The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-06-28
The Dlnnier nj vicnra-~Detaiis OF the
Affair,

ing account OF the affair at Vienna:
Alexandria is inll Of wild RUN r.
as to the affair at Vienna. but after
sitting them, toe facts seem to be
about as follows: As has been sta
ted, Reconnaissance was made by
United States forces from this city
MS far up as Vienna, fourteen mil, 3
from Alexandria, on Sunday, and
the road seemed clear at that time:
hnt to properly protect il. tho first
Ohio regiment, Colonel McCuok
and Drigadier General Schenck
were sent out to station pickle,
guards along the line.
The train OF seven cara backed ou
Ivy a locomotive, left Alexandiiu
about noon and proceeded on its way
dropping detachnents all along IN,
road, and meeting with no interrupt,
ions nn,il entering tho straight
strotch near Vienna, when mar
stepped out upon the road and waved
his hand, reckoning the train Z,
stop, and warned them "ior God,
sake not to 70 on" M they were
dead men if they did; that there wa,
a battery and a e'rong force Of ia,
enemy ahead. The officer in coin
mand oi the federal troops paused II
moment with his hand on his fore
, head, as IL turning tho matter ovei
in his mind. and then beckoned t.
the Engineer to go on.
4. They proceeded a short distance.
when battery on the high ground
to the right OF the road, above Vicn'
ma, opened fire upon the train, and
at the same time discharges Ct grape
and musketry we're aimed by the en-
emy in the same direction. Some
tour hundred passengers, troops and
laborers, were on the train, and
many OF them were necessarily on
the platforms and the tender. The
fire Of the enemy. which seemed to
be more especially directed in the
start to disabling the engine, was
particularly destructive amonss, the
mon huddled upon the tender.
A number were killed and wound,
I'd here upon the first discharge. A
destructive musketry fire was poured
npon the troops as they leaped from
the cars. The engine was struck
with a six pound shot upon wheel
box, aud next upon the cylinder OF
the engine. making a damaging
fracture. The Engineer, finding his
engine was in tight place. de,a,h-
ed it with one car) from tho train,
and started back to Alexandria,
with some OF the wounded and dead
The federal forces, meantime, lett
the cars in admirable order, consid.
cring th" suddcnness OF attack, and
took position in the woods to the
lett. They fired first upon the bat
teries q discharge Of mnsketry, bnt
finding The eneu.y's batteries strong.
ly posted and supported by cavalry
and infantry, they could not hope to
carry them until re'enforced. and
Withdrew TO cover, as above stated,
carrying with them. however, their
dead and wounded.
The cncny's force, estimated nj
1000 TO 1900 strong, had evidently
moved down from Fairfax Court
House tho preceding night. Report
says tha. Brigadier General Eppa
Hunter was in command OF the en-.
emy's force.
Ayre hill, where the baiterics were
stationed. is very commanding
point, and ia perhaps the highes,
grounl in Fairfax county. The
purpose of the enemy was evidently
TO get the cars with the federal
troops on the straight stretch of the
road before opening their mnrderous
fire. Ii is certain that there were
three eight.ponnd guns in the bat
terry, and probably other artillery.
The Ohio compani,s behaved
with much credit in their unpleas.
ant position, and General Schenck,
particularly, is said to have display.
cd perfect GOODNESS and self'possess
ion. There sccms 10 have hcen q
lack Of forethought in not sending
ont scouts in advance, as the conn
try is iavorabl. 10 snch rcconnoiter.
ing; but when once in the difficulty :,
both men and officers apparently
did the best possible.
They kept undisputcd possession
.ot the point where they posted them
elv 8, tho enemy not deeming il
prudent to follow them up. On the
return OF The engine to Alexandria.
Colonel Ileinizelnan Immediately
ordered re'enforccments to be sent
up with strong detachments from va.
rions regiments in Alexandria.
AT four o'clock this morning, the
federal troops, under General Tyler,
were posted some four miles this
sido OF Vienna, preparing. to march
upon that point. 1t WIS believed
however, that the enemy had fallen
back toward Fairfax Court House.
taking their batteries with them, and
that their retrograde movcmont
commenced nbont midnight. The
snppositon WAS, that they had ex'
pected re'eniorcements wonld be
sent up to tho federal troops, and
'eared that their communication
with Fairfax Court House might be
eat off.