Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-17
The Late Disaster to our Cavalry

The following account of the late al
tack and repulse Of our cavalry, is iron
the pen of Hon. E. p. Walton, who re
ports it for his paper. 1t is, we consider
the most reliable sketch that has beef
written of that unfortunate affair -
am now able to give an authenti,
account OF the late amentable affair o
our cavalry with Mosby's company. Or
the 3lst ult. Major Taggart learned tina
Mosby was at Drainsville, and ordered
Capt. Flint, with detachments from com.
panies A, b, G and d, to go out and
capture him. Accordingly, Capt. Flint
proceeded to execute the order. He
struck Mosby's trail above Drainsville
and followed it TO Broad Run, coming up
with the enemy in that vicinity. Our
men charged, when a part of the enemy
reserved their fire until the two parties
came to close quarters, when they pour
ed deadly fire, which broke our ranks,
and at the same time the balance of the
enemy charged before our men could
rally. 1t is true that the reserve failed
to give support, although the fact is not
stated in the report which l have seen.
Our loss was as follows:
Killed-Capt. Flint, 1t. Woodbury.
and private John Reed, 8
Wounded-Lt.. Grout, Git is feared
mortaly,) Ii. Holden and II
privates, 10
Missing-Lt. Sawyer and 8s priv's, 81
Total, LOG
Among the privates wounded are
Augustus Paddock, Supposed mortality
and Mr.. Brewster, (severely,) both of
Craftsbury.
Ofthose reported wounded, two have
since died, and two more are supposed to
be MORALLY wounded. 1 have not the
names. Probably Mr.. Paddock is one
of the four.
1t is a remarkable fact that the heavi-
est loss, except in officers, was in Capt.
Beams reserve of 100 men, who in their
retreat ran into party of Mosby's men,
and were badly used. 1t would have
been safer had Bean advanced to the
support of Flint's attack, instead of re-
treating. The enemy pursued our re-
treating forces, but were fought at every
good opportunity by Lieut.. Woodbury.,
with such men as he could rally, dis
lance of eight miles, and to a point with
in two miles of our camp at Vienna, at
which point Woodbury. was killed. of
course, it was Lieut.. Woodbury's body,
not Groufs, which was embalmed yes
erday. The report adds that several of
he enemy were killed and many woun-
led.
Our force was 1875 men. and that of
he enemy 80. Captain Flint attacked
with 80 men the whole rebel force, and
Ifs men fought bravely, hand to hand, as
ong as it was possible for force so I'M
quail to do so, and at last retreated sui
emily. |
The reserve under Capt. Bean num-
'ered 100 mer-a force amply sufficient
o rescue Flint and capture the enemy, /
f Bean had attempted it, When the fight
commenced, stout Virginia rail fence
divided the partieesaTr,ree,at the rebels threw
Town one length hpsinehe5 TO charge on
Flint, and some OF our own men had |
commenced to remove another, so as to
get in the rear of Mosby so that the
way would have been thoroughly prepar-
d for Bean to attack Mosby both in
ront and rear, had he attempted to do
lis duty. BY his miserable failure, Mos
y escaped and our force was almost en-
rely cut up. Of 1876 men, 106 are re (
orted lost-leaving only 90 However,
is probable that some of the "a repor-
I'd missing have come in since the re-
ort was made. cannot conceive any
Ossible defence for Captain Bean, tho
would be glad to do so, as every loyal
'ermonter would also be. Military men
ere condemn him, of course, upon the
eport of the affair as it has come here,
nd as | have stated it. This report is
D direct and authoritative that / cannot ;
oubt it. In fact, a part of this state l
lent is from an official report, and the
emainder from sergeant who was in {
'Ent's attacking party. feel perfectly {
lstified, therefore, in sending it for pub
cation.
&C. II. B." army correspondent of the {
rec Press, writes as follows:-
"Capt. Flint and Lieut.. Woodbury., 9
lowed great bravery in rallying the men. ;
hey were two Of the finest officers in .
le regiment and their loss is severely i,
GREETED by both officers and men," :
Among the prisoners we notice the a
ames of Geo. Skinner of Albany, The d
lore P. Skinner of Irasburgh. There Il
e doubtless many more from this vicin- =
Y. I,
The following account Of the skirmisb a
extracted from letter written by Ser n
ant Luther B. Persons, of Flint's COM 81
my, to his friends in Coventry = T
" On Wednesday morning, April LIST, o.
one O'Clock the Captain called me and 81
anted me TO call up the men and then Fl
cunt. The Captain, 1t. Grout, and W
irsy-:hree of US were soon in the sad Y
e and moving in the direction of Drains al
lie. There we're parts of five com fe
mics, all under command of Captain a
lint. We expected to find Captain n,
osby and hundred of bis men in q,
EVANSVILLE, and Capt. Flint ordered me fc
take ten menand go as advance guard. ne
e found nothing at Drainsvil.e. The ell