John Newton to E. Sparrow Purdy, E E, December 6, 1861

SIR:

I have the honor to submit, for the information of the division commander, a brief synopsis of the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Pinto, field officer of the day, in command of the pickets of this brigade on the Little River turnpike, betweén the 30th of November and the 4th of December, 1861. The case of Lieut. T. Hamilton Haire, found sleeping on picket guard with his whole guards, has already been. reported

and acted upon. ; On Monday, the 2d instant, at about 1 p. m., the enemy’s cavalry, reported by Lieutenant-Colonel Pinto at nearly 200 men, burst through the German pickets of Blenker’s division (Forty-fifth New York Volunteers) which adjoined and sustained the extreme right flank of my pickets, in three detachments, the first detachment taking the Little River turnpike, leaping and otherwise passing through the barricade about one- “quarter mile beyond Padgett’s tavern, at the junction of the Little

River and Columbia turnpikes; the second taking the line of the unfinished railroad, and turning the barricade; the third evading the barricade by taking the fields to the north of the Little River turnpike. The pickets of the Forty-fifth New York Volunteers stationed at the barricade and on the unfinished railroad and elsewhere in the neighborhood are positively alleged not to have fired a shot, in consequence of which the rebel cavalry, having penetrated beyond the barricade, made prisoners of 2 men of the Thirty-second New York Volunteers, belonging to my brigade, posted on the Little River turnpike, who were thus taken by surprise and captured; not, however, before they had discharged their pieces at the enemy. The rebel cavalry turned immediately and retreated at full speed, passing the barricade, &c., and I regret to report the pickets of the Forty-fifth again omitted to fire.

Lieutenant Colonel Pinto, knowing that a patrol of 79 men of the Lincoln Cavalry had passed that morning towards Fairfax Court-House, led a company from his pickets to their support, finding them at Annandale shortly after his arrival there. The enemy in their retreat had passed through Annandale before our cavalry arrived there on their return, and thus a meeting of the hostile cavalry forces did not take place.

Lieutenant-Colonel Pinto, after due inquiry, places our loss as follows: Two privates of the Thirty-second New York Volunteers, belonging to my brigade, captured 300 yards this side of the barricade; several men of the Forty-fifth New York Volunteers, of General Blenker’s division, taken at the barricade, and additional losses along the line of Blenker’s pickets; the total being 14 prisoners and 1 killed. The enemy’s loss he puts at 3 killed and 2 prisoners.

Colonel Pinto reports a very free use of liquor in the pickets of the Forty-fifth New York Volunteers. ;

I have only to add that Colonel Pinto seems to have behaved with great coolness, decision, and prudence in the emergency, and that his conduct merits my approbation.

very respectfully,