Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-03
OFFICIAL REPORT OF TIE BATTLE or DRAINS.
WILLIE
HEADQUARTERS, 0urPosr, }
ARMY or TIE PoroyAc,
Dc. 23d, 1851.


goth instant placed In command Of four regiments
OF Inflny $50 Cavalry, and battery OF four pieces OF
Artillery, viz:
Eleventh Virginia Volunteers, Colonel s. GlrlAnd, Jr.
Sixth South Carolina Volunteers. Ii. Col. Secrest
Tenth Alabama Volunteers Col J. II. Harvey.
First Kentucky Volunteers, Gel Tbos. II. Taylor.
Making an aggregate force OF eco infantry.
Sumter Flying Artillery, pieces, Capt A. s. CUTS.
900 North Carolina Cavalry, Nj. Gordon.
so Second Virginia Cavalry, Cap. Pitzer for the pur.
pose of covering expedition OF ell the wagons Of our
army that could be spared after hay, to the left Of
Drinsville. proces ID at by the route
nc daylight towards Drainsvie and the accompanying
sketch will show the route, well as the relative situa
ton Of other ec,s Of interest," In what HSout to
narrate.
Knowing the situation of the enemy's advances posts
sent the cavalry forward far In advance Of the infant
~ TO take possession of the two pixies to the right
OF Drainsve leading directly to the enemy advanced
posts, so 10 prevent any communication OF our
movements reaching them and with the main body
followed TO take position with two regiments aud
section Of artillery on each turnpike, also 10 the right
Of Drainsvie and close enough TO their intersection TO
rm continuous ne Such position, knew could
hold agains. almost any cdds
But as my cavalry in sight Of the turnpike Capt.
ri discovered the enemy at the point on ridge
aad sent me word Immediately. gillcped forward at
olce and accommodating for myself found that POI
ton OF the enemy was In possession OF the ridge .rd
could bear distinctly artillery carriages passing the
G10rget0Wl turnpike IN cOneluerA0e numOere ana
senty the cannons mounted on timber boxes, pas
sing up towards Drainsvile about hundred yards
fro the Intersection, AZ knew, too, that the
ms g infantry were in advance and at once SUSPECTED
that be was elher marching upon Leesburg, or had
ceved intelligence through spy Of our intended for
age expedition, and was marching upon it-in either
wagons would have fallen an easy prey TO him
and once that my only Ydy TO them was to
lake vigorous attack upon biz reas and LETT h,nk and
t, compel him to desist from such purpose.
sent back for the Infantry TO hurry forward and sent
Can't Ptz.r with his detachment Of cavalry TO gain the
roads towards Lsesburg give notice to wagons
tu at once camp aud keep between them and the
emy, threatening his front aud flank. And will state
here parenthetcay, that this duty was performed by
Capt. Pzsr a1d his gallant little detachment In the most
ere iable manner, all our wagons reaching camp safely
In the meantime the enemys skirmshers took posses-
sion Of the dense pine in front and infantry
met BY my messenger three fourhs Of mile back,
il some time coming up.
Col Gulauds regiment leading was directed to deploy
two companies on each side Of the road TO clear the
ground OF the enemys skirmshers. One Of those
plnes having mis- aiken It's direon far to the
right aud Col Garland had 10 replace it with another.
The pines were cleared at double quick and the bat
terry was ordered id position at b. and fred very effect
lively during the whole Of the engagement to the front
The infantry placed in position as foows: Gar
lands regiment the right Of the road little in ad
vance OF the artillery; Secresi, g. O., the left Of the
al Forney's regiment arriving later replaced Gar
lands which moved by the flank TO the right and the
First kentucky, Col Taylor, at FIRST intended re.
serve ordered to take position the left Of the
Sixth South Carolina.
