New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-07-17
I The sfsfrmssIs ia which Col. Isrenx yvay
| HfiIed--a Dragpog1,s version.

I
We find in the Richmond Examiner the following
account of the unfortunate skfrrnish in which fell
our gallant young feliow-eitizen. The writer de-
clares himself to have been present with The car,
airy He says:
On reaching the farm of Mr. Curtis, about four
miles from Newports News, the Colonel sent for
ward three mounted dragons to ascertain If there
was any approach of the enemy. He then re-
traced bis steps, in the direction of Y0ungs MHiss
from which place be had marched,) and after
having marched about half mile, we were halted
opposite narrow woods road on the right, run
ming at right angles with the main road. At this
time the dragons. who had been sent forward to
watch the approach OF the enemy, returned, and
reported that the eneray was ab6fst mile distant
and advancing upon us, but could form no correes
idea of theirstrength. Col. Drer1 then ordered
the cavalry 10 take position in the woods road,
about sixty yards from and facing the main road,
and to hold themselves ready to charge. The
hoaitzer was then placed in the same road, aboHs
ten or fifteen paeesin front Of The cavalry tho ia-
fantry were then ordered to take position right
and left Of tflfs road, parallel with and alongside
the main road. Several scouts of infantry were
then sent down the road, on the woods side, to
report the near approach Of the enemy, under
oroers TO conceal themselves and not to fire.
Inc orders then given by oUr commander were
that we should remain perfectly quiet until the
enc my mad arrived Opposite our position, at which
SIne the command could he given for sglulta-
Beous fire of the howiizer and infantry. Then the
cavalry were to charge upon them in the read.
the first j Iniiaation tn that we had of the near ap
the direction in which the scouts had gone which
was quickly followed by a second shot and, after
a short pause, the firing was renewed and kept up
brskly for some minutes, with the balls cutting
around the cavalry in all directions The whole
time not man left the position assigned him In
a short time, we ascertained from their fire that
they had gotten on the flank aud rear of the cav,
airy, who were then surrounded By q thieket SO
dense as render it impossible to ride through It,
or to see the approach of an enemy till within
| few feet Of them. We suppose their fire was di-
| rected by the noise made By our horses. Most Of
| the shots were fred too high, though one was
seen to strike very near the foot of Lieut.. Caring
toms morse. Finding themselves thus exposed,
their captain ordered his men to stand firm while
he should ride to the road for further orders end
| to learn why the infantry were not returning the
fire of the enemy.
About this time, three of the enemy, showing
themselvesnear the path, were fired upon by the
cavalry, two of whom were killed and the third
wounded During the whole Of this time, ths how
itzer had not moved from its position or fred
shot. The command was here given to " Timber
up the piece, and almost instantaneously the
order was obeyed and the piece driven rapidly off.
Then it was that the cavalry moved off, after the
gun, and not before it, as stated by your in
iorunant. . a
Believing at the same time that the moving Of
the hositzer signal for general retreat, the
commander Of the cavalry, as soon be discovered
the error into which his men had fallen, hurried
out, and h halted bis men and the howitzer, and
| geant Of the howitzer to say that he made every
effort to halt his piece. And will here say that
the statement of your informant, thst the herses
Of the howitzer were frightened and cansed to run
off by the movements Of the cavalry Is simply
aiatrae they in full motion before the cav
airy moved from its first position. AS to the cav
airy preventing the action Of the infantry. is, to
| say the least Of it, sheer nonsense. And 30 far
| from retreatng at the first fire of the enemy, the
| last gun was fred by a 1ragoon And your cor
respondent believes that the lamented Col. Dreux
fell at the first or second shot fred by the enemy
| Your correspondent would here state, that II is
not his purpose to censure the conduct Of any COM
rade in arms, but rather to sustain and support
| them, for ours is o common interest and a common
| destiny. TO do so, would be to give aid and COM
| fort toa common enemy. In saying what have
said. have been actuated to vindcate and sustain
the department of men who yield to none in their
devotion to their native South and their readiness
and ability to defend her rights. We hope that
| this may put at rest the many erroneous versions
| of this skrmish that have been presented to the
| public.
AS your informant seemed in doubt as to what
| cavalry were engaged, we will inform you that it
! was detachment of the Halifax GataWba Troop,
commanded by Capt. William Collins.