, 1861-12-27

Interesting Narrative, with Full De-
tails Of the Fight.
washington cor. n. Y. World, Tuesde


Gen. Ord's battle at Drainsgillc-for it was
something more than 4 skirmish-was sur
prise to all parties concerned, and its result is
to us an agreeable diversion from the rebel
SUCCESS which las often marked these recon-
noltcring engagements. No one had any rca-
son to suppose that Fridays foraglng excur-
sion Of the Third Pennsylvania Reserve Brig
adc would be signalizcd by any more fighting
than have preceding expeditions in the same
direction. Indeed, all corps pushed out from
the main line, for purposes Of subsistence or
espionage, receive Gen. McClellan's precise
instructions not to bring on an engagement.
If battles are allowed to occur at hap hazard,
the best idschemcs Of generals will aft gang
agicc."
No reporter, Therefore, was present at the
Dralnsrille affair, and consequently, in the :b-
sencc Of any detailed official dispatches, it is
difficult to get correct idea of the ground
and maneuyering from the statements Of the
1ocal press, based on the confused narratives
Of minor participants in IL action. These
statements, however, will al reach you, 50
that will add nothing except few general
1acts, which may serve in explaining to you
how much the action amounted to.
Gen. McCalls division, composed Of the
celebrated fifteen Pennsylvania reserve regi-
mcnts, holds the extreme right OF our lines,
encamping at and about Langley's and Prospect
Hill, few miles north Of Chain Bridge, on
the fork Of the Lccsburg turnpike running
nearest the river. From the fact that the re-
bel lines close completely round our own,
from the upper TO the lower Potomac, {thus
forming d segment Of circle to which the
riyer-if it were straightforward be al arc,1
this division Of Gen. atcCal's and that of Gen.
Hcintzelnan'6 on tho extreme left below Mt.
Vernon, arc perhaps in nearer contact with large
bodies Of the enemy than any six other divis-
ions stretched between them. This is espc-
cially the case with McCalrs, since the rebels
keep at least 10000 men between Lccsburg
and Difficult Creek and the ground Intervening
between our right and their left is general for
aging territory for both parties. It will be
remembered that we have had once before a
turcd whole rebel company.
The west fork OF the Lecsburg turnpike
passes through Falls Church, uniting with the
road from Chain Bridge and Prospect Hill at n
point seven miles above tho former, and two
miles this side Of Drainsvil1c The lattcr vii
lagc, the nucleus Of Fridays battle, is, there
fore, only seven miles northwest Of our earth
works. It is agggrayating to many resident
connoisseurs that SO spirited and picturesque
IN affair should have occurred within two
hours ga1lop, and yet without their knowl-
edge and occuIar enjoyment.
The first report of the battle stated our loss
at ten killed and about fifteen wounded the
enemy at sixty-onc dead and eighteen wound
cd, left on the field, besides those carried
away. IF sixty-onc we're killed, at least one
hundred must hare been wounded, to m:i.l-
tain the usual proportions. It is safe, thcre-
fore, to estimate tho total loss of the rebels at
one hundred and fifty men. Yesterday, con-
versing with one Of the officers ordered to
count those left on the field, I learned that the
original report was correct in this regard But
from the account Of the battle, in which 1t
does not appear that Gen. Ord tianked the en-
strategic position, it was difficult to believe
our own loss as small as stated. In the first
place, the forces engaged were not unequal
embracing, perhaps, a,o00 Of the enemy sup
porting battery Of six guns, and four regi-
ments Of our own, supporting Easton's bat
terry Of four q pound and 3a-pound howitzers.
Again, Gen. Ord advanced along the narrow
lccsburg turnpike, tue noticeable Rucktal1
Rifles, Col. Thomas L. Kane, in the van, and
on entering Drainsville outskirts, was attacked
by tue rebels from their Mnbuscade in the Viz
ginia forest.
losses, and while increasing them to an
amount which proves that the Pcnnsylyanians
did hard and honest fighting, and did not win
by catching the rebels iu trap, it is ncTerthe-
less 50 much inferior to the list Of the enemy 3
killed and wounded as to render the battle OF
Drainsv'lle the most encouraging and brilliant
success Of it's kind won by us since our first
occupation Of Arlington Heights. Accounts
from three regiments foot up rs follows: Kane
Rifles, Skilled, 81 wounded; Sixth Peunsylga-
MIA reserve, 2 killed, Is wounded; Ninth
PENNSYLVANIA Reserve, 2 killed, 20 wounded.
Total, Z killed, 81 wounded. The report Of
the Twelfth Regiments losses has not come
in. believe it suffered less than the Others
Our good fortune must hare resulted large
" from the formidable nature and position Of
Easton's Battery. These howitzeTs, of the
largest class, have q bore as largo as a mans
range, with frightfrl tumult and effect. They
are undoubtedly superior to all other guns fol
close action. The four pieces were flanked on
hill, from whence they threw d near, plung-
ing fire into the rebel battery OF six guns and
the roads where the rebel infantry were dc.
p1oyed. 4 deal Of musket-y practice also oc-
cured and an attempted tinuking charge o1
the rebels Was br:lTely repulsed BY the bay
onets Of the Kane Rifles. Many Of the lit
ter also maintained their reputation as
sllarp:shooters from large brick houst
cant features oT the contest which have reach
| ed US. Toward the close. when the fire Of the
enemy grew feeble, our Ninth and Twelfth
regiments advanced, under victorious bugle
nutes, to make the final charge and sweep tue
| Through the pine and oak thickets. their pro
| gress was pe1torce somewhat slow. BF tht
| time they had reached the rebel position the
enemy had fed the feid-leaving only CHASTITY
heaps Of their dead and dying, in numbers
above named, their arms, ammunition, blank
| EtH, I'LL EAt4uAC4 N&AssVu' Auu luG OLuGl
wonted Debris Of . swift and bloody defeat
/ The conflict commenced Ut o clock p. H.
and lastcd till 5. As usual, VIC have rumor:
| Of the death Of distinguished rebel officers
It is snid that Kentucky Col. Tom Taylor an6
Virginia CaTalzy General Stuart were. among
the billed and carried off In the retreat, hui
we certainly have no means Of knowing th,
truth Of such stories.
Thus 3ou hare the narrative Of this reall,
important affair; donbly important, becaus'
it proves the courage and discipline Of GU
army. The Federal regiments engaged ar
probably little better or worse than a hundred
other corps across the Potomac. From fon
judge MI. As to the extent Of the contest,
! wonld have been one Of the ..tdecisiFc bat
ties in the days of I'd II resembled t1at o
July 18, at Blackburn's Ford, We having tn
came number Of men on both occasions. Thi
time, though, the rebels did not ousnumbe
us four 10 one, and though ~u' had fou
cannon less than at the Ford, the victory r.
manned with us-a victory three times create
thun that which Beanregard claimed oyc
Generals Tyler and Richardson. Tho disSSrace
II there was any. OF july Is, is now completed
wiped ont by the 18th December In IL,
wccks-shal] it not he so?-wc will Il remem
bcr Bull Run as the nobIc Indianianz hav