Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-01-10
THE SENTINEL,
THE WARNEws.
Onlcial Report of the Battle of
DrAinesYilIe.

port of the battle OF Dralnesvllle. HlsforceS
were as follows;
Eleventh Virginia Volunteers, Col. S. Gar
land, Jr: Sixth South Carolina Volun teers, |
Lieut. Col. Secrest Tenth Alabama Velun-
tecrs, Col. J. H. Harvey First Kentucky Vol
unteers, Col Thomas II, Taylor-making an
aggregate force Of 600 infantry. Sunpter
Flying Artillery, pieces, Capt. AS Cults;
/ 900 North Carolina Cavalry Maj. Gordon,
After detailing various preliminary move
ments, the report proceeds as follows:
When our forces took their position, the fire
of the artillery caused great commotion in the
eremy's lines, and a part evidently took to
their heels The right wing was ordered for
ward, and the Tenth Alabama rushed with a
shout in a shower of bullets, under the gallant
lead Of their Col. Forney and Lieut.. Col. Mar
tin, the latter falling in the charge. A part
Of this regiment crossed the road and tsok
position along the fence from which the enemy
felt the trueness Of their aim at short range.
The Colonel was here severely wounded and
had to retire. In his absence the command
devolved upon Major Woodward.
The Eleventh Virginia, holding position on
the right of the Tenth Alabama, were not so
much exposed to the enemy's fire, and conse-
quently suffered less. The Sixth South Caro-
lima gradually gained ground also TO the front,
and being, with the Tenth Alabama, exposed
to the fire of the enemy's siarpshooters from
two-story brick house, suffered most.
Ny orders to Col. Taylor First Kentucky,
were given through Col. Forney and | soon
knew, by the commotion on my left, that it
was in place. The thicket, where the Sixth
South Carolina and First kentucky operated
was 50 dense that it was impossible to. see
either then exact position or their progress in
the fight, and ! regret to say that the First
Kentucky and the Sixth South Carolina mis-
took each other for the enemy, ana few casu-
alties occurred in consequence but with that
exception, the whole force acted with admira-
bic unison and advanced upon the enemy with
the steadiness Of veterans, driving him several
times from his position with heavy loss
When the action bad lasted about two hours
found that the enemy, being already in force
larger than my own, was recovering from his
disorder and receiving heavy endorsements,
could not, with my small numbers being
beyond the reach of renforcemeuts, force his
position without fearful sacrifice, and seeing
that his artillery, superior TO our own in num-
Der and position only, was pouring distruc-
tive fire into Cuts battery, decided to with
draw the latter at once preparatory TO retir-
ing from the feld-judging, too, that | had
given our wagons ample time to get out Of tho
reach Of the enemy The battery suffered great
~ It's position was necessarily such that IL
could fire only to the front, and the caissons
and limbers had no cover whatever from such
hre. Three or four eannoncers had been shot
at their posts, and several wounded, and every
shot OF the enemy was dealing destruction on
either man, timber or horse.
The conduct of the brave, tue and heroic
Cults attracted my admiration frequently dur
ing the action now acting No. l, and now as
gunner, and still directing and disposine the
whole with perfect self-command and dovo-
ton to his duty that was, believe scarcely
ever eqnaled. He executed my order to with
draw his battery, under a richochet fire of
great accuracy. One piece found it necessary
70 detail some infantry eleventh Virginial TO
assist in conducting it to the rear, which was
done by them under great personal exposure.
Having secured the artillery, sent orders
70 the four regimental commanders to Olsen
gNge themselves from the enemy and rotire
slowly and IA perfect order TO the railroad
where a stand would be made This delicate
duty was performed admirably aud our
troops marched back lesurely, bringing with
thein all the wounded that could be found -
The men gathered up their blankets as they
passed the points where they had been depos-
tied before the fight. ! regret to saw, how
ever, that one Of the regiments reached the
road this side of their blankets and knapsacks.
thus missing them entirely, a circumstance
which the enemy Will construe into precipi-
tate fight.
to follow, and after short halt nj tbe rail
road proceeded 10 Fryingpan Church where
the wounded were cared for
Early next morning. With tive fresh re6i.
ments furnished me 1.-THE OH Ceoroi8 and H.
18th Virginia detachment AZ e9yoIr,. ,,r-
der Lient.-Col. Baker, I proceeded towards
the scene of action OF tho preyions az ~
cavalry having been sent In advance I,esrn-
ing THAI tho enemy had evacuated Dr,inesyijio
had lnft =
pusbea on 10 tbal ,,j.ne T., ., Co'eu 'Iolv
take care of the dead. | found onr Seaj i', aa
the field and proceeded M onco 70 -, va
them all to Centreville for iniermcnt nv
wounded tabont fenl wesc left h, ,bo oi' ,,e
in a house at Draines,;iIe NM {n,on5aJ y.
sena , Tor or tne mem, inc next day They had been
of theiadies Of tho niace 'T Th, oy several
moved TO CentreyiIle evcent ny WY NJ. '1iSo re-
nat allie TO snryiye he reio,.s wv, |no were
own desire Ana the snraaon' a "4u y men
loft in cl,aroe If tba l,Riss ""'''oi were
AS to the strength Of the enemy r. a,o m
current statements Of citizens res resiiia we gn-