Perry County Advocate

December 25, 1861

Brilliant Fight with the Rebels,

An Engagement at Drainesville

Washington, Dec 20,

This morning, at 6 o’clock, a portion of Gen McCall’s division proceeded in the direction of Drainesville on a foraging expedition, and also, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance in that locality. Drainesville is about midway between general McCall’s headquarters and Leesburg.

On arriving in that vicinity our troops encountered the enemy, who had four regiments of infantry---South Carolinians, Alabamians and Kentuckians---with a battery of six pieces of artillery, and a regiment of cavalry, under the command of General Stewart.

The only troops on our side engaged in the affair were general Ord’s brigade, the First Rifles, and Easton’s battery of four guns.

The enemy were completely routed, and fled precipitously, after a fight of an hour and a half, leaving two caissons and a quantity of small arms, blankets, great coats, etc.,more than our troops could bring away.

After the enemy had retreated, General McCall sent two officers to count the rebels’ killed and wounded, when it was ascertained that they had left on the field fifty-seven killed and twenty two wounded. Three of the latter died on being removed, making their loss sixty killed and nineteen wounded.----a total of seventy nine killed and wounded, and they no doubt carried off many. They also left on the field many horses disabled.

Our men also brought in some prisoners besides the wounded. Our loss as can be ascertained at present is about ten killed and ten wounded.

The expedition returned to their camp at Langley at nine o’clock tonight.

General McCall in his dispatch received at headquarters to night says: “Too much credit cannot be given to General Ord for his gallantry and skill throughout the day. Easton’s battery was admirably served and did good execution. The rifles also behaved finely.”

FURTHER PARTICULARS

Washington, Dec 21---The following is the number killed and wounded in the battle fought at Drainesville yesterday:

The Sixth Regiment had two killed and 13 wounded. The regiment was commanded in this action by Captain Ent.

The Ninth Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Col. Jackson, had 2 killed and 20 wounded. The Major of this regiment had his horse shot under him.

The Bucktail Rifles, Lieut. Col. Kane, who was in command, was wounded in the cheek. Killed—George Cook, company E; Samuel Galbraith, company E; George Raup, company B. Wounded—H.S. Wolfe, company B, severally; John Panel, company B, severly; Captain H.D. Niles, company E, severely; John F. Barnes, company K, severely; James Clenn, company K, severely. Besides these several others were slightly wounded.

The Twelfth Pennsylvania regiment under command of Col. Taggert had only one man wounded.

Colonel Thomas Taylor, commanding the Kentucky rebel Rifles was killed, and his saddle brought away by Col. Easton. Taylor, it will be recollected, occasioned much excitement at the commencement of the war, by unexpectedly appearing at Arlington with a flag of truce, and afterwards brought to headquarters at Washington blind-folded, and subsequently conveyed outside the lines, the object of his mission---an exchange of prisoners---being unaccomplished. The detachment from General McCall’s division, which took part in the battle, did not arrive at Drainesville until about noon and remained there until 2 ½ 0’clock, when the enemy appeared in force, coming from the direction of Centerville. Previous to this general Ord had placed his forces in position to repel an anticipated attack.

The fire was first opened by the rebel battery throwing shot, shell and canister. This was immediately responded to by Easton’s battery with marked effect--- The infantry on both sides soon engaged in the conflict, and at times they were not more than sixty yards apart. After fighting about an hour, a shell from our side exploded the ammunition in one of the rebel’s caissons, making fearful havoc---three of the rebels having their heads completely blown off, and others being horribly mutilated. At this time the rebels wavered and showed a disposition to run, when General Ord gave the command to charge, and at once the rebels precipitately fled. They were pursued for upward of a mile, when general McCall arriving on the ground ordered a recall to be sounded. Our troops then fell back to the position just vacated by the enemy. Twenty-one of the wounded rebels received surgical treatment from dr. Lowman and his assistants, having been taken into a nearby house for that purpose. They would have been brough to General McCall’s camp had the ambulances arrived in the proper time. All of our own killed and wounded were, however, brought away.

A large number of trophies were secured by our troops, such as swords, pistols, and guns.

In the pockets of the dead rebels were found Richmond papers of the 19^th inst, but they contained no items of particular interest. Several letters were found on the bodies of the rebel officers, showing the feeling of intense hostility prevailing in the South. In one of them datet Centerville, December 19^th, addressed to a friend, and but partially finished, it was said that it was impossible for the Federals to remain much longer in their present position, that the effect of the news from England and the pressure of Congress would necessarily compel Gen. McClellan to advance, and that in such an event a victory by the confederates, in their present position, would be certain.

During the stampede of the rebels eight of them were taken prisoners and brought to Washington to-day. They state that they left Centerville very early on Friday morning, in order to obtain forage, and very unexpectedly met with our troops, who had proceeded to the same point on the same business. They also said there was a larger number of killed on the part of the rebels than supposed.

Th---- of the prisoners, who had become bewildered in the retreat came up to one of our regiments, not knowing that they were federal troops, and inquired the direction to Centerville but instead of being taken prisoners, they were shown the way to Washington.

The victory on the part of our troops is considered the more brilliant as they had never before been in action. They have been highly complimented, both bu Major General McClellan and Gen. McCall.

Four companies of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry were also with the brogade, but the condition of the country was such, being thickly wooded, that they could not render service to the extent they desired.

General Ord, while passing through the woods during the action, lost his sword, but was immediately supplied with another, which had been taken from a dead rebel officer.