Encampment Langster’s Cross Roads, Va.,
July 1st, 1861
To Major John B. Gordon, Commanding Force at Langster’s Cross Roads, Va.
In accordance with your orders, I left our camp on Friday morning, June 28th, at nine o’clock, A. M., my command consisting of ten cavalry, five from the Goochland (Va.) Troop, and five from the Governor’s Mounted Guards, (from Richmond,) under Lieutenant Chamberlayne, of the latter corps; and forty-eight infantry—consisting of ten privates and a sergeant from Russell Volunteers, (Ala.,) under Lieutenant Hooper; eleven and a sergeant from the Autauga (Ala.) Rifles, under Lieut. Davis; ten from Henry Blues, under Lieut. Bell, and ten from the “Raccoon Roughs,” under Lieutenant Warren.
Having heard that the enemy were in considerable force at Accotink Mills, we proceeded down the Accotink road to within 10 miles of Pohick Church, where we received reliable information that none of the enemy were at Accotink, or had been there for a week. We then took the direction to Alexandria, keeping in the woods as much as possible and following the by-paths. We encamped for the night (Friday) within three and a half miles of Alexandria, where we intended to remain until guides could be procured, and obtain, in the meantime, any information of importance that we could. Early on Saturday morning we withdrew to the neighborhood of Burke’s Station, having become satisfied that the enemy had been informed we were threatening the city of Gillingham, who, with his party, seems to have every reason to believe, set an alarm for the enemy.
While near Burke’s Station, we were joined by several scouts, who gave us the desired information of the location of several of the enemy’s pickets, and we at once started in pursuit of them, with the determination to rout them. Considering our small force, and inability to operate with effectuality, I sent back half of it, and the cavalry horses, under command of Lieut. Hooper.
We then advanced on the picket stationed at the junction of the telegraph and county roads, within one mile of Alexandria, and three fourths of a mile from the battery on Shooter’s hill. This picket we attacked between three and four o’clock on Sunday morning, and killed eight of the enemy, according to the best estimate we could make. We have since heard that five others were wounded and five missing.
I regret to report the loss, on our side, of sergeant Haynes, of the Governor’s Guards, who was killed while bravely reconnoitering the enemy’s pickets, for which duty he had been detailed. None of our men were wounded in the slightest degree. The fight lasted only about four or five minutes—the enemy having fired but one volley before the fled.—
We retired as soon as the affair was over, and reached our camp at five o’clock on Sunday evening, without interruption. Not more than twenty-five shots were fired by our side, and twelve or fifteen by the enemy.
Although the fight was a small one, it served to show the coolness and deliberation of our men, which cannot be too highly praised. Every officer and man did his duty, and did it bravely. There was no noise or confusion in our ranks. The success of the affair was, in a great measure, due to Lieutenant Chamberlayne, whose coolness, gallantry, and accurate knowledge of the country, caused many of the men to make his services invaluable to us.
We attacked the pickets nearest Alexandria first, intending to capture those most remote as we returned, but the alarm created in the city, by the firing, caused us to retreat before accomplishing the object.
Below is a plan of the roads where the affair occurred.
Respectfully,
W. H. WEEMS,
Capt. in Commanding.
Sources
Southern Confederacy (Atlanta, GA) 19 July 1861.
Spirit of '61 