The National tribune., 1903-07-02
Battle of Dranesville.
In De

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In De-
cember, 1861, Gen. McCalrs Division.
known as the PENNSYLVANIA Reserves, oc-
cupied a position on the right of the Army
Ord commanded the Third Brigade, COM
posed of three regiments of infantry, four
companies of the Bucktail Rifles, eight
companies of the 1st Pa. Reserve Cav,
and Il battery of six guns. The 9th Inf.
was commanded by Col. c. f. Jackson.
the 10th Inf, by Col. ]. S. McCalmont,
the 18th Inf, BY Col. John Ii. Taggart;
Kane: the 1st Pa. Cav. by Lieut. Col. ia
cob Higgins. Col. Geo. d. Bayard being
in Washington, and the battery bv Capt.
Eastou. | belonged to Co. c, 1st Pa, but
Mt this time was one of Gen. Reynoids's s
Orderlies.
Early OH the morning of Dec. 90, Gen.
Ord was ordered to march to Dranesviiie,
and, if possible, captu e an annoying cav
airy force scouting between Dranesville
and the Potomac When he received that
order. Gen. Ord was at Camp Pierpont.
about seven miles from the Chain Bridge,
on the Dranesville pike. Promptly obey
ing the order. Gen. Ord marched to
DranesvilIe. and, while Loading his forage
wagons just east of that place, was at
tackled by Gen. "Jeb" Stuart, then COM
manding infantry, his brigade being com
10th Ala, the 1st Ky, part of two cav
airy regiments. and the Sumter Flying Ar
tillery, probably 5000 men. Stuart with
about 200 Wagons, was, also, foraging;
consequently, the clash of arms. The Con-
federates came up the road leading south
from Dranesvilie to Centerville. Notwith-
standing we had the advantage in position,
numbers and artillery, the Confederates,
more valorous than discreet. attacked us.
The combat. Witnessed by Gen. Reynolds
and Gen. Meade, was a signal victory to
our arms. We lost n:re killed and 60
wounded, among the latter being Lieut.-
Col. Kane. A bullet struck him on his
cheek. and he fell to the ground. In
stantly. however, he sprang to his feet
and led the Bucktai!s to victory. Accord
ing to their own report, the ConfederateS
lost 230 men, Col. Forney, of the 10th
Ala. being wounded, and Lieut.-Col. Mar
tin, of the same regiment, killed. Our ar
tillery did exceptionally effective service.
The enemy left two caissons, rendered un-
serviceable by our artillery. on the field.
While all the troops acted gallant,y in
this little battle at Dranesyille, | am es-
pecially proud of the panegyric Gen. Ord
pronounced upon the 1st Pa Reserve Cav.
for the heroic manner in which it fought
its first battle.
The enemy retreated toward Bull Run,
leaving their dead and wounded on the
field. l rode over the field with Gen. Rey-
nolds, and l will here say that in my
three years service l never saw wounded
men 50 badly mangled. nor did 1 ever see
SO many dead and wounded on so small a
piece of ground. Gen. Reynolds rsmark-
cd to a staff officer that many of the Con-
federates were shot in the head and
shoulders. Doubtless. Capt. Easton's bat
terry was responsible for the mangled con-
dition of the enemy's killed and wounded.
l can never forget the horrors of that little
field-men's faces shot away, others be-
headed. The groans and cries for help
are sounding in my ears to-day.
When Easton's battery became seriously
engaged. it was supported by my regiment,
in line, with drawn sabers. Gen. Rey-
nolds. present as an observer, made n
number of practical suggestions to Capt.
Easton and his artillerists.
Col. Bayard arrived upon the field to-
ward the close of the fight In the early
morning, ut the Willard Hotel, Washing
ton, he mounted his horse and rapidly
rode to Camp Pierpont. There he pro-
cured a fresh horse, and then galloped to
the battlefield.
In the battle the Confederates made a
serious mistake. The 9th S. c., when
moving to attack us, fired into the Ken
mistakins the Kentuckians for Union
troops. The result was disastrous, about
80 being killed and wounded.
1 shall relate an incident that is doubt
less remembered by some of the boys of
Easton's battery: Gen. Ord, looking
through his field glasses, said to one of
| the gunners:
"Do you see that brick house over
there?"
"Yes, sir; do"
"Put ball into that house. 1t is full
] Of rebels"