The national Republican., 1861-12-25
For the National Republican.
The DR. u n nesvilte r z n {

left the pen long months ago, because do
not think, at times 81 disastrous as tho present,
that II "is migbticr than tho sword" The pen
il good enough in its place, but when employed
in garblng truths made sacred by the sword,
l. Iuses sight Of its true object and sinks to the
level il was never made TO ho nor. 1t seems
out of place in my hand now. The musket
finds IL reader palm, and one 1t seems made
naturally to fill. But do dislike TO see little
things garbled by the press. This Is why
| take the pen--not from choice, but because
like IL sec fairness in all things, and praise be.
| slowed where it rightfully belongs.
| In the Sunday Morning Chronicles detailed
account of the affair at Dranesville on the 2Otli
co"liy by without correction. In tho first place,
| then, the account says that, in addition to the
| Third Brigade Of the Pennsylvania Reserves,
| commanded by Brigadier General L. . G. Ord.
" EaStman's battery of ten 24-pOunders, and
| tw" l2.pound howiiZers," accompanied the
expedition to Dranesville, when, in reality, but
| four OF E;istman's guus were engaged iff the
| battle, and but four accompanied the eXped.
| ton. nave neither time nor inclination tn
| follow the Chronicle through all of its misstate @.
ments, but wish to correct some of the most
prominent and to give some praise, at least, to
| the Sixth regiment, which conducted itself
most nobly through the whole engagement
| and proved to every eye witness that there
| ess nobly did the " BuCktails" " act. They are
| tn" generous, and come far from being selh.h h
enough t" claim all honor TO themselves when
II should justly be divided. The Chronicle says
"After an hour of steady firing, which was
repied /" with spirit by the enemy, the FIRE
| began 10 sackPn Some of their regiments
| advanced from the woods, Intending TO flank
| our men, divide our column, and cut it to pieces.
| An assault was therefore made by the Kane Ri
Hes, who charged bayonets upon them with
brskness and drove them back" &C., &c.
| The facts are these: After an hours firing,
| Gen. Ord commanded us Uhe Sixth regime, ,IL
I" cease aud to charge bayonets through the
| wood. AT this time, The "Duoktais" were in
| our rear but as we commenced on double.
| quick" that regiment made an obque move
mnnt and came up on our left, and both regi.
menIs continued the charge in line. The Ninth
regiment was ON our right. The Twelfth WAS
far in "nr rear, and Isjther m tde a charge or
fred gun. The Tenth was also hold in re
serve. The Ninth and Sixth advanced for the
| purpose of taking the battery, and not the
| Twelfth, rs stated in the Chronicle The Buck
tails retained their position ON the left of the
road. When the three regiments named had
reached iheslight ridge on which tho enemy s
battery had been planted, they found that the
enemy had retrea,ed. and taken a new position
| in rear. Consequently, we made halt there,
and our battery came down and took the enc
ny's old position. Tho BuGktails" and SIKH
Uhe former on the left and the latter on the
light of the roai) continued the pursuit for
dDput Il hlls anu Il Hlll, WnCn uhNlnR NJ nope
| vt Uvertaking the enemy, we returned to our
| battery, where we found the Twelfth. The
enemy had left two Of their ctissons, which wc
found bad been destroyed on our return, by
| order uf Gen. Ord.
The Twelfth regiment did not lose man, nor
was one wounded. The Bucktals " lost two
killed, while about twenty were wounded
Fiiccm Of the Sixth regiment were wounded
and two killed; one has since died of his
| wounds. Capt. A. L Niles, (not h. ca of com
pamy l., Kane Raes, was quite severely
wounded, hut is recoveriug.' According TO the
Gr0iuctc'S report, company +, of the Bucktails
had two captains, one of which (Mr. Galbraith)
wdH Killed and tho other wounded. No officer
Of 'tut regiment was killed. Many errors werc
us" made in regard 10 the Companies to which
he killed and wounded belong, and in tho
names. We have charity however, enough tt
believe that the Chronicle did not intend tC
wrong any regiment, nor to take from it any
praise. Ihe Tenth and Twelfth would doubt
less have ne us well rs the " Bucktail," ;" Sixth
and Ma Ii had they been in the sasne position
SAL, they ought not to have the praise while
We did the hshling. Kane's regiment fight
Ike li2ers, and our regiment was cOmpmented
| hy Gen. Mccall for bravery and endurance.
Will the CIronicie make the an,ende honord
btct SORE HEAD.
i Camp Perpont, Va, Dec. 20, 1861.