The recent battle at Saltville.
--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."
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