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June 26, 1861

Page 1

 

            THE AFFAIR AT GORDONSVILLE—The Richmond Dispatch of the 22nd has the following account.  The cowardly panic of the enemy may be understood from the fact that they were in such a hurry to run away that they spiked their loaded cannon without waiting to discharge one round at their assailants.

            Col. A. P. Hill, commanding the Brigade, whose headquarters are at Camp Davis, Romney, ordered on the night of the 18th Col. J. C. Vaughn, of the third Tennessee Regiment, to proceed to the line of the enemy at New Creek Depot, eighteen miles west of Cumberland, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with two companies of the 18th Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, commanded by Captains Crittenden and White, and two companies of the 3rd Tennessee Regiment, commanded by Captains Dillard and Mathis, to disperse the Federal forces there collected.

            The march of 33 miles was made between 8 P. M. and 12 M. the next day.  The enemy was found posted in some strength, with two pieces of artillery, but had no pickets out.  At 5 o’clock A. M. on the morning of the 19th, after reconnoitering, the order to charge was given by Col. Vaughn, and was gallantly executed in good order, but with great enthusiasm.  As our forces appeared in sight, at a distance of 400 yards, the enemy broke and fled in all directions, firing a few random shots as they ran, one of which entered the arm of Private Smith, of Capt. Dillard’s company, which was in advance, wounding him slightly.

            The enemy did not wait to fire their artillery, which Col. Vaughn’s command captured, finding them still loaded, but spiked.

            Col. Vaughn states, in his official report, that his men were all eagerness to engage the enemy when the order to charge was given, and rushed forward with the utmost enthusiasm, wading the river to their waists.  The enemy’s loss was not known, but several were seen to fall.  No prisoners were taken, owing to the start the enemy had, and Col. V. having left in the rear all the horses belonging to his command.

            The portion occupied by the Federal troops was on the North bank of the Potomac, at the 81st bridge, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

            Col. Vaughn burned the bridge before returning to Romney, taking with him the two guns and stand of colors.

 

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]

 

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