Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-03
LATEST NEWS.
By TELEGRAPH
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
THE FIGHT AT FAIRFAX COURT


from the nei ghb0rhoOd OF Fairfax court house.
AT daybreak this morning Co. b Of the U. S.
regular dragons, Lieut. Tompkins, while re-
counoiterng the neghborhood of Fairfax
Court House, twelve miles from Alexandria,
were fired into by the confederate troops. The
dragons then charged four times through the
village and were fired on by rebels concealed
in the houses. Lieuts. Tompkns and Gordon
both hal their horses wounded Two men
are missing and three wounded. 1t is sti
mated that the Dragons killed from fifteen to
twenty of the rebels. They brought to the
camp OF the 18th N. Y. regiment five prison
ers and they are now in camp there. This
report was brought by person just from that
camp.
WASHINGTON, June 1--AtternOon.-
Star gives the following full account of the
affair at Fairfax lat night Cavalry cOmpa-
ny b. OF the second cavalry, AT privales, I'M
der lieutenant Tompkins and second lieuten-
ant Gordon, accompanied By quarter master
Fearing, assistant quartermaster Carey, and
adjutant Frank, d the New York 9th regi-
ment were accommodating within 300 yards of
Fairfax Court House by tile Winchester road,
when they were fired on by two pickets They
took one of them prisoners. The other escap-
ed. The cavalry then charged into the viii
lage from the north side, and we're fired on
from the Union Hotel, formerly kept by the
JACKSON WHO SllOL COl. EtSWOrllp DuI Ine
man firing was instantly shot down. They
then charged down through the principal
street, and were fired on from many houses
and from pIatopns behind them. Having thus
passed 10 the end OF the village, they wheeled
instantly, charging back, and were then met
by two large delachments with field pieces.
Turning they cut through Third detachment
in the rear, and lett, bringing five prisoners,
and killing throughout the engagement u
men. Two of the cavalry were shot, two are
missing, and assistant quartermaster Carey of
the N. I. 9Th was wounded i'll the foot. Lieut.
Tompkins had two horses shot under him, the
last falling on his leg, injuring il slightly. The
wounded are under charge OF the surgeons Of
the 5th.
ALEXANDRIA, June 1-EUeaing The loyal
Williams OF Washington, vino has been i'm
prisUned at Richmond as spy tor four days,
CHANGED to be al Fairfax last night lie states
that only one was killed in the rebel camp,
Capt. John Mari of the Warrcnton rifles lie
heard tile troops coming up and ordered them
to holt. They replied that they were Capt.
POweil's cavalry company. Mari ordered his
men TO arms. The dragons fired a volley
which killed The captain instantly. The rebels
rushed out in undress and fired on the cavalry
at random. The cavalry fired three voleys,
charged and retired Subsequently young
rebel returned with two dragOons as prisoners
with their horses. Williams is certain that
the reports OF killed are greatly exaggerated.
When the roll was called, fifteen men of the
rebels were missing, but this was accounted
ed for, as on picket. Messengers were sent to
Ceulrevie, where there are two thousand
Carolina troops. 1t was supposed that the
cavalry were the advance guard of the grand
army. Extra Billy Smith who figured as
colonel in command was wounded Heavy
rain this evening. No anticipation Of any at
tack here.
The following is the report of Lieut. Temp
kins to Col. Hunter, his superior officer =
"Sir,I have the honor to report, that pursu-
ant to verbal instructions from the colonel
commanding, l lett on the evening of the 81 st
of May, in command of Co. b, Cavalry, to
reconnoiter the country in the vicinity OF Fair
fax Court House. On approaching the town
the euemy's picket was surprised and cap
tured and several documents were found on
them, which enclose. On entering the town
of Fairfax my command was fired upon by
the rebel troops, from windows and housetops.
! charged and drove the mounted rifles from
the town. Immediately two or three addi-
tional companies came to their relief, and
opened fire upon us, which l returned.
Pcrceivlng was largely outnumbered, |
deemed it advisable to retreat, which did IN
good order, with five prisoners tnlly armed
and equipped. and two horses. My loss is
three men missing, three slightly wounded,
and six horses lost loss OF the rebels, twenty
to twenty five Killed AND wnn"dSil h'o'i 90,
servaIi06s l should judge that the rebels at
that point numbered FULLY 1900 men. Captains
Carey and Fearing. and adjutant Frank of the
New York fifth regiment accompanied US, and
regret to state that the former was wounded
in the foot. Lieut.. Gordon OF the second dra-
goods rendered va liable rervice. The prison.
ers horses, arms and equipments have been
sent TO Gen. Mansfield
ours respectfully.
Signed CHAs. H. ToMPKINs.
A gentleman from the immediate vicinity of
Fairfax Court House states that during last
night word was brought into the camp of
the New York 18th that the two Dragons
missing from company b, which made the
sally Saturday morning, were captured by
the rebels, and We're to be hung this morning.
Company b was immediately summoned,
ard, mounting, rode up to the Court House.
Having by some means aScertained the pre-.
else location of their comrades, they made a
dash through the village, secured their COM
rades, and brought them back in triumph to
camp. The five rebel prisoners IRON Fairfax
have been brought Ilther. One, son of the
late Major Washington, said he never wished
to fight against the United States, and
has taken the oath Of allegiance to the federal
government. The other four refuse to sub
scribe, and are detained.
LATEST AROUT THE FIGHT AT AC-
QUA CREEK.