The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-03
ARMY OF the HOT0N1AC.
trRoN orr CORRESPONDENCE

rickets, who fell back from the line ny Arn-
SOU Is aud Mssou's hills to Falls Church -
The enemy pressed Forward and occupied our
lines for some distance. The Twenty sey-
enth Virginia was In advance, but on the an
proa1i. OF he enemy fell back, leaving In.
hind them the 'Shriver GraYs." n single
COM psns who r.s-not notified OF tho re-
iaoval of fhe regiment by the Sergeant. Major
who posted them. Through the night thew
maintained their position until ordered. at
half-p,si this morning, 10 join their r.pi
iAeni. Their absence gave rise to the belief
they bad been captured by the Federais, and
AiiloT 1ribsey, the officer in command of the
Twenty seventh Immediately started out in
pursuit OF them. AZ l wrote in previous
letter. the night was dark and stormy and
the poor fellows had q dsmal time OF il: for
watching for Yankees on dark night, with
every thread of oaes clothes satura ted with
water, with chilled body, and with small
Streams rickling down il into ones boots is
by no means u cheerful occupation. They
were fon III all right, however, very wet cold,
and hungry. but with their usual en- TIT sias In
and Ni@ilance unabated by the storm On
approaching tile rccim nj The ''Grays" were
received with great pit ;sure by their COM
panloIis, W no Supposed them lost, and cheer
after cheer burst forth at their safe return -
For once, at least, the "Crays'' have had
their metal tested. Ter it Is such trying cir
oumsGanc as these that bring out the true
qualities OF men.
About y o clock to- day p large number OF
the curmy came up 10 Mason's hill and
made preparations for easy time. They
coula be- seen smoking, chatting, piaYing
cards, and amusing themselves generally -
Just as portion OF Them sat down to dinner
Col. Tom Taylor, of the LIST Kentucky Ra.i-
ment, came up to the foot az the hill and IRE.
pared 10 ariv" them from it. The gallant
kentuckians were eiated at the prospect O: Il
brush with the enemy, and moved pr"n.ptlv
up to The grove III which many CT them Ii al
been seen. FOR six months this regiment mas
been in the service, and toT lne first time they
were gwen an opportunity TO snow them
selves. they have endured many hard 4 nj
wearisoIae marches have been days without
their teuts or provisions have biSou.cltrd
in every place they have yet been STA
toned, ;tnu have done their fan share of gar
rison, Police, and picket duty. But through
II All what they most wan ted the opportunity
of fight, WAS never granted them. What
was the Use of drilling six long months and
then not have IL chance to show their proii-
iiciency, was beyond their reckoning
They could bark squirrel at a hundred
yards and drive a nail al fifty, ANA thong Int it
a useless piece OF folly to drill six months
To shoot At q mark as large as . Yankee. After
Il time they i.it themselves Imposed on, and
began u think that the fight they had en- tered
was moi irc" fight after al. Col. Taylor
kept them at it, however, aud has them rs
.r3t drilled. ,rohnlly, as any men Of their
naturally daring dispositions ani skill in
we0dIn.nscg 1T generally get In be. Col.
Tola TaNicr, the commander q! the LIST Ken
tuc1v rc@lIntnt is - fine :. specimen of :,
inaH as one would wish 10 find He was the
bearer OF c.SpAtCh from oar Cover Iaent 20
Washington some time ago, and there at
IrActed consider. bic notice hy his military
air aGt powerful frame. Dr.. Russell gave
II good pen and ink description OF linn ir his
correspondence with ne London TINS, 1len-
tioning particularly his fine barb difri1He,
which has now grown until ii nearly covers
his face II is about thirty years OF age. oi
very large stature, fond OF social iifN, Kind and
3ii.ible to all, and much admired by his men
Added - his other qualifications. Col TAYLOR
hts voice that I lion might be proud of and
powerful enough to lift 4 small man ont of
his boots.
