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gub'tr* 8 . by tbe figures onV,hi printed label on. the
6 * r * C rr«f caoh papers- The paper; Jill then be stopped
“ farther remittance, btf-rej rived. By this ar
«»ul * , nn m»» oan-be bfoulht in debt to the
[l? ;siaeal ■» _ ]l; ]/[•.' .
is the Official'P)'ber of tte County/
laije'ahds teadny.lndr« fclifij circalation reach
■ to every neighborhood if ‘ thj County. It is,sent
N pottage to any’ snhScf beft/within the county
( r “tf but whose most lpn|post office may be
■j^WeessCard* > not -. 5 Sines', paper incln.
os coßHifia -’wseckees.
notr .viD sititn walk hi* vidai.
-Stnas doteo yearaago, before the railways
Uw throbbing like arteries through the land
sere in existence, I went.with two friendsto
rornwall. The place was the most retired I
w saw Far removed froth the crosflicmintry
Id and only reached byi ;)entupiny over a
tnick-for it could not ever h j called a .path—
linding along the edges' otiffa often two,or
three hnndredtfeet jtbwb tM beach, it was a
place to delight ail whose-gdod fortune had
carried them with sightin of itJ * -
The southernmost end of the bay closed in a
steep slope of living green, ohused by a land
,lipPin which the tgrf had slid down, like a veil
to hide the ruin it left behind,of which nothing
ria S een from the beach but a background of
towering rocks. Like some old Norman castle,
we fancied them still resisting: step by step the
advanced of decay. It i#. near this southern
point that the traces of former lawless doings
i were still to be seen. A ?tbd« hole, apparent
ly only a fox-den, led into * core were a thou
sand kegs of French brkpi ly; had often been
stored in a single, night. ■ ‘• -
lV r s were anxious to w jiether the tales
we bad heard of Cornish rfe/kers ' were true,
and it was some question! ig. on this subject
which drew from the old f filler the following
Story: ’ • : ;i 5 ~
"I can’t say I never.hee>d ,pf such things,
but I never seed no such dc hgg myself. I have
lired here, man and boy, \ es| .70 years,” he
',‘ntany and many’s (ye ijight we’ve been
watchipg on these bleak qlifijt, for a chance to
ihelp.they poor creatures da tjad only a frail
plant between them and, depth. Scores of.
• lift* I’ve seed saved, but never one took ; no
not even of a. brute beast that came to shqre
.from all the multitude of' wrecks I’ve seen,
I’m not going to saytbat.jVhenthe ships, pour
ithiogH, are ali‘broken up dud the timbers come
.ashore—l'ninot-elear tossy, {here is hot some
■small 'matter as never gets, reported to the
king’s men. Little J fcdanie them that taka it,
for, ns the Lord’s above m , I believe it is more
tbs fault-of those that back the honest
dues for the salvage. ’ ( t
“I remember, -in‘the time ■that
(and he pointed to some -pretty, things made by
bis son, and the bright-co(oired dogwood) “ was
coming-in, there -was there who worked night
and day, landing it, ..and after all their toil they
wanted to pay tham off with just a-quorter of
what was the right money. -‘So if they that are
to wall off try to cheat like that, I’d ask your
ionors if it is <not setting an example to ‘the
poor ? - t •
“ There’s Ned-Smeeth, now—ho lms got that
Coe medal, from. that grapd I paiaoe'iip l iu Lon
don—l’m sure he is as tender hearted as n.
•child, but you’ll never make him’believe there
is any sin in taking’a ssray baulk or two the
■tide brings in, and nobody owns.; while,-after
■he’d been'-working for a whole week,-tbey want
-ed to pay him with-a.little.mo're than' nothing.
That's what I call stealing.! ■
" But my old-head is/forgptting 'the fitory.
Well, Well, .you must please (o excuse it. It
dops make «sy blood boil .to Jbear such falsi -
'tiee.
“'Twas seven yearslast Nerember —I mind
it well—me and -Ned was'standing as your
Conor and me is now, by the aid hut here. It had
•been a bitter night of weather and-was still so
dark we could not see even I lie clods of foam
that kept flying in our faces, ? I’djust put the
mill a going with some barley,:and was mind
•ed to lie down for a «np {for, you see I always
■wake when the-corn's down, and so don’t trou
ble about the mill)- when I thought! heard a
gun. I could not make s«ire,fortbe wind was
lashing the Waves mountains high,'and-the rake
of the bench was most enough'to stun a body.
