threatened others, and that their reserve was in the neighborhood, at Dranesville, I gave written instructions (a copy of which is marked A) to Brigadier-General Ord to move with his brigade at six A. M. on the 20th to surround and capture this party, and at the same time to collect a supply of forage from the farms of some of the rank secessionists in that vicinity. Brigadier-General J. F. Reynolds, with the First brigade, was directed to move on to Difficult Creek, to be ready to support Ord in the event of his meeting a force stronger than his own. At half-past ten A. M. on the 20th I received a despatch from General Ord, written on the march, informing me that the guide had learned on the way that there was a full brigade, but without artillery, at Herndon's Station, five hundred infantry and cavalry at Hunter's Mill, and two hundred infantry between Dranesville and the Potomac. I immediately mounted my horse, and, with my staff and an escort of cavalry, moved rapidly forward to overtake, if possible, Ord's brigade. I stopped for a few moments with Brigadier-General Reynolds at Difficult Creek, and, having directed him to be in readiness to move forward rapidly in case he should be required to support Ord, I rode on. When within about two miles of Dranesville I heard the first gun fired by the enemy. It was soon answered by Easton's battery, which imparted to me the fact that the enemy had artillery with them. A rapid ride soon brought me to the field, where Ord was hotly engaged. I found Easton's battery judiciously placed and in full blast upon the enemy's battery about five hundred yards in front, on the Jentreville road. Here I stopped to observe the practice of our battery, while one of my staff rode off to ascertain where General Ord was. While here, admiring the beautiful accuracy of the shot and shell thrown by this battery upon the battery of the enemy, a force of infantry and cavalry made their appearance from cover on the enemy's right, moving in a direction to turn our left. Col. McCalmont, whose regiment was on the left, was notified of this movement; but a few shell from our battery, skilfully thrown into their midst, checked their advance, and drove them back ignominiously to Cover. Not hearing any thing of General, Ord I set ont in search of him on our right, where brisk firing was at the time going on. Here was the Ninth infantry, Colonel Jackson, who had gallantly met the enemy at close quarters, and nobly sustained the credit of his State. By this time Captain Sheets, of my staff, reported that he had found General Ord near the centre front. Proceeding there, I found the rifles and a part of the Sixth Infantry Pennsylvania reserve engaged under a brisk fire with the enemy. Having met General Ord, we moved forward, and the position where the enemy's battery had been placed was soon gained, and here we had evidence of the fine artillery practice of Easton's battery. The road was strewed with men and horses; two caissons, one of them blown up; a limber, a gun-carriage wheel, a quantity of artillery ammunition, small-arms, and an immense quantity of heavy clothing, blankets, &c. The battle was now over, and the victory won. With my consent General Ord made an advance of about one-half mile, but nothing further was to be done, as the enemy, in full flight, had passed beyond our reach. I then recalled Ord and prepared for the return of my command. I ordered the harness to be taken off the enemy's horses which lay dead in the road, and to be put upon horses of my escort, and brought away the perfect caisson and the limber. Early in the day, not knowing what force might be thrown forward from Centreville to support the troops we had encountered, I had called forward Brigadier-General Reynolds, First brigade, and Brigadier-General Meade, Second brigade, from Camp Pierpont, to the support of the Third brigade. Both these distinguished officers promptly brought forward their commands, and I only regretted that the fine disposition of the regiments and battery of Ord's command, together with the gallantry of Colonels Jackson, McCalmont, and Taggart, and Lieutenant-Colonels Kane, Higgins, and Penrose, and Captain Easton, had left nothing for Reynolds and Meade to do. The rout of the enemy was complete. But as I did not consider it justifiable to bivouac at Dranesville when my ammunition was much exhausted, and the enemy might easily throw ten or twenty thousand men between me