Today in History:

123 Series I Volume XVIII- Serial 26 - Suffolk

Page 123 Chapter XXX. SKIRMISHES NEAR SUFFOLK, ETC.

DECEMBER 22, 1862.-Skirmishes near Windsor and at Joyner's Ferry, on the Blackwater, Va.

Report of Brigadier General Orris S. Ferry, U. S. Army.

SUFFOLK, December 23, 1862.

GENERAL: Lieutenant-Colonel Onderdonk, with 200 of Dodge's cavalry, had a skirmish with a force of the enemy, consisting of artillery, cavalry,and infantry, 4 miles beyond Windsor yesterday. Colonel Onderdonk was conveying the ballot-boxes to Smithfield, and this force was sent across from Zuni to intercept him. He succeeded in extricating himself with the loss of 4 horses, but no men. He captured 2 of the enemy,and believed that he killed a number with his rifles.

Lieutenant-Colonel Stetzel, of Spear's cavalry, yesterday made a reconnaissance to Joyner's Ford with four companies. He found the enemy there in considerable force,and had a sharp skirmish across the river. He captured 4 of their pickets and 1 horse, without loss to himself.

O. S. FERRY,

Brigadier-General.

Major-General DIX, Fort Monroe.

DECEMBER 28, 1862.-Skirmishes near Suffolk and at Providence Church, Va.

Report of Brigadier General Orris S. Ferry, U. S. Army.

[DECEMBER 29, 1862.]

Colonel Gibbs, sent out by me at 3 o'clock p.m. yesterday toward Carrsville to occupy the enemy while Spinola's column was moving out, came in contact with the enemy's scouting parties a short distance beyond our pickets. He drove them back, capturing 9 of them, and bivouacked about 10 miles from here. The prisoners say that Pryor was at Carrsville with two brigades of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and nine pieces of artillery. Colonel Gibbs returned at daylight this morning. I send the prisoners to the Fortress to-day.

On the Windsor road an attack was made on our vedettes at Providence Church at 4 o'clock p.m. yesterday. The vedettes were driven in, but the reserves attacked and repulsed the enemy, driving them back several miles to a main body of about 300 cavalry.

O. S. FERRY,

Brigadier-General.

Major-General DIX, Fort Monroe.


Page 123 Chapter XXX. SKIRMISHES NEAR SUFFOLK, ETC.