From The Greensborough Patriot

Jan. 2, 1862 – Pg. 3

The Fight at Drainsville.

The Confederates Out Numbered Full Particulars.

A correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch gives the following account of a heavy skirmish which occurred at Drainsville, in the neighborhood of Centreville, Va., on the 20^th inst.

A foraging party was sent out, by Gen. Stuart, consisting of about two hundred wagons, escorted by the 11^th Virginia, Col. Garland; the 5^th South Carolina, under Lieut. Col. A. J. Secrest; the 10^th Alabama, Col. John H. Forney, the 1^st Kentucky, Col. Tom Taylor; the Sumter Flying Artillery, Capt. Cutts; and detachments from Ransom’s and Radford’s cavalry. Our whole force amounted to nearly twenty-five hundred men. They started off early in the morning, and before day were some distance on the journey. Soon after leaving, a rocket was seen to shoot up in the direction of Drainsville, which as was afterwards ascertained, was a signal from the enemy, and indicated that our approach was known. It is about fifteen miles from here to Darinsville. When within a short distance of the place, two or three regiments of Yankees were seen deployed as skirmishers in the skirts of a pine thicket, which stretched but on either side of the road Gen. Stuart drew up his force and prepared to make an attack. On either side the woods were very thick, and it was difficult to make through them, but our force was pushed forward in the following order: The Eleventh Virginia, being in the advance, was deployed on the right of the road with the Tenth Alabama, while the Sixth South Carolina and the First Kentucky were sent to the left. On account of the dense thicket on either side, the artillery was forced to advance down the road in order to gain a position to make the guns effective.

As we approached the Yankees, the 11^th Virginia charged them with a yell, and drove them back to their line within sight of Drainsville. The enemy seemed somewhat confused, but soon formed again in line of battle. The advanced positions were held by the 11^th and 6^th South Carolina, the former on the right and the latter on the left of the road. While waiting to get sight of the enemy the 6^th South Carolina was drawn up, and the 1^st Kentucky advanced upon them, and mistaking them for the enemy, a portion of the regiment fired without orders, killing five of the South Carolinians. The error was soon discovered, and Col. Taylor advanced cautiously to the left, and soon after came in sight of another regiment but a few yards away. To be sure there was no mistake, Col. Taylor shouted to the Colonel and asked who he was?

“The Colonel of the 9^th,” was the reply.

“Of what 9^th?”

“Don’t shoot,” said the Yankees, “we are friends, South Carolinians.”

“On which side are you?” asked Col. Taylor.

“For the Union,” and immediately after the Colonel gave the command to fire, and a volley was poured into the Kentuckians from the 9^th Infantry regulars, U.S.A.—The engagement then became general, and our four regiments with Capt. Cutt’s four guns were soon actively engaged. The Yankees had every advantage of position. There were several houses along the Leesburg turnpike, and back of it a hill upon which their battery was placed. Lower down, and opposite the 11^th, was another battery placed in position to enfilade the turnpike should we enter it. The main battery of six guns swept the road upon which we were advancing, and kept up an incessant fire of grape, canister and epherreal case. The accuracy of their aim was remarkable considering the rapidity with which the guns were fired. Cap. Cutts got three of his pieces in position and returned the fire rapidly and successfully.

Meanwhile the enemy advanced several regiments of infantry and, protected by the nature of the ground, came within a hundred yards of us, and forming in line, fired for some time, keeping the air full of Minnie balls, and finally attempted to charge. Three times the officers gave the order and tried to get their men forward, but failed. They could not be pushed into the thicket. Soon after this the firing on both sides ceased, but not before great damage was done to our force. For over an hour both sides had kept up an incessant fire. The wounded and dead lay on every side and the regiments were beginning to get scattered.

The Confederates approached so near the enemy that they could plainly hear their commands.

To give it a little more in detail: As our first advance was marching by the flank towards the Yankee skirmishers, two companies of the 11^th Virginia were thrown out as skirmishers, and sent forward,--Captain Houston’s company charged the Yankees with a shout and drove them in, and soon after the shout was taken up by others, and all advanced within sight of Drainsville, Company A, of the 11^th, was deployed on the right, but by some means got lost and was separated from the regiment until the fight was over.

When the enemy formed in line of battle, Col. Forney drew the 10^th Alabama up also and prepared to advance upon them. The coolness and daring courage displayed by Col. Forney was observed by everybody. He rode backward and forward in front of the line encouraging his men and in getting all prepared for the coming struggle. The same can be said of Col. Garland. Soon after the firing commenced, Col. Forney was shot through the right arm, Lieut. Col. Martin was killed, and command of the regiment devolved on Major Woodward, who commanded on the one side of the road, and the senior Captain on the other. This regiment lost more than any other. The Sumter Artillery was on the road, and had three guns in position. Only four pieces were out, and about sixty men. Capt. Cutts and his men fought bravely, and suffered severely. The enemy’s batteries played upon him for some time, and killed nearly all his horses, destroyed one limber and exploded a caisson. Twenty-five horses were left upon the field. The guns still kept firing and did good execution, every shot scattering the Yankees and telling upon them seriously. He succeeded in breaking their line and in driving their sharpshooters from the house behind which they were hidden. When ordered to fall back, the pieces were taken to the rear by hand, with the assistance of the infantry.

