and occasionally exploding near us. Our
Artillery did splendid shooting; the third ball struck immediately in their
front, knocking the dust in their faces, and then went crocheting down their
lines, driving them back and doubtless causing great destruction. One of their
shells bursted exactly where the Artillery was stationed, disabling one gun,
wounding one man and a piece struck a tree through the bark in Capt. McComas’
face. Later in the day he was struck by a Minnie ball, and died instantly. A
braver and cooler man never lived. The Old Dominion may well be proud of such a
son.
While the
cannonading was going on, I walked along the lines where our noble boys were
lying, and wondered to myself how many of that gallant little band would answer
to roll call that night, and involuntarily uttered a prayer that God would turn
aside the enemy’s balls, and spare them for their country, their families and
their friends.
Knowing the
enemy would try to flank us, Lieut. Crenshaw, who had come on the field with an
Enfield rifle, was sent forward into the ditch to watch the movements of the
enemy, and soon reported them advancing along the fence side, on our left. I
looked, and sure enough there they were. One came over the fence – he fired on
him and he fell, and was consequently the first man who fired a musket. The
order was given to advance into the ditch, and with a yell the boys pitched
into it, and then commenced the work in good earnest. The enemy stood our fire
about 10 minutes, and poured into our lines a perfect hail of Minnie balls. I
shouted to them to keep cool, take good aim and throw away no lead; but it was
unnecessary, for never did old and tried veterans fight with more coolness and
deliberation. As they turned to load, I looked in their faces to see how they
stood it – not a man flinched, not a countenance blanched nor a hand trembled.
But they would spring on the bank of the ditch, and shout to each other, “Now
boys, see me flirt him,” and amidst the roar of cannon, the crash of small arms
and the whiz of bullets, you might hear them cheering each other, and laughing
when the balls would knock the splinters and dust in their faces. The 9th
N. Y. Zouaves once attempted to charge our line, and came within 80 to 100 yards
of us; but our fire was too sure, and they flanked off into the woods, leaving
a field officer dead on the field, and nearly one-third of the men killed and
wounded. They were three times repulsed and driven back. Our force actually
engaged was only 368, opposed to 5 regiments, with 1,000 in reserve. With this
immense odds, at least 10 to 1, we held our position 4 ½ hours, in an open
field fight, and never left our position till the Artillery was out of
ammunition, and we were completely flanked on our left, and received a fire in
our rear, and even then retreating in good order. There is no destruction – all
fought gallantly. Col. Wright acted with the utmost coolness, walking along the
lines in the hottest of the fight, cheering the boys, while the balls were
whistling around him thick as hail stones. He was still Col. Wright. We fell
back that night as far as the Mills, feeling unable to hold our position, which
was now a line of at least 5 miles, along which they could flank us at almost
any point, with but one regiment opposed to 6,000, our artillery out of
ammunition, and uncertain when reinforcements would arrive. At 2 o’clock the
next morning we fell back 12 miles further, to prevent them from falling in our
rear, by roads leading from their position.
It appears that
about the same time they left the battle field in great haste, leaving a great
number of their dead and wounded on the battle field. A thousand or twelve
hundred pounds of powder, some two hundred stand of small arms, knapsacks,
blankets, overcoats, canteens, &c.; and in their precipitate retreat,
pressing horses, carts, wagons, tearing up bridges and carrying off with them
about 60 negroes. At daylight next morning the foremost had reached their boats,
14 miles distant, while the balance were scattered along the road.
Could we have
known how badly we had whipped them, or had we a cavalry force to have pursued
them, we could have taken a great many prisoners and munitions of war. Meeting
the 1st Louisiana coming to reinforce us, we returned and reoccupied
our position that evening.
Our loss,
compared to the immense odds and the time we were engaged, was very small – 6
killed, 15 wounded, 10 or 12 missing. Their loss, by the admission of their own
men taken prisoners, is three hundred killed and wounded, including 19
officers. We have captured between 75 and 100 prisoners. They think, and you
cannot make them believe but that they were fighting 7,000 men. I think they
have got such a taste of the 3d Georgia that they will not want to try us agin
soon. While we were rejoicing over our success and the gallant stand we made,
our hearts are saddened by the memory of the gallant boys lost, who were
decently buried this evening with military honors. Peace to their ashes! The
casualties in the company are, Wm. Loving, killed; Wm. C. Wright, severely
wounded in the face; Jas. M. Leeroy, slightly wounded in the spine by
concussion; Walden Wise, slightly in the hand; Wm. C. Nunnally was grazed on the face; Lieut. Crenshaw had his cap
knocked off and his sword bent by a ball – he took his place in the ditch and
fired 27 rounds. Doctor E. Elder is missing. He was sent out before the
engagement, with H. Franks and Jas. Graves, who was reported missing, but has
since come in, on a reconnoitering expedition, and has not been heard of since
the battle. He is either killed or taken prisoner – I think the latter.
