The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-24
corraspopssnce Of III. Richmona dispatch
Corrasp0nGehce OF The kiehm0nd D1spatch.
From Fnirfhr Court House-interesting Ac
count OF the Ffenna Fight.
CAMP OF ApvAEcEp duARp,
r.rEsAy q Ii tuue 10 1851

CAMP OF ADVANCED GUARD,
Fairfax =. H, une 10, 1861.
Here l am, seated on a stump, full fivs mites
away from camp, on vidette duty. writing on
the back of II book upon my knee, to send you
the news of the last few days. Events have
been quite stirring IN the meantime, and
should have written early yesterday, but
waited TO get all the information that could,
we'll as TO get reliable.
On Saturday last, we learned that the First
Regiment south Carolina volunteers were on
| their way To this place, under command of
Col Gregg, from their camp ut Centreviile,
distant about I miles to this post, and that we
were ordered back TO Manassas rs soon rs
| they should arrive. While we were on dress
| parade about seven O'Clock in the evening, we
| heard their drums sound on the road Just be-
| low us; we remained standing in line until
the head of their column appeared, and met
| them with presented arms. After they had
passed, We returned TO our quarters aud
made preparations to leave, not very willing
| ly, however, having no desire to go back I'M
| til we had at least one brush with our foes
bat for ward always, so long as there remains
one OF Old Abe's apes on this side of our line.
accompanied with the wish that all OF our
boys could be with us, that we might show
| those who have said that the Virginia boys
could not fight, because they were too easily
| Hurried, that the Old First knew how TO fight,
and also that they would fight.
This order tor our return was coun fernandez
| by Col. Gregg that night, he ordering us 10
remain here, while he went on some special
duty. They enCamped here on Saturday
night, and on Sunday morning We We're arous
ed by the sound Of the drum proceeding from
| their camp, who, after leaving guard for
camp duty, started seemingly to return to
Centreyille. Many were the suppositions
| formed Us to their destination, but nothing
could be learned but by having patience to
wait for their return. They marched through
the Courthouse and down the turnpike to a
road some two miles below, where they were
met by a company, or rather detachment, OF
the Alexandria Artillery, with two brass
90 ssh
have belonged to Major Ringgoid's battery in
Mexico and looks like it had seen hard ser
vice, being pretty well marked with sabre
cuts, done (.o it was said In retakIng 1t from
the Mexcans, it having been captured once.
All day Sunday and Monday we listened up
to half past o'clock in the afternoon for
some token of their whereabouts, when we
were startled by the report OF heavy firing in
the direc ton OF Alexandria, which, from its
nearness was supposed to be at Il station on
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad called
Vienna, distant about eight miles from the
Court House, which was soon followed by
another, and another, until we counted nine
teen reports. Then all was STILL and anxiety
was depicted on every countenance TO learn
what had taken place, none OF us knowing at
the time that our boys had any artillery with
them. OF this we were soon Informed. how
ever and were pretty well satisfied. We
waited for news until tattoo, when We retired
to our boards and blankets to rest, from which
we were aroused in an hours time by the
scouts. Again we thought certainly our time
for a brush had come, and again we were
doomed TO meet with a bitter disappointment,
learning soon that the alarm was caused by
q sentinel at the Sou th Carolina camp, who,
hauling a man proving around the outskirts
of the camp, ran, and was fired upon.
We soon again We're soundIy sleeping, and
| on rising in the morning, learned that our
| bows had returned about two O'Clock III The
| morning, having marched about fifty five or
sixty miles; we sailed forth to get the news
| Immediately. They say they arrived in good
| time at Vienna, and destroyed the water tank,
| and waited patiently tor the coming OF the
| apes, until they supposed they had news tnat
| there was q force waiting for them and that
| they would not come and had gotten some OF
| a mile on their return to camp When they
heard the welcome sound ito them) OF the en-
| CINE whistle. They immediately faced about
| and marched back and sent out Il detachment
Of the Wise troop, OF LyncnouIg, TO rtconnl-
| ire who was seen BY 4 man living at Ienna,
who was observed to run toward the train
| waving his handkerchief for them to
| go back. The whistle sounded down
| brakes, and the motion OF the en-
| zine reversed, and the enemy began TO dis
| embark and form into lice, which, the arulle-
| ~ observing, they began 10 fre upon them al
| about the distance OF six hundred yards, with
| round shot and grape. This threw them in 70
confusion, and their officers could not get them
to fall in line either by threats or curses plen
| ty of both, it is SAID, was bestowed on the
| men that had disemb arked. Those that were
| on the cars, (mCst OF Nhich We're OF the Knd
| called hatsl at the second fire, dis
| mounted Immediately to the right aud
| left, aud broke like quarter horses for
| the nearest woods, divestlng themselves
as they ran Of everything that would
| impede flight The engine was cut loose from
| the train, and started back 10 Alexandria, az
| being attached TO the rear of the train, mlnu
| smoke stack and one cylinder, picking up their
| dead and wounded that lay in their way, and
| throwing them On the tender as they moved
| along.
| When they arrived in the city, guard was
| formed around, and no one allowed TO APP
| pToach 70 see how many were killed but the
| official report in the Washington city Star,
| saws that there were over 200 killed and
| wounded, and | have but very little doubt
| myself il IL would not amount to more than
| that as there We're good many shots through
| the train There were 400 troops the train
| belonging to the LIST Keg't Ohio Volunteers,
| with large number OF hands who were going
| to repair the bridges, &c, WItha tram some two
| miles in the rear with 400 men more. a good
! quantity of tools, blankets, and some few
| musket6 and provisions, fell into our hands
| some of the muskets being badly injured by
the firing, several OF which have seen bent
| nearly double, and one cut off Ell tirely at the
centre band. Seven of their dead were left
on the cars, and one man wounded by having
his arm torn of al the shoulder by 4 grape
| shot. His wound was dressed by our surgeon
they do not expect him TO live, however. ON
troops destroyed the ears, depot, and 4 bridge
at this place, having pulled up the track
| when they destroyed the tank
| Our South Carolina boys aIe in somewhat
| better spirits now, since they have smell
| powder again. Our own boys are also III tine
spirits and enjoying good health, considering
| the exposure they have 10 wet night all
| and open lodgings, which many OF them arr
| not used TO. We have some IoYiaI times IL
camp as well as some laughable and IIaicu.
| Isus ones, an account OF some Of " hCh may
| give you one of these days, 1T present prefer
ing the serious and matter 0.-Tdct occurring
As it Is my turn now to do duty, must c'ose
| ABOEIGISF.