Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-24
LETTER FORM MANAssA s-THE YIGHrAr
DRANEsvILLE-MEsSRs.F FAULKNER AND ELY.
MANASSAS. Dec. q, 1861.


-MEsSRs. FAULKNER AND ELY.
MANASSAS, Dec. 81, 1861.
To the Editor Of the Whig;
1t is night yet shall endsavor 70 pen few lines for
your columns relating to the rumors which have been
aHoat here to-day in respect to the serious ekrmhh
which took place on yesterday, between small part OF
our forces and considerable portion of the Yankee ar
my.
certain that Gen. Stuart started very early yes.
terday morning on foraging expedition near Dranes-
vile; his forces are said to have consisted Of some Ala
bamians Virgiuians add Ksutuckians, the aggregate
amounting TO near two thousand men. Rumor has il,
that traitors representd the locality comparatively
abandoned by the Federas and as II was known that
th, region contained considerable quantity Of army
supplies, |. was determined to send on; considerable
party, accompanied by large number Of wagons; but
the Yeierals had unqnestionably expected the az
rival Of the expedition the approach of our troops
the enemy appeared in large force disposed In battle
array.
Having at least three men to of ours, ard With
The advantage Of ground together with thorough pre-
partition 1t Is not to be expected that we should hav'
encountered them without serious loss How long the
fight endured am no. informed, but i: is doubtless true
tia. many Of our gallant men fell in the conflict among
them, Lieut. Col James B. Martin, of the l0:h Ala
bama Regiment, one of Alabsmas nOblsst sons man
distinguished for gea. forensic abilities sterling integ'
rty full of true courage His death is public caami-
IT, and many hearts will be made sad among the thou
slnds that knew him so well.
Col Forney, OF the same regiment has lost an arm;
what other Injury that particular regiment has sustained
am not advised.
In the 18th Virginia Regiment seven are reported
killed and fifteen wounded Our entire loss it is said, is
s'x.y.soven killed aud one hundred and twenty-seven
wounded [Tais Is over-estimate.-ED WIG ] What
the loss Of the enemy is it 10 impossible to estimate
with any precison-three hundred one OF the various
copscturei Both sides, 1t is said, retired from tho
ground-ours, however, returned aud reoccupied the
ed at last accounts and being reinforced or re-
leTed by fresh troops from oentrevie.
Having stated all very briefly and hastily that have
learned in relation to the foregoing which think at all
reliable shall make few observations in regard to an.
other matter of public concern and thcn conclude.
see statement in tie "Dsp,tch" of to-day that the
Hon. Mr. Faulkrer is to be exchanged" by our gov
erumeut fer Congressman Ely, according to the usagss
Of oar.
Whilst no one can be more DESTROYS than the writer
cipes of political or military consistency, yet cannot
conceive by what rule of consistency this can be accom-
p!ished Ia Mr.. F4ulkner held By the North pri.
soner of war or as a mere political ofsnderH II the
former is our administration Mr.. Faulkner himsel:
prepared TO admit the facts upon which such an ex
change must be baScdg have always understood that
Mr. FIulkuer claimed tina. he acting the civil and
political agsn, of the United States Government at the
Of his arrsI that in that capacity be was proposing
to settle his accounts aud that he had no military con-
nsc.ion whatever With either government How, then,
eau he be exchanged according TO The TGgeI Of war =
That Ey should be treated in all respects as prisoner
Of war is clear from the fact Of bis presence in the
Northern army the day Of battle, and the additional
fact that on that aad previous days he with the army
urging them on the conflict by the promise Of boun
ties in the event OF Triumphant result a1d for the ad
dtiona reason thai foT days previous to the fight he was
ia the habit of addressing apsrinenty loyal ladies' Of
thu South, respecting the weakness and meagreness of
our army and the resolution and strength OF Yankee
DOM besides proposing to furnish tickets foe the bal
that should come OF under his auspices at Rchmond
stc This is no fancy SKETCH but the foregoing facts in
relation to him true in every respect and susceptible
Of proof by ladies, one Of whom is here fugitive
from her native town, Alexandra.
Ny idea is no matter vhl. the per,oni Inconvenience
Mr. Faulkner may DO subjected to by returning to cap
vity let the Northern government fiji the measure Of
her infamy, in imprisOuiOg one of her own agents,
against whom she has striVon in vain, for months pst
to prefer the slightest accusation supportabls by any
shadow of evidence but let Mr. Ely stand by the fate
he voluntarily Invoked let him be treated in all respects,
IS prisoner Of war to be exchanged only according to
ia known usages. Y.