I. M. Tucker to Second Regt N. J. Vols., Brigade. Officer of the Day, October 3, 1861
October 3, 1861.
October 3, 1861. Col. WILLIAM H. CHRISTIAN:
SIR: You will take command of a detachment of 300 infantry from the regiments composing this brigade and one company of cavalry, and will endeavor to cut off and take prisoners a body of the enemy’s cavalry, numbering probably 50 men, stationed at or near Pohick Church.
You will proceed with 225 infantry, according to verbal directions already given you, to certain points in the rear of the enemy’s position, and will make your attack at precisely 6 o’clock to-morrow morning.
You will send out 75 infantry and the company of cavalry on the Richmond road, with instructions for them to be at Potter’s store, 4 miles from Pohick Church, and 6 miles from these headquarters, at 5.45 o’clock, driving in the enemy’s pickets and advancing as rapidly as possible towards Pohick Church, in order to cut off the enemy or to render assistance to the other detachments of your command.
The object of the expedition being accomplished, you willreturn with’out delay.
By order of Brigadier-General Slocum : ;
Assistant Adjutant-General.
e OCTOBER 3, 1861.—Skirmish at Springfield Station, Va.
Report of Brig. Gen. William B. Franklin, U. S. Army.
OCTOBER 3, 1861. Eight hundred men of Newton’s brigade, under the command of Colonel Pratt, Thirty-first New York Regiment, went out to Springfield to-day with a train for wood and sleepers. They drove in the enemy’s pickets at Springfield with no loss, and brought off thirty-two car loads of wood and sleepers. They heard rumors of a large force of the enemy at Annandale, some 8,000, but I do not think the information reliable. Colonel Pratt conducted the expedition with great judgment. l W. B. FRANKLIN. General MOCLELLAN. Brigadier-General.
OCTOBER 4, 1861.—Skirmish near Edwards Ferry, Maryland. Report of Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone, U. S. Army.
. +. POOLESVILLE, October 4, 1861—3.15 p. m. The enemy opened fire on our lookout near Edwards Ferry ab 9 a. m. His firing was wild and without effect. I returned his fire with three Parrott 10-pounders, and he retired.
At the time of the firing a battalion or more os EL and some
ill 8re visible going towards Leesburg, on the turnpike. Uus s es CHAS. P. STONE,
Major-General MCCLELLAN. Brigadier-General.
OCTOBER 15, 1861.—Skirmish on Little River Turnpike, Virginia. Report of Lieut. Col. Isaac M. Tucker, Second New Jersey Volunteers.
Camp SEMINARY, NEW JERSEY BRIGADE, Wednesday, October 16, 1861.
SIR: I reported at orderly hours yesterday, at your headquarters, as brigade officer of the day, and immediately thereafter proceeded to visit the pickets, stationed as follows:
A few moments previous to my visit to Company A, First Regiment, stationed at the negro house on the Little River turnpike, about 11 a. m., Ã rebel dragoon had been discovered on the turnpike talking with a workman in Minor’s corn field, about a half mile beyond our picket Station. Upon receiving this information I took the picket and went through the corn-field. Two grown white boys and one negro man were at work in the field, one of whom admitted to me that the dragoon had inquired of him concerning our piekets, pretending, however, that
he gave them no information. I thought proper to arrest them all, and –
accordingly sent them in to headquarters. About 5 p. m. 6 men from this station were on the turnpike about a
quarter of a mile beyond the station, when a detachment of about 20 –
rebel eavalry surprised and fired on them. They promptly returned the fire, retreating as best they could towards the station, where the men had been extended by Lieutenant Tillou aeross the road. Several shots were exehanged during the retreat, the rebels pursuing our picket until nearly within musket range of the skirmishers at the station, when they turned and passed rapidly up the turnpike. Private Jordan Sil vers, Company A, First Regiment, was killed in the affair, but not until with a deliberate aim he had killed a rebel officer. Private James Donnelly and Alphonso Nichols, of the same company, are missing. Lieutenant Tillou reports to me that 4 or 5 of the rebels were seen to fall from their horses; which statement was confirmed by all the men.
A. scout of 10 men sent out by Captain Young from Company F, Second Regiment, was returning when the firing was heard, but did not reach the ground in time to assist our men. They found a dead horse belonging to the rebels, a sword considerably marked with blood, a new Springfield rifled musket, and. a blanket, and brought in the sword, musket, and blanket. They also brought in the dead body of Private Silvers. This party went out as far as the tavern, and were there when the rebels to the number of about 100 were this side of them. The proprietor of the tavern endeayored to get them in his house by strong importunity, evidently intending to detain them for capture, but to no purpose. : :
During the night I made the grand rounds, and found everything quiet and the piekets unusually vigilant.
Respectfully submitted.
, Brigadier-General KEARNY, Comdg. New Jersey Brigade.
[Indorsement. ]