The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-01-05
THE KALEIDOSCOPE.
~ mnp of busy life,
Its fluctuations and vast concerns

iDr tne U mon lOTCeS lcuS hefles oi
ters. 1t was won entirely by portion Of the
Reserve Corps, and the sixth Reg
iment, afterwards commanded by Gen. Ent,
took prominent part in the action. II was a
turning point in the war, and as such much Inn
portance was attached TO IT, The effect on the
entire Corps was electrical while II terminated
the entire country, aud ON deserved praise
from the President and Gem Mcclellan. As 1t
was the first action participated in by the "Jron
Guards" then commanded by the late Gen. FIR I,
we frequently requested him TO write IL out for
publication. Several years ago he hastily made
n draft for an article, which naver was revised.
We now give it to the public as n contribution
to the history of the late wan written by prom
soldier in whom the people of Columbia county
have always had just pride. q. b. b.
THE BATTLE OF DRAINsvILLE.
On December 10Th, 1861, the 9Th Regt.
p. r. V. c., received orders to march
at 6 A. NJ, of the following day, in con-
junction with the balance of the Bri-
gade (the 3d);-The 1st Rifles, Captain
Easton's Battery, aud two squadons
of the 15t CAvalry-the object being ITO
drive back the enemy's pickels," then
recently advdnc.d; and "secoudly to
procure Il supply of forage" T he order
was received by the Regiment with
great enthusiasm, and at the hour ap.
pointed every man and officer not on
his back with disease, or reluctantly
obeying some order of detail, was in
the ranks.
Lieut.. Col. Penrose, owing to the
sickness of Col. Ricketts,, was in COM
mand. Major Madill was absent in
Washington on leave, and not cogniz.
ant Of orders to march.
The regiment moved from its parade
ground in the most buoyant spirits, and
reaching the Leesburg Pike found the
other Regiments reporting. The col
umn was speedily formed and put in
motion meeting with nothing to delay
its march until some three miles from
Drainsville, at which point the train
for forage diverged to the right under a
small guard, and the troops taking ad-
vantage of the delay refreshed them
selves from their haversacks. The
chances for meeting the enemy were
being discussed with great doubt upon
the minds of the men, when an order
was received to advance towards
Drainsville, with the utmost dispatch
| lin which direction a portion of the
column had already gomez, and dogs
trot was at once taken and kept up un-
til the flanking companies of the Reg
iments A. and K, which were covering
the left flank of the column on the
Pike, came suddenly upon skirmish
line of Confederate troops. The 1st
Rifles had few moments before com.
menced exchanging shots with this
same line, and were at the time deploy.
ing for the purpose of ascertaining
their strength and position. The two
Companies of the 9Th were Immediately
ordered by Captain Ent, comman ding
them, TO change their pointso as to face
the enemy's line, but had not Complet.
ed the movement when they were or
dered to join their Regiment on the
Pike, which was done with no other
loss than the wounding of one man of
| Company X. through the wrist. The
| "Rifies" contented themselves with the
establishment of their line across the
advance of the COnfederates, and some
considerable time was occupied in plac.
| ing the two ostile columns in order OF
| battle. Before this had been consum-
mated by General Ord, the enemy
oy'annd fire from battery of guns on
the Centreville road, some 400 yards
from its intersection with the Leesburg
Pike. These guns were soon replied to
by three guns from Easton's Battery,
the first discharge from which elected
cheers from the entire Federal lines
and almost Immediately after the 9th,
then on the Pike with their right rest
ing at a farm house short distance
from the intersection of the Alexandria
road, was ordered forward in line.
After crossing field and rising gen.
tie slope it entered wood, into which
it advanced short distance, when the
9th Regiment was met slowly retirin G,
having exchanged volleys with q line
of troops in their front under such Cir
cumstances as to make it doubtful
w
1st Rifles. The two right companies of
the 9Th passed through the left Of the
9th, and advanced to within short dis
tance of the edge of the wood, and
near fence before firing shot. The
enemy's line was in the edge of another
wood across narrow field, and so well
covered as to make it doubtful as to
their strength. For several moments
the lines in this position (the 9th ON the
| right and the Rifles on the left of the
6th) kept up a fire, neither party en-
deavoring to advance. Finally, how
ever, Gene raj Ord rode up to the right
of the 9th and ordered it to charge for
ward in the direction of the eAemy's
battery. The word forward" ran down
the lines like flash, and the re 'uent
bounded the fence in front, cross the
open ground at run, and in M. Lent
We're on the ground previously held by
the enemy. The "Rifles" on the left
moved forward at the same time, but
the 9th not taking up the order, remain,
ed back. The enemy's position was
well marked by their dead and wound.
ed; and their line of retreat plainly
indicated by kna psacks, blankets and
muskets cast off in their haste to get
away. Their battery ceased firing al
the time their infantry gave way, and
was withdrawn be fore the line of the
Rifles and 9th reached the point from
which it had been firing. Having com
PEELED the infantry to retreat in confu
sion, and finding the battery also gone
Col. Kane, who was in temporary com
mand of these two Regiments, ordered {
halt which had no sooner been effected
than line of infantry was observed il
front of the right flank Of the 9th. Tht
woods at this point was quite dense
and the line observed being at Il hal
with guns at an order, doubt at onct
arose as to who it was. The flag beinl
, | finally phgapuod 10 ha III f,a.o,t f,o,,, =. -,