-Says I to-Ned, ‘-Ned, jouhrea mere spray man
than me, just, take a-look-out to _sea.’ ■ Well,
' he’d net gone but a' step qr two when tbs re
port came again-full and true, aud even my old
eyes could see -the dloeii. ■: -I stepped up and
turned off the water, aud , Ned and me went
end called up the neighbors. I sent' a
boy on horseback -to'lTrebarfadt to bring more
ielp; and getting the ropes’land things we
ibuuld wuot, if anything coolddbe done for the
loot creatures on beard th’e djgtressed ship, we
went to the point we thought'she would strike
•on. We had no help from our eyes, but were
-guided by ear knowledge of the wind and
-tide. -il'i ‘
"It might be about or between that
tod aii o ! clook, when we got t)6 Saltstone. We
'tould not stand against 'the I wind, but were
■obliged to lie down on tbu edge of the cliff to
'bj to discover the vessel, <, It seemed a whole
hight, though >1 suppose it could not be more
an hour, before we could see or hear any
tbiugiaufa than the‘flasb- ofthe gun -and. the
™ r *f the wind ,-oad waves. ') After w bit we
touched bands, and Went baofc:to a mure shel
t6ted place to talk aver wkatjw'as best to be
tlcae. Some wereifor lighting; djfird to try to
Sulde them into Widemuuth .jSiind-bay, but !
knew ’twas no use, for I was isiire the vessel
sot a rag uf.caavaas stamiing to - help bar
•“elm, even if the helm itself) vas still service
:Jble. and so she could never joake a reach to
■clear Deadmah’s dorner.andt hiight miss the
■oulj chance of running into keep quiet water
®«r the Cupboard Book, & |{
‘‘Aril atouce,. while we-’retd doubting what
“tt l do,,we beard .a crash anc cry-, such ruonly a
’Ottanded-ship and the perisaiqg souls on .board
■otJnir,can make. Ah! y<u talk of dornish
peckers—but there was Wet) eyes among us
dun, end men’s hearts .that never knew lear
Buttered like leave* on.thedimq-tree.
, " We stood rigb* above" where the 1 vessel
Sheer, up fronl the beach—wo mea
if afterwards—two hijnuM end fourteen.
v* 1 -' A ffloßse eonld not haiV foiiud footing
; °* c tbateliff, and as it was wfithia an hoar of
*“ water, a « h-eJp BbaJd.comJ to them,,poor
""“but hy. totting soede one daws from the,
r*o«We stood oqf : ' w ‘
"Tbe'dim jlight of njorniogjurt enabled u*
ws eßcb otber.'andlib? white -Hue of the
f* - Some thought they could see the
11 cannot tell if jtwaseo. : For certain
J? u ‘d hear noW and then,-fainter and faint
*ldry bf iaortal mao,
(THE AGITATOR
Slefco to t&f MftttMlm o t tfc t &vm of JFmHoni aitf tfje Spread of Reform.
| WHltB THERE SHALL BE A WRONG UNRIQHTED, AND UNTIL "MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN" SHALL CEASE, AGITATION-MUST CONTINUE.
1 I !
vol. vnL
“ ‘I can’t stand this n > longer,’ says Ned, at
last, ‘I can’t stand here in health and strength
with my two hands idle, while they,'poor crea
tures, ore beaten to, deatl against the very rockt
we stand on. Bear aha nd, here—l’ll go down
this place.’’ j -
“We stood like net blind and deaf for a
minute, and then all triid to persuade him cmt
of it, for'we thought it vos, certain death. The
rope most likely wbuld l e cut through fraying
over the cliff, or tjhe win 1 might dash him with
fatal force against the rocks. - • But nothing
would stop him ;I he knitted the roper'around
his .waist, and taking a short gaff in ids hand,
stood ready fo slip off. He.turned a moment,
and, saye her I , i ■
“ ‘Give my iovi# to Mary and the childreni
and if I never see them more, don’t let them
come to the parish.’ ' • .
“ He shook hands all round, and then step
ped off,' and in a moment he was banging all
his weight on the rope vre bold.
" ‘l'or God’s sake, lower away I’ he cried, ‘I
see them.? ! ,
“We saw theni, too, fpr God rent the black
clouds, and looked through to see (hat noble
desd. In the east there was a space of clear
sky, through which a stream of light fell on
the scene before us. Ain, awful scone it wasl
The ship was broken to pieces, and with every
turn of the waves! her timbers tossed and.wor
relied, and among) them were the sailors. Some
past help for ever, and two or three still striv
ing hard for Iffe, j
. “Just as Ned touched the beach, one man
was swept out the narrow ledge they were
trying to hold on to, with every third or fourth
wave breaking over them. The man Ned came
to first was just such another for height and
strength as himself, and we held our breath
with terror, whecj we saw by his actions that
be was (as is often the case) driven mad by bis
danger, and was Struggling with the only man
who Could save liitn. ,
“ For full five njinutes they wrestled together.
