Letter from ‘"Oats."’
the affair near Newport News--Colonel Dreux's remains-some words to the ladies of Richmond.
[special Correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Camp Page, July 8, 1861.
I was in Yorktown yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of attending Divine service, and learned some things from a conversation with parties who were present on the morning of Friday, 5th, which vary in some particulars from those furnished me, and which I communicated in my letter of that date.
I shall probably visit Yorktown again this morning, and expect, Providence permitting, to obtain from the fountain head full accounts, which, for the sake of all parties concerned, I expect to furnish for your columns.
Suffice it to say here, and now, that the Louisiana Infantry, and the eight gallant Howitzers, whose only place, owing to the horses becoming frightened and dashing madly away, left them on the field, behaved just as such men were expected to do by all who know their merits and their metal.
The fall of the lamented Col. Dreux by fire from an ambuscade, threw the small force accompanying him into momentary confusion.
The Howitzer men, with true spirit, drew their revolvers, and calling upon the infantry to observe that though their gun was gone they were there, assisted in driving the cowardly enemy into a rapid retreat; not, however, did the latter escape unscathed.
They lost one Major, one 1st Lieutenant, and four privates.
It is probable that an inquiry will be had of all the matters connected with the affair; and your readers may rest assured of one fact, that the Louisiana infantry and the Howitzer boys stood their ground nobly and bravely, and whipped back the enemy.
The infantry, and whipped back the enemy.
The infantry and Howitzers it was who recovered Col. Dreux's body.
A metallic coffin arrived on yesterday at Yorktown, to receive the remains of that brave and lamented officer.
They were just making preparations to commit his body to the earth temporarily when it came.
The long procession of soldiery had wound their way to the spot indicated for his grave, on the brow of the hill overlooking the noble expanse of York River.
The sky looked down beautifully upon the green earth and tranquil water, and all nature seemed, as the setting sun flung like burnished shafts its lengthened rays over wave and hill-top, to say how good is God.
But the tramp of the armed men, the long lines of glittering columns, the roll of the drums, the gorgeous uniforms of the officers, all reminded me that if it was the Lord's day, the Sabbath of the Prince of Peace, it was also man's day for war and for strife.
Gen. Magruder, clad in his full regalia, looked ‘"every inch a King !" ’
The evening was so calm and clear that the blockading steamer could be distinctly and prominently seen from the spot where we stood.
The camp at Gloucester Point presents a very picturesque view from Yorktown.
Affairs at Camp Page are as they were at last dispatches.
By the way. I had a conversation on yesterday with Doctor Hines, the gentlemanly physician at the main hospital at Yorktown.
The $1,000 to which your paper referred some weeks since as having been subscribed in Richmond to procure mattresses, &c., for the sick, I am assured by the Doctor he has never heard of or seen.
They still need such things, and the necessity should be met. So, in this vicinity the ladies are at work even on Sunday making up mattresses, and more will be needed.
Now, appeal to your merchants to send bed-ticking to Williamsburg for our own use for the camp here, and beg the ladies of Richmond to make up a few dozen — say some six dozen mattresses and pillows, and send them to Yorktown, directed to ‘"Doctor Hines, for use of Hospital;"’ and again and again tell them to send down those little delicacies to which I have referred in previous communications.
Remember that this locality is not so healthy as some other quarters where our troops are stationed, and although we have comparatively as healthy a body of men as any found anywhere, yet some must necessarily be sick, and the sick should not be forgotten by those who can alleviate the couch of disease.
Our troops can stand the climate very well, while I am told the enemy are dying off like sheep.
‘"So mote it be."’
Oats.
P. S.--I have just learned that the conveyance I relied on getting to go to York to-day cannot be obtained, so I must defer the opportunity. O. 