Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-02

be accomplished, LII Lo ouS VIM
burden, unless it DC some one not NJ 10 h'e
and certainly not fit to die.
The following is IN Off cial report OF the IN
t~eresting Eight near Fairfax Court House, fir-
GINA:
CAMP NEAR FAlKfAx G. H.,
18th June, 1861, II a. NJ
ColoueL:- pursuance Of orders received
at | O'Clock. A. NJ, on the 10th june, | pro-
ceeded in the forenoon Of that day to make a
reconnaissance across the county towards the
Potomac. Marching from this place with my
Regiment (about 575 strong, after leaving a
large camp guard and Capt Balls troop CT
horse, numbering about 10, Gncluding a de-
tachment from Captain Wickham's troop
met at the Frying Pan Church Captains Ter
rvs iroop of horse, about 20 strong, Qncludinga
detachment Of Capt, Llnghorn's Company } and
two guns Of Captain kempcr's battery, com.
handed by himself in person and with thirty.
five men. With this force went on to Drains.
Vile, learning on the way that some four hun
dred Of the enemy came up the Alexandra and
Lecsburg rail road the same day about | o'clock,
P. NJ, to within q mile or two Of Hunters,
Mills, and then returned. Early in the morn
ing OF the 18th, | rode, With a troop OF horse,
to the heights on this side Of the Potomac. op.
poSite to Seneca Greek, and went in person TO
the bank of the river to reconnoitre. | could
SEE but few troops of the enemy and no boats
prepared for crossing the river.
We marched down afterwards under the gui.
dance of Captain John Powell, a high spirited
and highly intelligent and most Jealous friend OF
our cause, to Hunters Mil, WHERE if tho enemy
had been engaged in repairing the railroad
bridge, q plan of attack, devised by Captain
Powell, would have offered the best chance OF
success. We found, however, no sign OF the
enemy, and only some railroad cars still snlok
ing, which had been destroyed by our friends
in the ncishborhood.
We then marched to Vienna and DIRE" up
our force in readiness to receive the enemy, II
they should repeat the visit made for the last
two days. Nothing being seen Of them, now
ever, and the water tank having been demoi.
ished TO increase the obstacles already caused
BY the removal Of the lead pipe for conveying
water,) | put the command IN march
for FLirEax Court House towards q o'clock, +.
".
Just as we were moving off, u distant rail
road whistle was heard. | marched the troops
back, placing the two i FOUNDER guns on the
hill commanding the course of the road, lInn!e'
diatcly supported by Company b, lst. ). Z.
Volunteers, Lieut.. Mcintosh. The rest OF tue
regiment, under Lisnt. Col. Hamilton, was
formed on the crest Of the hill TO the right Of
the guns. The Cavalry were drawn up still
further to the right.
The train ofcars came round the curve OF the
railroad into sight at the distance OF perhaps
four hundred yards. Captain kemper and Lieu.
tenant Stuart opened Il rapid and well aimed
fire with the two guns which would have
been very destructive if The troops mad not
made q most rapid movement from the cars
into the woods. Surprising that they might
form and advance, sent companies A, Capt
Miller, and E, Captain Gadberry, to deploy az
skirIniShrrs against them. Afterwards, hnd
ing that they were flying, sent Capt Terry
with his troop, guided by Mr.. George NJ. Hun
ter, a jealous friend Of the cause, in pursult.
From the lateness Of the hour, however, the
nature Of the ground, and the start which the
enemy had, lney could not be overtaken.-
Six Of the enemy were found dead and one
desperately wounded. Blood was also found
on the bushes through which they had lied,
but the darkness prevented Il serious search.
One passenger car and five platform cars were
taken and burnt.
IL SeCtHS, ITOIU lue llfluTilidtlUl VIC ShliSt1
that five Or six more cars belonging to the
same train, and, perhaps, o number of cars in
u second train, escaped by u prcclpltatc retreat.
The wounded prisoner represented the eneny'S
force as eight hundred and fifty men, and said
it was the fifth Regiment Of Ohio Volunteers,
commanded by Col. McCook.
Various arms, requirements and tools were
taken, and one officers sword without a scab-
bard.
My orders requiring me to avoid any un.
necessary engagement, and not to ramaln
absent from my camp more than one night, |
marched back to the place, where | arrived
about l o'clock this morning.
| hare every reason To be satisfied with the
conduct Of all our troops. Captain Kemper'S
command showed great ardor, combined with
discipline. Captain Kenper md Lieutenant
Stuart's skill in the management Of the guns
left nothing to desire. Lieut.. Colonel Hamil.
ton led the first regiment with his usual gal
lantry Of bearing, duly seconded by Major
Smith, Lieut. Ready, acting Adjutant, and
Captain McGowen, Regimental Qusrternaster.
DR.. Powell, Surgeon, and DR.. Bull. Assistant
Surgeon, had little to do, as lhs fire Of mus
kerry, with which the enemy in scrarbling
out Of the cars replied to our cannnnade, was
struggling and ineffective.
Major Kennedy, Colnrnissary, and Captain
Tyler, volunteer in my staff, were prompt
to carry orders and to give valuable counsel.
The companies of Captains Miller and
Gadberry, though greatly fatigucd with two
appeared revived q. once when thrown forward
as skirnishers against the enemy. The same
spirit was shown by all the other companies
- to- Do;oant T > Da,- &c TIn,pDopv II |
proved himself ready and skillful in d%eranging
and the cavalry. which they led, commanded
only needed opportunity for more effective
action.
We arrived here about one o'clock this
morning.
have the honor, Colonel, to be,
Very respectfully, your cbed't ser't,
MAxEY GREGG,
Col. LIST Reg't S. G. V, CONG a, Fairfax, G. II.
70 Colonel W. G. MoKAGSE, 4. A. A. Gen.,
Ccntcrville.
NorE.-From papers taken, it appears that
it was the 1st Regiment Of Ohio volunteers,
not the 9Th, that was encountered ut Vienna.
The Cause and the Materiel-Each Side.
We make the following extract from one Of
the late letters of "Personne," the intelligent
and observing Richmond correspondent Of the
"Charleston Courier -
Contrast, for a moment, the two causes
On the one side, we are defending the prln.
ciplcs promulgated by our fathers-the right
Of sclf.governlnent. On the other is arrayed
mere mercenary interest, and the hate CT a
people who seek the subjugation Of a race they
cannot use.
Contrast again the leaders in tho contest.
On the one hand are Davis, Tcombs, Beaure-
gard, Lee, Johnston, Huger and Bragg. On the
other are Lincoln, Seward, Scott, Pierce, But.
Ter, Banks, Cadwallader and Patterson. The
first a tower Of strength, resting upon the solid