Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-08

Persons engaged in repelling invasion cannot there
lore be guilty of treason. They are entitled to be
treated if captured prisoners of by principles
applicable alike in all civilized communities. And
this principle is adopted by all nations to mitigate
the horrors of war. With.
BATTLE an. FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE
Glorious Esepuise OF the United states
Drageans--sad Death Of tho Brave CaP-
, tatn Mari.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
WARRENroN, June l, 1s6l.-Your correspondent
is now enabled TO give you strictly correct ae-
count of the late action at Fairfax Court House. of
which you have doubtless heard, between Company
B. United States Dragons 81 men, and Capt. Marr's
Warrenton Rifles, 81 men. A few days since this
latter corps armed with very ordinary rifle with
out bayunets, were ordered to march TO Fairfax
Court House. At that place they found Capt John
Shack. Green's Rappahannock Cavalry and Captain
Thornton's Prince William Horse. The Rappahan-
mock troops were armed only with the old sword,
without pistols. while the Prince William troops had
swords and pistols, the latter Of the most approved
kind.
This morning the enemy captured our rife pick
ct, and at ten minutes past three, came into town.
Rumor has it that the cavalry refreshed in haste
they had no carabines to resist the enemy, who
numbered nearly 100 and, besides pistols were
likewise armed with Sharpe's rifles. l do not
believe that the cavalry did run. Right into the
village the party dashed, where the Rifles
were drawn up to receive them in open
order Of battle. When within less than so yards,
the noble-hearted MARI gave orders for the front
rank to fire, and thirtyseven rifles fred if from
one gun, emptying six OF seven saddles. The Ora
goons accustomed to Indian fighting, at once picked
up their dead and wounded comrades and retreated
az Indien A second. charge was made, with no
better success and then third, when the United
States troops fled. They carried off their dead and
wounded, but my informant told us that an old gen
temsn. who was on his way to the Court House
from Falls Church. met the enemy, and himself
counted four dead men in the single SQUAD he met
On asking them if they had not had severe fight,
they replied in the affirmative remarkng, also, that
they had laid down their lives in defence of this
glorious Union. Nine prisoners were taken by our
men, and from what could get from members OF
the company who brought with them here the body
OF the brave MARI not less than from ten to twenty
were killed, and more than that number wounded /;
but the Dragons. initiating the Indian examples IN
Texas, carried off all the dead and wounded. Capt.
MARI was not seen after the first fire. and he doubt
less fell at that time. When found a bullet had
pierced his heart an his glorious spirit left the
body without the first particle of pain.
In the death of this young and talented officer the
State has been deprived of the brightest of her mil
itary ornaments and the country of of the pur>
est and best of men. Captain MARI was graduated
IN Lexington in lS47 or 4S with the highest of hon
ors. He was then elected an assistant professor in
that institution and discharged for some time his
duty with signal ability. Returning to Fauquler
about 1850 or 81, he received, after studying law
the post of Commissioner IN Chancery, and after
wards nnder the new Constitution was chosen ma.
gistrate. and at the first meeting of the County
Court thereafter, was made Presiding Justice by
magistrates, some of whom mad grown gray upon
the bench. In 1855 he was elected sheriff of the
county over popular opponent by nearly 200 votes
and in 1861 he became q candidate for the Conven-
ton, and was elected by 1000 majority. In 1859,
when the infamous John Brown invaded our State,
he organized the Rifles and has been drilling them
ever since. His men idolzed him, and under his
command they had attained proficiency that gain
ed for them the highest admiration from Gen. Bon
ham and staff. Col. Ewell of the cavalry, who was
slightly wounded this morning in the fight, wrote
TO Bonham that they fought like regular troops
StrangetO say, none were injured but the lamented
dead, although many made warriors escapes. Co.'s
orbearer VIM. N. Bragg, fine looking young fell
low, the son of my excellent friend, the Mayor of
Warrenton had his ear slightly burnt by ball This
young fellow took two beautiful Colts revolyers
Lieut. Shackleford obtained Sharpe's rifle, SO did
Capt. Green, of the Rappahannock Cavalry, while
his first Lieutenant, James w. Green. had his cap
shot off his head.
Lieutenants Shsckleford, MCGEE and Withers o.
the Rifles, led their men, UhOut bdyonets right Up
| to the Hessians, and beat them back Had not our
troops shown such true pluck, all would have been
taken or killed but they fought like veterans and
and by the regularity of their fire and their steadi
ness, most probably frightened the enemy, who
three times recoiled before their fire. Five or six
| horses, the;same number of rifles, and a quantity
| of spurs and hats, and prisoners were taken. Ii
is believed that spies brought them into our camp
an the most infamous rascal of them all Is GER
| tain Dan Dulany, who formerly held commission
| in the Navy, but who was dropped by his Northern
friends composing the Naval Board which cut off so
many few years since. This man was a notorious
drunkard and thief, and having voted the Union
ticket at the election. went to Washington. and is
now directing the Northern rBscals in their inva-
sion OF the homes and graves of his parents. Would
TO God we could catch him, for it was only few
days since that he sent word to the females at Far
would be at that place.
was at the Court House on Yesterday but left
not thinking the enemy were so fooLhardy as to
come there. Had known it. oh, how much pleas
ure it would have given to have stayed. On
parting with the amented MARI, remarked that it
was shame his company, without bayonets should
have been stationed so far without infantry sup
ports. his reply, noble the gallant spirit him
SELF was worthy of him 81 care nothing for that
they have placed my company in the van, and we
will do duty" He was in the highest
spirits then, and poor fellow little thought that in
less than Is houFs he would offer up his Ii upon
the altar of his country. The stay and support of
widowed mother and three or four sisters, his loss
will be mostdeeply felt by them. One of his broth
ers was lost few years since, the United States
sloopofwar Albany, and he now falls the first com
missioned officer in the great for Southern IN
dependence. When his body was brought in, his
men knelt beside it and wept like children
The body of the lamented Mari reached town
this evening. and escorted to the residence of
his deeply afflicted mother by the Lee Guards and
very large concOurse of citizens.