Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-27
THE BATTLE AT EVANSVILLE.

We CLEAN the following particulars Of the
battle uear brainsyle, from our exchanges -
For some days previous to the battle about a
hundred of the enemy cavalry had been in the
habit of coming down to Drainsvillc aud lorag.
ing between there aud the Potomac. Gen. Ne
Call determined 10 attempt their capture and
in the morning at an early hour issued an
order for the Third brigade, consisting of four
regiments, commanded by Gen. ord, To proceed
Ia Drainsviile for that purpose, and to forage
Forty OF fifty wagons were taken along
The whole line except one regiment, had
passed a wood on rising ground near Draiusyille,
10 the left of the Leesburg turnpike, when the
skirmishers Of the 9th Regiment were G.ed upon
hy Rebels lying in ambush The First Rifles
returned the fire, and after two or three rounds
n concealed battery opened on the Rifles, hut
with little effect, the balls goiug over their heads
and falling in n low place in the rear.
ten. Ord Immediately posted his men in line
nl battle and Capt. Eastons battery opened IL
most destructive fire on the concealed enemy
The position Of the enemy's battery conld not
lie asceriained except by the smoke from the
discharges, at which Capt Easton fired sixty
rounds, three only of his guns being in action.
The 4th had been paced in another position, and
was not operated during the fight On the third
round, shell from one OF the howtzers burst
Immediately in the enemy's battery, killing
several men aud horses, aud disabling one, if NOT
two of their guns. Aiter the battle, evidences
were seen TINT the enernys magazine had heen
exploded, and it is thought it was the effect oi
the shell
After Capt Easton'4 battery had fired abou
sixty rounds, Gen Mccall ordered the firing tC
cease, ior the purpose Of making an advance
The force Of the enemy at this time was unknown
ny they were all concealed from view by 4
thicket, in which they were sheltered, and whicl
they did not leave during the fight
Gen. Mccall, who had come early in the fight
placing his whole force in position for a charg,
himself, and gen. ord leading the assault /
was q gallant and brilliant charge, and was per
feetly successful in routing the enemy, who flee
uecipitately, spurred by a calling fire from tn,
Pennsylvania reserves, and leaving the iel,
streWn with dead and wounded. A panic seizet
tue rebels, the men throwing away their blank
ris knhpsarks, ogercoats and arms of ever,
description, aud even the officers throwing avn
their swords and reyovers, and in some I
stances, their coats.
In the mean time the wagons were loaded u
with the forage which the enemy hud deserted
consisting Of p. WRgon-londs Of hay aud - load
ol corn in the ear The arms, and clothing, an
aecouiTemenis thrown ,way by the enemy wer
sufficient 10 have loaded NIL the wagons. an
more, but the things were so scattered that
WAS impossible tor our soldiers to gather thei
IN in time TO return to their camp.
10 addition to from 10 TO 50 dead bodies 10
on the field, there were numerous pools Of bloc
,5here the rebels had been posted, showing thi
in their flight they had taken with them VIII
dead or wounded they could carry of. III
hi,hest estimate Of the killed and wound,
wl,jch has heeu made Is so, but the probabil
ties are tbai-sie rebF7-'gss was much greater