and my camp during the night, I ordered every arrangement to be promptly made for the return march. Some time was required to prepare our wounded, (sixty officers and men,) to be transported to camp, and it was very nearly dark before I got the column in motion. Our killed and wounded, as well as so many of the rebel wounded as could be moved, were brought away. The troops we had engaged and defeated were the First Kentucky regiment, Col. Tom Taylor, about eight hundred strong on the field; the Tenth Alabama, Colonel Forney, nine hundred strong; a South Carolina regiment, whose colonel was not known to the prisoners in our possession, who informed me that no intercourse between different regiments was ever allowed, and a Virginia regiment. The Kentucky prisoners informed me they believed a fifth regiment was present, as two or three regiments had left Centreville at three A. M., and they, the Kentucky and Alabama regiments, together with Captain Cutts' Georgia battery, and Stnart's Virginia regiment of cavalry, left at five A. M. The whole were under command of Brigadier-General Stuart. General Ord reports as worthy of notice his personal staff, and also Colonels McCalmont and Jackson, Lieut.-Colonel Kane, Captain Easton, First Pennsylvania artillery; Captain Niles, First rifles; Captain Bradbury, Sixth infantry | been killed; this, however, is not so satisfactoriP. R.; Captains Dick and Galway, Ninth in- | ly ascertained. General Stuart is reported by fantry, P. R. one of the prisoners to have been killed or wounded. The number of killed found in front of the position occupied by the Ninth infantry, Col. Jackson, is, in my estimation, proof enough of the gallantry and discipline of that fine regiment; but where all behaved nobly it is difficult to discriminate. I must, however, call your attention more particularly to BrigadierGeneral E. O. C. Ord, commanding Third brigade, for whose able disposition of his regiments and battery, and personal exertions to encourage and urge on his men, too much credit can not be accorded him. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. A. MCCALL, Brigadier-General Commanding Division. Brigadier-General S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. Killed.-Sixth Infantry, Samuel C. Walker; Daniel Darling. Ninth Infantry, John Sexton, (private); J. H. Stockdale. First Rifies, G. To Captain H. J. Biddle, assistant adjutant-Raup, (private); S. Galbraith, (corporal); G. general of my staff; Lieutenant H. A. Sheets, Cook, (private). aide-de-camp; Captain Clow, brigade commis- Wounded.-Sixth Infantry, Captain Bradsary, acting aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant E. bury. Ninth Infantry, Captain Dick; Captain Beatty, ordnance officer, acting aide-de-camp, Galway. First Rifles, Captain Niles. my thanks are due for their gallantry in carry-Infantry, privates II. Lathrop, dangerously; ing orders under fire, and for encouraging and W. H. Payne, severely; James Turenne, sevurging on the men; and also to Captain Chan- erely; W. R. Vandyke, severely; W. H. Dinsdler Hall, brigade-quartermaster, who was ener-more, slightly; Edgar Smith, severely; Thogetically employed in collecting forage. It is proper to mention that, deeming it necessary to leave one of my staff at head-quarters to superintend the telegraph, and to order forward the reserve, viz: the Second brigade and three squadrons of cavalry, if required, the lot fell upon my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Elbridge Maconkey, who discharged the responsible duty entirely to my satisfaction. Seven prisoners were taken, whose names, &c., are as follows: Corporal Ferris E. Long, and privates Wm. Nelson and Patrick Hughes, of the First Kentucky regiment, and privates Robert R. Moss, Ira Chauney, William Morris, and J. Williamson, of the Tenth Alabama regi ment. Sixth mas Conroy, slightly; Charles Yahn, severely; Benjamin Seely, severely; John M. Brown, severely; George Brown, slightly; Edward Demander, severely. Ninth Infantry, privates, Alexander Smith, gun-shot in neck; John Schmidt, severely in arm; William Earnest, left leg; Joshua McMasters, in the thigh; George Motor, thigh and arm; William O'Mither, in lumbar region; John Raymond, severely in arm; Cadwallader E. Patton, in the thigh; William Lindsay, in hip; John F. Heron, in hand; Corporal Pierceall, slightly in hand; privates Ralph White, slightly in neck; Wm. McGill, in abdomen; John Hatch, in the