Sometimes we thought of pulling Ned up, and
so making sure of him ; {for ’twas a bard choice
between that poorfdemented stranger and Ned’s
young wife and three children. But then the
water left them once more, and we saw Ned
had him down with his knee on his chest, and
we knew if the tide gave him time he was his
master. So it proved. He whipped a turn or
twq of rope round his arms, and catching bira
tight to him with bis left, he gave the signal to
haul away. ?'''
. “They had barely left the rock—for we pall
ed easy at first—whecr the whole keelson of the
vessel was throwjn against the place they bad
-stood on. We bald them in our lift, however,
and if the weight; had been twice as much it
would have come to grass if the ropes held.
-We .were all-too btfsy. drawing them op to
look to see what happened on the way. I hold
it ns Bible truth that therte’s scarce another man
but Ned would have brought that sailor up.
•ile’had, asi have .paid, one arm around him,
and, with the other, warded himself from the
sharp face of thei cliff, but he had some gre
vious bruises for all bis courage aud strength..
■“ When the -mao -found himself lifted up in
that strange way pa got tuore raving than ever,
and finding hc-could not use his hands, he fix
ed his teeth in Neil’s cheek till they met. For
all the pain and danger Ned held on, and I shall
never fferget to-my last hour what I fel* os wh
drew them over the edge ofthe cliff) and knew
they were safe. ' .
- “ Poor Ned, we laid him io aSheltered place,
and would have put the stranger with him, but
we soon,-found be; was too wild tn bo trusted
Tree, so we bound'him fur his own safety.
“In a few minutes after they were landed
Ned’s wife came. We had sent n boy for seme
spirits and things, and be, youngster like, told
what Ned was about. None that is there will
ever forget that fair young thing as she fell on
Iher knees by her husband’s-side nod swooned
away with tier head on his 'breast. .
“Ah, the man that had just braved such
danger wept like a child as he smoothred the
golden hair of his- wife.
■** As weak as a child ho was, too, from loss
of blood. Well, other women come seon after
aud bound up their'hurts, and we got a cart
and brought them down to my house.
“ Eleven men and three boys were the crew
of the Hesperus, as the ship was called, and
only that one man saved. He4ay for days—
very-quiet at last—anji scarce spoke a word.
What hodid say was about his mother, and the
name of some young woman. When we strip
ped him—by the doctor's -orders—we found a
little packet bung round his neck by a black
'riband, and as it was wet with the salt water
we took away to dry. , My wife, who tended
him raore than the rest, said, beseemed to keep
groping for something in his bosom, so she put
it hackround -bis meek again; and -when he
found itthOra_all right, he never strove to rise
and call out as herdidJ)efore. If is hot for me
to say, but -my old woman always considered
that .packet to hold some true-love token. -She
often said she wished she knew,forsbe thought
how glad his another ohd sweetheart would be '
'to know he was alive.' 1 ’ ' ' ;
"“Well, he went’on inthat Strangevrnynigfr
■on three weeks, and we did not know BO; much
'•as'tbemaaoe of the sick -man) Just. as Ned.
was going about again *ll well, wo thought tboi
sight of bin-might bring the, stranger to bis .
recollections. . So. Ned went aud sat by the j
bedside till he woke)-' It was getting neat
'Christmas, and we wanted the poor-man to be
well enough to enjoy the time with tis, .When:
he opened hrs eyes Nei hefld out his.hahd, and 1
says her ■ . ■ ;
“ 'Give-yon.joy, comrade. -Ay, I see you’ll
be more than a match for me thonhxt thru we
have, parlioular whep ’tis grass vrestand on-’
“ With that the tears came' into his. poor dim
eyes, and eatohing Ned’s hand, hesaid-t
“‘I remember now. . Were none saved but
me V . .
“ Ned was fearful to tell‘the trath.ihcaasit
might make him worse, so he Just laughed and
said:, ~ ‘ ; • ■ • 2
•“You’ve been so longalesepingeff the effiecta
of yoor wetting, that theylre all gone: and left
you. But 'tis time ,we ;know>d rramej
'stranger, if it please you to tell,*
«■Gascoigne,' he 1 said—‘Richard Gascoigne.
Has no pnp written to my mother f*
1- .
WELLSBORO, TIOGA COUNTY, PA., WEMESDAY MORNING. JANUARY 8, 1862.;
]
: • “ ‘How should we,’ sayk Ned, .‘when we did
not know where she lived/
“ With that he got up to come away, for he
was afraid if faestayed he’d- tell himself out
about his shipmates, only three of whose bodies
we ever found. r
“ ‘He’d just gdt to the door, when the poor
man wanted him to come back, but before be
could turn- about the . parson same into the
room,- and Ned- got away.
“ We never knew the particulars for certain,
hut always believe to .this day that the young
man was no common sailor.
