The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-10
Interesting Southern News.
REBEL ACCOUNT OF THE DRAINESvILLE
FIGHT.
They Acknowledge Serious Disaster.
FLoYDs CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA

They Acknowledge a Serious Disaster
FLOYD's CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA
Special Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
CENTREvlLLE, Dec. 4-Yesterday morn.
ing heavy skirmish occurred at Draines.
vile, which resulted disastrously to US. A
foraging party was sent out by General
Stuart, consisting of abuot two hundred
wagons, escorted by the 18th Virginia, Col
onel Garland the 9Th South Carolina, under
Lieutenant Colonel A. J. Secrest the 10th
Alabama, Colonel John 81. Forney the
LIST Kentucky, Colonel Thomas Taylor the
Sumter Flying Artillery, Captain Cults,
and detachments from Ransom's and Rad.
ford's cavalry. Our whole force amounted
to twenty-five hundred men. They started
off early in the morning, and before daylight
were some distance on the journey. Soon
after leaving rocket was seen to shoot up
in the direction of Drainesville, which was
afterwards ascertained to be signal of the
enemy, and indicated that our approach was
known. It is about fifteen miles from here
to Drainesville. When within a short dis
lance of the place, two or three regiments
of Yankees were seen depIoyed as skirmish.
ers in the skirts of pine thicket, which
stretched out on either side OF the road. Gen.
eral Stuart drew up his force and prepared
to make an attack. On either side the
woods were very thick, and it was difficult
to make way through them, but our force
was pushed forward in the following order !:
The 18th Virginia being in the advance,
was depleyed on the right OF the road with
the 10th Alabama, while the 9th South
Carolina and the LIST Kensucky were sent
to the left. On account of the dense thick.
cts on either side, the artillery was forced
to advance down the road in order to gain
a position to make the guns effective.
As we approached the Yankees the 18th
Virginia charged them with a yell, and
drove them back to their line within sight
of Dranesville. The enemy seemed some>
what confused, but soon formed again in
line OF battle. The advanced positions were
held by the 18th and 9th South Carolina,
the former on the right and the latter on
the left of the road. While waiting to get
sight of the enemy the 9Th South Carolina
was drawn up, and the LIST Kentucky ad =
vanced upon them, and installing them for
the enemy, a portion of the regiment fired
without orders, killing five of the South
Carolinians. The error was soon discover.
ed, and Col. Taylor advanced cautiously to
the lett, and soon after came 10 sight OF
another regiment but a few yards away
To be sure there was no mistake, Col. Tay-
lor shouted to the Col. and asked who he
was
"The Colonel of the 9th," was the reply.
"Of what 9tb?"
"Don't shoot" said the Yankees, " we
are friends-South Carolinians."
"On which side are your" asked Colo
mel Taylor. ....
"For the Union" and Immediately after
the Colonel gave the command to fire, and
q volley was poured into the Kentuckians
from the 9th Infantry, regulars, U. s. A.
The engagement then became general, and
our four regiments, with Capt. Cults four
guns, were soon actively engaged. The
Yankees had every advantage of position.
There were several houses along the Lees
burg turnpike, and back of it hill upon
which their battery was placed. Lower
down, and opposite the 18th, was another
battery placed in position to enfilate the
turnpike should we enter it. The main bat
terry of six guns swept the road upon which
we were advancing, and kept up an inces.
SAINT fire of grape, canister an spherical case.
The accuracy of their aim was remarkable,
considering the rapidity with which the
guns were fired. Capt. Quits got three oil
bis pieces in position and returned the fire
rapidly and successfully.
Meanwhile the enemy advanced several
regiments of infantry, and, protected by the
nature of the ground, came within humid
red yards of Us, and forming in line, fred
for some time, keeping the air full of minnie
ball, and finally attempted to charge. Three
times the officers gave the order, and tried
to get their men forward, bat failed. They
could not be pushed into the thicket. Soon
after this the firing on both sides ceased
bat not before great damage was done to
our force. For over an hour both sides had
kept an incessant firing. The wounded and
dead lay on every side, and the regiments
were beginning to get scattered.
To give it q little more in detail : As our
first advance were marching by the flank
toward the Yankee skirmishers, two COM
panies of the 18th Virginia were thrown
out as skirmishers, and sent forward. Capt
Mouston's company charged the Yankees
with shout, and drove them in, and s0on
after the shout was taken up by Others, and
all advanced within sight of Dranesville.
Company A, of the 18th, was deployed on
the right, but by some means got lost, and
was separated from the regiment until the
fight was over.
When the enemy formed in line of battle,
Colonel Forney drew the 10th Alabama up
also, and prepared to advance upon them.
The GOODNESS and daring courage displayed
by Colonel Forney was observed by every
body. he rode backward and forward in
front of the line, encouraging his men and
in getting all prepared for the coming
struggle. the same can be said of Colonel
Garland. Soon after the firing commenced
Colonel Forney was shot through the right
arm, Lieutenant Colonel Martin was killed
and the command of the regiment devolved
on Major Woodward, who commanded or
one side Of the road, and the senior captain
on the other. This regiment lost more than
any other. The Sumpter Artillery was in
the road, and had three guns in position