The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-12-07
Correspondence of Tho Cecil Whigl
CAMP GRIFFIN, Virginia,

NOV. 2bth 1861.
As promised to inform you if there was
anything worthy of note TRANSFERRED on our
Scout, ON Monday, now proceed to do So
We were ordered to be read at . o clock,
accordingly at that hour the LIST Squadron
Consisting of Companies A. and F.) were
on the ground ready for II start. We advan-
ccd to Freedom HILL and halted u few
minutes for the purpose Of looking around
n little. After seeing that all was right in
that ncighborhood. we proceeded directly ON
until we came to the II. X. from Alexandria
to Hampshire. We then followed it until we
reached Hunters Mills, where we again
halted, and Major Butler (who was com
handing the Squadron) went to the miller
and asked him if there had been any Sccesh
abb cut there lately. The miller said there
had been none there for some four or five
weeks. AS we had now gone as far as
ordered we made preparation for returning
to camp. but as the road we came was a very
bad one, the Major concluded to try and
find a better one, and asked the miller to
direct him. After he had cotton the dircc-
ions we started for camp, and crossed Diff
cult creek, over a very frail wooden bridge,
and had proceeded up the hill about } mile
when the Major with one or two other Off
GERS went to the right IL short distance.
where they saw sixty or seventy of the
rebels. We started on, thinking we could
outHank them. and by that means gain the
road to Vienna. We had advanced about }
a mile farther when we arrested Il lad about
III years of age, in uniform, making double
quick time in the direction of the enemy
We kept on up the hill on a trot, and Just as
we raised the top Ia distance of about II
miles from the MILD we came upon squad
of rebels with carbincs about thirty yards to
our right, while behind them some distance
was another lot of them, supported by Infun-
try. The Major halted us for few minutes.
and seeing their force was much greater than
ours and that they We're supported by lntnn-
try. and also that We had no possible chance
to charge ON them, owing to Il fence and II
large ditch in front of us he gave the com
mand, "lcft about, countermarch," and
the moment the head of the column had
turned they fired two shots at us land then
Lieutenant Paul called for the Infantry to
come up bit they did not come, because we had
none along. But the rusc had the desired
effect, as the enemy Immediately fell back
The second shot they fired took effect in one
of company F's. horses belonging to Ser
gcant James. The horse fell. and as the
others came down the hill they stumbled on
him and the man who was riding him, and
fell creating great confusion for awhile
One horse got away and started for the mill,
when Jos Ronan (Who was along with us
as my guest) started after it and caught it
one man got leg broke and some six or
eight got very badly hurt, but we got them
to camp all right. We came to camp across
the fields as we dared not go by the bridge
at the mill, and fortunately for us we did
not 90 there. One of company A. men started
that way to go to camp to get an Ambulance
but when he came to the bridge 'thcre was
no bridge there it had no doubt been taken
away by the miller, and he sent us that way
well knowing the Rebels were near there;
but tomorrow we will get the scoundrel, as
we are going after him expressly. One thing
! have to say it is tins, that our men were
perfectly cool all the while and rctreatcd in
good order. There is no more news here at
present. We had some snow here on Sun
day night, which has made the airquitc cool,
and we feel the necessity Of winter quarters
quite scnsibly. remain yours with respect,
j, FRANK CUMMINGS