E. B. Fowler to Respectfully forwarded. M RUE, November 17, 1861

Respectfully forwarded. M RUE : I highly commend Major Martin, his officers and men, for this highly creditable affair. Major Ball, of my staff, a participator, speaks in high

terms of Major Martin’s personal gallantry and prowess, and I respectMOM DEAN, JT v! > – f IA RI e TE Auth Dd ; AQ } 3

a . Oma. XIV.) FALLS CHURCH AND FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, VA.

fully submit that he has on this as on every other occasion vindicated his claim for the post of lieutenant-colonel, which is a legitimate promo. tion, as he now commands five companies of excellent cavalry. J. E. B. STUART, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

NOVEMBER 18, 1861.—Skirmish on the road from Falls Church to Fairfax ; Court-House, Va. +2

No. 1.—Lieut. Col. Edward B. Fowler, Eighty-fourth New York Infantry. No. 2.—Lieut. Col. Fitzhugh Lee, First Virginia Cavalry.

Report of Lieut. Col. Edward B. Fowler, Bighty-fourth New York San Infantry.

CAMP MARION, UPTON’S HILL, VA., Fourteenth Regiment N. Y. State Militia, November 19, 1861.

Sin: I have to report a skirmish with the enemy’s cavalry by our picket outpost yesterday. At about 3 p. m. a body of cavalry, numbering about 300, appeared in front of our outpost on the road lead_ing from Falls Chureh to Fairfax Court-House. When first discovered . they were deployed, occupying a front of at least one-quarter of a mile, with a column by platoon in rear of their center on the road. They dashed vp to our outpost, driving our piekets in the woods, some of whom they surrounded. They then advanced within our lines about 300 or 400 yards, when, after halting for a short time (about ten minutes) and taking a cart from Benz’s house to carry off their dead and wounded, they retired rapidly in several directions. – I was at the village when the firing was heard, and on riding up the road I received intelligence from a scout (Sherman) that the cavalry were upon us, numbering 500 or more. I immediately marched up the reserve, consisting of three small companies of infantry, to check their advance down the road. After advancing about a mile, thinking this might – be only a feint to cover a more important movement, I halted and deployed a company as skirmishers on the right flank, which I knew to be wholly unprotected, and deployed skirmishers on both sides of the road. I then sent to the rear to give information of the attack at : headquarters and also to notify General Porter’s pickets. I then advanced under Major Jourdan a body of skirmishers to the outpost that our pickets were driven from, and followed with the main body, picketing the road as Y advanced.

On our arrival at the outposts the enemy were not in sight. Shortly after arriving at the outpost General Wadsworth. and Colonel Frisby came up and gave directions that the pickets should occupy the same position for the night, and they were so posted. My impression is that the enemy had an object in view besides the cutting off of a small out- . post and losing more than they gained, and that they found us in stronger force than they expected. They were seen to carry away conveyed to their rear on horseback by their comrades. One valuable horse is lying dead near the scene of action and several horses

were seen galloping through the fields without riders. Our list of. casualties is as follows: 2 killed, 1 wounded, and 10 missing—all of

Company H, which was the only company engaged. During the –

skirmish none of the pickets fell back except on the point attacked. :

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 2 : vut