“ The parson osed to come.and sit with'him
for hours together/and a fine lot of letters the;
wrote between them. But we were never the
wiser for any of their scholar-ship doings but
in one thing, and that won’t-be forgot round
here for many’s the long day. '
“ The Christmas day we were all standing
about the church door, shaking bands and wish
ing each other a sne/ryChristasas and a happy
New Year, when the little gate that led from
the parsonage lawn into the churchyard whs
opened, and a lady came among us, so beauti
ful dressed apd so beautiful herself that we all
stopped talking to look, at her.
. . “ I’m before my story, though, for I should
have told you that the stranger bad gone to the
parsonage as soon as be could be moved.
..“Well, theilody came right forward into the
midst «iF the crowd, and she said:
“ ‘Which of all you brave, kind men is Ed
ward Smeeth V
.(Ned was just behind me, and seemed ready
to slink away, but I pushed him fore, and says 1;
“ ‘lf it please your ladyship, that’ aim.’
“ Well, Nedknow’d manners too well to run
away then, so there her stood, blushing like a
girl.
“ The lady took bis Rand, and seemed going
to make a speech ; but she had only just begun
her thanks when her heart ruse to her throat,
and the tears stood in her eyes, and she only
said, ‘God bless yoa,’ and put a little box and a
purse into Ned’s hand, and then kissed his
great rough hand as ift bad been a baby’s
faoo. Ned seemed struck all of a heap. He
looked »t the things she bad given him, and.
turned his band as if be expected to see a mark,
where her beautiful lips bad touched.
" Well, as the lady could not speak for her
self, the parson up and told us all the sense of
it. How ‘that there was a grand place up to
London, with a many grand people that sub-,
scribed among them to reward them that saved:
life.
’• ‘And proud,’ says the parson, ‘proud I am
that such a token has come into my parish.’
“ lie said a many kind and good words, and
then told Ned to open the little box an'd show
what wae'in it. There, sure enough, was a
beautiful medal, with- Ned's name, and the
name he saved, and some Latin words, which
the parson said was. that we should never give
up trying to save life, for perhaps a little spark
of hope might remain, though all seemed
gone.
“Ah! here comes Ned, he’ll bo prond to show
your honors the medal."
So we walked to Ned’s cottage hard by, and
were delighted to find that, though seven lung
years hud past —years that had robbed him of
his fair young wife, sod laid her’with her new
born, babe in an early tomb—his dark eyes
wonld brighten and his fine form look taller as
ha exhibited that well-earned -medal from the
Royal Humane Society.— Once-a-Week.
- PXKLZI.
A "BECEBH” IiOVE-LBTTBB.
Coon Grove Als Oct Bth 1861
Dec,r Friend
to day
while raining I attempt to drnp you a line
which leaves all in moderate health 1 reodyour|
several days ago weld have answered it sooner
but i have been sick ever since I gut your let
ter dam -better te-day I was glad , you was—
well in spirits dec I hope you will ever be du
ring the war I cant boast of the health of our
Country at this time nearly every buddy is sick
or has -been the disease is Fever Chills and
fevor'Scarlet fevor-quinsy &o DrEavains told
ms the other day he had 40 oases in 48 hoars
Aunt Margaret Bed well is verry lam witbfevor
■She is over at Jacksonville db without a change
verry soon she will never get a way, from Town
AnnGrosure has lost little- Willie She- taks it
verry bard.
i was verry much pleased with the Map you
sent me i like to -view the spot where you are
stationed the different ports -Roads distance Ac
and also thebeautiful ■f’otoniac I would like
verry -much to vist that Country 4b think 1 will
when the war is over 1 have an ancicy to see
-the Rattle ground 1 have wished to be a Man a
thousand times since the war has began but' I
regoiaeat having Brothers and friends who is
witling to do my fighting' I am willing to do
thewpart athome Rat Iknowyou would laugh
if you-could see the woneo pulling and stick
ing fadder 1 have been tbroehieg wheat water
ing the horsees makeing fires 4bo I, con do
everything but go to MiH : and Juba can do,
that 1 thiuk we can get along finely. ' -
- Pat the rioge was too small 1 was roky sorry
I tried everry way- to -wore it. it barely go on
my little .finger 1. recon I cun keep it to look at
and think -of Pat but.ifyou will send me a
larger one I will sewLtfcis one buck to yon,
Pat if could.see yon I could .tell you so,many
things and.even if I was well 1 would write all'
f day but my head aches eft had 1 cant write any
1 mere-this time please . excuse this letter and
1 maba I Wilt he -well and-able to gave you alt
the news next-time To.be,and Mat ;ia getting
long finely.i delivered-the message you sent;
to faerdt seemed to- please her verry well' you)
must moke your words true I will dose by,
asking you to send me two yaokies scalps I
want them for soap gunrds write soon and give;
me.all- the news that is fioatiog and. a. little
more give my bove—to Bud tell bin to. write to
me if be pleases , or. in other words, it. would
pleas me verry; well no more—your untii deatb
. MA I> .
