Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-27
LATE FROM LINCOLNDom.
AFFAIRS AS SEEN THROUGH YANKEE sPEcrA.
Giles

LATE FROM LINCOLND0M.
AFFAIRS AS SEEN THROUGH YANKEE spECrA.
Giles.
STATEMENTS, RUXoRs. Ex .GGERArIoNs AND IN.
MENTIONS.
The Norfolk Day Book Of Wednesday furnishes the
following extracts from the New York Herald Of the 2ls
WAsHIKaroS, Dec. 20, 1851.
TIE MASON sLIDILL AyyAIR.
Lord Lyons has had two conf Dental conferences to-
day with Mr.. Seward but up to eleven o'clock tonight
no written formal communication had been bad and no
demand whatever has yet been made upon our govern
ment by the British Minister.
The conferences between Lord Lyons and Mr. Seward
we're Of the most co dial aud friendly character.
Captain Seymour, the Queens messenger, did not re-
turn In the Africa, es was intended.
The Americas mails are anxiously looked for BY our
government as well by Lord Lyons and il is not un-
likely that bis Lordship will withhold bis demand upon
| our government until they arrive.
It Is not true telegrsphed yesterday TO New York
papers, that the President called meeting Of the Cabi
MT. None whatever has been held the subj cot =
There is good ground for believing that the text Of my
spach forwarded last night reflects about the position
that the British Government will take. The same idea
is ref ced 10 the admirable letter of m Scott which,
by the way. Is very highly spoken of by English aud
American statesmen here. /. is believed to Lave bad
excellent effect upon tho Bdish mind, as an eminent
British lawyer, who stands the Law officers Of the
Gown indicates In private letter received here It
Is believed that Lord Lyons will pass the questions
Of conraband dispatches and the character of the trail
tors Mason and sdel and rest his demand upon the
ground clearly presented by Gen. Scott that
should have seized the Tren,, taken her into port
aud had her condemned by prize court in order to
Justify our seizure OF her passengers. Stated 10 other
words offence would have been less il il had been
geaer IL is assuming the ground that the wrong done
the British flag would have been mtgsted IT, instesd
Of seizng the four rebels had seized the ship dsan
ed all her passengers for weeks and confscated her
cargo.
Strange as it may seem, have excellent official au
thorty for asserting that from present Appearances the
whole question will settle down upon that pretence The
President said this morning. in response to question
by Senator, :" I done think we will have war with
England in the next ten days"
IL is argued 10 high quarters that the United States
would be benefited BY war with England on the ground
that should be Immediately relieved Of the present
expense OF keeping up the blockade and could
guns upon the splendid commerce Of Great BIZ
tain that our people are just now 10 fighting mood
that In few months snail have one OF the most mag
n,ent aud well drilled armies the world saw, with
nothing else to do except to whip John Bull for the
third time. This kind Of reasoning is very popular
among the officers Of the government but 10 really
timent emanatng from source entitled TO considers
ton.
BRILLIANT VICTORY IN VIRGINIA.
WASHINGTON Dec. 20, 1861.
We have had splendid little affair in front Of Wash
ngton this afternoon which will furnish food for the
Onward to Richmond party for few days. until Gen.
Mcclellan is ready for more formidable forward move
ment
The following Is the official dispatch from Gen. Mccall
to Gen. Marcy, recountng the facts
EVANSVILLE Dec 90
Gen. 0rds brigade, with the First regiment Of Penn
sy-ania rifles and Eastons battery of artillery had
brisk siir with the enemy consisting Of four regiments
ard battery OF artillery near this place, at IL H., TO-
day.
/ arrived during the action and sent for a,u Rsyn.
olds, who at Diff ,uk Fun The enemy was defeated
and 9 ID before Cen. Reynolds arrived.
We have found forty killed Of the enemy and ten
wounded the field Our loss Is two killed and three
wounded We have taken two caissons, with the har-
nesses, The horses having been killed.
The regiment Of rides behaved finely. Lieutenant
Colonel Kane very slightly wounded, hut Is still in
the field. have collected the dead and wounded and
GEORGE A. MCCALL.
Brigadier General commanding.
DETAILS or TIE BATTLE.
Since the official spatch of the affair at Drainsville
to-day forwarded Of the Herald's special cor
respondents has arrived from the field and gives the fol-
lowing particulars
General Ord started at elk O'Clock this morning. His
command consisted of four full regiments the Buck
tail Rifles Lieutenant Colonel Kane I'd stons bat
terry consisting OF two wentyour and two twelve pound
hoWitzers. They proceeded forsging expedition in
the direction of Draiusgille. Gen. Mccall, anticipating
they might be attacked ordered First and Second bri
gades TO follow at eight A. N. The First brigade Gen.
ynolds advanced the Lsesburg turnpike aud took
position on Din,ult Creek TO await further orders -
Two hours later Gen Mccall with his staff and escort Of
ca valry followed by the same route.
Meantime G IN. Ord advanced to Thorntons house,
near Drainesve when his command was suddenly fired
upon by force lying in ambush in dense woods atj,
cent. This the signal of battle, and q brick en-
gagement promptly ensued.
Cen Mccall, who arrived few MINUTES previously
took command. In moments time, Eastons battery
was planted alongside the Thornton House. and fred
rapidly and with terrible e,ct in the enemys ambush
Colonel Kans's "Bucktal Riasmen" placed in sd
vance, aud fred upon the enemy wherever they made
their appearance. The rebels who had battery Of six
pieces returned tho cannonading and replied the RI
hss with musketry. The firing was kept up some three
quarters Of an hour when the enemy retresed rapidly,
the FIRE Of the whole brigade, rifles and battery, being
too hot for them.
Our troops stood up bravely under the sharp volleys
Of the rebels Their seadines praised BY General
Mccall and his officers.
The rebels took the direction Of Fairfax Court House,
leaving the field number Of their killed and wound
ed Our troops pursued them short distance aud
turned.
The scene in the woods presented all the horrors Of
sangunary battle field and the dead and the dying lying
slrewn In all directions Forty dead bodies of the reb
els picked up. aud fifteen wounded prisoners we're
ken and placed in Hunters and other houses in Dranes
vile.
General Ord captured eight wounded prisoners and
two cassons with ammunition. In their haste the enc
my behind arms Of all descriptions, clothing, &c.
Their loss ls estimated at 100 killed aud wounded =
Among their killed Col. Tom Taylor, of Frankfort
KY aud commander of the Frat Kentucky regiment Of
rebels The forces Of the enemy consisted of three In
fantry regiments First and Eleventh Kentucky and
Tenth Alabama, with cavalry regiment and battery
all updr command Of Col John II. Pornfy Of the Tenth
Alabama, Acting Brgsder General The dead rebels
left the field. The loss side six kill
cd and eight wounded most Of whom belonged 10 the
Bucktais. Colonel Kane received q slight wound.
At nine o'clock troops had returned 10 camp, |
bringing 10 fifty wagon loads Of forage.
The regiments of Gen. 0rd's brigade the Sixth
Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth Pennsylvania reserves
The prisoners belong to the diff rent regiments en-.
gagged in the action Neither are dressed alike The |
clothes they bal on ragged and filthy. Esch was
without overcoat and their general looks betrsy any
thing but nutritious fare had conversation With
three prisoners belonging to the Tenth Alabama, aer
they were brought to Gen. McCans headquarters They
tbak thair nj nonthn