The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-10
PARTIsAN LIFE IN THE soUrH

tbo ot.. AZ ms next meeting, which was on
command of siXty.nine men tho S,syyi ii@usseIeu @
t tron VI Wh'ch was composed of volnnfeers
ron rom lne regular cavalry, at home on detail and
bo Io,t ~ 1akng the direction of Drapegyilie
bo,ra .' VIZ Lttle River turnpike at Mat I,ee's
mousse Herndon Station where he pauSod d1'0 ",
nIs route he found to be no lorpcr Federal
outpost, nor did he lind the cavalry camn
v,Iie t NE proposed to attack still at Dranes-
VIiie, lOr tue tgnt a. Chantilly had induced tbe
eEterprlSng General stahi to draw m mis- limo
vi 0uPosts behind Difficult run. a s,rean,
WIZ Wnicn wen deserves 't9 name, for It is marrow
any uVtp, ahd rolls over broken and rocky bed
Moeby had nov redeemed his nrouisc giy,,, w.,
70 General stuart Us the inducemeut for tbat
olhcer TO lend him fifteen men-that in Ir,,,
,5 nonlus Ilme ne would compel the Federal com.
"ahuer IN FalfiaX to contract his lines
IN DIauesville two suffers were found vyh,
mau not yet removed their stores, but the men
Mere prohibited from interfering with them,
disappointed of his expectations Mosebg
marched his command several milo IN ~ tn5
L'Ule river turnpike, and campcd for the njgbt
az M'shels mouse, VIII oh Is on the northern slde
IN 1ie IV'u' ana Is situated on the summit of
hlil at tte northern base OF which at the dis
talce o. half mlle rolls the Potomac
al rom ms polut could be plainly discerned
@ onS NJ. hlands ON lhe opposite side Of tEe RIVER,
Anu rahtOnment OF Northern troops. On the
south side of the house. and between il and The
turnpike road, ere first an enclosure of culti-
Nated iand. aud then considerable bodv of
,roo woou. Ine oarn-yard, in which the command
was encamped, Is surrounded by n hioh fence
anu connects with the narrow enclosure which
SURROUNDS the house; and 1t opens through
plautatlon gate, into the field or cultivated land
snrough which the road runs leading to the
turnpike. There is a fence between this field
and the body of wood already spoken of. i'm
Which is high and strong gate where il is
crossed 0y the road; and along the side OF this
gate. '"'O
From the position of these enclosures il will
DC seen that Moseoy was eflectually cut off in
pnly tFNt. n.
OHecton OF Dranesvlle; while Broad run emp
les Into the Potomac at short distance from
Mskeie mouse, aud Is an efectual barrier to MI
egress IN the direction OF LoudolIn and Fan
quler. This was the spot which Moseby had
been compelled to select Tor the nights encamp.
ment, or 1t was the only place where forage
Coulu @ 1e procured In the country around. The
men siept IN the barn, and in the dwelling
Whlch was an ordinary farmhouse, whilst then'
horses were fastened 70 the fence
On account OF the temporary aud precarous
nalulc OF ms control over the Conglomerate
body which he commanded Mosebv did not in
such mclement weather send out pickets, bnt
kept on duty, as camp guard, only one sentry
at the barn.
AS the command marched from DranesyiIln.
DICK Moran, who came from that neghborhood
stopped to pass the night with an old acauaint-
ance Mr.. Green, who lives on the margin of
the road about midway between Dranesvlle
and Miskel's.
The presence fthe Northern army in Fairfax
county had unsettled and perverted the loyalty
n
woman who lived az Herndon Station Intent
upon mischief to the Southern cause, as Moseby
passed that place in the afternoon, she counted
the number OF his men, and when her brother
returned nome at night, posted him Oft to the
camp OF the 1st Vermont Cavalry on Difficult
run, with this information, coupled with the
iact that they had been marched in the drec-
zion OF Dranesvllle As soon as this intpli-
~sence was communicated to the officer in COM
mand, he resolved not to allow so favorable an
opportunity to escape ior the destruction of his
Troublesome enemy.
Captain Flint, for his bravery and skill was
chosen for this important service: and q call
was made for volunteers from the regiment
which, III so gallant command, he found no
difficulty in obtaining. Two hundred men were
selected from those who came forward, and were
divided into two squadrons, the first being
armed with the revolving pistols, the second
with the Carbine and the sabre.
About daylight Captain Flint, after passing
through Dranesville, stopped at Green's house
where he learned that MOseby was then camped
at Miskel's.
As the confident officer moved off. he cx
claimed, "All right, boys; we will give Moseby
an April fOol!" and was answered by cheers
nom The men. AS soon as the surprise party
had passed, Moran, who had been concealed in
his liend's house, speedily mounted his horse
and rode through the intervening farms to aB-
prise his friends OF their impending danger.
About sunrise, one OF the command informed
Major Moseby that the enemy on the Mary
land side OF the river were making signals.
He arose and went out to make ObserVatlons
when he neard Dick Moran shout as he rode
towards the house-"Mounl mount The
Yankees are coming!' In moment the camp
was alive with excitement and the men hurried
TO resume their arms and saddle their horses.
Moseby passed out OF the house by the front
door, which looks towards the barn, and as he !
did so, beheld Captain Flints first squadron |
marching through the gate into the field which |
separates the barn-yard from the wood. He ut |
once called 10 his men to rally, and told them !
they had to fight! Moseby's horse was unsaddled |
and as he gained the oarn-yard, the first squad |
ron was pressing forward and extending itself !
in seml-clrcle so rs 70 prevent as they hoped, |
any OF the guerlllas from etecting their escape.
AS the Federals came within pistol shot of the |
fence which encloses the barn-yard on the side |
towards the wood. they opened a rapid tre upon !
Mosebyis men who were there engaged IN sad |
ding and bridling their horses.
But the decisive blow was not struck at this
point. As the lett wing of the Federal squadron |
Was pressing down on the barn yard gate, which |
Is near the house, making the air resound with |
their cries and shouts, Moseby, still on foot but
with twenty men mounted and ready for ser
vice, threw open the gate, and advanced pistol |
in hand, at the same time ordering charge.
The twenty dashed through the gate. and en- |
gagged the enemy IN handtO.hand combat. |
Harry Hatcher, OF FauquieT private IN the |
Seventh Virginia cavalry, seeing his commander
on foot with noble generosity which ever dis
tinguished his character, sprung from his horse
in the melee, and offered II to him, In a mo-
ment MOseby was in the saddle. and with a wild
pleasure in hIs heart, plunged into the thickest
of the light.
The mpetuous charge of 1Iosebv, who was
each moment reinforced, broke through the
semicirce, and the assailants at once gave way.
The lett wing of the first squadron was routed,
and driven back on the second squadron.
These, instead of advancing to restore the night,
wheeled their horse, and united in the headlong
retreat, whilst the right wing passed around the
barn towards the river and were ultimately all
captured.