Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-07-20
Col. Gregg's Official Report.
CAMP NEAR FAInrAx O, IT,,
18th june. 1861, INA.

4 ut L CiQckb "A. ol., OH the et3lOta juno IL
proceeded in tho forenoon of thntdas to mako
a reconnaissance across tho country, towards
the Potomac. Marching from this 3plpce with
my Regiment, (about SIS strong, ater lcay-
ing largo camp guard,) and Captain Bull' s
ing detachment from Captain Wickham's
troop, mot, at tho Frying Pan Church, Cap
] tain Terry's troop of horse, about 70 strong
!, Gncluding detachment nf Capt I.aas::..::.': {;
! Company and two guns of Capt. Kempcr's
battery, commanded by himself in person,
and with 35 men. With this forco / went
on to Drainsvilc, learning OH the way thut
some four hundred of the enemy came up tho
Alexandria and IIccsOurg Railroad the samo
day about one o'clock, p. NJ, to within a
mile or two of Hunters Mills, and then re-
turned. Early on the morning of the 18th,
| rodo, with q troop Of horse, to the hoights
on this side of tho Potomac, opposite to Sc
ncca Creek, and went in person to the bank
of tho river to rcconnoitrc. | could sec but
fow troops of the enemy and no boats prepared
for crossing the river.
We marched down afterwards under tho
guidance of Capt. John Powell high spir-
| tied and highly Intelligent and most Jealous
friend of our cause, to Hunters Mill, where,
if the enemy had been engaged in repairing
the railroad bridge, II plan of attack, devised
by Capt. Powell, would have offered tho best
chance Of success. We found, however, no
sign of the enemy, and only some railroad
cars still smoking, which had been destroyed
by our friends in the ncighborhood
We then marched to Vienna, and drew up
our force in readiness to receive tho enemy,
if they should rcpct the visits made for the
last two days. Nothing being seen of them,
however, and the water tank having been de.
molishcd, (to increase the obstacles already
caused by the removal of tho lead pipe for
conveying watcr) | put the command to
march for Fairfax Court House towards six
clock, p NJ.
just as we wcrc moving of, a distant rail-
road whistle was hcarda marched the troops
back, placing the two G-poundcr guns on the
hill commanding the course of the road, i'm
mcdately supported by Company j, lst S.
G. Volunteers, Lieut.. Mcintosh The rest
of the regiment under Lieut.. 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 of cars came round the curve of
the railroad into sight at the distance of per.
haps four hundred yards. Capt. Kcmpcr
and Lieut.. Stuart opened a rapid and well
aimed fire with tho two guns, which would
have been very destructive if the troops had
not made most rapid movement from the
cars into the woods. Supposing that they
might form and advance sent Companies
A, Capt. Miller, and Il, Capt. Gadbcrry, to
dcploy as skirmishcrs against them. After
wards, finding that they were flying, sent
Capt Terry with his troops, guided by Mr.
Geo, NJ. Hunter, jealous friend OF the cause
in pursuit. From the latcncss of the hour
however, the nature Of the ground, and the
start which the enemy had, they could not be
ovcrtakcn. Six of the enemy were found
dead and one desperately wounded. blood
was also found on tho bushes through. which
they had fed but the darkness prevented a
serious search. One passenger CIR and five
platform cars were taken and burnt
It seems, from the information We gather,
that five or six more cars belonging to the
same train, and, perhaps, number Of ears in
sccond train escaped by prcciritatc re-
treat The wounded prisoner represented the
cncmys force MS eight hundred and fifty men,
and said it was the Fifth Regiment Of Ohio
Volunteers, commanded BY Col. AlcCook.
Various arms, accoutrcncnts and tools
were taken, and one officers sword without
scabbard.
AhJ oiaclS requiring Hlc 10 aNhtu any un-
necessary engagement, and not to remain ab.
sent from my camp more than one night, |
marched back to the place, where arrived
about one o'clock this morning
| have every reason to be satisfied with the
conduct of all our troops. Captain Kcmpcr's
command showed great ardor, combined with
discipline. Captain kcmrcr and Lieutenant
Stualt's skill in the management of the guns
left noting to desire. Lieut. Col Hamilton
led the first regiment with his usual gallantry
Of bearing, duly seconded by Major Smith,
Lieutenant Ready Acting Adjutant, and
Captain hlcGowen, Rcgimcnta Quart, rmastcr.
Dr. Powell, Surgeon, and Dr. Bull, Assistant
Surgeon, has little to do, as the fire of mus
kerry, with which the enemy in scrambling
out of the cars replied to our cannonade, was
| Struggling and ineffective.
Major Kennedy, Commissary, and Captain
Tyler, volunteer in my staff, were prompt to
carry orders and to give valuable counsel.
The companies of Captains Miller anu Cad
berry, though greatly fatigucd with two days
rough march in the hot sun and dust, ap.
pcarcd revived at once when thrown forward
as skirmishers against the enemy. The same
spirit was shown by all the other companies
Of the Regiment. Lieut. 1}oag, of Company
NJ, proved himself ready and skillfulsin de-
ranging the railroad track. Captain%Terry
and Ball, and the cavalry which they led,
commanded my entire confidence by their
hearing, and only needed opportunity for
more effective action.