Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-27
THE BATTLE AT DRArNsv1LLE.
FeH ParsscnEers.

nNWhhE - Hbthb wv Auiuitu NdkeiHS GSGOlbt
by the 18th Virginia, Col. Garland the ct
South Carolina, under Lieut.. Col A j. Secrest
the 10th Alabama, Col. John III. FOrney the Is
Kentucky, Col Tom Taylor; the Sumter Artil
lery, Capt. Cults and detachments from Ran
SONS and Radford's cavalry. Gu whole fore
amounted 10 nearly twenty-five hundred men
They started off early in the morning, and be
fore day were some distance on the journey
Soon after leaving a rocket was seen to shoot VI
in the direction Of Evansville, which, as wa
afterwards ascertained, was a signal from the enc
my, and indicated that our approach were known
II is about fifteen miles from here to DrainsvlHe
When within a short distance of the place, tw'
or three regiments of Yankees were seen deploy
ed as skirmishers ia the skirts of a pine thicket
which stretched out on either side of the road
Gen. Stuart drew up his force and prepared Il
make an attack. On either side the wood.
were very thick, and it was difficult to maxi
through them, but our force was pushed forward
in the following order The 18th Virginia, be
ing in the advance, was deployed on the right o
the road with the 10th Alabama, while the 6tf
South Carolina and the LIST Kentucky were sen
to the left. On account of the dense thickets or
either side, the artillery was forced to advance
down the road in order to gain a position to make
the guns effective.
As we approached the Yankees, the l1th Viz
GINA charged them with a yell, and drove them
back to their line within sight of Drainsyille
The enemy seemed somewhat confused, but sooI
formed again in line Of battle. The advanced
positions were held by the 18th and the 9th
South Carolina, the former on the right and the
latter on the left of the road. While waiting to
get sight of the enemy, the 9th South Carolins
was drawn up, and the LIST Kentucky advanced
upon them, and mistaking them for the enemy.
a portion of the regiment fired without orders,
killing five of the South CarOlinians. The error
was soon discovered, and Col. Taylor advanced
cautiously to the left, and soon after came in
sight of another regiment but a few yards away.
TO be sure there was no mistake, Col, Taylor
shouted to the Colonel, and asked who he was.
The colonel of the 9th, " was the reply.
"Of what 9thl''
Don't shoot" said the Yankees, eve are
friends, South Carolinians.''
"On which side are your" asked Col. Taylor.
For the Union" and Immediately after the
colonel gave the command to fire, and a volley
was poured into the Kentuckians from the 9Th
infantry, regulars, United States army. The
engagement then became general, and our four
regiments, with Capt. Cults four guns, were
soon actively engaged. The Yankees had every
advantage of position. There were several
houses along the Leesburg turnpike, and back
Of It a hill upon which their battery was placed.
Lower down, and opposite the 11th, was an
other battery placed in position to enflade the
turnpike should we enter it. The main battery
of six guns swept the road upon which we were
advancing, and kept up an incessant fire of
grape, canister and spherical case. The accu-
racy of their aim was remarkable, considering
the rapidity with which the guns were fired.
Capt. Cults got three of his pieces in position,
aud returned the fire rapidly and successfully.
Meanwhile the enemy advanced several regi-
ments Of infantry, and, protected by the nature
of the ground, came within a hundred yards of
Us, and forming in line, fred for some time,
keeping the air full Of minnie balls, and Gnally
attempted to charge. Three times the officers
gave the order and tried to get their men for
ward. but failed. They could not be pushed
into the thicket. Soon after this the firing on
both sides ceased, but not before great damage
was done to our force. For over an hour both
sides had kept an incessant firing. The wound
ed and dead lay on every side, and the regi-
ments were beginning to get scattered.
To give it a little more in detail: As our first
advance were marching by the flank towards
the Yankee skirmisheTs, two companies of the
Ilth Virginia were thrown out as skirmishers,
and sent forward. Capt. Houston's company
charged the Yankees with a shout, and drove
them in; and soon after the shout was taken up
by others, and all advanced within sight Of
Drainsvile. Company A, of the 11th, was de-
ployed on the right, but by some means got
lost, and was separated from the regiment until
the fight was over.
When the enemy formed in line of battle,
Col. Forney drew the 10th Alabama up also, and
prepared to advance upon them. The GOODNESS
and daring courage displayed by Col. Forney
was observed by every body. He rode back
ward and forward in front Of the line encours-
ging his men, and in getting all prepared for
the coming struggle. The same can be said OF
Col Garland. Soon after the firing commenced
Col FoTney was shot through the right arm.
Colonel Martin was killed, and the
of the regiment devolyed on Major
Woodward, who commanded on one side Of the
road, and the senior captain on the other. This
regiment lost more than any other. The SUM-
ter Artillery was in the road, and had three guns
in position. Only four pieces were out, and
sixty men. Capt. Cults and his men
fought braVely, and suffered severely. The en-
batteries played upon him for some time,
and killed nearly all his horses, destroyed one
timber, and exploded a csisson. Twenty-Five
horses were left dead upon the field. The guns
still kept firing, and did good execution, every
shot scattering the Yankees and telling upon
them seriously. He succeeded in breaking their
line, end IN driving their shsrp-shooters from
the house behind which they were hidden.
When ordered to fall back, the pieces were taken
to the rear by hand, with the assistance of the
Seeing the wagons safely to the rear, General
Stuart gave orders 10 fall back to a better posi-
ton. The regiment marched 10 the rear in good
order, both sides having ceased firing. At this
time Col. Tom Taylor rode to the right to see
what disposition had been made of his neigh
bors, and on returning found his regiment gone,
himself nearly surrounded by Yankee cav
airy. Throwing himself down he eluded them
and afterwards crept into a pine cOppice, and
there until dark, with Yankees neaeh
side of him. At night he escaped, and joined
his regiment this morning, sustaining no injury
beyond a slight scratch on the hand by a musket
bail.
Taking his force to the rear, where the ground
offered better positions, Gen. Stuart once more
drew up his force and awaited the enemy, but
he had enough of it and was not disposed to give
battle again.
Thus ended the battle of Dranisville, which,
although disastrous TO us, was more SO to the
enemy, i~fTecent reports are true. 1t is believed
thefe were seven regiments of infantry, one of
cavalry, and eight pieces OfIght artillery against
US.
The enemy seemed perfectly aware of the APP
proach of our party, and were prepared with an
overwhelming force. Nevertheless they suffered
severely, and lost, it is reported by the citizens
of DrainsYille, more than we did. We took two
prisoners.
This morning another force was sent oat under
Gen. Stuart, but has not yet returned. He took
possession Of the battlefield of The day previous,
and still holds it. lie reports this evening the
loss of the enemy much more heavy than ours,
but ! am unable q, this early date to get fuller
particulars.
r.o,n - me-inn