The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-27
Alchmunn 4ispattb.
-"-@~~--~----
ARMY OF THE POTOMA AC.
tsrEciAL ooRREspo.DxxcH OF rHs DIsr ArcI.1

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
tsrEcrAL ooRRKspoxDxxcz OF TEE pIsr rArox.1
IxpRPEKpaxr Soour BuvouAc,
Near Centreville, January %, 1862
This day the army Of the department Of
Northern Virginia has lost the services Of a
gentleman whose good name and deeds have
been A. familiar AZ "household words" to
us. allude to Major W. L. Cabell, than
whom no army has seen better man or more
thoroughly qualified Chief Z Quartermaster.-
He brought to bear in the infancy Of our
campaign the experience OF q we'll tried
practical officer, and laid the basis Of sys.
tern In his department that has been happily
recognized and appreciated by every man in
our army, and in the I'm Important department
which he controlled. Major Cabell, after
eight months or more of devoted service in
this division, during which time he has made
a host Of friends aud admirers, received OH.
cial, and by the way one Of the stiffest and
coldest notices, that no was relieved Of duty
here and transferred to our forces in Arkan.
eas. ferhaps the notice was strictly Official
and military, and 1t would not be CONNIE IL ufaus
to express any terms Of appreciation of good
service In It. However. what the notice did
not convey, the good wilIs0fths junior ON.
u.
Yesterday, learning Of his departure 20 the
seat OF war In the West, these officers sur.
prised the portiy and independent Major by
presenting him with an order for q full dress
uniform Of the most costly and superior char.
acter. This was alike suitable and ,oel-
clothed compliment, which, trust, the Major
will long live TO appreciate. With the Ma.
ior, Lieut.. MGR. Self. and Capt. Mc9ibbon,
Assistant Quartermasters, leave. They-a
happier or more congenial trinity OF gentle.
men and officers know not-aIso carry with
them the regrets and good wishes OF this
army
Maj. A. NJ Barbour a quiet and elegant gen.
tleman whose devotion and activity in Office
augur we'll of his future benefit to this divi-
sion, supersedes Major Cabell. The assistants
TO Major Barbour are Capts. Moore and
Young. The former only know, and II his
Official efficiency be only equal with his gen.
manners, then can surely aver that every
sody will be satisfied. Such gentlemen,
when experienced, make the department Of
the Quartermasters the greatest blessing to an
army. They can conceive and appreciate the
wants Of thes soldier, and knowing their
wants, readily and cheerfully MAKE every ef-
tort TO alleviate them.
In this connexion / cannot omit mentioning
that rumor prevails, regarding the trans.
fer of Major Thos. Fisher, post q Quartermas-
ter, at Manassas, to Missouri. This transfer,
though it would confer a justly deserved and
higher office, that Of Chief Quartermaster,
prive US ofone OF the best and IN ost shoro ughly
qualified officers, in his department., that any
army has ever had the good fortune to possess
IN teiligent, active, aud afable, he has made
himself generally beloved, and proved the
good rule that puts the right man in the right
place. 1t may be selfish, and how few OF our
acts and wishes are minus "this potent ruler,
self" for US to wish Major Fisher TO remain
mere, when higher position awaits him else
where-stiIl hope the rumcr is merely one
of those mercurial ones, which spreads into
thousand different directions and forms, by
the merest touch of trutn. could dwell 1T
length ON the merits Of the above gentlemen
in their departments-point the improve.
ments Of their creation and the benefits &C.
cruing to our army thereeron, but 1t IL enough
to say that they give no encouragement 70 the
appointing OF thosa fungi, company or regi-
mental undsrstrapper quarterm asters, who
have no more ability to execute the duties OF
their offices than an elephant has power TO
open oysters with q quill tooth pick.
