Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-08
THE BATTLE AT FAILING WATERS.


Gen. Patterson's column and body of rebels
have been received. The Tribune has spe-
cial despatch from Gainesville, Va, which
says:
The battle commenced about Q o'clock
Tuesday morning, as no other battle probably
ever commenced in the history of wars. Col.
Perkins's battery was in advance, and the
Colonel himself some quarter of a mile in the
lead of his men, when, upon making turn
in the road he came suddenly upon two
mounted officers. Military salutes passed,
hands were shaken all round, and the stran-
gers asked Col. Z. what company he belonged
to and when he had got in. The Colonel re-
piled that he belonged TO company G, and had
just arrived. One of the strangers observed
retiectively, Company c company c !" and
just then the first piece of the battery showed
itself round the turn, when he exclaimed
"Artillcry, by God !" and fled for his life
with his companion. Col. p Immediately
shouted to his men, "Now boys, come on,
we've got 'em." In less than minute the
battery was in operation and blazing away
right and lett.
The Philadelphia Press has a full and graph.
icaly told story of the whole affair -
Gen. Patterson's command had been waiting
to cross the Potomac for some time. While
encamped at Williamsport, Md, and upon the
river bank below that town, Capt McMullin's
scouts and the secret spies of governmcn; were
making daily pilgrimages to Virginia, to ascer-
tain the character OF the enemy and his de-
fences, and to carefully study the topography
of the land. 1t was fully intended, few
nights before, to send the army over the river
in two divisions the first, under Gen. Patter-
son, to cross at Williamsport; the second, un.
der Gen. Cadwaader, to cross at Shepherds
town, some miles below, and thus flank the
enemy, and drive him from his position or
capture him. The river was crossed at an
early hour Tuesday morning McMullin's
rangers dashed in first, the city troop and
Gen. Patterson and staff followed, and after
them came two regiments from Wisconsin and
Pennsylvania.
The remaining regiments took the matter
less impetuously, and so lost their share in the
honors of the battle. They marched leisure
into a field on the margin of the river, remov-
ed their boots, stockings, drawers and breaches,
wound these articles around their necks, and
thus, with the whole lower portion OF their
bodies nude, aud their white muslin shirts fly
ing in the wind, preceded by full band in
similar undress, they plunged into the stream
and reached the opposite shore. Here they
garments and soaking shoes of their predeces
sors. 1t was full daylight when these latter
regiments proceeded up the turnpike. Beyond
the toll. gate, the road hard and narrow, dotted
with farms and groves, went meandering up
and down the hills. The troops did not
march shoulder to shoulder, but scattered
along the way to eat blackberries, and ques-
ton the Vrginians. The occupants OF the
farm houses came out to see them, and tue
girls waved their handkerchiets. Most of the
people protested to be Unionists, and were, in
semblance, at least, glad to see their DELIVER
ers. Their own troops had spoiled them
shamefully turning their horses to Craze in
the unripe wheat fields, and exacting corn and
meal without money and without price. While
thus marching along in the dawn, the hinder
regiments, among which was the Scott Legion
heard the first peals OF the cannon, far ahead.
Instantly every man fell intoa run, and with
wild shouts they broke away, anxious 70 be
''up tbs road and ut 'em." AT each new peal
their step became quicker, but laggard haste
would not atOne the fight was over before
they reached the ground
On the sound OF the cannon, our informant
| instantly touched up his pony, and dashed
away in the direction of the firing. Coming 10
| frame farm house beside the road, Temporal
| rily converted into hospital, he dlsmounted
| and found inside the body of Geo. Drake OF
| company A, first Wisconsin regiment. The
deceased had been shot through the breast
and fell dead at once, exelaiming at the mo
ment, ooh! my mother" He looked as plac-
id and fair, lying thus to wake no more, as if
reposing in a gentle sleep. Around him,
grouped upon the floor, lay a number OF
wounded men, among them secession sol
dicr, who had been shot in the eye by mus.
ket ball, which carried. .ass9'. re bridge of bis
nose, and part of his eyebrow lie stated
that he had been a Union man, but was i'm
pressed into the Virginia ranks under promis-
ed death in case Of refusal. Our informant
turned the coverlet dawn from his face, and
the fellow looked up to him silently through
his gashed and dripping eye. The women in
this house had rushed TO the woods in the be-
ginning OF the action, but returned after the
battle, and cheerfully assisted the wounded,
making mattresses and baudages for them.
Farther ON he came to Porterfeld's farm,
the battle ground proper. The advance col
umn reached this farm at seven in the morn
ing. McMulen's men were some rods in adj
vance, and they first opened fire. The first
cannon shot of the enemy passed over the
heads of our men, single ball striking the
gable of Porterfeld's dwelling, and passing
out at the peak of the roof. They fired badly,
not a single cannon ball during the whole ac-
ton of half hours duration, inficting NOR
musket and his cheek and almost simultane-
ously, second shot struck his gun, bending
the tube double, and sending the splinters into
his face and breast. The man will probably
lose an eye. Our men advanced continually,
loading and firing, until the Wisconsin regi-
ment had approached to within three hundred
yards, and McMullen's men were less than one
hundred yards from the rebels advance lines.
The foe must have lost, from all statements,
at least one hundred in killed and wounded.
Their ambulances were ordered to the front,
and our men saw them heaping in the fallen
to be in time for retreat. After firing for an
hour or less, the foe retired at rapid trOt, and
in great disorder, seeming to labor to outstrlp
each other in their fiighty purpose. AT Haines-
vile, three miles beyond, they made second
stand, but were driven back with renewed loss.
Our own troops had no sooner reached the vii
lage than they scattered on pleasure excur-
sion One of the first places to which they
paid their respects, was the store and post
Office of one Turner, the secession postmaster
of the village. He had been an applicant for
the postmastership, but Mr.. Myers, an oppo-
nent was appointed, whereupon Turner re-
ceived the appointment through Mr.. jefferson
Davis government The latter procured the
arrest of Myers upon the charge of treason to
Virginia. Being thus particularly inimica to
the soldiers and the government, Turner'S
house was at once visited by the troops. They
smashed his furniture, and ripped open his
beds, finishing the work by splintering the old
family clock.
Turner himself as.arrested in the woods,
and Brought into town, followed by his daugl-
ters. He looked very sheepish, and was at
once put under guard. A secession flag was
found in his place, and great numbers OF en-.
veIopes marged Confederate States of Ameri-
Ca" His daughters seemed solicitous only
for their dresses. One Of them, standing amid
the wreck of her household go IDS, made pite-