The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-11

The following communication is from the
pen of Il Northern Lady, the wife of Virgin
ian, and may be regarded as at least Impair
tai ties timony:
ORANGE q. H., June Sth, 1891.
tn tIe Editors Of the Dispatch In your
Yesterday paper there is account OF the
skirmish At Fairfax Court House, purporting
to come from the commanding officer, Lieut..
Toupkns, which is so entirely devoid OF even
the Sc IN blance of truth, that / cannot resist
ths inl pulse of sending you short notice OF
the affair, hoping that II may give satisfaction
10 those of our own party who have not been
fortunate enough to hear from a reliable
source, and also show what detestapie liars
our enemies must be.
| was near the scene OF action that
could hear much that was said, and tho bull
lets as they went whiZzing through the trees
I'm all directions. The articulars were given
me afterwards by a gentleman, a most relia-
BILE person, though / could see much myself.
Between aud O'Clock SATURDAY morning,
our troops were Surprtsed-having OILY i've
minutes 10 prepare for the enemy, who were
under the i'm preston that there were only two
companies of cavalry in the place, tas one
of the prisoners told u.s. the Warrenton XII
fes having arrived that day. The Federal
troops numbering IS or so dashed into the vii
luye and fired in all direc tons, at random Ill
should imagine, and passed on short dis
lance out ; returned in Il lew minutes, and
were repulsed-and Tetreated. In just half an
hour they came back, In order TO return to
Arlington the way they came. and were
again Obliged to retreat, passing each time di-
rectly by the house we were stopping At
Their commander most certainly cursed them
in most revolving language, and called them
towards. Whatever their boosted courage
NAV have been, they did not wish to provoke
or stand another round from our brave nile
men and loOuld not make another attack, but
scattered, taking round about way back to
their quarters.
AS for brass siX-pounder, don't believe
there was one nearer than Centreville, and
the shots fired from doors and windows, L
give you my word there was not single one
fred in that way--lf for no other reason
than that the most of the fight occurred
where there was only stable, mill and shop.
must refer 10 that "flery little trumpe-
ter only Fifteen" who "killed two, and knew
he killed more !" and hope If this notice
should fall into his hands, 1t will dash his
couceit q trifie. There was only one mar
killed in the skirmish-Capt. MARI he mus
have fallen from one Of the first shots, as ht
WAS drawing his men in order. Two others
were wounded-one slightly, the other not
dangerously. Those We're the only ones whl
We're in lured at all.
According to their own report, they fare(
much worse. They say one was left behint
de;id-none were found. A poor old woman
coming into town had had her horse ane
wagon taken from her. She says eight O.
nine were put int it, some dead, other
wounded horses, some dead, other
Injured, and a good many arms OF dineren
knds were found, the exact number am no
able 10 state.
being shot dead, az is reported, when the
escaped from their sleeping guard, reache
the company in the afternoon, and were IT
ceiyed with loud cheers. l saw the men an
heard their story. l saw two OF their pris
oIers on the way TO Manassas one was bad
Iy wounded over the eye, both rough lookin
fellows. the other prisoners mad gone pt
fore l don't know how many--I think theI
were five in all.
Had our men had sufficient warning TO ha'
been in readiness for them, they would nav
all been taken. 1t being just before daWI
made il diffic ult also TO discern which icds IL
enemy. However, We certainly came on yeT
we'll taking verything into consideration
| send you this hastily written notice, AT
Won can publish il if you think proper. 70
viii find it more correct than those yon hay
already published. AN ErE- WlrSkss.