As our infantry vas we'll secured from the enemys
view their artillery fire. which opened about fifteen mir
uesafter began had little effect upon the Infantry,
but Played with telling eject along the road as, from
s position (C ara the sraightness OF the road 10 our
rear raked latter with she'll and round shot
pe.ely Their caissons and mbers were behind brick
house completely protected from shot, whilst
lmbers and cassons we're necessarily crowded and eI
posed There outlet TO right or left for q mile
back, by which the artillery could change lis position.
When our forces took their position the fire Of the
tlery ID great cIamoton in the enemys lines and
part evidently took to their heels
The right wing was ordered forward, and the Tenth
Alabama rushed wi h shout in q shower OF bullets,
IN Ter the gallant lead Of their Colonel Forney and Lieut.
Col Martin the latter falling in the charge part of
this regiment crossed the road and took position along
fence from which the enemy felt the uenees Of their
aim at short range. The Colonel here severely
wounded and Rad retire. In his sbserce the command
devoved upon Major woodward.
Toe Eleventh Virginia, boiling position the right
OF the Tenth alabama not so much exposed to toe
enemy's e. and consequently suffered less The Sixth
South Carolina gradually gsre ground also to the 'front.'
aad being together With the Tenh Alabama exposed to
the Ere of the euemys sharpshooteIs from two story
brick hou,e suffered most.
Ny orders TO Col Taylor, Prs Kentucky, were given
through Col Pornty; aud soon knew BY the conmo.
ton on my left that it was in place. The thcket where
th Sixth Souh Carolina and FRS. K,nucky opsrated
was so dense thstit impossible either their
position or their progress in the fight and regret to
say that the First Kentucky and the Sixth South Caro-
lila mstook each other for the enemy, and few
Aes occurred in consequence but with that exception,
the whole force acted with admirable unison, and ad.
upon tho Snem! with the seadiness Of veterans
driving him several times froai hl position With heavy
loss.
When the action had lasted about two hours, found
that the enemy being already n force larger than my
own was recovering from his disorder, and receiving
heavy reinorcemens, cduld not with my small
BEES being beyond the reach OF renforcements force
his position without; fearful sacrifice and seeing that bis
artillery supe or 10 in hunter and position only
was pouring destructive Gre into Cults battery de-
cded Withdraw toe latter at once, preparatory 10
tiring from the feli-udgrg too, that had given
wagons ample time to get out Of reach Of the enemy
Toe battery suffered greatly Its position
rly such that it could Ere only 10 the 'front.' and the
cal sons AID linbers had whatever from such
fire. Three or four olnnoneers had been shot at their
posts and several wounded and every shot Of the
my was delling destruction on either man, timber
| horse.
Tie conduct Of the brave true and heroic Cats At.
iraced my admiration frequently during the action, now
acting No l. and now as gunner and still directing and
dIspospg the whole with perfect solf Command and
devotion to bis duty, that ! believe scarce
" ever eQuallsd. He executed my order to with
draw his battery under rchochet fire of great accura-
CO. One piece found il necessary detail some nfan.
try Eleventh virginia. TO assist in conducting to the
YEAR which d,ne by them under great personaleI
posure.
Havisy secured d artillery sent orders to the four
resmcuial commlnlers to dsengage themselves from
the enemy and retire slowly and IN perfect order TO the
railroad wh..s a tsnd wonld be made. THIS del ate
duty was peri rned admirable and troops marched
tack esurey bringing with them all the wounded that
could be found The gathered up their blankets a.
they passed the points where they had been deposited be-
re the fight regret to say however, that one of tie
regiments reached the road this side Of their blankets
and knapsncks, thus missing them entirely, circum
sluce which the enemy will construe into precipate
flight.
The enemy was evidently too much crippled to follow
Il pursuit ard after a short halt a. the road Fro
ceeded 20 Fryingpan Church. where the wounded were
eired for.
Early 1t morning, with the two fresh regiments fur
nished me, 1.-THE Ninth Georl and the 18th Virgins
ant of c,valry undar Liant Col Raksr I n-o-