November 16, 1861 (Friday): Lunch, Interrupted

Colonel Timothy Sullivan, Library of Congress

Report of Col. Timothy Sullivan, Twenty-fourth New York Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS GENERAL KEYES’ BRIGADE,

Upton’s Hill, Va., November 16, 1861.

   It has just been reported that a foraging party sent out from this brigade this morning has been cut off.  The facts are as follows:  This morning about 7 o’clock a train of six wagons, with teamsters and 18 extra men for loading wagons, under an escort of 50 men and 1 lieutenant, commanded by Captain Laning, of Company B, all of the Thirtieth Regiment New York Volunteers, proceeded to the front towards and past Birch’s house, taking the road leading to the southwest from a point between Taylor’s Corner and Falls Church.  Passing Birch’s house about a mile and a half the party arrived at Doolan’s farm and commenced loading wagons.  A guard of outposts and scouts were posted round and through the woods, but the main road appears to have been left unguarded by the officer commanding.  They arrived at Doolan’s about 10 a.m. and by about 1 m. the wagons were loaded, and while the men were at dinner an alarm was given, and before they could more than gain their arms they were charged upon by a body of cavalry, supposed to be about 100 strong.  Captain Laning ordered his men to retreat to the woods, which they did, but were intercepted on the other side by another body of cavalry, the result was that the most of the party and five teams were cut off, including Captain Laning and Lieutenant Andrews.  Up to this hour (4.15 p.m.) 16 men and 3 teamsters only have returned, reporting as above, and that three of their comrades, including Lieutenant Andrews, were seen to fall, and the rest surrendered.  A 4-horse ambulance, under an escort of five companies from the Twenty-fourth Regiment, commanded by a field officer, have been ordered out to bring in the dead and wounded.  The body will move immediately.

                                                                                                T. SULLIVAN,

                                                                                                Commanding Brigade,

                                                                                                Per JOHN MURRAY,

                                                                                                Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL McDOWELL

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 5, Page 438

J. E. B. Stuart sent the 2^nd Mississippi Cavalry under Major William T. Martin,  out to Doolan’s, southwest of Fall’s Church, where they encountered a party from the 30^th New York.  In the brief attack which followed the 75 Confederates took 30 prisoners, 5 wagons, and 20 horses, along with 120 bushels of corn.  McDowell used the fiasco as a chance to draw the attention of officers to the importance of staying alert in enemy territory.