New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-18
FROM DARNEsTowN, MARYLAND.

ing crossed the river and being attacked and cut to
pieces by superior number Of the Rebels. The
particulars Of the affair are thus detailed by Corporal
Robert Gracey of the party, who, until his return on
Monday night, was supposed to have been dead as
he seen to fall on the field after the sBrmsh:
On the night of the 10th of September, a detach-
ment Of twelve men crossed the Potomac for the
purpose of accommodating and foraging. When
reaching about half annie from the river, they were
attacked by fifteen Rebels two of whom were
instantly killed, viz: o. ID. Darling and =
BROMLEY Among the wounded was my informant,
Corporal Gracey of Company H. man OF GIG antic
frame and iron endurance.
As Gracey lay wounded upon the ground, Rebel
named Mccarthy Lowe farmer residing in the
vicinity, rushed up and shot him twice, both balls
taking effect, ard was stopped from firing third
time by bis Captain. One of the balls penetrated
Gracey's back in slantng direction, and came out
on his left eide. The other, entering the back,
lodged ia his left lung, where 1t still remains.
! After a grand exultaion at the successful accom-
plishment Of their feat, the rebels took up the
| wounded and conveyed them to the village OF
Drainesville about four miles distant. Gracey being
! a man Of no ordinary weight placed upon rail
and carried by four stout men, until they iound
more comfortable conveyance. On arriving al
Drainesyillo the vctors nduged in liquor with their
friends and held grand jubilee over their victory
! Here Gracev remained about two weeks, during
which time he was kindly cared for, both by bis
keepers and the family where he Lodged. Fearing
an attack from Gen. Stones command he was then
conveyed TO Fairfax Court House in one Of own
ambuanccs captured at Bull Run.
| His two weeks stay at Fairfax WAS not Of an I'M
pleasant character, considering all the circumstances.
lie was placed in the hospital under guard OF Lieut.
Thomas ADRIAN and bis command Of Tiger Rifles OF
Louisiana who furnished him with more condi-
ments Injuries, and personal attentions than were
bestow ed upon their own sick. Lieut.. Adrain ire
quently and jocularly remar ked as an excuse for
this that bis object was selfish He wanted TO
take Gracey to the South and exhibit him Ia Bar
mum, as a fne specimen of the living Yankee, who
couldn't be killed
In this hospital the inmates were mostly members
of the lat Virginia Regiment Every day or two
those seriously i'll sent 20 Richmond M it was
feared that Gen. Nc Cellan would attack the rebel
lines Among the prisoner patients there, however
was one named Walter Ilemmtt, who was wounded
in the mouth in some skirmish Hemmitt played the
deaf and dumb role to perfection, deceiying even
Gracey himself until the day previous to the lstters
escape, when Hemmett agreed TO join Gracey in
making their escape. During Graceys confinement
bis ruiierings were intense, as evidenced by COM
uarsOn of Is former win Dls present weight Ili5
attendants furnished him with opium every day for
his drink; bat he treasured means OF bis ulti-
mate escape. One night after he became able to
move about he drugged the beverage OF his aten-
danis and then left the hospital in pursuit OF some
cold water for q violent toOthsche. After passing
the outer guard he fell in with the sentinels Of three
distinct lines outside the village Hew respectively
hsiled and fired at three times, but all the balls
failed 10 harm him.
After await ng AS agreed upon for his friend Hem
nett and the latter not appearing be started toward
the Potomac at the point Of his capture, but In con-
sequence OF large rebel forces he was compelled to
diyerge in westerly direction, crossing Bull Run,
and thence taking circutous and serpentine route
TO avoid open land and observation. After three
DAYS Of hunger and suffering he reached the Poto-
mac opposite the encampment OF the 3fth, ut mid
night when he was compelled 70 lay there till day
break the pickets declined to cross the nVer al
night
i while in the hospital at Fairfax, Gracey had OPP
portunity Of becoming familiar with many important
facts lie occasionally overheard conversations be-
tween officers aud the surgeons OF the hospital.
Saw Beauregard and Longstreet in conversation on
several occasions together, and inferred that Long
street held some important commission On the 9th
instant jeff Davis at Fairfax, and spent several
, hours with Beauregard, Longstreet, and other
officers. Gen. Johnston was understood to be some
where in the Immediate nelghoornoou, out TRACEY
old not see him.
i On one occasion Gen. Longstreet said 20 the sur
geon that the Rebel forces in front of Washington
were 30 scattered that if attacked at any point In
The line there must necessarily be abrdpt retreat
by all upon Manassas" our Gibraltar where
i Yankee blood would refresh and enrich Virginia
soil They think it impossible to be driven from
this point. IL wss generally believed that Beaure-
IL compelled 10 evacuate II.
IL was impossible TO ascertain the exact number of
Rebel troops in and around Fairfax. They were
vadously estimated at So 900 to lOO,OOO As far as
Cracey's observation went they better fed than
clothed but he heard of no complaints IN regard to
the latter, although their uniforms presented
curious mixture, gray predomnating over other
shades of color Salt had been scarce, but the sup
rIy was becoming more plentiful. lie learned that
hundreds of men were employed on the sea shore
in evapomting each producing on an average
two bushels per day. IL was Also coming IN freely
4 from the Western part the State.
On bis homeward routelGracey saw, about quar-
ter of n mile northwest Of Fairfax, bresstwork
about thirty rods long and i've feet NIGH but no
troops were then stationed there ITO saw no large
bodies of troops north of the Great Falls but laid
concealed while baggage tram OF lorty wagons
passed toward Leesburg.
I While at Drainesville, large force OF the Rebes
were understood 10 be Smelling our forces at the
Great Falls and twenty -two Of the Tiger Rifles and
soyerI citizens went thiiher to see the sport, but
did NOT remain long, A man named Walker, who
lives In sight OF the Thirty fourth at Draines-
xiIle and wanted to have Gracey shot at once He
win be remembered by the Thirty-fourth for his
kind intentions.
! intothe Richmond papers in detail The Rebels aud
citizens think the Gath with their Enfield rifles ter
rible and uDeonquerable set Of Yankees and fear
20 90 rear the river fronting the encampment
Coffee was scarce at Faidax, but whisky ratons
; were issued instead.
Yesterday afternoon picket reported that the
battery attached to the 18th Massaohusetts had
shelled body Of Rebels opposite Whitehouse LOCK.
The guns were distinctly heard, but no particulars
have been received.