Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-12-24
Skirmish nj Drainsyille.s

r,,e = y last -+ff =
There are many conflicting accounts of the
tight at Drainsville on Friday last. We give
the following from the RicbDsoad Wheg, being
the account furnished it by sn officer who par
ticirated in that affair: i9 4ltkk Il
'sOn Friday morning, about daybreak, force
consisting of the 11th Virginia regiment (Coi.
GBiland's) the 1l3h Alabama, a detachment CT
The Washington artillery, and sqnad OF horse.
making 10 all about l, 700 men. under Gen. Stu
art, wento towards Drainsville, on a toraging
expedition. Somewhere in the neighboahood OF
that village, which lies twelve or fifteen miles
North of CeDtreville, the advance guard fell
back and notified Gen. Smart that a body of the
|enemy, numbering about 1900, were in his front
Determined not to be DEBATED in his expedition
by force not larger than his .owr, Gen. Stua1
pushed forward, intending to give them batte
it they stood their ground Before reaching
them, and whilepa.sing through skirt Of woods
Gen. Stuart was suddenly attacked by "a vers
large fuEce nnder cover and in ambush. The
Obhfedeiate4 forces fohgKt farfotay, sbnt, o
course Were not permitted to continue. so une-
quail conhict the only care Of the command
ing General being to extricate them as o. eedly
aud with as little loss as possible. This he sue
ceeded in doing in about balf an houl's time
leaving. as our informant states, about cne lun
drel aud forty lothers say sixty to hundred,
dead ard wounded on the field, and at the mer
| cy Of the enemy. Early next day Gen. Stuart
being reinforced, returned to the scene Of the
conflict, 10 the hope of again encounteling the
| foe, but he had disappeared and fled across the
Potomac, bearing off, as the people of Drains
vile stated, forty-four wagon loads of his OWL
dead and wounds d. ee4 sssassan easa
The following is an extract from letter re-
ceived b. Mc. BranEon, OF the Senate, on yester
day, dated Top of Allegilany," "Dec 10th, 1851
I'VE have had q most desperate battle. The
enemy attacked US early in the morning of the
18th The attack was made in two columns =
lon the right there were 8 900; on the lef1 2, 200
The fight commenced at Ten minutes to sever
O'clock A. NJ, ant lasted to fifteen minutes te
two o'clock P. NJ Ga the right we had 400
on ths lef: not exceeding 700. Our boys fought
like veterans. The right was defended by ths
3lst regiment, Hsnsbrough's and Rogers batta
Iioas, reinforced by two companies OF Gsorgians
The enemy were finally driven back by cbarge
On she LETT the defence was made by the SD re-
gment commanded by Major Ross; eight com
panies of the l2ll Georgjs, Miiier's, and Ander
sons batteries .a3ssee estA @
Enclosed send you list Of the killed ant
wounded iu the 3lst. Major Boykin behaved
nobly, and richly merits promotion. | have jus
heard that COL Wm. L. Jackson has been rein
stated to bis regiment. Major Boykin promoted
to Lieutenant Colonel, and John S. Hoffman
Major The boys are delighted They say, Will
such men they can whip the -.' Col. John
son Gays they have covered themselves witt
glory. He was in chief comlnand | wish h'
was General, for he fully deserves it. He wa
|every where that danger was most ilDminent.'
; For the Spectator .
Contributions for Soldiers.
From Mrs. Theophius Gamble 2 blankets
Unknown, 2 pairs socks; blankets and pair
} socks from Misses Ann anG Mary Jane Sitting
ton; Mrs. james Lyle, l blanket and 4 pair
socks Miss Mary Am Burger, 9 pairs socks
Received by-W. G. CAMPBELL. {
Dec Goth.
W Mrs. jackson, the wife of the martyr
(who was murdered by the Federal invader
when they took possession of Alexandria, ar
ber family have become residents of Charlottes
vile. yrs