Geo. A. Mccall to R. B. MAROY, Chief of Staff, December 6, 1861

HEADQUARTERS MCCALI’S DIVISION,

Camp Peirpoint, Va., December 6, 1861.

GENERAL:

I have the honor to report that I ordered General Meade’s brigade, with Kerns’ battery and a squadron of cavalry under Major Jones, to march at 6 o’clock this morning to Gunnell’s farm, 2} miles northeast of Dranesville, with instructions to capture two nephews of Gunnell’s and to bring in the forage on his farm. For this latter purpose I put under his charge a train of 57 wagons. General Ord’s brigade, with Easton’s battery, followed, and halted within supporting distance. Gunnell is a bitter secessionist, and his. nephews (Colmans) are bad men. The former is now in the Confederate Army ; the latter,

456. OPERATIONS IN MD., N. VA, AND W. VA. [Cmar XIV.

formerly of that Army, have more recently leen in the habit of watching the Potomac between Great Falls and Seneca and firing on our pickets. They are reported to me by my guide to have shot two stragglers of General Banks’ division, and left them for the hogs to devour. On arriving on the ground some time after Meade, I found that he had captured the Colmans and 3 sons of Poole, rank secessionists, and after making the necessary dispositions to resist an attack, commenced loading the train, which work was soon completed, and the command returned, arriving here at 6 p. m.

Nothing of the enemy was seen or heard by the scouts sent out in – advance and on the flanks.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.

P. S.—It is with pleasure that I refer to the very exemplary conduct

of all the troops on this occasion, and can commend from personal observation the good discipline maintained. There was no straggling or

lagging behind during the march out or returning.

DECEMBER 13, 1861.—Engagement at Camp Alleghany, West Virginia.

REPORTS, ETC. $