Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-01-08
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL. >
CAMP PIERpoNr. Va DEC. 25

dlFcft INC ninu from the daily routine OF calmE
life, concluded that ] could not do bette
than to present few thoughts to the reader
OF the Journal. Some OF the accounts o
the hight at Dransville are wholly destitute o
facts. So. One of the Washington papers
account of the battle was jumbled up, tina
| those of US who knew all about it, could hard
| ly tell whether it had reference to the actor
OF the 10th, or not. This part of the
s'sacred soiF' abounds with ravines and thick
| cts OF short Scrubby pines, and therefore oul
| progress was cautious. In order to guard a.
| ganst surprise squad of cavalry scouts were
| sent in advance and skirmishers to the right
and left of the road to scour the woods and
| give the alarm on the approach of danger
whether from bands of rebels or traps in the
shape of s.masked'' batteries. :. We ar
| rived at Drainsville without being molested
and took up position to the left of the road
| Gen. Ord, with his glass, soon discovered a
| number of rebel scouts a t a~dstance, who, up
| on being discovered took off towards our left
which indicated to locality of the rebels. The
General judging that their effort would be to
| cut off our retreat, ordered US to fall back a.
| bout mile and take position. On reaching
the designated place, we soon discovered thai
| the Generals surmises were correct, for the
enemy had already taken position with their
battery within 600 yards of the roads, which
compelled us again to change our position
but it was not long until EastoH's battery sent
the shot and shell in quick succession on their
deadly missions. :. Gen. M'Call and staff
came up during the action, and seemed highly
gratified with the result of the fight and the
bravery of the men. Too uch praise cannot
be bestowed ,on both officers and men engaged
for their gallant conduct. The s.Bucktails'
tough; like tigers, and seemed determined to
make every shot tell. The rebels being under
cover OF the wood, had decided advantage
our men being in the open field-but the Ri
fes, with the cooness of hunters, watched
their chance, and whenever a rebel showed
himself from behind the tree where he had
hid himself to load, was sure to fall by a
missile from an unerring rife that had been
waiting for his appearance. Many of the reb-
els guns were afterwards found loaded and
capped, with the hammer drawn ready to fire,
but before the triggers could be drawn, their
possessors had gone to swell the number of
the dead.
s. Col. Kane was twice wounded yet he con
tinued at the head OF his men, setting them an
example worthy of emulation. Ill is emphati
cally fighting man, and his conduct showed
that his whole soul was in the fight. The 9th
and 9th regiments also did effective service.
The artillery men acquitted themselves nobly.
In former communication L reIated, that
should this battery ever have an opportunity
afforded, 1t would give an account of itself
that would be credit to the great State it has
the honor in part to repre- sent. The opportu-
nifty has presented itself, and the men belong
ing 10 the battery have by theirveteran bravery,
more than verified the assertion. Capt. Easton
the commander, has,--in this, presume, his
first tight-by his coonesS and intrepidity won
for himself golden opinions and the conf-
dence of his men in him is such that wherever
he may lead they will follow-and should reb-
eldom ever be fortunate enough to capture this
battery, it will only be at the sacrifice of every
man belonging to 1t. Gen Ord, believe, is
old frontiers man, and woe be to the rebels
who get him on their track the truth of
which they no doubt realized in the recent
slaughter. The scene that presented itself af-
ter the battle, is beyond description. Dead
bodies were lying in every direction-mutia-
ted in every conceivable manner, by the dead
ly missiles that were hurled amongst them.
The rebel troops engaged, some of the pris-
oners say, were the flower of the rebel army
that they had made forced march from Cen
treville on purpose to capture our battery and
forage wagons-that they consisted of the 9th
South Carolina, 10Th Alabama the Louisiana
Tigers, and one Kentucky and one Virginia
,theJe eff. Davis artillery fromG eorgia,
and or squadronS of Gen. Shorts cavalry
in ALL between 5000 and 5000 men. They
left about l60 of their dead on the field, be-
sides many wounded. We had only about
$500 men in actual engagement, and our loss
is but small. Trusting 10 receive that welcome
visitor, the Journal, occasionally,
L remain yours truly, W. r. b.
OF THE BUCKTAIL BAND.
p.rp nan