The regiment was formed In lire of battle
1T the foot OF the hill, and two comu2nics
olt- on either side, deplovcd as skirInish hers
1t WAS the work OF Il moment, and the col
unn was ordered forward at double Cnirk-
Up the Hill they turn b!rt; with tremendous
Wells and down The hill went the YAul;rcs as
fast as their legs v-cu Id carry them Several
OF the eufmT's hnrsemen started also and
leaping over fcuces Of q hreak-nelli height
made hI>ty tracks for the distant forti,ica-
lions. Bat tew shots Were fired either
side; one company CT the kentuckians dis
charged their rifles at long range, and three
OF the Fe,terals We're killed. after giving
them q biz scare. and seeing them some dis
lance or their Journey i are, Co. Tayl0r
withdrew from the hill. Later in the even
ing party OF ten Went back to recover some
properly, and accomplished their erraud
witlln-t being rolestod.
i short ,.lle after, while riding down the
road 10 - = party Of officers were stopped
by m old gray headed farmer, who inquired
what force tl.'y .la
why 10 you ask - said The doctor
"a whole brigade passed my house in the
night. I'D / expect they've been making
ind f.rr. ,>p nm
"Who las been laaking masked battery
for Us 80 asked the doctor.
The rthf :, was the reply.
Just 1t the moment Co. Taylor came u9.
and one q the party said
Colonel, isrre is a friend who says the reb-
els have sta tEap for Us
put him under arrest said the Colonel
And auosher diSi"ytil citizen CT Virginia was
put where he Will ito no further harm 10 fiic
state that HIS protected and enriched him.
HIS name IS NeWcombe, and he is now il. the
guard ho1se III this Town.
Abou; the late affair III I4ewinsyille, have
nothing further 70 say. Although. the Yam
KEGS ran al he first intilna tion OF the approach
OF our troops, there WAS such Il ''bosh'i made
al the whole affair, that il did not rebound
much 10 our credit. The fight WAS Hasa in
the pdu--t plFte ''iizLle,' TO use a COM
lnou bat not very elegant e., preston.
Among lie incidents of the first fight at
LewinsViiie, was one / have hitherto failed
10 notice, bat which Will bear reading even AT
thIS IA tt ia e " Len the r t(lt TaIS We're
ven from the village, a letter was found on
tile grOUld, adirt ss-d TO -. J.. Il. Stuart
Esd, commanding cavalry, in care of who
ever finds this" /; was delivered TO Co!one!
Stuart, who found the following letter.
may presume that 'Bcauty' WAS the name
Col. Stuart Went by among his comrades
w,liie a Cadet At West Point. Poe and Grit
In were both classmates:
HUNTSVILLE, Sept. llth, lS6!.
Ny Dear 'Beauty'-1 am sorry tina; cir-
t.yD.sa ch ! l,.-
pleasure of seeing you, although so Near YOU
Griffin says M would like TO have you zine
with him at Nillard's. at 5 O'clock on Sltlr-
day next. Keep your Black Horse oil NE,
Yours, &c, ORLASpo d. PoE,
Lieut.. L. y. Tool Eng' RS
+. S.-Piease answer both the note and
Griffin invitation.
Nnen Col. stuart sent in his report Of the
skIrIniSh. this letter was sent TO HEADQUARTERS
also, it'll the following endorsement upon
it II have the honor 20 reoort that srirrAn-
staar5s acero s"ra that tuey could have seen
me- II they had stopped To look behind, and |
answered both ~ Ute caunot. mouth. Jutr-
ing lrCu his speed, Griffin surely LEFT for
" ashin gton to hurry nI' the dinner
- r.. IL. START
This evening sad sight met my eye as ]
was riding on The turnpike towards AMMAN
dale I%o or three n4en, true and loyal Nir-
giniaDs, hal their tilnilies and a few things
they could hurTiedly take with them in
wagons, on their way TO Fairfax. Their
houses had been burned h., the yandal enemy,
and ltcartsick and homeless with the savings
OF years destroyed i'll moment. these poor
victims We're seeking shelter in our lines TO
project their persons from outrage. II would
nave Ul;ida the blood of an, Eirginian boil
with rage 10 have seen the sight and to have.
fest the modification OF being powerless 10
aid or revenge them. Their houses have been
hnrned aud their farms or piantations-I
like the old word very much better-haye
Ia.