Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-02
NEWS FROM MANASSAS.
Confederate Accsunt Of the Battle
OF DTainsulie.

We have a copy Of the Richmond Dispatch II
December 26th, from which we take the follow
ing:
M.y.ssI, Dec "a, 1891 The battle at Drains
VILE instead CT being disastrous defeat aud the
sided affair represented, proves to be exactly
the reverse From nv present H. f)rmatio on can
give a better statement Of facts. On the morning.
Of the fight the Yankees sent out foraqiDg party
under the escort Of three bfigades from General
McCall's division. Fearing an attack, they had
sent one brigade CT ave regiments, battery of
six guns, and regiment Of cavalry to protect the
roads leading into Evansville, and then their
wagons were sent into the country for hay They
had been there but short time when Gen Stuart
brigad 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 expe-
dition, and not, has been enormously supposed,
70 make attack upon the enemy.
Coming upon the Federals suddenly, and seeing
their force outnumbered his, Gen. Stuart at once
prepared to protect his wagons, and to do that had
to make some demonstration 10 keep the enemy
in check, while the wagons were being hurried
to the rear For that purpose he advanced towards
them and sheltered mis- infantry In pine forest.
! At this time the reserved Of the enemy was seen
approaching, accompanied by ad ditonal artillery
and cavalry, and the moment seemed almost a
fatal one to our little force but through the cool
ness of Clear-headed aud skillful officer II was
saved with a com paratively small loss, consider
| ing the odds In favor Of the enemy.
| At first 1t was considered doubtful whether the
Federals were marching upon Leesburg, or
whether they had been Informed Of the expedI-
ton by spies, and had come out TO capture Il; In
either case the wagons were In danger, and 1t was
necessary TO protect them at any sacrifice. Had
they been lOSi, the greater portion of the trans
| portation Of the second corps would have been
lost. Making 4 vigorous attack upon the regi-
ment, drawn up against him, Gen. Stuart scat
tered them, causing great CONSERVATION In their
| ranks. They did not reform until the reserve
came up, when, inspired by the appearance of
| fresh troops, they returned TO the fight After
the wagons were at d safe distance. Gen Stuart
saw twas useless to contend with great force
against him, with no prospect Of reinforcement,
unless on ground Of bis own choosing, and so b e
fell back 10 spot selected to make a stand, but
the Yankees had fought long enough and were
not disposed 81 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, 10; wounded, l43; missing, 8. Some of
the wounded have since lied The enemy's loss
was heavy, although their papers say was Ii ght
The evidence Is too strong against them, aud the
truth Will soon come out The people of Drains
vine saw they left in great hurry, carving II
twenty wagons containing wounded men. They
promised to return In the morning for our wou nd.
ed, who were left on the field, some with very
s!lght wounds, but failed TO do so, and they ac-
knowledged that the fight had been much more
| severe than they bargained for The Baltimore
papers are gathering the facts and publish them
as collected One of them gives list Of casual.
leS III Two regiments, amounting 10 So killed and
wounded. Gen Johnston Is very well satisfied
with the result and has compIimented General
stuart upon the GOODNESS and bravery dIsplayed
| by him on the occasion.
Yesterday evening large body of Federals
1000 strong, came out in the direction Of PObIck
CHURCH, and marched towards our lines SEEM
for the purpose of making a reconnaissance
Alter coming within about a mile and half of
our p'ckets they halted, and soon after retired
Their movements were closely watched and lad
they ventured little further some little i'm pedi
men's might have been thrown in their way
The First Virginia regiment is still at lis old
camping ground Thus far no preparations for
winter quarters have been made, and beyond
fe~ speculations as to the possibility OF GETTING
10 Richmond, very little Is said upon the subject
Gen Ewell's brigade will winter in the advance
and believe the First will take I'D its quarters
as near the enemy as anv regiment. With good
warm log houses the soldiers can live very com
Iorta6le throug b the Cyld Weather, and Ii their
friends at home will furnish books and means of
enjoyment in the shape Of quoits, balls gymnas-
NC FIXTURES, hess boards. g. the time win soon
pass AWAY ~ ~ NOT 50 very certain that there
Will be no lighting during the winter.
The weather still continues good and Ia net
excessively cold. There has been but one stormy
day Tor some time. so long az the roads con-
Time In the present good condition there Is DOS.
| sibil'Y OF fight. 1t seems hardly probable
however, that IL a general advance had been con.
emplated, Ii would have been SO long DELAYED
Mcclellan had no reason to suppose the weather
could be good so late In the season, and he GER
talnly cannot be waiting for bad to fight in