It is hard to be parted frp® tboee - 7
!With wbvm we could.fpte.Tetdwqll , i
And bitter mdeqd is the ipfrpw that flows
'WheE'pefhapß we'ttrs imying farewell fo'roter •
‘Tame la like an eel—rather bard' to catch, *md
o good deal harder pi hold,, ■ ;
TBS BATTLE 07 DHAIKBVILLB.
'From The Invincible*.
ComaponUeace-of the Agititer.
Carp Purport, Dee. 24,1801.
. Editor Agitator.-—, Having yet seen nothing
in the papers, but misstatements, in relation
to our recent engagement at Drainsville, and
knowing the probable,anxiety that some of
your readers must feel to know the truth of
the matter, I am induced to send you an ac
count, which from personal observation, Iknov
to he true.
No statement, yet published, has credited the'
6th Regiment of the Reserve Corps, with the
firing of a single gab, and yet their list of
killed and wounded numbers as many as either
of the other two Regiments engaged. Simple
justice demands, praise to whom praise is due.
Friday meriting at 3 o’lock, we received
orders to provide ourselves with one day’s ra
tions, and be ready to march at 6 o’clock in the
morning. We were ready at the appointed
time, and together with the other Regiments
composing the third Brigade—the 9lb, 10th,
and Ilth—commanded by Brigadier General
Ord, we were marched ont on the turnpike,
leading from the Chain Bridge to Leesburg.—
We were preceded by the First Rifle Regiment,
and 4 guns of Cupt. Easton’s battery —2 12.
pounders, throwing ball, and 2 24-pound how
itzers, throwing conical shell. There yas also
a detachment of the First Pa. Cavalry, ac
companying the expedition. The object of the
advance was to collect forage and a make a re- 1
connoisance in the direction of Drainsville, i
situate about midway between Langley and
Leesburg. The turnpike runs at a distance of*
several miles from, and nearly parallel with
the Piotomac.
After passing cur line of pickets, Rankers
Rere thrown out on the right and left, by the
several regiments, to scout the woods andguard
against surprise.
After crossing Difficult Creek—distant six
miles from camp, the foraging wagons, with
Easton’s 2 12-pound guns, and about half of
the 12th Regiment passed off to the right, in
the country lying between the road and the
river, for the purpose of collecting the forage.
The remainder continued forward toward
Drainsville—distant twelve miles from Langley.
We passed dow n a slight declivity of ground
into the village of Draiosville, about ! o’clock,
p. m. Here the column baited, and were ob
serving the movements of a number of rebels,
could be seen moving in squade, nearly a mile
beyond the tillage, evidently thrown out as a
bait to lure us on.
A few minutes previous to this however, be
fore we bad halted, a few rifle shuts were heard
on our left, which were supposed to be nothing
more than the’fire of the rebel pickets, being
diiven-in by bur scouts. But the firing grew
heavier, and our flanking companies, codling
in, reported a large force of infantry to the
left, and a party to oar rear, concealed in a
thick wood fifty or sixty rods from the road.
Now came the booming of cannon, added to
the sharp rattling fire of musketry, and the
shells completely swept the road uu the emi
nence to our rear, bursting mostly in the field
to our right.
Our two guns were at the head of the column,
when the enemy op- ned fire upon os, but they
were brought back'as speedily as six stalwart
horses to a piece could bring them, and we fol
lowed after ota “ double quick” to their sup
port. *
One ef the 24-pounders upset, horses, car
riage and all, turning over under full speed,
lashing their horses into a keen run. But no
injury was done, nhd in a moment" more the
accident was remedied and gun was ran up
the bill and was suon in position unlimbered,
and the horses moved to the rear of a little
knoll, to protect them from the flying shell.
Gen. Ord superintended the planting of our
battery in person—he is an experienced artil
lerist—unlumbering the gnns directly in the
range of the rebel battery—only 60 rods away,
while the shells were whistling and barsting
around him on every side.