hand; William Millson, in the hip; Edward Davis, in the leg; Silas B. Newell, in the pharynx; John H. Weber, in the thigh. Twelfth Infantry, private William R. Fox, slightly in thigh. First Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel T. L. Kane, wounded slightly; privates H. G. Wolf, severely; John Pannell, severely; A. Swager, slightly; F. A. Foster, slightly; George Cook, slightly; George McGowan, slightly; J. B. Blair, slightly; Geo. Frine, slightly; Neston Gier, slightly; M. C. Cobb, slightly; Sergeant Geo. Ludlow, slightly; privates Barseley Dewry, slightly; Parish Mazier, slightly; Samuel Campbell, slightly; John Last, not least, I brought in sixteen wagon Botts, severely; Charles Meddier, slightly; loads of excellent hay, and twenty-two of corn. Fred. Eikoop, slightly; Fidel Armbuster, slightThe following list of killed and wounded only; John Brink, slightly; Taylor Brink, slightly; our side is, I regret, greater than I at first re- James Freel, slightly; Robert T. Lane, slightly; ported, viz: seven killed and sixty-one wound- James F. Barnes, severely; John Green, seG. A. MCCALL, ed, including one lieutenant-colonel and four verely. Brigadier-General. captains, and three missing. From what I have gathered from various reliable sources, I am satisfied that the loss of the enemy was, at the very least, ninety killed left on the field, besides those carried off, amongst whom was, certainly, Colonel Tom Taylor, commanding the First Kentucky regiment, whom the Kentucky prisoners in my custody state they saw fall from his horse. Colonel Forney is also said to have The want of ambulances was felt on this occasion, and I would respectfully suggest that a few more be ordered to each regiment of my division, as I was unable, for want of transport, to bring from the field all the wounded prisoners taken in the affair. Those left I had placed in comfortable quarters in Dranesville, where they can be well attended to; but owing to this deficiency of transportation for the wounded, I was compelled to leave in the hands of the enemy some of my prisoners. GEN. ORD'S REPORT. CAMP PIERPONT, Virginia, January 19, 1862 SIR: In obedience to a letter, dated January 13th, 1862, from the Secretary of war, and in accordance with paragraph 743, Revised Regulations, I have the pleasure of transmitting special recommendations of commanders of re giments and the battery, at the affair of Dranes | ville, December 20, 1861, with this my recommendation, that the officers named therein be brevetted for their gallant conduct in that battle, (as it has been called by the enemy;) and that the men named therein (including noncommissioned officers) receive "certificates of merit" for "gallant conduct" in the same engagement. In addition to the men reported for reward by their commanders, I would also recommend the following list of wounded in the same action, as worthy of "certificates of merit for their bravery and galiantry." NINTH REGIMENT.-Company A, private Alexander Smith; company B, private John Schmidt; company C, private William Ernest; company D, privates George Motor, Joshua McMasters, Wm. Ounthin, John Raymond, C. E. Patton, Wm. Lindsey, John F. Herron, corporal Pearsall; company F, privates Wm. Magill, John Hatch, Wm. Willison; company H, private Ed. Davis; company I, private John H. Weston. SIXTH REGIMENT.-Company C, privates H. Lathrop, W. H. Gayne, James Sunone; company F, private Wm. H. Densmore; company G, private Edgar Smith; company H, private Thomas Conway; company I, private Charles Weller: company K, privates George Brown, H. E. Dimander, corporal John M. Brown. some special mark of distinction for the dili- Brig. Gen. Commanding Third Brigade, Quartermaster's Sergeant John H. Sphar; In addition to the officers mentioned in the reports of commanders of regiments, I respectfully recommend that Colonel John S. McCalmont, (Tenth regiment Pennsylvania reserve corps;) Colonel C. F. Jackson, Ninth regiment, (same corps;) Colonel John H. Taggart, Twelfth regiment, (same corps;) Lieutenant Colonel TENTH REGIMENT.