Our forces at Saltville have buried one hundred and six white Yankees
and one hundred and fifty negroes, and have eighty-six of their
wounded, as the result of the late fight there. Our own loss is now
officially ascertained to be thirteen killed, one hundred and ten
wounded, and twenty-three prisoners. A letter in the Petersburg
Express, speaking of this battle and the way the reserves behaved,
says:
"The topography of the country in the immediate vicinity of the
battle field is mountainous. It is about one mile from the salt
works, and a part of it can be distinctly seen from the works. Our
reserves, who behaved like veterans, were stationed in a deep valley,
and were charged by the Yankee cavalry from the eastern slope of the
valley, over a clear field. In this charge we lost twenty-one, who
were taken prisoners. The reserves then fell back and occupied the
western slope of the valley, which is thickly covered with briars and
under growth.
"Here the enemy attempted another charge, coming with sabres drawn,
and yelling like wild Indians. Our reserves stood like a wall of
adamant, with cheeks unblanched and hearts unmoved, awaiting the
onset. When the Yankees arrived within full range, the sturdy sons of
Southwestern Virginia, recollecting the gallantry of their
forefathers, and the sacredness of their homes and firesides, poured
volley after volley into the massive columns of the foe, causing him
at first to recoil and ultimately to fall back in great disorder. The
dead bodies of the invaders thickly strewed the ground in all this
vicinity, and the stench is intolerable.
"The battle commenced on Sunday, about 10 A. M., and continued at
intervals until dark. About 10 P. M. it was discovered that the enemy
were retreating, and carrying off such of their wounded as the means
at hand would permit."
The Daily Dispatch: October 13, 1864.
Burbridge's repulse at Saltville.
The Yankees have at last heard from Burbridge. It is about the
mildest description of a bloody repulse we have ever seen. The
telegram is dated at Cincinnati on the 9th instant:
General Burbridge, with two thousand five hundred mounted infantry,
attacked Saltville, in Southwestern Virginia, where some extensive
salt works are located, and carried two redoubts, capturing one
hundred and fifty prisoners, besides a large number of horses, mules,
cattle, &c Our loss was small. Colonel Mason, of the Eleventh
Michigan, was killed, and Colonel Hanson, acting Brigadier-General,
was wounded.
Finding the place strongly fortified and defended by a large force
under Breckinridge and Echols, General Burbridge withdrew during the
night, leaving his wounded. The revels Burbridge passed through
Covington this afternoon, on the way to Lexington.
Arrivals at the [ Libbby. ]
--Since our last issue, ninety odd Yankee prisoners have arrived at
the Libby, including the following officers:
Surgeons L. C. Woodman, Eleventh Michigan; and William H. Gardner,
Thirtieth Kentucky; Atant Surgeons A. H. Hunt, Twelfth Ohio cavalry;
J. T. Harper, Thirteenth Kentucky cavalry, and William J. Crauge,
Eleventh Michigan; Captain J K. Furrow, Eighth Ohio Cavalry; and
First Lieutenant C. D. King, Twenty fifth Kentucky cavalry .
These Prisoners were all captured at Saltville; the surgeons being
left behind by Burbridge to attend to the Yankee wounded in the fight
which took place there a short time since.
One hundred and three have also been received from Danville.
A summary of Burbridge's expedition to the salt Works.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, in a letter from James
river, says:
A number of men (between thirty and forty, I believe,) belonging to
Burbridge's command, captured at Saltville on the 2d instant, were
among the prisoners who arrived to-day by flag of truce from
Richmond. One of them — a gentleman of the Teutonic persuasion — gave
me his opinion on the result of that expedition in a somewhat laconic
style: "We gets not mooch salt dere," said he, "but we gets peppered
like der tuyfel."