"While Ord was scanning through his glass,
the enemiy’s battery in the wood, and directing
the range of our bowitiers, a shell burst a lit
tle distance in front, sending itawhizaing frag
ments in all directions. The General cooKy
turned to Euston and remarked: “ Captain,
(bat was a good shut!-; We must return the
compliment. “Range low-! range low,” And
they did range low with a vengeance. Presently
“ the pets.” as 001. Campbell calls them, began
to vomit forth their iron jhail, and the very
ground trembled with the concussion. This
trembling must havn been contagious, for it
soon infected the “ chivalry,”
When our guns began to talk, the troops sent
up cheer after cheer, that’ did nut “ give aid
and comfort” to, ur solace the ambushed foe,
considerably. The gunners served their pieces
with the coolness and precision of their every
day drill, not one of them were injured. Du
ring the planting and'first round or two uf the
battery, the Buck-tails were becoming engaged
to theleft, nndpartly under the battery, around
a small frame building, which, with short pines
and a rail fence, mode.a cover for the South
Carolinians, who opened the battle. But a round
of grape rapidly dislodged them, sod demolisb
ed fomewhat the hard biscuit on hand fur the
rebels, thousands'of which we saw scattered
through the woods. The 6th lay to the right
«f the battery in front, and the 12th and 10th
to our rear, partly sheltered by the banks of
the road 1 from the hissing shells, while the 9th
was yet Cartherto the right.'
The-'General, after stationing the battery,
rode down to the right in front of our line, and
said: “ Boys, I want you to occupy that wood
to the right of the 1 brick bouse.” The 6th
with a about, advanced to the wood, scrambling
over fences and forming quickly in line,'pene
trated to the farther edge of the wood, separa
ted from the one from which the Confederates
were pouring their fire, by a strip of field, 16
' of 20 rod* in width.
■ Now it Was that our Minnie 1 * poured fortha
fire, thnt,’bdrno off by the breeie. was plainly
heard by our piekets, : ten miles away.' • The fixe
of musketry was deafeutng and incessant.—
Crack, crack, crack, went’ the reports of our
rifiod itiufeketii, with neetisionnlly- the clanging
of-several hundred going off simultaneously,
land the loud roar of the heavy-guns literally
{■book the ground, and were plainly, heard at
Wbashihgton twehty milea awayJ' The attack
png force lay hidden in a denee wood extend
ing, into the hollow of-a semi-circle, formed by
the Bock-tails on tbe left, the 6th Pa. Reserve
in the center, and tbe 9th Pa. Reserve on the
tight, presenting an unbroken line of living
pre.
' Here is where our wounded fell and were
carried to the rear,where several surgeons were
in attendance.- The rebels; were - concealed at
boost totally, in a heavy wood, while our farce*
! were mostly in an open [field, .and at tbe best,
only partially covered’by a thin wood, through
-which tbe secession bullets whistled, spliting
the trees and cutting down the twigs like snow
fakes. The rebel fire was not nearly so ac
curate as ours, though we were. exposed, and
they giving os nothing more eertain to aim at
than the Rash of their rifles and the smoke of
their battery.
I A* their fire slackened and became desul
tory, Gen. Ord' passed alsog our lines and roid
de that be wanted the battery taken. On went
the bayonets, like the flash of a sun-beam, and
clanked down tbe hi)l as tbe pieces were brought
tb a' charge—a deathly prelude to what the
rebels might expect! if they' stood their ground.
*• Don't fire your guns, boys," cries the Gen
eral, 11 don't fire a gnn ; use tbe bayonet to tbe
work; give them the cold; steel”
! “ Remember Bull shouts one of
our men, 44 pat tbejrun on the other side, this
time." We were kju'ckly formed Mn line of
battle, in the edge pf the I open field, and aide
by side with the Back-tails, we charged into
the woods. Whis, whiz, whiz, went tbe bul
lets from a volley of musketry, as we penettji
ted the thicket. But their aim was wild. We
did not return thq fire, but pressed on at a
cbage over tbe stiffeningiand mangled bodies
ojf men, recreant to their) duty and best inter
est. | ~. 1
~ •”« reached the 1c if the batter
.Soon we reached the location 01 ie -.ery,
situated about 30 rude from the edge of the
wood, on a road forming :a right angle with
the one en which our battery was placed.—
Here the ground was strewn with headless
bodies, some nearly blown in fragments by our
sheik. They presented, a sickening sight, so
horribly mutilated.. Dead horses, terribly lacera
ted, kj promiscuously mingled with human bo
dies,broken cassions, gun carriages, small arms;
ammunition, clothing, food and equipments.
Oar battery now came up—-Gen. McCall also
artrived about this time—and the bajtteiy «n-
Ihbbering, advanced along the road, accom
panied by Oen. Old, Gen. McCall, bis staff and
bcjdy guard. “ ’
!Tbe 6th advanced on the' right of the wood,’
toward Drainsvills, and the ELifle Regiment on
thkleft. , speed thus, thnmghhramhles
acrd scrub pines, cautiously: guarding against
being led into an ambush. We proceeded in
this manner nearly a mite, When, discovering
nol signs of the presence of ran enemy,- we re
tained fey way ef the road. v The road in tbe
wood, occupied by the rebel '-force, led off in a
southeasterly direction from DrainsvilleSeward
Centreville, and was nearly straight, to the
rear of their battery for three-fourths of a
mile, it seems by the evidence of tbe firing,
that our howitzers were placed so as W com
pletely enfilade this road as far as itcontinned
straight.