-Captain Thomas McConKane, First rifles, (same corps ;) Captain Wel- nell, Co. B; Sergeant Major Oswald H. Gaither, lington H. Ent, Sixth regiment, (same corps ;) acting adjutant; Sergeant John Gundy, Co. D, Captain Daniel Bradbury, (wounded,) Sixth pioneers; Privates Walter D. Byers, Co. B, pioregiment, (same corps;) Captain H. Easton, neers; John W. Waterhouse, Co. F, pioneers; battery A, First Pennsylvania artillery; Lieu- George Kelso, Co. B, pioneers; First Sergeant tenant E. D. Reid, Twelfth regiment Pennsyl- David Farrell, Co. B, pioneers; Third Sergeant vania reserve corps; Captain W. M. Painter, David Gilleland, Co. B, left general guide; assistant quartermaster, U. S. volunteers, acting Corporal John Miller, Co. B; Privates George aide-de-camp; First Lieutenant S. S. Seward, Wareham, Co. B; Samuel Clawges, Co. B; (Nineteenth regiment New York State volun- W. J. McGinn, Co. B; John McCann, Co. B; teers,) aid-de-camp; Second Lieutenant A. B. William B. Gibson, Co. B; Eli J. Agne, Co. B; Sharpe, (Seventh regiment Pennsylvania volun-John H. Walker, Co. B; Hugh Barnes, (pioteer reserve corps,) aide-de-camp; and First neers,) Co. K; John D. Brown, Co. D. Lieutenant S. B. Smith, (Tenth regiment Pennsylvania volunteer reserve corps,) acting assistant adjutant general, be brevetted for their gallantry and distinguished services in the battle of Dranesville, December 20, 1861. I was personally cognizant of the behavior of all these last-named officers, and can testify to their coolness, activity, and great efficiency in this their first engagement with the enemy. Promotion, or some special and honorable distinction which will endure, is their due; and I feel the keenest anxiety that they receive it, if it be only to excite a noble emulation throughout our volunteer army. Brigade Surgeon Wm. G. Louman deserves SIXTH REGIMENT.-Second Lieutenant Henry B. McKean, adjutant; First Lieutenant Samuel Waters, Co. A; First Sergeant Albin B. Jamieson, Co. A; Private Charles Yaher, Co. H, (wounded;) Third Sergeant James Stanley, Co. A; First Sergeant Peter States, Co. I; Private Benjamin Seely, Co. H, (wounded.) TWELFTH REGIMENT.-Private William R. Fox, Co. K. -- NINTH REGIMENT. - Lieutenant-Colonel R. Anderson; Major J. McK. Snodgrass; Captains S. Dick, R. Galway, J. Cuthbertson, J. T. Shannon, C. Barnes, J. B. Brookbank; Lieutenants J. B. Beatty, J. C. Walkinshaw, G. Pierce, J. W. Ballantine, E. Sothen, W. H. Hope, J. F. 496 the gallant Captain Gifford, officer of the day in charge of the camp, leave to accompany the expedition. I had deeply to regret, too, the absence of Captain Charles F. Taylor, of the Wayne Rifles, sent home by me on sick leave, an officer ill-spared on such a day, although his spirited company was well commanded in his absence by Lieuts. Yerkes and Swayne. In my report to you of the 22d inst., I referred to Capt. Manson E. Niles, of the Tioga Rifles, in the following language: Kirkpatrick, G. H. Fuhren, W. N. Erwin, C. | parture from camp, I was constrained to refuse K. Chamberlain; Surgeon J. A. Phillips; Assistant Surgeon H. F. Martin; Corporals J. M. Sowers, A. P. Morrison, L. B. Duff, Co. A; Privates D. Lloyd, F. P. Sedar, Co. A; Sergeants L. Brecht, J. Langbein, Co. B; Corporal J. Eugal, Co. B; Privates C. Reimenschneider, J. Kuntz, H. Wallbruch, Co. B; Sergeant L. B. Richards, Co. C; Corporal J. G. Beale, Co. C; Privates D. K. Carson, Jas. M. Borland, S. M. Stuart, Geo. Barker, Co. C; Sergeants O. S. McIlwaine, J. Toutman, Co. D; Corporals J. D. "I enclose a report of regimental Surgeon Taylor, A. J. Hollis, J. W. Clements, U. S. Sears, Co. D; Privates J. Young, M. McLaugh- S. D. Freeman, showing a list of three killed lin, Co. D; Sergeant John S. Hollingshead, and twenty-seven wounded. I trust the valCo. E; Corporals Ralph White, (wounded,) C. uable life of Captain Niles may be spared to his B. Moushaur, James Freel, Co. E; Private friends and his country. He led the left flankWilliam Thompson, Co. E; Sergeants J. Hamil-ers during the day, and although his tall figure a conspicuous mark for the ton, C. II. Suyder, Theo. Hastings, Co. F; Cor- rendered him porals J. E. Turk, S. Quail, Co. F; Privates enemy's sharpshooters, he did not cease expos C. W. Baker, S. Birch, Co. F; Sergeants J. S. ing himself to cheer on his men until he fell, Reed, J. H. McMunn, A. McCord, Co. G; Cor- which was a little before the close of the fight." poral J. F. Smith, Co. G; Privates J. Zeigler, I have no hesitation in presenting the name of W. C. Torrence, D. F. Blood, Co. G; Sergeants Capt. Niles first as entitled to honorable reward. W. II. Blanchard, T. Marshall, Co. H; Corpo- It is the interest of the country to encourage rals W. H. Fulton, R. Lemon, Co. II; Privates her sons to follow such an example. I find it William Broad, S. Veon, Co. H; Sergeants E. embarrassing