The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-29
THE Attic OF
DRANESv|LLE, VA.
The First Federal Victory
South Of the Potomac in the
War Between the States.
FOUGHT BEFORE XMAS, 1861
Between Five Regiments Of Fed
erals and -Four Regiments of
Confederate Infantry.
BY wM. s. HAMMOND.

IOnfederdtc Infantry.
BY NNI. s. HAMMOND.
Dranesville, small Virginia hamlet,
is situated in Fairfax county, about
twenty miles from Washington. and
about fourteen from Leesburg. On
q commanding hill at the eastern edge
of the village the Leesburg and Wash
inston and the Leesburg and A:eNan-
drin Turnpikes form a junction. The
continent roads form a single high
way from this point TO Leesburg. From
the point OF junction this road dips
into a small valley and crosses
smaller hill, on which stands the vii
lage church in "a grove of massive
oaks. The view westward from the
church towards Leesburg commands u
rolling. open country OF farm and
woodland. The turnpike. crossing this
tract, may be plainly seen until lost
In piece of woodland in the distance.
This roadway, before the railroad
paralleled it some four miles away,
was a main line OF travel and COM
merce. Long caravans of schooner"
wagons with white canvas tops. droves
Of horses, sheep and cattle, stages we'll
loaded with passengers, gave life to
the old highway and brought thrift TO
eevry wayside village and hamlet. This
was the golden age of the wagon
stand and tavern" With the march
of progress and the coming OF the
railroad wagons, stage coaches ana
tuverns were relegated to the limbo or
things that were. The jangling music
of the wagon bells, the tootings of the
stage-driver's horn. the noisy conimo-
tion OF the wayslde inn are only echoes
that family survive In the memories OF
very old men. Progress has her victims
no less than grim-visaSe d war.
Drancsv,llc in other days was ,
recipient of the bounty that flowed
from the oid-time commerce. With
the passing of the turnpike traffic an
unbroken quiet settled unon the VIII
lage until the stiffness was rudely
broken on memorable winter after
noon OF 1851. The roar Of cannon and
the rattle OF nusketry announced to
the village and the surrounding coun-
try that the tide Of war, which had
rolled at a distance, was now nigh at
hand.
Comparative Estimates.
Compared with the mighty engage
ments OF the after conflict, this So
called battle" of Dranesville is but
Between the States. Measured by the
slaughter of such conflicts as Antletam,
Gettysburg or Spotsylvania. 1t assumes
little more than the dimensions of a
hotly-contested skirmish. Yet In that
frs, year OF the war it was called
q battle and to II. at the time. there
nag attached an Importance that
3. this day. slarceIy justified.
the press.l6t the North proudly
ro.rts6 70 IT IS "the first Federal vic
tory south OF the Potomac Secretary
Of War Simon Cameron wrote Cen
erzt Mcczil z few days after the bat
rEe: 1T tthe battle OF Dranesvil!e) Is
ere OF ttfe bright spots that give as
suraacs OF the success of coming
events and itz effects must be 10 in
spIre confidence in the belief that
hereafter, as heretofore. the cause Of
cur country will triumph. Other
portions OF the army will be stimu-
lated by their brave deeds. and men
Will be proud to say that at Dranes-
vile they served under Mccall and
Ord"
Small was the victory-if victory il
was at all-yet the semblance OF sue.
cess went far towards relieving thu
gloom OF the disastrous rout at Ma
nassas and the bloody repulse at BAH:
Bluff, which had occurred earlier II
the year. The collision Of five regi
rents OF Federal with four of Confed
crate infantry December 90, 1851, con
stitutes this hattie
The first Christmas of the war wa
approaching. and the Joyous memorie
of this happest festival of Christen
dom but emphasized the sorrow Il
COUNTLESS homes, North and South
where anxious hearts awaited its com
trry
shadow of the great national TRACED
which had already begun. Already tw
deadly engagements had claimed thei
victims, and many a, hearth was desc
late.
The Federal army, dsorganized an
routed at Manassas on the 2lst of III
preceding July, had retreated to tn
defenses of Washington. A lin
stretching from the Chain Bridge
Alexandria along the south bank OF II
Potomac, formed living bulwark ht
tween tie capital and the victoriol
Confederates encamped at Centfevill
some thirty miles away. McClella
called from West Virginia ito save II
capital" had spent the summer ar
autumn in the task of transforming
uniformed mob of citizens into a wei
disciplined army of soldiers. The gu,
OF Manassas had given quietus to Il
CldINorOGB cry. OF on 10 flchnQnl
ard the North was awaking to the ia
that the road 10 the Confederate car
tai. II Travelled at all, must be travel
by a well-tra.ned army. and was n
to be attempted by a heterogeneo
mob
The Federal right, encamped
Langley a few miles in advance of I
Chain Bridge three miles above Was
ington). consisted of the First Pen
Eylvania Reserves, commanded by Bri
adier-C;eneral George A. Mccall,
West Pointer, who had seen actiEe So
vice In the Mexican War. The +
serves We're formed in three brigadet
the First. commanded by Brigade
General j. +. Reynolds; the Second
Brigadier-Genera George q, Mea
the Third. by Br!gadier-General Il.
q. Ord.
Tho Confedcrates were at Cent
VILE, small village In fairfax,