Fight at Warrenton — Repulse of the Federal troops.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
Warrenton, Va., Oct. 20th, 1862.
On Saturday last, after frequent rumors that the Yankees were coming.
Col Payne, the gallant commandant of the post, (who has been incapacitated from active duty since May last, on account of a terribly severe wound received at Williamsburg,) having obtained positive information that they were approaching Warrenton in considerable force, made every preparation in his power to receive them.--After fighting inch by inch for nearly ten miles, our pickets under command of Lieut. Bryan) reported to the commandant that the Yankees would probably attack the town about 3 o'clock in the evening.
Accordingly, the gallant Colonel brought out every man he could get to give them a reception, and presented to the enemy at the commencement of the fight a force of about 300 men, including 50 infantry, composing a part of Company H, 61st Virginia, Capt. Wright, from Norfolk, and a few others, all under the command of Capt. Grayson Tyler, of Prince William, a brave young officer, who has been in every fight since the 1st of May, ending with that at Manassas.
The cavalry, under Major Andrews, numbered about 225, and the artillery two guns; the command of a gentleman whose name we do not remember made up the whole force.
The pickets of the enemy approached to within about one mile of Warrenton, to the Bell Air farm, where they waited to give battle, but our brave boys met them at the threshold, and pouring into them such a storm of grape, canister, and small arms, as to force them soon to evacuate their position, and retreat to Gainesville, twelve miles distant. On our side none were injured, while the Yankees admit a loss of one killed and six wounded. From all the information in our possession, their loss was six killed and seven or eight wounded occasioned entered by the accurate aim of our pickets, under Sergt Mountjoy, a splendid marksman, from Louisiana, and one of the coolest boys in the army.--The intelligence received since the skirmish leads us to believe that the Yankees were from 700 to 900 strong, with two Parrott rifle guns; and at the time the attack was made we might have been repulsed, but their last opportunity is gone, and, in the writers opinion, the town of Warrenton is safe for some time, unless the Feds bring a very much larger force to bear against it than heretofore.--Colonel Payne has the confidence of all, and every man will fight to the death to defend on present position.
The statement in the Yankee papers that we had three regiments of infantry and two of cavalry at the fight, is false; but when they come again they will find men enough to meet any force they can bring.
G. De L.