to name others and avoid seeming Milliken, William Lynch, W. Foral, Co. I; Cor- to arrange them in order of merit. During the porals H. Stewart, C. B. Young, C. I; Private brief period when you placed the Sixth under J. T. Morgan, Co. I; Sergeant J. Hliekert, Co. my command, and when I stepped to the right K; Corporals S. Grenet, A. Robinson, Co. K; of the road, I placed my own regiment under Privates J. Shaw, William Leogan, G. Haslett, Capt. Hugh McNeil, of my color company, the. Raftsman Guards, of Warren. This gives me M. White, Co, K. occasion to name in terms of commendation first in order this gallant and accomplished officer. I knew well that he would not disappoint my expectations. The report of distinguished officers, by Lieut.Col. Thomas L. Kane, First Pennsylvania Rifles, is herewith appended. I cannot find words with which to express in sufficiently strong terms my desire that every officer named in this report as engaged should be rewarded for their gallantry. They all deserve brevets, or some enduring mark of the disposition of our government not to forget the willing and the E. O. C. ORD, brave. Brig.-Gen. U. S. Volunteers. LIEUT. COL. KANE'S REPORT To the right of Captain McNeil was Captain Edward Irvin of the Raftmen Rangers, of Clearfield. Upon him I relied with unhesitating confidence to guide our ranks during the charge, knowing the staunchiness and steadiness with which he and his bold followers would advance upon the enemy. Left of Captain McNeil was Captain Dennis McGee, than whom the army does not afford a better example of impetuous Of meritorious officers and men engaged in the affair courage, and I know not whether his Irish, at Dranesville, December 20th inst. HEAD-QUARTERS KANE RIFLES, German, or American followers from Carbon were harder to restrain when the recall was sounded. On the extreme left was Captain GENERAL: But for your order of the 27th, I Langhorn Wister, the scion of a true family, should not have made particular mention of the whose brave men from Perry were more exservices of individual officers of this regiment, posed than any others to the enemy's fire there, being proud, as I have before said, to know but afterward were foremost to repulse the that all especially did their duty, though all movement against our flank. By raming next were not equally fortunate in being assigned a in order Lieut. Jenkins, who, with a model conspicuous place. Major Roy Stone has been soldier, First Sergeant Craven, defended in confined for a month by serious illness, at his Captain Gifford's absence the name with the father's residence. Captain Philip Holland, honor of the Rifles of Cameron, I postpone to with his company, who formed the advance the last my mention of Captain William T. guard of the regiment, and Captain Hugh Blanchard, and his McKean Rifles. There is McDonald, whose brave fellows were selected not a more fearless spirit than Captain Blanto act as flankers on our right-officers whose chard in the service; his ringing voice was courage had been well proven by me before-heard above the fire when it was hottest. It was from the McKean Rifles that I detailed stood in another portion of the field through no fault of their own. On the morning of our de- Lieut. Rice to defend Thornton's house, when I perceived we held the key of the position | one of them, however, in my estimation, beagainst the enemy. Rice's defence of it in haved more nobly than Colonel Jackson, who extremity would have been a desperate one. led his regiment at once into close quarters with His command, firing from the windows, did the enemy. execution among the enemy, which even in the excitement of the action it was fearful to contemplate. Company E retreated upon our body in handsome style, after the action commenced; and, after Niles fell, were commanded most creditably by Second Lieutenant S. A. Mack. He was fired at, by order of a rebel officer, by an entire company of the enemy, at eighty paces. My thanks should be particularly rendered to Lieutenant Lucius Truman, who rendered me valuable assistance in the absence of field-officers; also, to Lieutenant J. T. Jewett, adjutant. The reports of captains, submitted with this, designate but a few of the brave men who were distinguished for energy and daring. It was intimated that the number to be reported to you should be limited. I can, of my own observation, cordially recommend all those named. Brigadier-General