Charleston, Oct. 23. The enemy advanced yesterday morning in two columns, against Coosawhatchie, and the other against Pocotaligo. He was repulsed from Pocotaligo by our forces. At Coosawhatchie he succeeded in gaining the railroad, but before he could do it much damage, our troops came up and drove him off. The railroad and telegraph wires are now repaired and are in working order. The enemy’s gunboats are anchored below Coosawhatchie.
Oct. 24. The affair at Pocotaligo resulted in a complete victory for us. Our loss 15 killed and 40 wounded. The enemy left 40 dead on the battlefield. His total loss, confirmed by accounts of prisoners, is not less than 200 killed and wounded. We took 80 small arms. The enemy’s force consisted of six regiments with one field battery and two boat howitzers.
The Athens Post, Athens, TN, October 31, 1862
Note:
As dusk descended, Brannan (the Union commander) realized that the railroad bridge could not be reached, and ordered a retreat up the Mackay’s Point road to the safety of the flotilla. The Confederate Rutledge Mounted Rifles and Kirk’s Partisan Rangers pursued, but the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment Union rearguard held them off. Brannan’s troops reembarked at Mackay’s Point the next morning and returned to Hilton Head.
Thanks – that is a helpful “note” – I have not found a lot of details about the role of the Rutledge Mounted Riflemen in this battle. Where did you glean the information shown in the blue box above?
I’ll need to go find my citation, but it was noted in an article about the expedition. I’ll be looking for more info on the Riflemen for you!