Suffolk Christian Sun

December 6, 1861

Page 2

The Petersburg Express gives the following account of a brilliant achievement by Col. Ransom’s North Carolina Regiment of Cavalry.  The fight mentioned occurred last week.

We have the gratification of announcing upon unquestionable authority the complete success of a skirmish beyond Manassas, in which the First North Carolina Cavalry ____ ____ played a distinguished part.

On Tuesday morning last, at early dawn, Colonel Robert Ransom, with a large body of his cavalry, who now occupy an advanced position near Centreville, started out on a scouting expedition.  They had proceeded but a few miles when they fell in with the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Col. Avrill.

At the command of their leader, the North Carolinians made a dashing charge upon the Hessians, killing 106 and taking 26 prisoners; also a large number of horses, arms and equipments.

The Pennsylvanians were utterly routed, and fled in Bull Run style, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.  Strange to state, not a man on our side was lost.

This is certainly one of the most gallant and remarkable affairs of the kind which has occurred during the war, and Col. Ransom has quickly won for himself a distinction of which he may well be proud.  We congratulate him and the noble Old North State upon the brilliant result of his expedition.

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]