E. O. C. ORD. GENERAL MCCALL'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS. MCCALL'S 20, VISION, CAMP PIERPONT, VA., January 20, 1862. GENERAL: I have the honor to enclose herewith the report of Brigadier-General E. O. C. Ord, commanding Third brigade of my division, giving the names of officers and men of his brigade who were distinguished for gallantry in the battle of Dranesville, December 20, 1861. Having arrived on the battle-field during the heat of the conflict-whilst Easton's and the enemy's batteries were engaged, and before Colonel Jackson, of the Ninth regiment infantry, Pennsylvania reserve, had his fierce encounter with the Kentucky regiment, where a much greater number of the enemy were slain than on any other part of the field-I have it in my power, which I most cheerfully do, to bear witness, from my personal observation, of the gallantry and good conduct of many of the officers and men named in General Ord's report. Among those who more particularly attracted my notice were, first, General Ord himself, whom I found (not until some time after I arrived) bravely urging on his men against the enemy's battery. I told him I approved his disposition, and made no change except to order forward one section of Easton's battery. Jack son's regiment was distinguished for the rapidity and accuracy of its fire. The conduct of Colonel J. S. MoCalmont, of the Tenth regiment infantry, Pennsylvania reserve; Lieutenant-Colonel T. L. Kane, First Rifles, Pennsylvania reserve; Captain Easton, artillery, Pennsylvania reserve; Lieutenant and Adjutant Henry B. McKean, Sixth regiment infantry, Pennsylvania reserve, more particularly attracted my attention, and it affords me great pleasure to add my testimony to that of their brigade commander, as to gallantry and good conduct they exhibited on the field. No I must now beg leave to recommend warmly to the notice of the general-in-chief the conduct of my personal staff, viz.: Captain Henry J. Biddle, assistant adjutant-general; First Lieut. Henry A. Scheetz, aide-de-camp; Capt. James B. Clow, brigade commissary and acting aidede-camp; Second Lieut. E. Beatty, ordnance officer and acting aide-de-camp, all of whom were more or less under fire, and bore themselves with great gallantry. Captain Chandler Hall, brigade quartermaster, was actively engaged during the battle in loading his wagon train with forage. It is but justice also to state that the most efficient service was rendered by Acting Division Surgeon A. E. Stocker, who was very actively employed in the general direction and care of the wounded and the arrangement for their return to the division camp. My aide-de-camp, First Lieutenant Elbridge Maconkey, though not in the engagement, was meritoriously employed in the discharge of important duties connected therewith. With a very few exceptions, to whom brevet commissions may be given, I would respectfully suggest that something in the style of a medal and ribbon would be a reward of gallantry and merit that would be highly appreciated by all. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. A. MCCALL, Brigadier General, commanding Division. Brigadier-General S. WILLIAMS. SECRETARY CAMERON TO GEN. MCCALL The Secretary of War addressed the following letter to General McCall: WAR DEPARTMENT, December 28, 1861. Brigadier-General G. A. McCall, Commanding Division, Camp Pierpont, Virginia: GENERAL: I have read your report of the battle of Dranesville, and although no reply is necessary on my part, yet as a citizen of the same Commonwealth as yourself and the troops engaged in that brilliant affair, I cannot refrain from expressing to you my admiration of the gallant conduct displayed, both by officers and men, in this their first contest with the enemy. Nearly all of your command upon that occasion are either my personal friends or sons of those with whom for long years I have been more or less intimately associated. I feel that I have just cause to be proud that, animated by no other motive than patriotism, they are among the first to revive the glory shed upon our country by the men of the Revolution and the soldiers of the War of 1812. It is one of the bright spots that give assurance of the success of coming events; and its effect must be to inspire confidence in the belief that hereafter, as heretofore, the cause of our country will triumph. I am especially gratified that a Pennsylvania artillery corps, commanded by officers who have |