Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-01-01
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
Correspondence Of the Gazette.
CAMP PIERPoNT, Va,
December %, 1861.


December %, 1861.
Dear Sir-You are already no doubt in
r.c.;nt of the news of bush fight with the
rsbels at Drainesvile, of which allow me to
1--WE YOU a few particulars Our force con.
ss;sted of the Kane Rides. (Buck Tailsl, the
9Th. 18th, and 9th Infantry, Easton's Battery,
consisting of two twenty-four and two twelve
nound guns, and Companies G, d, Z, III and
Of the Cavalry-all of the Pennsylvania
Reserve Corps.
Ats o'clock D. m. of the 10Th. the captains
of the above named companies of the cavalry
we're summoned to our Lieut.. ColonePs head
quarters, las our Col. was absent), where we
we're ordered to have our men ready to march
At half past five next morning, which was
done accordingly, as an engagement was an.
ticipated Strict orders were given US that
not shot should be fired from our ranks, as
the sabre was the weapon to be used 10y the
cavalry.
We took our line Of march about o'clock
q. M and proceeded to within short dis,
tancc of Drainesville, when the cavalry were
thrown in front, with Mifiin county boys
leading the van, when orders were given to
charge through the town, and capture any
pickets that might be found, return and form
on the hill, which Was between US and the
town. The charge was made at full speed
and in good order; but seeing no one VIC re.
turned and formed according to orders with
the battery on cur left, the infantry lying
along the road in our rear. From our posi-
ton we could see small squads of rebel cav
airy some three or four miles distant to the
north and west; they came out of the bushes
irt themselves be seen, and returned t. their
hiding places. We remained in that place
about fifteen minutes, when were ordered
t0 return. We had not proceeded more than
Vne hundred yards when Il masked battery
opened on our front from the right, not three
hundred yards distant, from perfect thicket
Of pines. The infantry were nt once thrown
in line of battle on our trent. the buck tails
and 9th sent out on the left, and as the ground
WAS such cavalry could do nothing, we were
ordered to pass in front of their battery be.
hind n piece of woods on the left Of the in
iantry Their fire WAS directed for the cav
airy, as their balls, shell, grape and canister
followed US until we were sheltered by the
woods, when two shells came whiStlinS to
wards US, bursting at the side of our column
hitting one horse in company |, and wound
ing one in company C. Their balls all passed
over US while in front "f their guns. They
were SO concealed that il took our Lattery at
least twenty minutes befure they could play,
the rebels all this time firing the rate of
five or SIX guns per minute but when our
guns lid begin they made sweeter music than
any brass band you ever heard. 1t is singu-
lar, but nevertheless true not one Of our men
WAS injured from their battery. | ia
conversation Yesterday with one Of the pris
.oners twhn are still in our camp) who tnld
me that the third shot from our guns was
.hr which struck one of their EMISSIONS
which exploded, killing four men and six
horses. Their lnrce consisted of 4 South Car
oIna regiment two Alabama one Kentucky.
Une Virginia, and about three hundred cayal
~.
A constant fire of musketry and caRonad
aIg kept up for over an hour, when they
retrrated, leaving most of their small arms,
blankets and clothing behind. more than We
could carry away. | counted near where
their battery stood twelve men, four with their
heads entirely of. and eight horses killed
Besides, the woods were scattered full of dead
and wounded. Their loss is not less than two
hundred, The prisoners are fine young men,
and appear satisfied in being taken. They
say they are tired of the war, their only re
gret being that as their time would soon ex
pre- they intended to return home. There
were scarcely two Of them clad alike. all col
ors and all kinds of clothing; their overcoats
we're new, and made of heavy cotton duck
We all picked up one as a kind of relic. with
blankets sufficient to keep ourselves and hor
seq warm all winter.
Our boys all behaved wel-nOt man left
his place in ranks during the time VIC were
exposed To their fire. Too much praise can
nat be given the buck tails almost every shot
iraas them telling we'll as it is the first severe
skirmish the Penna. boys have had They
nave al least made Il mark.
We left the field about dark burying all
our dead and bringing away our wounded
with US; the prisoners were mounted on
back seat with some of our cavalry and
Fought in: better treatment than our poor
aelicws received at their hands.
fwo of the three buck tails killed at Draines
Tlile-Samuel Calbraith and George Rauf,
belonged to Duncannon, Perry county. They
were both struck by the same grape shot.
george Cook, of the same regiment, killed by
hinie musket ball, belonged to Wellsboro',
1loIga county. Samuel Walter, of the 9th,
belonged to Catawissa; Daniel Darling. of the
same to Prompton, Wayne county. John S.
sexton. OF the 9th, belonged to Erie, and j.
D. otockdale, of the same. TO Armstrong
county. These we're all the Pennsylganians
Killed in the sction. T.