The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-10

present believe, for the first time. The di-
vision is in n complete and satisfactory condi-
uons and eve1 ybody WAS well pleased with
The occasion. BOHEMIAN.
ARMY OF THE PoToaAc.
Outpost near Fairfax, Dec. 9th.
Ihe weather during this week has been
very fine, and the roads are in good condition
for any movements. There has been no ad-
vance CT the enemy in any direction, nor are
there any Indications going to show that one
is contemplated. Undoubtedly the Grand
Army" is awaiting some action of Congress,
or the result of The Cabin ct quarrels in regard
to the prosecution of the war.
On Wednesday night an unfortunate affair
occurred near Acco ,inck, some five or six
miles below Fairfax station. Capt. Warjng
of the "Georgia HussarS,' while on picket
duty, took a detachment of his company and
started on scout towards AunandaIe. About
midnight the party reached narrow place
in the road, on each side o which were thick
woods and dense underground of pine ard
alder. They were stopped here by wires
across the road and immedia ateiy afterwards
a volley from an ambuscade. The troop fell
back Il short distance, form ed aud fired in
return, and then Capt. Waring gave the com.
mand charge In a load tore OF voice AID
the federa!s ran. The "Hussars'' retired i'm.
mediately, with the loss of one man killed
and one captured, it Is supposed badly
wounded. The loss to the euemy, as has
since been ascertaIned was one killed, two
wounded, and one prisoner, showing lat
aoYantageln their favor.
Everything is very quiet in and around
Fairfax, although nearly all the citizens have
left. An arrangement such as / suggested
in r previous letter, has been made to supply
them with provisions and other necessaries
and they are now IN com paratiyely com
Portable condition, although by no means an
agreea bic one. The frequent paSsa ge OF par
ties and wagons into the town gives f4cillties
tor sending in letters and papers.
Capt. Rosser, with his battery, is still on
picket duty about two miles this side OF Fair
tax q. H., and III the position held for some
time by his and other batteries He will be
relieved -ncrrow; l presume, by another
company OF the Washington Artillery.
As write large party CT cavalry is pass
ing, accom- panied by a train Of wagons Tor
forage. During the past two weeks several
hundred loads have been driven away for The
use of the army, the owner in every case re.
ceiVlng q receipt for the mar ket value of his
corn and hay. The Yankees have been TO
raging extensively near Annandale, bat have
not yentured far beyond their lines. 1t is to
be hoped that the industry and energy dis
played bs Gen. Stuart in this particular
will be initiated by the commanders in the
army. IL Is not only so much saved for the
use of cur army, but 50 much taken from the
enemy, for they seOur the country as fast us
they can transport the forage to the rear.
beserters come in daily from the Lincoln
army. A day or two ago = German LieutenL
ant rode iato our lines in a state Of decided
inebriation. He had Il fine horse and new
saddle, such as Is used by the aifkee cavalry,
the popularity of which consists inits having
straps on each side to rHsten man on These
straps are buCRied over each or binding the
soldier securely to mis- horse. A good idea
perhaps, for Northern cavalry, but | should
like to seq the Son he n boy who would con-
sent to be tied to his horse to prevent his fall
ing off. The saddle was presented to G en-.
Stuart, the horse sold, and the Lieutenant
sent on to Richmond.
Yesterday, small scouting party, headed
nv IAN St1I1Y m 1iA.t NV Ippt
ham, of Alabama. and other officers, went
several miles,inlo the lines OF the enemy and
offered battle, within cannon range of one OF
their largest camps. Sterling early in the
morning We rode by Fairfax Station, thence
down the railroad to Brookss Station" and
from there on to Within two miles Of Spring
field. Seeing number OF horseInen in the
distance, Gen. Stuart ordered the party to
halt, and waited patiently for over three
hours for tue enemy to come out and meet
him. The smoke of the camp fires in Spring.
field could be seen distinctly, and the music
of their bands distinguished. If Capt. Pei
ham had taken along his fine English rifle
cannon, he could have thrown shot directly
into their camps.
Seeing the Yankees would not accept his
challenge, even when they had fifty men TO
his one, Gen. Stuart turned and took the
rrsddock road towards Annandale. Skirt
irg along the Accotnck, we came out within
sight OF the enemy, and Tor some distance
ran along their lines. The usual sounds of
Of the fife and drum, the sound of the axe,
and even the hum of voices mingled into q
single key, like the distant noise of a city,
fell upon the ear with unusual distiuctr ess
AS the small party Of infantry, ssting of
detacbments from the 18th Virginia, the Sh
South Carolina, and NcRae's North Caroiins,
regiments were very much Jaded by the Sc
we're march since early morning, the Yankees
We're not disturbed, and were left to mediate
over the alarm caused by the driving in Of
tn cir yiGettes and pickets.
About dark we came to the scene OF the en-
counter of the night previous. II was in a
narrow defile, with high banks on one side
covered with pines, ana on the other pwampy
spit containing dense growth of alder anu
other shrubs and trees. Here we were stopped
by Two wires stretched across the road, one
about the heigbtcf a horses breast and the
other TIVE feet above it. forgot to mention
that when we We're going down in the morn
ing Yankee prisoner was taken. Corporal
Hagan, Gen. Stuart's orderly, saw Il man ly.
ing under fence and rode up to him and
asked who he was. Hereplied he beion ged to
the Third New Jersey regiment, which had
been in the ambuscads of the previcns night,
and that he had lost his way.
Where is your gun p said the Corporal.
Lost it, was the reply.
"Your hat and blankets 1''
81 lost them all last night when they fired
on us"
The Corporal, who IL every inch an old SOL
der, was perfectly astoDished
- How in the world, !" said he, "could a SOL
dier lose all his equipments land his clothes
unless somebody took them %
"Well, You see they fired on us, and then /
heard the command, scharge' and I'd no no.
ton OF having the Black Horse Cavalry or
top of me, SO ! ran, and lost my things IN the
woods"
The Corporal thought that a man who
would be such a coward ought to go bare.
headed all the rest of his days, and he bagged
his Yankee and sept1im 70 the rear.
To my story a51A eAEires were cut
and the place SeafchDd ~ I3tcs of the fight.
Everything shcWo4 the Federals did not ad-
vance foot beyond their first position, but,
Oh the contrary, ran imm mediately. Several
caps belonging to the" Hussars" were picked
up, also a howis-knife, an d the Lieu tenant s
opera glass, which was shot from bis shoulder
the night previous. Several yalua bic articles
bad been dropped within three yards of the
enemy, but they were so afraid OF cavalry
charge that they dare not search tha spot.-
Near by the spot was horse belonging to
priyate Uuthbert, who was wounded IN the
leg, the same charge injuring The horse. The
saddle, bridie and equipme ents were complsis !,
aud were taken by Capt Waring. The Yap
kees dropped hatchet aud dirk knife.
which fegl into the hands Of Burke, who re-
Gently escaped from the hands OF the ensmy,
and who's stosy shall slys ~ soon q pos.
sihls. Win svsTy Aaynatass N thsls' ~