Never did men
stand fire better than our boys; and I think I may safely say, our friends at
home need not be ashamed of us. And I will add, as an act of justice to the
whole company, that we were the first upon the ground, first in the ditch, in
the hottest of the fire, and the last to leave it.
Your friend
truly,
J. W. Hendon
Southern Watchman – 7 May 1862
“Our Army Correspondence”
3d Georgia
Regiment,
South Mills,
N.C., April 23d, 1862.
Dear Watchman: - After a
delay of four days, I write you for the purpose of giving your readers as
correct details of the battle fought between 360 Confederates and six regiments
of Yankees, on the 19th inst., as can be ascertained. On Saturday
morning about 9 o’clock, five companies of the Third Georgia Regiment were
ordered to march down the Camden road for the purpose of meeting the enemy, the
remainder being at that time at Elizabeth City. After marching about two miles
and a half from South Mills, we were halted and were ordered to prepare for the
contest which was soon to commence. Our brave and active Colonel Wright soon
arranged things to suit him, and then patiently awaited the advance of the
scoundrels. About 11½ o’clock, A.M., the “stars and stripes” were seen in the
distance, and no sooner seen than they were cut down by our artillery. Our
artillery killed a great many of them with the first four or five shots from
our guns. We confused, surprised, and scattered the enemy. Our boys fought
gallantly for nearly five hours against fearful odds. We not only fought six
regiments with about 300 infantry and three pieces of artillery, but fought New
York Zouaves who had been so exceedingly anxious to fight the “bloody third”
for so long a time. The 9th regiment New York Zouaves attempted to
charge us – did charge about 50 yards – and were repulsed with heavy loss. Our
boys were cool and deliberate and made every cartridge tell in the enemies
ranks. Although our boys had never heard the “music” of so many leaden balls,
yet they were undaunted. I know men never received a charge more bravely and
deliberately than our boys did. Capt. McComas’ artillery boys fought bravely.
The prisoners which we took from the 9th New York, and the wounded
they left on the field, admit they lost 19 officers in the charge – among them
Col. Hawkins, Adjutant Gadsden, and others whose names I could not ascertain.
They acknowledge 40 killed by the second shot from our artillery. The people
along the road say the Yanks pressed a great many wagons into service for the
purpose of hauling off their dead and wounded. They buried many a one in the
woods near the battle field on Saturday night, and left a great many of their
wounded in some old houses near by the road. In giving the casualties on their
side, we can only take their own admissions and the reports of the citizens
along the road, together with the graves and pits found near the fighting
ground. They say they lost a great many – some of them say about 350. The
citizens say they carried off their dead and wounded by the wagons full. They
were burying them all along the road. Many graves and large pits were found on
the field. It is generally believed we killed and wounded between five and six
hundred. Besides the killed and wounded, we have taken about 40 prisoners, and
about 1300 pounds of powder. We took a great many small arms – rifles and
muskets, and disabled two of their pieces of artillery which they buried somewhere
below the field of conflict.
With about 360
men fighting six regiments, well armed and equipped, for nearly five hours, we
only lost six men killed, 20 wounded, and one taken prisoner and two missing.
The companies engaged on our side were the following: “Burke Guards,” “Brown
Rifles,” “Home Guards,” “Clarke County Rifles,” and “Confederate Light Guard.”
Neither of these companies were full – averaged not more than 50 men. Col.
Wright said to Capt. Hendon, “Captain, I must compliment you and your company –
you fought gallantly.” The Clarke County Rifles did fight bravely – men never
fought more desperately. Our brave captain was where the balls came thickest,
and proved himself to be a gallant leader, while our boys showed they were not
afraid of Lincoln’s hordes. All the officers and men of our company, as well as
the other companies, in the language of Gen. Huger, “covered themselves with
glory.”
William Loving
of our company was killed, W.C. Wright was badly wounded in the face, and
LeCroy, Nunnally and Wise were slightly wounded. Dr. E. Elder is missing.
I do not know
the names of the killed and wounded in other companies, except Lieut. Wilson,
of the “Dawson Grays,” who was severely wounded in the leg, and young Deese who
was killed.
We should all
feel profoundly grateful to the God of all blessings for His goodness in
preserving our lives. To him we give all the glory for our safety and success.
We now occupy a position near South Mills, and feel prepared to meet any number
of the scoundrels. I cannot write you more at present. Hoping we may make
Burnside’s next expedition through the Dismal Swamp more disagreeable and
unprofitable than the first, I subscribe myself
Your friend,
Z.F. Crenshaw
P.S. – I have
just heard that Dr. E. Elder was taken prisoner. We have been largely
reinforced, and now feel able to fight any number Lincoln can send to meet us.
Hoping that we may have a chance to meet them again soon, and after my love to
all the friends of your company, I remain,
Yours, &c.
Z.F.C.