The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-06-08
Especial Dispatch to the N. Y. Tribune
The Fairfax Court House Anakr--Rr7i.
liant Cavalry Charge.
WASHINGTON, Monday, June SO P. NJ.

WASHINGTON, Monday, June 80 P. NJ.
The account of the Fairfax Court House at
fair which was sent you this morning, was neces-
salily less complete and accurate than the iol-
lowing statement, which was derived from Lieu
tenant Colonel Burger of the New York Fifth
Regiment, and confirmed in all essential partc-
ulars by two of the Dragons who were in the
FRAY, and who brought the prisoners into town
this noon.
Lieut.. Tompkns and Second Lieutenant Ger
don had with them Dragons, ffty-two in num-
Der, of Company B, I'd United States Cavalry,
tw 0 men of the New York Fifth, and three OIL
GERS Adjutant Frank, Quartermaster Fearing,
and Assistant Quartermaster Cary, making fifty
nine men. These members of the staff were at
tra cted by probability Of accommodating little
fur Their than usual, with view OF seeing the
number of enemy at Fairfax.
This party left camp at II o'clock, surprised
tie picket guard four miles this side, shot one,
and the other galloped off towards the village
iriag and giving the alarm. At daybreak they
reached the town, sounding charge and galop-
ed through the principal streets under heavy
fire from the City Hall, Post-offica private resi-
dences, behind fences, from the sidewalk and
strcet-not from citizens, but from soldiers IN
uniform, some on foot and some mounted.
On this charge five mounted men were taken
prisoners-one with PIince William County Ca
| and swept on with the troops. One man cried
"Halt." "Wait Bit" remarked Lieut. Tomp-
kris, and shot him.
The dawn bad hardly broken, so the aim was
not sure, but whenever they saw flash from a
| window, FIVE Or six shots answered it. Most OF
/ the rebels that were killed were in the street
| Some ran in front, turning to fire on the ORA
eoons, and others closed in behind after their
passing
At the end of the street, Lieut. Tompkins
turned, and the troops, holding their prisoners
with an iron grasp, charged again through the
whole length of the village, wheeled third time
and charged from end to end, but observing q
piece cf artillery coming from side alley in
front of the City Hall, they judged it prudent
| not to try fourth time, and so rode on, making
/ a detour of ten miles, and reached the camp by
eight o'clock, having ridden upwards oil forty
four miles.
Besides the five prisoners, they brought five
or six herses Three Dragons were missing
AMI are pretty certainly killed. -Four are woun
ded, one having sabre cut in the face and q
ball in the stomach. Assistant Quartermastei
! Cary, of the 9TH, slightly wounded in the foot
Tie wounded are now under the care OF Drs
Hasse and Rosa Of the 9Th.
The number of the enemy killed is uncertain
estimates vary from twenty to fifty The woun
ded are very numerous. Lieut.. Tompkns is SURE
he killed two. The trumpeter, only fifteen years
; old, killed two, and one dragoon thinks he finish
cd four or five One "a prisoner, trying to ge
away was shot through the belt. Lieut.. Temp
Rus had two horses shot under him, and Cor
dva one Before fresh horse could be found
they cut right and left on foot.
The force in the town is estimated at from l,
, 600 to 1900. There is certainly a battalion o
Infantry, squadron of Cavalry, and some al
tillery but they were afraid to form and NEE
in battle IS men. They evidently prefer tn
f Baltimore method.
The Dragons returned to camp, looking a
though they had been through four week.
: campaign. Some had their clothes half tor
off. and all were covered deep with dust.
Tompkins is the same man whose exploit j
9 the capture of Secession picket was relate
: the other day. He never returns from night
: scouting without two or three prisoners.