History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1861 BATTLE OF DRANEBSVILIE 877
and disagreeable weather. Here they went into winter quarters, occupying the
right of the line, and from time to time made reconnoissances towards Dranesville. They were only a short distance from that place on the night preceding
the unfortunate engagement at Ball's Bluff, receiving orders on the morning of
that day to return to camp. Could the forces on the Virginia shore have cooperated with those who crossed, the result would doubtless have been fortunate
for our arms.
Brigadier General E. C. COrd was assigned to the command of the Third
Brigade soon after arriving in camp at Langley, when Colonel M'Calmont resumed the command of his regiment, the Tenth. Several of the commissioned
officers of the Twelfth resigned, or were mustered out by general order, and
their places were filled by promotions.
On the 20th of December, the regiment joined in the expedition to Dranesville, which resulted in a severe skirmish and a decided victory. Marching out
from camp at six o'clock in the morning, it took position on the left of the brigade and proceeded to a point about a mile west of Difficult Creek, where
scouting parties reported a considerable force of the enemy posted to the left of
the road. The regiment was immediately brought into line, but as the enemy
seemed indisposed to attack, the march was resumed. On approaching the village our flanking parties were driven in, and the regiment was again formed in
line to receive the attack on the turnpike, the right resting on a hill, and the
left opposite a brick house on the left of the pike, and behind which the enemy
appeared to be in force. Before it was fairly in position the enemy opened with
a heavy fire of shot and shell which fell thick and fast about the left of the
regiment Easton's Battery soon opened and partially silenced his guns, but
the infantry could only hold their position, the enemy's infantry being still concealed from view. The steadiness with which the men held their position under
a hot fire, without the possibility of returning it, is the best evidence that can
beadduced of their good discipline and soldierly qualities. Soon the word was
gien to advance into the woods in front, and if possible capture the enemy's
battery. Before reaching it the pieces had been withdrawn, but the ground
was strewn with his dead and wounded, piles of cannon balls, shells and munitions of war, and a gun carriage which the pioneers destroyed. The enemy
fled precipitately, leaving the field in possession of the victors. The loss fortunately was only one wounded.
On March 10, 1862, the regiment broke camp at Langley and marched to
Hunter's Mills. The whole army was in motion, moving upon the rebels at Manassas. It was soon ascertained, however, that they had evacuated their strong
hold, and hadretreated towards Gordonsville. A halt was accordingly ordered,
and remaining until the 14th, the regiment returned to Republican Mills, on the
Alexandria turnpike. The bridge over Difficult Creek having been burned by
the enemy General M'Call ordered the column to march over to the Georgetown and Leesburg pike, and thence back to the main road. A terrific storm
prevailed, by which the movementwas greatly delayed. On the 16th, thousands
of Union troops were met returning from Manassas, when a halt was ordered
and the command bivouacked, exposed to intense cold, rain and snow storms,
without shelter, and only six miles from Camp Pierpont, where were tents, stoves
and other' conveniences for comfort.
Soon after leaving winter quarters Lieutenant Colonel Bailey was discharged,
and the vacancy was filled by the election of Martin D. Hardin. While en