The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-03
OteS Of the War.
Latest News from the North.

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
We hear that the army of the Potomac eel
ebratcd Christmas Day in right merry style,
and that, scarce as are many other comforts,
the eggnogg bowls were filled to the brim in
every camp. The Centrevillc Correspondent
of the Richmond Dispatch writes on the 9th
inst, as follows:
"The battle of Dranesville, instead of being
disastrous defeat and the one-sided affair rep
resented, proves to be decidedly the reverse
From my present Information, l can give
better statement of facts. On the morning of
the fight the Yankees sent ont foragin@ par
ty, under the escort of three brigades from
Gen. McCal's division. Fearing all attack, they
had sent one brigade of five regiments, bat
terry of six guns and a regiment of cavalry to
protect the roads leading into Dranesvillc, and
they sent their wagons into the country for hay
They had been there but Il short time when
Gen. Stuart came up in sight of them. The
two remaining brigades were held in reserve
short distance to the rear. Gen. Stuart had
taken out near three hundred wagons for the
purpose of obtaining forage which was the sole
object of the expedition, and not, as errone-
ously supposed, to make an attack upon the
enemy. Coming upon the Federas suddenly,
and seeing their force outnumber his, General
Stuart prepared at once to protect his wagons,
and to do that had to make some demonstra-
tion to keep the enemy in check, while the
wagons were being hurried to the rear. For
that purpose he advanced towards them and
sheltered his infantry in pine forest. At this
time the reserve of the enemy were seen ap-
preaching, accompanied by additional artillery
and cavalry, and the moment seemed almost
fatal one to our little force, but through the
was saved, with comparatively small loss,
considering the odds in favor of the enemy.
At first it was considered doubtful whether
the Federals were marching npon Lecsburg, or
whether they had been informed of the cxpe-
dition by spies, and had come out to capture
it; in either case the wagons were in danger,
and it was necessary to protect them at any
sacrifice. Had they been lost, the greater por-
ton Of the Transportation of the second corpse
would have been lost. Making vigorous at
tack upon the regiment drawn up against him,
Gen. Stuart scattered them, causing great con-
sternation in their ranks They did not re-
form until the reserve came up, whcn inspired
by the appearance of fresh troops, they return
cd to the fight. After the wagons were at a
safe distance, Gen. Stuart saw it was useless to
contend with so great force against him, with
no prospect of rcinforccmcnts, unless on cround
of his own chosing, and so he fell back to
spot selected to make stand, but the Yankees
had fought long enough, and were not dspos-
ed to follow.
AS to the results. Several of our MISSING
men have been recovered, many of them
wounded. The casualties may be summed up
as follows: Killed, A; wounded l43; missing,
s. Some of the wounded have since died.
The enemy's loss was heavy, although their
papers say it was slight. The evidence is too
strong against them, and the truth will soon
como out The people Of Dranesvillc say they
left in great hurry, carrying off twenty wag-
ons containing wounded men. They promised
to return in the morning for our wounded.
who were left on the field some with very
slight wounds, but failed to do so, and they ac-
knowlcdged that the fight was much more Sc
we're than they baroained for The Baltimore