In q late Northern paper whose CHIEF news
you have anticipated in your enterprising
columns from your correspondent at Norfolk,
L have seen an account of what is either
foolishly or facetiously termed 1.-The battle at
homney." Battle forsooth battle won by
"the brave Col. Dunningn'
"Yon call this q battle, eh3
Soldiers term it but a brawl,"
says Yeoman Captain to q cockney cit in an
old play. From all learn OF this affray as
far as the fleet-footed Hessians were con-
thirsty, numbering, avandal incendiaries.-
Leaving Rcmney about midnight ON the 9th
inst. they marched in the most approved
style Of "forced ruffianism'' towards Pleas
habitants by burning dwellings and barns.
They applied the fiendish torch to the barn
of Mr.. Geo. Nealis and destroyed all his
stock. Passing through Pleasant Dale the
Albans, situated at Terra Cote, ON the North
western Turnpike. Then they cheeringly
burnt the house Of MIR. Daniel Haines, near
Terra Cote, sn route to Hanging Rock. Then
tant from Hainess house, shooting the cat.
tie and destroying every conceivable object
inf1ameble; and doing all this in the most
fiendish spirit of vampire revelry. Coming
towards Hanging Rock their dastardly march
was impeded by the appearance of Capt. Har-
dy's. Little Oapon Company, a small militia
corps, who seeing the 5000 or more Hessians
made good their retirement, but not until
the cowardly enemy became much alarmed
and somewhat panic struck, as 1.-the brave
Ool. Dunning," who is better acquainted
with the yard. stick than the sword, fancisd
the entire march would be interrupted-his
superior numbers giving him full sway and
making him monarch Of all around.
Reaching Hanging Rock, rock thirty five
feet high or thereabout, which partly covers
or incline, to the Northwestern Pike road,
they impressed negro woman into their
service, and By the most fearful threats in
yucca u0E " reveal Inc tOCdH Oh OUT low ml.
litia men, numbering about $50 or 300 men,
Learning every thing from this alright ted
spy, still they dared not make manly at.
tack, but deployed and wormed themselves
around and about rocks and mountaiy, gaps
and loopholes, and succeeded in surprising
our little band Of brave fellows, who stood
manfully for nearly three quarters Of an
hour az ainst CALLING 1rs coming from every
point. The Hampshire militia, the Star
Artillery, Spittler's regiment, and the Rock.
ineham and Shenandoah militia, the En-
erald Guards, with the few other forces
whose titles / do not remember, acted a.
bravely and nobly as any men well could
under the circumstances and the large ODDS
against them.
Our heavy artillery was not in the best
working order, though the cannoneers work
ed we'll and bravely on the two field guns
they had. One Of the cannoneers, Phil. Do
nohoe. while acting most CALAMITY at his
gun, was shot down, but even then defied the
cowardly enemy; but they succeeded In car.
rying on, in much fear, the two guns, yet
not the caissons, us the latter were recap
tured by our brave boys Our militia, OF 800
strong, retired before this strong force Of
cavalry, Infantry, and artillery, nearly 5000
strong, with loss Of three killed and two
wounded and two missing. The enemy lost
too, as blood trails were visible along their
route evidently from either their dead or
wounded. And this is what they term bat.
tie Oh for a scourge to whip the varlets
in to Boston harbor. Having retired 70 Parks
Hollow, Ave miles distant / believe from
Hanging Rock, the enemy 'scavalry caut tious.
", and ludicrously bungling in the shape OF
riding. followed. small force OF Celonel
Il. MeDonneils men came to our support,
when our gallant boys rallied and drove the
Hosalans pell. msll back to ROmney.
som few of the Hesstan officers and mon
who were hiding, and afterwards came out
upon the road, renewed their incendiarism
4 nd DESTROYED Mr.. Oline's house, taking
his clock and beehives 70 form bon FIRE.
They then shot poor, harmless shoemaker
who was standing at the Threshold Of his
house door, and. not satisfied with this, set
are to his house, burning the poor fellow to
death, his agonizing shrieks being mirnicksd
by them the while. Then they plundered
and laid tnnir thieving hands on everything.
cursing al Threatening In the most foul ana
dtsgracsful terms the poor harmless women