The firing of Capt. 15 as ton’s guns weredee
truotively accurate. I saw not- a tree which
showed that their range bad exceeded the
width of the road, farther than several feet on
a ride, fine large oak was pierced and shattered
byltbree different shells, and horses, overtaken
in their flight,-by the death dealing missiles,
lay in and near the road, tbe distance of half a
mile. I counted IS horses crippled and man
gled, and several were taken uninjured. Near
the battery, our shells had blown op a casaion,
containing ammunition, particles were . yet
smoking. Under the ruined cassion was scat
tered 25 or -30 shells, which failed to ignite
when the magasine exploded.
fife gave these a wide berth, as they wore
blackened by powder, and-yet smoking, subject
to burst at any moment. -Our musicians, with
many others, were busy removing oar own. and
the! enemies’ wounded. An Alabamian, woun
ded badly in the leg, called to our fellows to
carry bin in; and when asked where his fel
lows were, replied: “They have fled; they
triad to take roe along, but connld not. We
expected to whip you, but you shoot wo sharp
for jus. We could, not take any position to get
ouf of the way of-iyour bullets.”
He identified several of the bodies near him,
and papers about them, corroborated bis state
ments. . :
! Passing near a body,’ with- pants indicating
ad'l officer—the-coat bad been removed—he
said, "that is our Lieutenant Colonel.” He
showed a good deal of gratitude at the kind
treatment be received; said he did not expect
it, for it was very different from the manner in
which they treated our prisoners at Bull Ron.
Otliers were defiant. One, while his leg was
being bandaged, said to the' doctor, “never
mind; I took this coat at Bull Run., The leg
is hot so very bad, and when I am exchanged,
I Will give you a chance at the other.” Several
were very sullen and dogged, refusing to give
any account of themselves, and answering no
questions whatever. Others were more com
municative, and stated that they belonged to
regiments selected especially for their bravery
at Bull Run. Theywere from Centerville, and
bad traveled nearly all the night previous, to
get! ready for ns. They had tbeir am bush fully
arranged; selected their own ground, and dis
posed their forces to the, best advantage. No
doubt,they were signaled by lurking spies and
distant parties, ad Id our precise position and
numbers, and ’ flattered themselves with the
sweet idea that they could “bag” ns at tbeir
pleasure. One of the prisoners said they
thopgbt two of their regiments could whip the
-whple Reserve Corps, but they looked for no
such fire as th eyreoei ved,"an d when the order
to charge was given,- they-broke andfied; They
wer* then ordered to “rally on the railroad and
mafee a permauent stand.” This was prftbably
the! railroad connecting Alexandria with Vien
naJ and Leesburg. -| .
Their''force/'as' etaUdby their wounded, doa
sibted df'fire regiment of infantry from North
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, NO. .22
and - South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky and
Virginia; one regiment of cavalry, and abat
tery of six rifled guns. It seems almost provi
dential that eur loss was so small; Had it not
been for the timely discovery b* our scoots, wo
doubtless would, bavaisuffered altar heavier loss.
It appears to have been their design to gain.pur
rear. They endeavored to conceal themselves
from our flanking parties, and allowed all' our
force to file by them within full range ofthoif
battery, and within lung rifle range of their en
tire force before they [opened fire;, which prob
ably they would not yet have done, had nottho
skirmishers drawn them, .out,; The first inti
mation, save the faint report of distant rifles,
that Geo. Ord had of. the presence-of an ene
my, was the fire of their battery, and the burst
ing of their shells above and beyond us. Their
ambush was skilfully; laid—they took.ns unex
pected and unprepared., . But .after eur fire
opened in one hour. they, were in full flight as
fast as the ability of jtbeir legs would permit.
This was evidenced by the’woundpd,.arms and
equipments left on the field.
At four o’clock re-iaforcements arrived, lin
ing the road nearlyj a mile, having double
quicked it from Difficult Creek, nearly six miles.
We started on our return at dusk, firing- the
load from one of the howitzers with our com
pliments, as a farewell shot—arrived in camp
at 10 o’clock at night! . As the noise of the but
tle was heard at camp, every man that could
carry a musket, seized one and started on a run
up the turnpike; but they were mostly on the
“sick Hat," and did but get farther than 3 mile
or two from our line of .pickets, Gen. Smith’s
division was drawn jap in line of battle, and
one brigade went oat; as far as on eminence
overlooking Vienna. j; ;
We ‘slept suundiythat night, on oar rail*
bottomed beds,after j travelling the matter of
thirty miles, including such a threshing to ..the
sneaking chivalry, as will probably'teach them
to bring five to one when they wisb-to defeat
men fighting foe the preservation of a govern
ment that they-know to be just, ami a princi
ple they cherish above fbeir lives..
