The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-12-25
THE WAR NEWS.
Brilliant Fight With the Rebels.

~ Of Gen. Ord,- The Enemy Compiefety
Routed -Ttro Cannon Captured = The Loss
Of the Enemy, SeUenty-nine Killed and
FOUNDED.
WASHINGTON, Dec 20-This morning al
six o'clock a portion OF General McCall's
division proceeded in the direction OF
Dranesvisle on foraging expedition. and
for the purpose OF making Reconnaissance
in that locality. DraBesvile is about mid
way between McCall.s headquarters and
Leesburg.
On arriving in that vicinity they encoun>
Tered, the enemy who had four regiments
OF infantry, composed Of South Carolinans,
Alabamians, and Kentnckyians, with one
battery OF six pieces, ,and regiment oil cav
airy, under The command OF General Stew
art.
The only troops on our par: engaged in
the affair, al Gainesville were Gen. Ord's
brigade, the First regiment of rifles and
Easton's battery OF tour guns. At four o.
clock, alter the action, General Mccall sent
two Officers 10 count the rebels who were
killed and wounded, and il was asscerlained
that they left on the field fiity-seven killed,
and twenty-five wounded. Three OF the lat
Ter died on being removed making their
loss sixty killed and nineteen wounded
making :olal of seventy time killed and
wounded, and they no doubt carried off
many more
They also left nine horses killed or disa-
bIed.
The enemy were completely routed, and
flet pracipiiately after a fight of an hour
and halt leaving two cannon and a quar-.
tity of small arms, blankets, great coats Sc,
more than our troops conld bring away.
Our men also brought in some prisoners
besides the wounded
Our loss is, as near as can be ascerained
at present, about len killed and fifteen
wounded.
The expedition returned 10 their camp al
Langley's a; nine O'Clock tonight.
Gen Mccall in a despatch received at
headquarters tonight, says TOO much credit
cannot be given TO General Ord for his gal
lantry and skill throughout the day.
Easlon's battery was admirably served
and did good execution
The Rifles also behaved finely.
From Port Royal.
ReconnoiSdnce 10 The Charleston and Savannah
Railroad Depression Of The South.-4 Great
Negro hSIHreefion IN Mississippi.
New York, Dec. 90 Advice per the
steamer AtlahtIc states that fonr hundred OF
our men, on the 18th crossed 10 the main
land, towards the Charleston and Savannah
Railroad, and encountered a rebel force OF
fifteen hundred. who retrealeG, alter firing
voey without effect.
The Fourh New Hampshire Regiment
had gone TO Tybee Island. The balance OF
Gen. Wraht's brigade would follow
The special correspondence OF The New
York Tribune, from Port Royal, gives a ru-
NOR of the defeat of the Rebel commodore,
! HolIins and the sinking oil his ship, by the
Massachusetts.
Universal depression is reported through
oui the South. New Orleans is particularly
depressed.
A great negro insurrection is reported in
/ Mississippi by which an immense amount
| OF property was destroyed, including $50,
/ 600 worth on the Quiman estate alone.
From Gen. Banks Column.
! A GALLANT AcT-A REBEL MILL BURNED AT
DAM NO. s.
( WuIIAMsPoRT, Dec 20 Last night, a
! party from the fifth Connecticut Regimen
/ and Dient. Rickeu's battery men went over
/ in skif and burnt the mill at dam No 3
which has been occupied by the rebels a:
stronghold. They captured some gun,
and tools, Intended for The purpose of break
I ing mp the dam No 5, with blankets, &c
Two deserters from Jackson's rebe lorce
arrived here yesterday. giving some Impor
tan. information. Jackson, IL is said, ha.
been promoted TO The command of The
/ whole valley OF Virginia, and that he ha
five regiments on The neck opposite here
with > guns. All is quiet this morning.
Col. Leonard arrested man yesterday
under suspicious circumstances, leading tC
the belief that he Is spy.
Details of the Battle at DraineSVillc.
.
al six O'Clock this morning His commanc
consisted OF fonr tull regiments, the Buck
tail Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel Kane, an,
Easton's battery, consisting oil two twenty
four and two Twelve pound h0wiizers =
They proceeded on a ioragiug expedition
in the direction of Drainesville Gen Nc
Call, anticipating they might be attacked
ordered First and Second brigades 10 foloS
at eight A. NJ. The First Brigade Genera
Reynolds advanced on the Leesburn turn
pike, and took a position on Difficult Cree
to await further orders. Two hours lale
General Mccall, with his staff and escort c
cavalry, followed by the same route
Meantime General Ord advanced 10 ia
Thornton House, near Gainesville. whe
his command was suddenly fred upon b
force lying in am bush in dense woods aC
iacent This was the signal for battle, an
a brisk engagement promptly ensued
General Mccall who arrived few mi.
, u,es previously, took command. Ia mt
ments time, Easton's battery was plante
: alongside the thornton House, aud fire
rapidly and with terrible effect in the ear
r my's ambush Colonel Kane's "Buckta
Rihemen" were placed in advance, ar
! fired upon the enemy wherever they mae
their appearance. The rebels who had
battery OF six pieces returned the canuoni
ding. and replied to the Rifles with Muske
! ry. The fire was kept up some three qua
j iers of an honr when the enemy reireaIe
. rapidly, the fire of The whole brigade, Riff
! and battery. being too hot for them.
The scene in The woods presented all Il
i horrors OF sanginary battle field, with II
dead and dying lying strewn in warrior
II directions. Forty dead bodies of the rebe