The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-08
The Skirmish Near Newport News.
CAMP PACE, near Williamsburg,

CAMP FACE, near WILLIAMSBURG,
Friday evening, July >. (
The Northern press, powerfully given to
lying, will no doubt hatch a wonderful brood
OF mighty deeds incuba ted at Old Point and
leapng from the she'll in the affair of yester-
day morning below Youpg's Mill. The story,
however, is q sad one, for not one man falls
on our side, in this unholy war upon our
rights and liberties, who is not 4 sacrifice OF
magnitude, compared with the demoralized
material with which he is brought in con tact.
The minutia of the unfortunate termination
of yesterdays skirmish will doubtless be sent
to headquart tiers by the General, but as my
informant, an officer of the Confederate
Army, is just from the spot, and as this may
serve to correct numherleSs rumors that may
get afioat. give yon, as snccinctly as l can,
and almost verbatim. the truth of the story,
rs received from his lips, which is as fol-
lows:
Colonel DreuX, of Louisiana, left his en-
trenchments at Young's Mill on yes terday
afternoon with company of Cadet one hun
dred strong, accompanied by detachment OF
the Nottoway cavalry and a small one of
hOWitZerS, Wi III only one piece. He advanced
10 ones house, on James river road, and took
position for the night TO form an ambuscade.
AT sunrise this morning his advanced guards
reported the enemy advancing in small de-
tachments. He took position awaiting their
advance, when q fire from an arnbuscade of
the enemy was opened on his front and rear,
at the fist of which the gallant and noble
Dreux fell, pierced by the balls OF the merce-
nary foe. His men, not aware of the disaster,
awaited his orders for charge, when at this
moment the horses attached 10 the howitZer
became frightened, and breaking away from
their position, disconnected the infantry and
caused the cavalry to fail back, the ground
being uneven and exceedingly disad van ttgeous
to the movements of the horses As soon rs
the death of Colonel Dreux was ascertained,
Captain Collins Immediately assumed the
command, and reco Vered the body. The only
serious results of the affair were the death of
Colonel Dreux and the wounding of one of
on a " nv nf ia fol In T..
ders. Captain Collins, with the men under
his command, fell back in good order. 1t was
impossible, from the thickly wooded region in
which the enemy were ambus caded to tel,
how many of them We're killed and wounded
General Magruder is prepared for any at
tack that may be made. The infa tuated mer =
cenaTies of Lincoln are coming on to their
doom. Judicial blindness has fallen upon
the souls (giZZerds2) OF their leaders, and Sod
grant that discontinue and route and ruin
to their cause may soon be patent reality
to the worlds vision.
regret to say that an Irishman, supposed
! to be Intoxicated, was shot on yesterday 1T
HarWood's mill, below IouEgs. He would
insist on passing the sentinel, notwithstand-
| ing he was warned. He died i'll Il short
| time after he was shot.
We are in readiness at our camp fora march
at short tice or otherwise, as direction NAV
| be given.
l must not close this letter without again
urging your people to send mattresses 10
| refreshments and delicacies for the sick. A
| box or two of good wine, fruits, if they can
| be had, nice green tea, and any thlng else that
might give laid and comfort to the sick SOL
der. The mattresses reported to have been
! sent from Richmond some fortnight ago fol
| Yorktown, and the thousand dollars raised
| for the purpose of supplying the sick there
| with comfort, ] am told have not heenEre'
| Geiyed-so ! am Informed by DIR. Hines, the
| Hospital Surgeon
The inyalids from the Georgia Regiment
| guartered ut Camp Page, are IN hospital al
| William and Mary College. Tell yos,
good people OF Richmond, and through yonl
extensively circulated paper tell Jhs peopl,
| Of your upper country, 10 send down 70 thase
as we'll as those OF York. oGnas Little Rppreai
| alive dosatIpn in The way CT mattresses arc
| nourishInent for invalids. Anything direc ted
! to DIR. Camm, at this place, tor the Williams
burg hospital, or to DIR. Hines Yorktown, fo
the invalids there, will receive an appropri
! ate application. Oars.