The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-29
few miles in advance of the line of
Bull Run.
The Army Shirt.


The Army Spirit.
The spirit pervading the two armies
at this time afforded striking con-
trast. The Federal Army. beaten dis
astrously in July ut Bull Run. and even
more completely discounted in October
at Balls Bluff. had no preccdents of
| victory to inspire 1t as a military or
ganization. However great the brav-
/, cry of the individual soldier may have
been, the lack OF confidence in the
army as lighting machine had as
sumed an all-pervasive form of pan
icky timidity. The battle of Dranes-
Vile did timely service In removing
| to degree this feeling of distrust.
| Inspired by two signal victories the
Confelerates were in fine fettle. The
men in gray had gone to the front
possessed with the idea that the South
could "whip the world" Bull Run and
Balls Bluff were but anticipated con-
| frmations of this bold confidence. The
successful issue of these initial COM
bats beckoned to greater glories and
the final triumph of the newly-estab-
lished Confederacys This feeling ami
mated the entire Confederate camp,
and the army of Johnston stood bold
| ly and confidently awaiting the first
hostile move of Mcclellan from his
entertainments along the Potomac.
| Thus were matters posed when the
battle of Dranesville was fought. The
tedium Of winter quarters was re-
| lieved in both camps by the sending
out OF parties to forage and gather
Information of the doings of the enemy.
was that portion of Fairfax lying be-
tween Washington and Centreville.
This strip of,territory for months was
debat liable ground--a region where ter
rifying rumors and dire alarms were
| continually afloat.
| The citizens whose homes stood be-
| tween the lines of the two opposing
armies were divided In political senti-
ment. A few remained Union" to the
core, while the greater majority were
heart and soul with the Confederacy.
This division OF sentiment filled the
hours, day and night, with a turmoil
of excitement. Credence was given to
| the most improbable rumors, and accu.
rate information was at a decided dis
count.
A report which upon the face of 1t
seemed to bear some degree OF prob
ability reached the ears of General
Mccall at Camp Pierpoint Nangley,
the right of the Federal line) that u
airy was between Dranesville and the
Potomac, menacing the Federal picket
line and greatly harassing Union citi-
zens residing in that locality. In fact,
| 1t was known that two loyal" citizens
| had been arrested and had been sent
on to Richmond to enjoy the not overly
lavish hospitality of Libby Prison.
Stirred to action by this rumor, on De-
cember 10th General Mccall issued an
order to General Ord, commander of the
Third Brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves
l(Stxth Ninth nd T1,,a
iments), to proceed the next morning
at O'Clock with his brigade on the
I Leesbur pike, In the direction OF
4 Dranesville. Kane's famous :Bucktail''
/ regiment, Easton's Battery BATTERY A,
First Pennsylvania Artillery. and two
squadrons of the First Pennsylvania
| Cavalry were directed to accompany
this expedition.
The object of this demonstration, as
Indicated in McCall's order, was two
| fold-''to drive back the enemys pick
cts from their advanced position" and
ito procure Il supply of forage" The
latter was to be procured. according to
the orders of the day, "at Gunnelrs or
| any other rank secessionist's in the
neighborhood" The band Of maraud-
ers between Dranesville and the river
was not to be neglected.
Movements OF the Troops.
The First Brigade, commanded by
General Reynolds, was ordered to move
to Difficult Run, a small stream that
/ crossed the road between Dranesville
! and Langley, SO as to be In supporting
/ distance should Ord need assistance.
A touch OF humor attaches to McCall's
serious caution TO Ord that he should
bring his troops back to camp before
| nigh.fall without fail. II was evil
IDENTIFY considered dangerous at this
period TO leave small bodies Of troops
out over night.
Pursuant to orders. the expedition
started at 6 "A. NJ, December goth. The
4 day was cold, bright and clear. On the
march Ord learned that the Confeds crate
Harauders had decamped. but that
there was respectable picket at
: Dranesville. which might be captured.
Moving forward cautiously he entered
Dranesville about midday. He was
accompanied by his cavalry and artil-
leryt. the Infantry moving up at some
distance in the rear. Upon Ord's APP
proach the Confederate cavalry picket
stationed in the village fed and scat.
, tered, but remained in the distance
watching the movements Of the Fed.
$ erals.
, Ord placed two guns of Easton's Bat.
terry on the hill near the church From
: open country lying before him in the
direction of Leesburg. The scurryine
S OF the Confederate pickets along 9
S road In the distance and their return
: as for observation convinced him tina,
n a considerable body Of the enemy wa.
i. near at hand
Nor was he mistaken in this conjec
& ture. General Johnston had sent gu
y from his camp at Centreville nearl,
o al the wagons of his army into uppe
r FAIRFAX and lower Loudoun to gatho
y much needed supplies. The protectio,
or this wagon train was intrusted /,
d Colonel J. g. B, Stuart, who afterwurd
e mmortalized himself IS the Primo
e rupert OF the South. AS n guard TO
e, the wagons he had under his comman,
% tour regiments of infantry-the Tent
lie Alabama Sixth South Carolina. Elev
> enth Virginia, First Kentucky: on
Is battery OF four guns, the Sumter NV
9, Ing Artillery, OF Georgia. Captain a
n, 8 CUTS, and about $50 cavalry.
'el The two combatants, thus unexnect
~ edly fronting enc another were Rot
, seized with CONSERVATION. Ord cam
!, 20 the conclusion that the Confederat
- force IN his front had been sent out /
&c intercept his retreat to camp and car
!, ture his command. stuart IN Il,
G. other hand could only Internal N
~ presence of such large bodv ne n,