Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-11

PennsyTanians. We have also Just received infOr-
nation that the Yankees have taken possession of
harrisburg, and are estimated to be from 10 900
! to $4,000 strong. Gen. Johnston is at DarksYie.
seven miles this side of Martinsburg, and at the
time of our writing is preparing to advance upon
the enemy. His command is about $1,000. glo-
Tious victory of Southern chiyalry over the hire
lngs of the North who have audaciOusly and i'm
pudently desecrated our soil with their polluting
tread is hourly expected.
The militia Of the county have been ordered out,
and are rapidly coll citing in town, eager for shot
at the minions of Lincoln.
TIE sERMsH AT NEWPORT NEWS.
From the Richmond Enquirer, JaIys.
On Friday morning. the 9TH inst about day-break
skIrmsh took place between 1000 Louisiana troops
go from each company of Lieut.. Col. Dreuxis bat
Ialon,) and body of the enemy supposed to be
about the same number Lieut.. Col Dreux had
posted his men along road by which the enemy
were advancing. As they approached the eager
ness OF some Of our troops caused them to fire too
soon. The enemy. thus warned, hastily fired and
commenced an immediate retreat. Unfortunately
one of their shots took effect upon Lieut.. Colonel
Dreux, and he died in few minutes. He was in the
act of giving the order to fire when he received the
fatal wound. The only words be was heard alter
wards to say weTe-"ion't surrender" The ball
passed through his watch-crystal and sword belt
and entirely through his body.
The confusion, caused by the fall Of Lieut.. Col.
DreuX was increased by the advance of body of
=
The enemy themselves claimed TO be friends and
cried, "dOn't shoot" Taking advantage Of this
condition of things, the enemy gathered up their
dead and escaped.
Besides Lieut. Col. Dreux we lost one man, W.
S Hackett VINO was serving as volunteer with
the Shreveport Grays. The loss of Lieut. Col DreuX
is deeply deplOred by his battalion. He was gen.
tlenlan Of high order Of talents and Ct the most
eminent worth. His soldiers loved him to such
degree, that not q nan but what would have been
willing TO die by him and die for him. He was de-
voted 10 them and they to him. The service has
lost most valuable officer, and the city of New
Orleans highly esteemed and most useful citizen.
he was about thirty years of age, and leaves wife
and one child.
The loss of the enemy. from the causes explained
much less than it would have been. From six
to eight are known to have been killed. The whole
body Of the enemy would doubtless have fallen into
our hands if the skillfu arrangements of the Con-
federate commander had been carried out.
Mr.. HaCkett was about twenty-one years of age
He was in the act of taking a second fire at the
enemy, when he fell mOrtally wounded. The Zou-
ave who killed Col Dreux, was observed By our
troops, and was instantly shot down.
From the Richmond Examiner. JuIy3.
We give the following account of the recent fight
near Newport News, as we received from gentle
man just returned from the spot, and who came to
this city on the melancholy errand of procuring a
coffin Tor a kiDsman who fell in the fight Lieut.
Col. DreuX, learning that it was the custom of the
Lnconites to sally out every morning from New
port News and forage for their breakfast deter
mined, on the morning of the 5th calculating that
the enemy might ''cOme up grOggy from their
celebration of the glorious Fourth to interfere
somewhat with their arrangements. To this end
he organized scouting party, made up Of twenty
hOwltzsrs and one gun, twenty Shreveport Crews
twenty 1--WE think Crescent Rifles and twenty Cav
airy. Arriving within some three miles OF New
port News he received information that the enemy
were approaching and near at hand. Hastily post
ing his men, he sent forward two scouts.
The hOwitzers were posted on the left in a turn
of the road behind piece of woods. The infantry
lay in ambuscade, also in the woods but to the right
of the road, whilst the cavalry ordered to take
position further to the right and further towards
the enemy. The scouts having advanced short |
distance through the woods, and hearing the tramp
of men IN the road, called out: 'Who goes there!'
To which those in the road replied Friends" |
After exchanging some other words, Hackett mis-. |
taking them for friends, emerged into the road, |
which he had no sooner done than he was fred on |
and struck by the party whom he, too late, dscov-
cred were enemies. His companion dragged HIM |
back into the wood and, at his instance, fastened
back to Col DreuX to inform him Of the position |
and number of the enemy. In the meantime, the |
cavalry hearing the firing, were seized with sud-
den and unaccountabe panic, and putting spurs to |
their horses. came dashing. like many devils 10 /
headlong speed athwart and dagonally towards the |
smbuscade Of the Louisianians and directly upon |
the understanding up against the hOwitZer
gun frightening and stampedmg their horses, which
ran more than mile with the gun before they could
be stopped.
On the first onslaught of the cavalry, Lieut. Col.
DreuX stepped out into the road to ascertain what
the matter, and instantly shot at and killed
by the enemy. Our infantry then fred one refund
and advanced bat the enemy having heard the ex-
traordinary and unprecedented uproar, accompa-
MED by the terrific swapping of pine sapplings
kicked up by the cavalry, had taken to their heels
and did not call halt till safe within
their entertainments at Newport News.
The other scout who was With-Hackett al i
whose name we regret not to have sscerlained, in
formed his party that he thought he had killed one
IF the enemy after Hackett had been shot-that see
ng man, apparently an officer on horseback, he
lad AIKEN good aim at him, and that simultaneous
y with his fire he saw the officer fall forward
throwing pistol from his hand in his fall which
ell in the edge Of the wood.
On search the pistol was found at the point ind-
ated and the prints of the officers hands were
,anl7 visible where he had fallen in the soft sand
This is the only enc Of the enemy there is any
easOn to believe fell on the occasion. But for the
oss of the gallant spirits, Dreux and Hackett
We might find the affair a source Of amusement
A correspondent Of the Richmond Dispatch, writ {
lg from Camp Page, near Williamsburg on the 9TH,
ives the following particulars: !
The minutia of the unfortunate termination Of a
esterdays skirmish will doubtless be sent to head
uarters by the General, but as my informant. an -
nicer OF tHe COhleuefA1e army Is JUST Foth the b
rot and as this may serve to correct numberless
lmors that may get GtlOat, give you as succincty
| can, and almost verbatim, the truth OF the
orv, as received from his iIps which is az fol G
WIS: Il
Coi0nel DreuX, of Louisiana left his entrench- Fl
ents at IOuug's Mil on yesterday afternoon with o
company of Cadets one hundred strong. acCOmD | 81
ned be detachment of the NOttoway cavalry an Il
small oae of howizers, with only one piece. He | n
vanced to Jones' house, on James river road, and
Ok position for the night to form n ambuscade. tt