The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-29
RICHMOND VA SUNDAY DECEMBER 80


IL valuable amount OF supplies Each
accomplished what he conceived 10 he
the main purpose OF the battle. which,
after all, was n inisconceptlon OIL tile
part OF both, az Ord was not In pursuit
OF stuart's wagon train, and Stuart
Fad no designs against Ortl's tine OF
retreat.
Ord's Artillery.
Ord, III entering the village ard pinc-
fig a section OF Ills artillery IN the
church hill, Rad passed the Junction
OF the two roads on the higher hill
some 600 yards in his rear. This emf
nence. known as the Draiie Till. Is
pre-eniinently the military KY of the
situation. rs 1t commands al Of the
surrounding country. Stuart knew tits
position we'll, and Immediately started
to gain 1t by a circmitous march
through the woods around Ord's flank
Stuart afterward stated thnr, had lie
gained this point with his four regi-
nents, he could have held the whole
Federal army in check.
Ord 3surmised. ard sttrmisud correctly
that the Confedcrates were moving
around to his rear in the hope OF seia-
ing this coveted position. He lirl,ne-
diately orderol the section Of artillery
which hnd taken Its position near the
church. to withdraw. and. with, the
other guns OF the battery, To take po.
sitionson the Drane Hill. near the june.
ticn OF the two roads.
This was done with commendable ex-
petition, the guns went at a sweeping
gallop to the top of the hill and took
Il new position between the forks IF
the road with nuzalcs pointing south.
In this direction the advance OF tho
Confedcrates was driving in the Fed
cral skirmish line. The Cehtreville
70 49,. a 1.tr III H.,
short distance from the junction OF that
road with the Washington pike. The
Confederate advance was along this
ICentrcvlle Road. and Enston's Be ttery
arrived in the nick of time to covcr
this important approach. Ord's fore
sight and promptness had secured for
his troops an cvermnsterinE superior
ity Of position. The Confederates, ow-
ing to the length and many difficulties
of their circuitous march had failed to
reach the crest of the hill In advance
Of the Tederals. Finding the enemy in
secure possession OF the coveted posi-
ton. Stuart placed his battery in the
Centrevile Road some five or six hun.
dred yards distant from the Federal
artillery. This battery was placed be-
hind u slight swell Of ground, the
,nuzzles OF the guns just clearing this
slight elevation. 1t came into action at
once and poured heavy fire into the
ranks OF the Fedcrals. but this fire
did little execution, being aimed too
high.
Captain Easton, in command OF the
Fedora, battery, had no other taSget
than the rising smoke, vet training his
guns on the point where lie thought
tho opposing battery ought to be. at
the third fire he completely disabled
the enemy's guns. One gun was put
out of action, caisson was exploded
and many men and horses OF the BAT
terry were killed, while many, more
were dangerously wounded. General
Stuart. in his report of the battle.
wrote: every shot of the enemy was
dealing destruction on either man,
timber or horse"
The two batteries thus engaged
marked the centres of their respective
lines. The Tenth Pennsylvania was
placed in support Of Easton's Sattery.
and rendered effective aid in protecting
the Federal left. The other four regi-
ments were placed in advantageous
positions. The famous 'Bucktail' Regi-
ment held a position around brick
house near Easton's Battery known as
the Thornton House. The "Bucktail'
sharpshooters took possession of this
building, and from every door and win
dow poured a destructive fre into the
ranks of the Confederates. Lieutenant
Colonel Kane. of this regiment. was
brother Of the noted Arctic explorer.
DR.. Elisha Kane, and during this en-
gagement was severely wounded.
The ground on either side Of the
position OF the Confederate battery
was covered with woods and dense
underground.
stuart's Work.
Stuart placed two OF his regiments
J. Nav nS,Sl "a ~, a n
facing north. The Sixth South Caro-
lima and the First Kentucky were to
the left and the Tenth Alabama and
the Eleventh Virginia to the right OF
the road. The South Carolina and the
Kentucky regiments, in moving to
their assigned positions by different
routes, came into collision and through
mistake poured a destructive volley
into each other-a mistake that oc-
CURED with tragic frequency In the
first battles of war.
When moving forward to attack the
enemy, Stuart sent few of his cav
alrymen scurrying about the country
to gather the wagons and hurry them
towards Centreville The teamsters
needed no further incentive to action
than the startling information that
the enemy might swoop down upon
them at any moment. The fun grew
fast and furious. Wagons swept along
the roads from every direction, the
loads of hay rocking and swaylng over
| the rough frozen ground while the air
/, grew resonant with the vehement cries
of the Transfers urging their horses to
their utmost speed. Residents now
living who witnessed the event. aver
/ that the driving done that day by the
Confederate Jehus was sight not to
be forgotten.
While the teams were heading tu-
multuously for Centreville. the oppos.
ing legions on Drane Hill were be-
| coming more hotly engaged.
| vrbo Ninth papnsylvan min aS n canoe