The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-10
Letter from Cap. ain Ball. of The Fairfax
taSHlr.,
From the Richmond Enquirer,l


From the Richmond EEqulrer.l
desire, in Justice 20 myself, that my Stat
should know the following circums tances
On Friday morning, May Gath, about
O'clock, while asleep in ny quarters Al Alex
audria, was reused by myguarGs from the
Long Bridge, and informed that large bod,
OF cavalry and foot had just crossed the bridge
from Washington, aud marched up The road
towards Drdmmond's gate, (eading 10 Airing.
ron,j and that body Of troops was following
them from the bridge. Dispatching my Or.
derry Sergeant and TWO men, with orders tC
proceed III the direction Of the Long Bridge
until they discovered troops advancing or
failing to do SO, to remain at the forks OF the
road, half = mile from the bridge, till notified
10 leave and also diSpAtehiug a Sergeant and
one man np the Leesburg Turnpike with
orders to advance two mites and rCconnoitre
projected my self TO Col. Ierrett's quarters,
aNG waking him, informed him o! what had
occurred
BE arose aud dressed, giving me- orders to
proceed az once TO Captain PoweIs quarters,
uni, in conjunction with him, throw OH {
scouts sufficient TO keep him lCoi Territp in
formed OF any further movement in tha direc-
lion of Alexandra. | went 10 Cant Powell
aud h. volunteered 10 keep up the guard mi
So'ciDck, 1T which time 1t was agreed / should
relieve hin. He Immediately started with y
squad OF MS men IN the direction Of the
bridge, and soon after nv guard returned n mo
reported troops near the Aqueduct and al
vancing towards Alexandra | had nv men
reused and the horses s:tGdIed and prepared
ioi iidtChtHE' went INTO my room and
waited quietly for further information
a short time after day break, q II Ford
OF my company, came TO me, ana Informed
ms tnat sergeant OF Captain Powcll's com.
pihy hau JUS gone ny, who said he had
orders 10 us from Colonel Terrett TO get
f"ady and leave the town by eight O'clock
rot sFeing the sergeant myself, nor under
standing what TO do, l started on foot TO
Col. TerTettS quarters. On nv WAY rnet
the infantry companies, marching ont OF
town. dFancing farther, i met Col Terrett
aad ne informed me, IN answer 10 my Ques-
IONS what 10 DO, that q II ~ OF truce had
been sent from the PaWaee with orders IN
him 70 surrender, which he had declined hut
thft Il large column WAS advancing from
Warrington, aud that he had agree, to e.-acu.
ate the town, and that ii was agread IN 10
50 by O'Clock. | asked him what / shouId
do. lie said "YOu must remain behind
and cover the retreat of the infantry and
give notice OF any pursuit; - aud under
stood him distinctly TO say that by the acra.,
mfnL made, under Il nag OF truce, II was MOI
necessary To leave before O'Clock returned
10 my quarters and commenced getting ready
10 marcG. While getting ready. about Il min.
uies later, some OF the men being mounted
ana others away, citizen ran up TO the stable
ahd With tears streaming down his face te-
sea tue men To ny, as the troops were almost
on US without orders my men began to Nv
ana 1t was only 10y running through III. hntise
and meeting the company thai / succae5sd -,
Stopping ANA forming them. | ordered tha
company to form, ana while they were doing
So several OF the ren myself among the!nI
not hafihg mounted, the head of +ha
enemy column appeared about four
squares oil. / went into the stable YARD
10 seq 1t ali the men ware out and on ratitrn
lhs, "a" Il company OF Il juaYes marching fast
ny the cross street, ana just ut that moment
tho hrtiiieTy company which led their column
wheeled their guns upon us about one hup-
GREG yards distant. Stopping "a moment n
rut back IN the ranks TWO men who bad iaft
u when their guns were wheeled on Us, ana
Jeeft"g ptTtcfiy cGA fdent that uufeg. M
"gfesa1e7t, eoe tosrt to be 1sf2nltted ~ d.g,n,t
"as Just proceeding 10 mount my horse,
when Oh. wilcox rode up ana inu 1ired for
'he commander OF the company. l advanced
(tn i10t To III set him. He called on me- tn sur
render, or lie would fire. | told him wa
would leave IN few minutes, By f,greeia61at
Ii" replied that he kueD Of 1t3 dgrftfae5it and
thai HHless surrendered, he should II :
mere were then two guns bearing on MS n
company oi cavalry JHst brhi d the battery
and company OF Zouaves almost exactiv
IA rear ct my line, all distant about Sc yenlv.
n" yards, with other troops and one more
gun Just hehiud. Knowing Ii Wouid be folly
To RESIST, l surrendered under protest Of the
agreement made Doder the l0hite nan aud
with the assurance of CsI. WiltnT thaf
'whatever was honorable IL quote his ye,.y
Wordsl would be- done.
We were immediately deprived OF oar arms
ana horses and p aced under gsard | spoke
several times TO Col. Wilcox about our re-
lease. but no information did get Iiauten-
ant Grigsby and myself were allowed to 20
neyond Inc guard lines on parole, and abort
TWO O'Clock wa were removed to the "R tlti-
more brought 10 the Navy Yard at Wash
iHEtuh, and have been kept here since l have
made three applications - Gen. Mansfield for
4 hearing, but he has not noticed them
Since our captivity we have been very kind
~ treal> By the officers who have had us in
charge l mention, particularly, Counmand-
tat 'dhlgren and Lieut.. Parker, OF the Navy
Yard Lieut.. Nest and Master Woods of |
the Navy and the officers of the fist Regi- |
ineLt NJ. DALANY BALI,
Cnptain of the Fairfax Cavalry