Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-13
From The (Leesburg. Va Democratic Mirror, Aug. 81
FEDERAL TROOPS I'm LOUDOUN.
BURNING OF PRIVATE PRopERTY-ARREsT
OFFENDING CITIZENS.

FEDERAL TROOPS I'm LOCDOUN.
BURNING OF PRIVATE pRoPERTY-ARREsT OF en-.
OFFENDING CITIZENS.
THREE FEDERAL AND ONE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER
KILLED-sI1 MEN AND TWENTY HORSES cAPTrR'
I'd By THE ENEMY
Our Northern foes have at length pressed,
with their unhallowcd, tread the soil OF Lou
doun and stained her earth with the blood Of
one OF her sons, and, worse than all, they nave
been aided and abetted in their hellish work
by men who bear the sacred name OF Virgin
%giniaDs, aye, Of Landowners.
For some time past it has been known that
Federal troops were prowling along the oppo'
site banks Of the Potomac river, menaclng our
people by their occasional nocturnal visits to
this side; but within The last ten days, infnri'
ated 10 doubt, by the humiliating recollection
of their disgraceful rout at Bull Run, they
have crossed over to take revenge, as would
seem, on our unprotected border, and are, we
learn, now quartered in the vicinity Of LoVsttes'
vile in numbers estimated at several hundred.
On Friday morning last, a party crossed at
Edwards Ferry, three miles below Leesburg,
and burned the old warehouse and the Ferry
mans house at that point both were entirely
consumed. This was early in the morning.
Later in the day, flushed with the success Of
their morning excursion, three of them again
approached this side, for the purpose, proba-
bly,, Of capturing some chickens that were
feeding around the ruins. In the meantime, n
party Of our scouts, five in number, belonging
to Captain Thomas Madison Cavalry, had ar.
rived and taken q concealed position near the
landing; they were discovered by the enemy,
who fred upon them, but without effect. Our
men held their fire until the Yankees were in
the act Of landing, when they discharged their
pieces, killing every one of the marauding trio.
Immediately after their fall, such an inceSsant
fire Of musketry was opened from The other
side Of the river, that our men were unable to
secure their game, and before reinforcements
came up it was spirited away.
Thus matters remained, until Monday morn
ing, when a party Of Capt. Mead's Loudoun
Cavalry, twenty-one in number, who had been
on duty at Potomac Furnace, opposite the
Point OF Rocks, for some days, were surprised
by q body of federal infantry and completely
routed. 1t was very early in the morning and
our men had just returned from 4 night scour'
ing of the muuntain-somc had laid down and
fallen asleep, others were feeding their horses,
and others were arranging for breakfast. -
While thus employed, the enemy presented
himself on their right and left in numbers OF
about sixty, with bayoncts charged, not more
than twenty yards from them. Finding that
thus hemmed in their only safety was in in
slant fight, our boys took to the mountains,
leaving behind their horses, arms, etc, which
Of course fell into the hands Of the enemy.
Fourteen Of the party succeeded in making
their escape and reaching Leesburg, though
they report that the bullets Of the two thanking
columns whistlcd around them in q manner
anything but agreeable. Ouo Of them-Mr.
Boyd Barret-had his pistol in his hand at the
time of the surprise, which was struck by an
enemy's ball, breaking the ramrod and very
slightly injuring his hand-perhaPs it saved
his life.
Six Of the party were captured aud taken
oYer the river, as follows: Robert Drane, Geo.
Davidson, Arthur Dawson, Jonah Orrison, Jas.
W. Daniel and Mahlon Myers.
George Orrison was killed-shot through
the head and arm. His body was recovered n
few hours after by his friends.
Samuel T1ouser, Postmaster at Potomac Fur.
nance, and his step son, Wade-thc %ferryman
at that point we're likewise taken prisoners
and carried to Sandy Hook. Towards even
ing, Mr.. Houser was released and sent home,
with instructions, however, to evacuate his
house at once, as it was their purpose to de-
stroy it yesterday, Tuesday.
The gentleman from whom we gel the above
facts lett the Furnace Monday night ct which
time Mr.. uouscr had executed his orders, and
his house was then vacant
The prisoners were notified, so Mr.. Houser
told our informant, that they would be taken to
Fort MeHenry on Tuesday.
We are told that the enemy crossed the river
ia the neighborhood Of Berlin, and were pilot
cd down the mountain to where the attack was
made, by Samuel Means, one Of those who fed
from Loudoun upon the recent calling out Of
the militia. This We get from q brother of
Means, who is a sterling member Of Mead's
Cavalry: he received Il it from Houscr, tho re.
turned prisoner alluded to above.