Our forces fought! with the most intrepid
courage. Our company (** H.” 6th Regiment)
behaved in a manner that reflects the highest
credit upon them, and they well earned their ■
title ef “ Invinoibles.” ' We have company
officers that can be relied upon any where.—
They do not cutnraand “Go 1" but say “ Come
on 1" and where suchmen command, the com
pany will follow, to aity fete. t
The enemy’s loss is not precisely known,
butour First Lieutenant, John W. Rose, was
one of the officers detailed to bring in the .
wounded and count tbs dead. He certifies'to
having counteiforer'ojne hundred bodies, besides ■
He tooeutded, afid'others testify similarly. This
bsitig the ease, they must have carried off sev
eral hundred wounded, judging from our own
proportion of wounded compared with the kill
ed. Opr entire loss, of all the forces engaged,
which did not exceed 2,506 men,' was seven
killed, and between fifty and sixty wounded—
some seriously, very few fatally, and the mo- ’
Jority only slightly. The toss in the 6tb Regi
ment was three killed, and fifteen wounded. -
The wounded in Co. |“ H” was as follows
Benjamin Seeleyi severely in the cheek—-the
ball falling in the mouth, rapidly improving ;
Charles Yahn, wounded severely in the- face,
fracturing the jaw, recovering fast; Thomas
Conway, wounded slightly by’it'spent ball la
the forehead; Corporal A. S. Husselton, slight
contusion on 1 the shoulder, stiffening the arm a
short time. Seeley Was stunned at first by bis
wound, ahd bleeding! profusely, led. us to be
lieve it was more serious tliho it proved to be.
A braver'boy than Yabn, does not exist in tbe
whole army. When he Was wounded, the ball
entered the side -of the face and came out at the
upper lip, tearing away several teeth. • He
could nut now open his cartridge, but be reach
ed it out to-oneof fais comrades to tear, and
. kept on'loading bis piece, until he was taken
to tbe rear. ■ ■,
Conway picked up tha ball that wounded
him, and exclaimed; •‘'.There is tbe secession
lead that struck me/ 1 ' ,
I neglected te state before, (hat a regiment
of Kentuckians, coming down on tbe 9th Pa. ~
Reserve,criedodt; *?Poo’t fire; we are good'
Union iaen," and then delivered their fire.
This broke tbe 9tb some, but they rallied, to
tbe workand tbe febelsfled, We- have met the
enemy.. They oouhd-not stand l the* pressure.
Our cun puny went op picket tbe next morning
alter libe battle. ; Rather tough.
1 We have just beared by .w Union' man com
ing into our lines I from. Droipsville, that he
helped to bury ocer one hundred of the ene
my'* dead.-‘ 1 They were. scattered over a mile
square, found under {fences and lugs, where
they died, trying, to secrete themselves. Too .
will see tbelusa of tbe other regiments engaged
in the . battle, by the: Washington and-Phila
delphia papers. ! G. W. M.
From Niles’ Company.
Cotrwpoodonca of tha Agitator. ;
Although it is very likely, that era tbls will
reach them, the friends at home will have beard
the particulars of the late affair in which we
were" engaged, at Drainsville, I thought per-,
haps they would like to hear from Co. E, hence
the following: On last_|'riday, the 20th, wo
were called from,our sleep at 3a. m.,and in a
few minutes were in the-ranks with a day’s
rations in our haversacks, and on our way to
the Leesburg Pike t where we, were halted to
await the arrival of Gen." Old,"who soon came
up withhis Brigade, | accompanied by Easton’S
battery, all being in readiness,"the column was
putin motion a few minutes , after daylight.
After we had passed our pickets,'Co. A., Capt.
Holland, was sent bp "as advance. guard- Co.
G., Capt McDonald, was deployed to’ the right,
to act as flankers, while ours, Co, E., Captain'
Niles," were deployed as flankers oh the loft,
with orders to keep in' sight nf the main’body.
On the road thus, we pursued our >« c.vry way
for several miles, thrjough almost iaipene treble
; tLickets,.until we capie'in sight.of Draihsville,
when we turned' abruptly "to the left, in the
direction of Eairfax," the'" m nin body .of our
troops having baited nn the ‘ Pike, just'ht the
entrance of tKe'town. 1 The advance vrjas sent
pn andhalted «t cdge oftlietcwn.
Rates of Advertising.
Caiip PisaroNT, Va. Deo. 23,18JH