Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-27
FEDERAL SUCCESS ON 7HE
POTOMAC.

expedition TO Dralnsville.
Gen. Mccall anticipating that they might
be attacked, ordered the first and second brig
AIDES to follow at 8 A. NJ The first brigade,
Gen. Reynolds, advanced on Leesburgh turn
pike and took position Of Difficult Creek to
await further orders. Two hours later Gen.
Mccall, with his staff and escort Of cavalry
followed by the same route.
Meantime, Gen, Ord advanced TO Thorn
sons house, near Drainsvilc. when his com
mand was suddenly fred upon by force ly-
ing in ambush in dense woods adjacent
This was a signal Of battle, and brisk en-
gagement ensued. The firing was kept up
some three-quarters of an hour. when the
enemy retreated rapidly, The fire of the
whole brigade of rifles being too hot for them
Our troops stood up biaycly under the sharp
volleys Of the rebels. Their sieadin' SIS was
highly praised by Gen. Mccall and officers
/ The rebels took the direction of Fairfax CHI.
leaving on the field number of their killed
and wounded Our troops pursued them a
short distance and returned Forty dead
bodies Of rebels were picked up, and Is
wounded and taken prisoners. The enemy
lelt behind arms of all descriptions clothing,
81. Their loss is estimated at $50 XII led
and wounded loss on our side, 6 killed and
eight wounded.
/ FURTHER PARTICULARS OF TUE BATTLE.
WAsmNeroN, Dec q.
| The killed and wounded at the battle Of
Dransvile yesterday are as follows In the
9th Penn. regiment 5 killed and ] 9 wounded.
In the 9th Penn. regiment under command
Of Col. Taggard only one man was wounded.
Col. Tom Taylor commanding the Kentucky
Rebel Rifles was killed and his saddle brought
L.. o. J. l.
recollccted occasoned much excitement at
the commencement OF the war by unexpected
| ly appearing at Arlington with a flag oftruce
and by afterwards being brought to head
quarters here blindfolded and subsequently
conveyed outside our lines, the object Of his
mission, an exchange of prisoners, being UNI
accomplished
| The detachment from Gen. McCall's division
which took part in the battle did not arrive
at Drainsville until about noon and remained
until about half-past two o'clock when the
enemy appeared in force coming in the di-
rection Of Centerville. Previously to this
Gen Ord had placed his forces in position to
repel an anticipated attack. The fire was
first opened by the rebel battery throwing
solid shot, she'll and canister. This was inn
mediately responded 90 by Eatons battery
with marked effect. The inmntry on each
side soon engaged in the contest and at times
they were not more than sixty yards apart
After general fighting for about an hour
shell from our side exploded in the ammuni-
ton of one Of the rebels caissions, making
fearful havoc, three of the rebels having
their heads completely blown of and
others we're terribly mutilated. At this
time the enemy wavcred and showed a
disposition to run, when Gen. Ord gave the
command to charge, which was CALAMITY
obeyed and at once the rebels precipitatcy
ded. They were pursued for upward Of a
mile, when General Mccall arriving on the
ground, ordered a recall to be sounded, when
our troops iol back to the position Just va
Gated by the enemy. Twenty Of the wounded
rebels received surgical treatment from Dr.
Lowman and his assistants, having been ia
ken into houses for thut purpose They
would have been brought to General MoCalls
camp had the ambulances arrived in proper
time All our own killed and wounded were
brought away. A large number of trophies .
were secured by our troops, such as swords,
pistols, guns, &c. In the pockets of dead
rebels, were found Richmond papers OF the
18th inst, but they contained no items of
particular interest. Several letters were found
on the bodies of rebel officers, showing an in
tense hostile feeling in the South against the
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sonnrs who mad heco,oo be,yudorod i, Tho "a
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e Lnoyir, tbey wore fodorol ,roens al ~
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s,nod of hoinr taLor nriso,ora ~ 80 -
v sbo,yr Tho ,vaS ~ Wasbin,,or III ,.;o,o.,
an onr mort i corsidorod tho ,nora hr;ll;aa
l. az onr ,roons had revor bororo haoo ~ ON
10 ac,ion Tboy have hoon Li,ti,, ooo,ai;,,o.,