Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-06-25
Another Skirmish- The Federalists again
ROutpd


Spencer Hsncock, Esq, of Chesterfield CO.,
who returned to this city yesterday evening
from Fairfax @. H. gives Us the following narra-
tion of Skin mish which took place about 6 o.
clock on Monday evening, few miles from that
locality. Mr.. Il. was himself participant in
the affair, and his statement may therefore be
relied on:
On Sunday morning. Col. Gregg received or
ders to go out on reconnoiteriDg expedition
He took with him 600 South Caronans, a COM
pany OF Kempers Artillery and two companies
OF cavalry, including 45 of Capt. Balls Chester
company and Capt. Terry's company, of Bed
| ford He started at O'Clock A. NJ. They re
mained Sunday night at piece called DraDes
VILE On Monday morning Col Gregg with IA d >
tachinent Of 45scayalry, went few miles down to
tile Potomac River to make observations. They
remained in the vicinity about an hour, and dis
tiuctly saw tents AMI men on the Maryland side.
They judged there were about 800 men encamp-
ed at that point.
COL Gregg afterwards returned to Dranesville,
/ formed his command into column and marched
down the road to place called Vienna. Here
they remained only long enough to tear up the
track OF the Alexandria, Loudoan and Hampshire
Railroad and des roy water tank-probably
about an hour-after which they started to re-
turn to Dranesville The troops had proceeded
aboutia halt mile when the whistle of the To-
comotive was heard in the distance, whereupor
Col. Gregg ordered halt, wheeled his column
and marched rapidly back to Vienna. They
) had scarcely time to place two cannon iu posi-
tion when a train of cars, &C insisting of six fat
and baggage car, came slowly around the curve
nnshed by locomotive. Each fat was crowd
ed with armed men, whose bayonets glistened il
the evening sun, and gave our men an impress
sion that severe contest was as hand. This
however, was not realized, as the result will
show.
t Just as the train was about to stop, the ar:il
Y lery fired well directed shot from one of thei
/ guns which raked the Hessians fore and aft
e CONSERVATION and dsrnay were distinctly visible
t and, after another fire, the enemy were seeI
hastily leaving the cars and taking to the woods
The engineer OF the train was smart enough t.
4 uncoupls the locomotive and take the back tract
for Alexandria, leaving the entire train to b
. captured by our troops. Col Gregg's infantr,
and the cavalry pursued the fngitives a shor
. distance through the woods but were unable t.
o overtake them. A few of the party exhbite,
some bravery and endeavored, by shouts, to raj
d iy their flying comrades, but it was impossible
~ They then turned and discharged their pieces a
our men without effect. Six of the enelny wer
left dead upon the ground.
1t is believed that this invading party. consist
Su VI 1tSSuldtS anu NtCHlSdu Oluute6TS. OO
n Gregg had received Information that detach
9 nent OF FEDERAL Is came to Vienna Oh Sunda
= evening, and brought timber to repair tn
. bridge, and that they stated while there tha
= = they would come on Monday with men enoug
3 to whip aud hang every id Secessionist in til
,e neighborhood They made slight mistake i
d their calculations.
About twelve rounds were fired by our artil
re lerg, but the enemy scattered after the secon(
'S Neither the infantry nor the cavalry fred sho
e Our troops burnt the cars and captured cor
I siderable quantity of carpenters tools, blanket:
s. aud other baggage, together with about 20 mus
~ ~ kets and number pistols. Mr.. Hsncoc
y brings with him as trophies q S. soldiers car
7 havelock thoroughly saturated with blood, al
IN bayonet.
The fire of our artillerists was most effective
Ell One man was found with bis head shot com
pletely off, another with bis arm shot off at til
shoulder, aud other ghastly objects proved th
destructive effect of rhe Shots 1t is though
that one of the balls broke the couplings of til
e. locomotive; at all events, the engine was take
away from The scene of action with all possib]
speed.
After the engagement, Col. Gregg retired wit
ts his command to Fairfax @. II. Mr.. Hancoc
left there at O'Clock yesterday morning. 81
requests to state that all of Capt. Balls com
D manG were in good health.-Rich. Dispatch
"a the 1871