Seeing the wagons safely to the rear, Gen. Stuart gave orders to fall back to a better position. The regiments marched to the rear in good order, both sides having ceased firing. At this time Col. Tom Taylor rode to the right to see what disposition had been made of his neighbors, and on returning found his regiment gone, and himself nearly surrounded by Yankee cavalry. Throwing himself down he eluded them and afterwards crept into a pine coppice and remained there until dark with Yankees on each side of him. At night, he escaped, and joined his regiment this morning, sustaining no injury beyond a slight scratch to the hand by a musket ball.

Taking his force to the rear, where the ground offered better positions, Gen. Stuart once more drew up his force and awaited the enemy, but he had enough of it and was not disposed to give battle again. Thus ended the battle of Drainsville, which, although disastrous to us, was more so to the enemy, if recent reports are true. It is believed there were 15 regiments of infantry and eight pieces of light artillery against us.

The following is a list of the killed and wounded in Col. Wynder’s 6^th South Carolina Regiment:

Co. A. Calhoun Guards.—Killed, none. Wounded, Wm. McFadden, seriously; Robt. S. Wylie, do.

Co. B—Killed, Sohn G. Barbour.—Wounded, A. J. Barnes, seriously; James Gladen, slightly; Wm. F Nnox, do; D Roddey, missing.

Co. C. Buckhead Guards.—Killed, Sergt. R. H. Morris, private Frank English.—Wounded, Capt. Means, slightly in the arms; Corp. W. C. Byers, mortally; Corp. B. P. Allison, slightly; private Zeb Mobley, leg broken, was left on the field; R. W. Bryce, slightly; John Blain, do; B. W. Means, do; A. P. Syles, do; D. W. Hollis, severely.

Co. D. Boyck Guards.—Killed, J. M. Elliot. Wounded, none.

Co. E. Chester Guards.—Killed, private G. W. Breakfield; missing, supposed killed; Thos. B. Harden. Wounded, Capt. O. Harden, severely; Sergt. J. A. Sanders, slightly; private John Lucas, do.

Co. F. Chester Blues—Killed, privates W. H. Abell, R. T. Johnston, J. McKown, J. W. Smith, Sergt. Cruthers. Wounded, Sergt. Elliot, slightly; S. McAlily, do; privates Boyd, do; Lepsey, do.

Co. G. Pickens Guard.—Killed, J. T. Coldwell, W. S. McDill. Wounded, Corp. L. S. Douglas, slightly; private M. R. Dye, do; S. M. Schooner, do.

Co. H. York Guards.—Killed, 1^st Lieut. F. E. Moore, Corp’l W. T. Robinson, privates Thos. J. Parks, H. P. Price, Sam’l Aoffman. Serg’t. J. N. Faires, mortally; privates, Wm. Hamilton, do; Wm. Crosby, severely; A. F. Branch, do; H. K. Sadler, do; Andrew Merritt, do. Serg’t Wm. Campbell, slightly; John Honey, do; Wm. M. Whitesides, do; private Holles, do; private Patterson, do.

Co. I. Limestone Guards.—Wounded, J. P. Scales, slightly.

Co. K. Carolina Mountaineers.—Wounded, T. H. Cunningham, seriously, D. W. Blaingame, do; John C. Atkinson, do; K. B. Latham, do; J. L. Griffith, do; J. M. Jackson, slightly; J. W. Holclaw, do; J. W. Rowan, missing; Lawrence Lenhart, do; probably killed.

Maj. Thos. W. Woodward was wounded in the thigh, but not seriously.

Sumter Flying Artillery, Capt. A. S. Butte.—Killed, Corporal John L. McGarroh; privates W. F. Williams, W. P. Lang. Wounded, privates John A. Capps, (since dead,) mortally; Thos. Mills, mortally; J. L. Proctor, mortally; Corp’l C. H. Varner, severely; privates John Murfey, severely; James Mr. Cannor, severely; G. L. Lmith, severely; Sergeant W. H. Fletcher, slightly; privates H. T. Rogers, slightly; S. D. Fraiser, slightly; William Richards, slightly; J. N. English slightly; Thomas Calhoun, slightly.

The report from official sources states the loss in the S. C. Regiment at 17 killed and 48 wounded.

The Confederate loss, altogether, is estimated at 50 killed and 170 wounded. Reinforcements were sent to Gen. Stuart and the next day he took possession of Drainsville, the point occupied by the enemy the day previous. The Lincolnites left in double quick time.

A portion of Ransom’s North Carolina Cavalry Regiment was on the field during the fight, but not directly engaged, as no cavalry was used. A detachment from Capt. Miller’s company was commanded by Lieut. James Morrow.

The enemy’s loss is said to be about 300.