The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-02-22
ssSs" The following letter from our CORES
dent }. +. G., we received too late for
publication last week:
Correspondence of The Cecil Wing
LETTER FROM CAMP GRIFFIN.
CAMP GRIFFIN, Va, Feb. 8. go

Correspondence of The Cecil Wing.
LETTER FROM CAMP GRIFFIN.
CAMP GRIFFIN, Va, Feb. 8, 'G2.
FRIEND EWING :--Y esterday was a day
long to be remembered by the Cameron
l'ragoons.' At 3 O'Clock A. NJ. we were
aroused from onr peaceful slumbers by the
sounding of rereiIle; 81 o'clock boots and
saddles was sounded, and of an hour there
after the call OF to horse was made. and the
| Regiment was soon in line ready for IL start.
Al o clock we started in the direction of
Vienna. When we came to Freedom Hill,
two miles this side of the above named place.
the first squadron, companies a. and d.,
under the command Of Capt. Wilson, were
ordered on to Flint Hill; one squadron
took the road to the right from Vienna
toward Hunters Mill, and three squadrons
| proceeded directly on to Hunter Mill. and
one remained on the Hill, as a reserve.
Company f., Of the first squadron, encoun-
tered the rebel pickets J mile beyond Flint
! liiil, and one mile this side of Fairfax Court
House the company charged across the
held after them, drove them to within half ii
mile Of the Court House - the company
then turned and took the road leading to
Hunter Mill: had gone about one mile
| when they discovered one of the enemy s
| men started in the direction Of house,
towned by Mrs. Peck - where number
OF their reserve were sccrctcl. The com
pany made q. charge upon the house and
quickly surrounded it, when one Of the
enemy took deliberate aim al Capt. Wilson,
| who upon seeing his action, fell off his horse
and the ball passed harmessly by. He was
just in the act of mounting again when the
same individual fired another shot at him.
which proved more effective, as the ball
struck him on the ear, grazcd around the
| skull bone, and came out the back part OF
the head. Al this time the others were
Keeping up a continual fire on our men,
which was promptly responded to. After a
short time we succeeded in making an
entrance, and then the fight became hand to
hand but the Linrola Hrciines soon proved
too many for them. and after one of them
had been killed, the remained (who had not
escape gave themselves up. with arms.
horses and equipments. They were armed
with Colt 5 revolving rifles, five shooters.
Inc Captain being wounded. the men had
enough to do to take care of him and the
prisoners consequently did not follow the
retreating chiraHy. THEY are good on a run =;
they can whip as at that. Company |. in the
meantime had gone more to the left, and
when about two miles from where company
+. had the engagement, they encountered
tie pickets in II superior force, in an old
log house. They Immediately opened fire
from within upon company |. which was
responcd to by the said company with vigor
The second Or third fire Of the enemy took
effect upon Sergeant Moore in the hip. shat
tering it to pieces; (the wound, am sorry
evening, at 10! o'clock They. too, were
soon whipped and compelled TO surrender
to the brave boys of company |. Captain
! o. Farrell succeeded in getting six prisoners,
with horses, equipments and arms.
| Seven compaucS of US then came down the
road leading from Hunters Mill to Fairfax.
When we came to where company L. had
been engaged, the old house was in ashes. -
We halted there few moments, and saw
some mounted men going out of the town on
a full run. in the direction of Centrevilc.
We at once made a charge for the town ;
charged to the Court House, in the centre OF
the town; then the column halted, and
Major Map, who was in command, ordered
ten of us to charge down the pike leading to
CcntrevIlc, which we did, in hot haste after
the fleeing chirahy. We pursued them to
within one mile of Germantown: but could
not get them all We captured three of
Stewards Virginia Cavalry, and one four
horse wagon, loaded with provisions. We
then returned to the remainder of the Regi-
ment at the Cont House, when the whole
command went through the town on a full
run, giving at the same time three cheers for
the Union, which was responded to bya few
ladies, but the majority of them looked very
black.
was assured by several persons that VIC
were the first Union troops who had been
there since the battle of Bull Run, and it
would be as well for us to get out soon, as a
strong force came there every day.
The town is like all of those where troops
! have bcen-almost entirely vacated, and
presents very dilapidated appearance
| There is still number of old contrabands
| any person else. gave one of them dime
to fix my saddle; he remarked it was the
first white money he had seen for 6 months
In all, it was one of the most successful
reconnoissances that has yet been made on
this side of the river. We went three miles
inside of the enemy's picket lines, and within
one mile OF Germantown brought into camp
| thirteen prisoners, twelve rifles one double
| barrelled shot gun, thirteen horses, one four
horse army wagon, and number of sabres
and pistols. Our loss was Sergeant Moore,
killed. Their loss, three killed and several
wounded. Their cavalry horses are very
poor; team horses good; uniforms very
light and flimsy. Two of them belonged to
the 1st North Carolina Cavalry, company
| II. F.; the other three to Stewards Virginia
Cavalry. The Cameron Dragons arc the
| boys to fghs the Southern Caiuahy. When
We go out again will write and give you
the particulars. | am, with respect, yours,
j. F. c.
THE RULING PAssfoN.-Gcn. FLOYD,