New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-06-07
The Battle at Fairfax Court-House---FuI MI
Particulars.

From Correspondence
BATTLE AT FAIRFAX CoURT- HOUSE. Glorious
RepuLSe of the United States DrdgOO71S-SGd Death
of The Brare Captain Ma7T.-T TFarrenton; June
1.-Your correspondent is now enabled to give you
strictly correct account of the late action at
Fairfax Courthouse, of which you have doubtless
heard, between Company, B, United States Dra-
goons, eighty one men, and Capt. Marr's Warren
ton Rifles, eightyfour men. few days since this
| latter corps, armed with avery ordinary rifle,
without bayonets, were ordered to march to Fair
fax Court house. At that place they found Capt:
John Shack. Green's Rappahannock Cavalry and
| Capt Thornton's Prince William Horse. The Rap
| pahannock troops were armed only with the old
sword, without pistols, while the Prince William
| troops had swords and pistels the latter of the
| most approved kind.
This morning the enemy captured our Rifle
picket, and, at ten minutes past 8, came into
| town. Rumor has it that the Cavalry retreated in
haste as they had no carbines to resist the enemy,
who numbered nearly 100, and besides pistols,
| were likewise armed with Sharpe's rifles 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 eighty yards, the nobleheart
ed Marr gave orders for the frent rank to fire, and
thirty rifles fred as if from gun, empty
ing six or seven saddles. The Dragons, aceus-
toned to Indian fighting, at once picked up their
dead and wounded comrades and retreated q IN
dien. A second charge was made, with no better
success, and then third, when the United States
troops fed.
= my informant told us that an old gentleman, who
| was on his way to the Courthouse from Falls
$ Church, met che enemy, and himself counted four
| dead men in the single squad he met. On asking
them if they had not had severe fight, they re-
r sponded in the affirmative, remarking also that
they had laid down their own lives in defence of
= this glorious Union. Nine Lprsoners were taken
by our men, and, from what could get from mem
beYs of the company who brought with them here
the body of the brave Mari, not less than ten to
! twenty were killed. and more than that number
wounded but the dragons, initiating the Indian
! examples in Texas carried Oft all the dead and
wounded. Capt. Mari was not seen after the first
fire and he doubtless fell at that time When found
= a bullet had pierced his heart, and his glorious
spirit left the body without the first particle of pain.
Strange to say, none were injured but the Ia
dsd bh0 ma Raer 6
d slightly burnt by ball. This young fellow took
two beautiful Colts revolvers. Lieut. Shaekleford
obtained Sharpes rife; so did Capt. Green, OF
"A the Rappahannock Cavalry, while his first Leuten
+ ant James W Green, had his cap Shot off his head
W Lieutenants shackleford McGee and Withers, ,o
r the Rifles, led their men, without bayonets, right
q I'D to the Hessians, and beat them back.
" Had not our troops shown such true pluck, al
y would have been taken or killed but they Tough
ID like veterans and by the regularity of their fire ane
their steadness most probably frightened the en-
nv emy who three times recoled before their lire
~ Five or six horses the same number OF rifles and
quantity of spurs and hats, and nine prisoners, Wer
II; taken 1t is believed that spies brought them int
ls' The South Carolinians, 2loet strong, have ad
on vanced to the Courthouse, together with kemper
Flying Artillery, Wnle sIfOnB Supports nave pes
, advanced from Manassas junction. II all the me-
~, at the junction and Fairfax Court house could b
~ ~ advanced on Alexandria, we have enough to whi
NJ all the troops on this side of the river.
az, must not, in conclusion, fail to mention thatm
n old friend Gov Smith, was in the fight at the Cour
'en house, and that his clear calm voice was hear
NV even above the din and tumult, encouraging th
py bows on to the fight. The old veteran has the fiji
of youth still brightly burning in HIS patriot
in breast.
ON ,tiI- ~, oran;,r seva vra did more damao
us l than was at first supposed, and that the enemy al
al, ir,full retreat pursued by our cavalry.