Tompkins had one horse killed under him and another shot in the neck, which he afterwards presented to a beautiful country girl who lived near Ball's Cross Roads.

Tompkins' Charge Through Fairfax Court House.

The writer received a shot in the right breast, but managed to keep on his horse and empty his pistols, trying to hit someone, but was never able to determine whether he was successful or not. Lieutenant Tompkins was also slightly wounded in his foot, but did not allude to it in his report. Capt. J. W. Bean, now retired, took a conspicuous part in the charge through the village.

As this battle was considered such a great achievement at the time, a report of it seems worthy of reproduction, and may prove of interest, showing, as it does, the utter carelessness and recklessness of many at the beginning of the rebellion. It follows:

Camp Union, Virginia, June 1, 1861.

Sir-I have the honor to report, pursuant to verbal instructions received from the Colonel commanding, that I left camp on the eve of the 31st of May, in command of a detachment of Company B, Second Cavalry, consisting of fifty men, with Second Lieut. D. S. Gordon, Second Dragoons, temporarily attached, for the purpose of reconnoitering the country in the vicinity of Fairfax Court House. Upon approaching the town, the picket guard was surprised and captured. Several documents were found upon their persons. On entering the town of Fairfax, my command was fired upon by the rebel troops from the windows and house tops. We charged on a company of mounted rifles, and succeeded in driving them from the town. Immediately two or three additional companies came up to their relief, who at once commenced firing upon us, which fire I returned. Perceiving that I was largely outnumbered, I deemed it advisable to retreat, which I did in good order, taking five prisoners, fully armed and equipped, and two horses. Nine horses were lost during the engagement, and four wounded. The force actually engaged at the commencement of the engagement were two companies of cavalry and one rifle company, but reinforcements coming in from the camp adjacent to the Court House, which, I hear upon reliable authority, increased their force to upwards of 1000 men. Twenty-five of the enemy were killed and wounded. Captains Carey and Fearing, and Adjutant Frank, Fifth New York S. M., accompanied the command as volunteers, and did very effective service. I regret to say that Captain Carey was wounded in the foot. Lieutenant Gordon of the Second Dragoons, temporarily attached to Company B, Second Cavalry, accompanied me and rendered me valuable service. The prisoners, horses, arms and equipments taken have this day been turned over to the proper authorities.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,
(Signed)

CHARLES H. TOMPKINS, First Lieut., Second Calvary, Commanding Co. B. COL. DAVID HUNTER,

Commanding Brigade.

The writer having received his "baptism of fire," was plastered up, and on the third day reported to Mr. Seward at the Department, who congratulated him upon his return and excused him for several days until he should have fully recovered.

Soon after my return to the Department again Secretary Seward sent for me and read the following letter:

Hon. William H. Seward,

Headquarters, N. E. Virginia,
Arlington, June 11, 1861.

Secretary of State:

Sir-Mr. Geo. A. Armes, a messenger in the State Department and a resident of these parts, can obtain valuable information for this part of the Army if he can have a short leave of absence. Can the Secretary give him one for a few days without prejudice to his situation, and order him to report here at once?

Very respectfully,

(Signed) IRWIN MCDOWELL,

Brig-Gen. Commanding.

Mr. Seward immediately granted me five days' leave of absence, and upon reporting to General McDowell at Arlington, he ordered me to report to General Heintzleman at Alexandria, who in turn ordered me to report to Col. O. B. Wilcox, with instructions for him to send about 300 men with me on a scouting expedition outside the lines. I cannot recall the name of the commanding officer at present, but we marched out the little river turnpike, passed Clouds Mills to Annandale, where we halted and made our plans to send a detachment to the right and left. One command went up as far as Accotink and one within three miles of Fairfax Court House; and the latter had a little skirmish with the "Johnnies," who were dressed in citizens' clothes. These scattered into the fields, when the Major in command immediately sent orders to take possession of all the horses that could be found, after which the command, with myself, returned the next afternoon, when I verbally reported to General Heintzleman, while the commanding officer of his detachment reported to Col. O. B. Wilcox of the First Michigan the result of his scout, and took with him all the horses that had been captured. Among those horses were two that were reported to belong to General Lee, which had been left with Mrs. Fitzhugh, a relative of his and the owner of Ravensworth.

Soon after making my report I started for Washington, and before reaching Four Mile Run was overtaken by a squad of cavalry (Arrest No. 3), while on my own horse, which I had purchased a few weeks before in the city of Washington. They ar

rested, disarmed, carried me back to Alexandria and imprisoned me in the Marshal House with some of the men I had helped to capture, no reason being given.

Upon my reporting to the General, he had seemed to place as much confidence in me as if I were a man fifty years of age, asking my advice and plans for moving his Army to Richmond, also the condition of the roads, the size of the streams to cross, and if, in my opinion, there would be much resistance offered by the rebels when he made a display of his grand army, straightening

up with a most exalted opinion of himself and acting as if all he had to do was to march right through the whole country to Richmond with his army and drive everything before him. I reminded him that he would have no easy task if he expected to march to Richmond without strong opposition, as the kind of material the Confederate Army was composed of could not be bluffed. It did

not take him long to see that he was ignorant of the section of country he had to go through and the class of men he had to oppose him. He must have been severely reprimanded by General Scott in relation to Mrs. Fitzhugh's horses, and not knowing how to vent his spite on anyone else, arbitrarily pounced upon me instead of the commanding officer of the scouting expedition, who naturally was responsible for all movements, I only being a scout and guide.

Orders were strictly given to prevent me from communicating with anyone, but through the kindness of a sentry, to whom I explained my situation, he sent a little note that I had written in lead pencil to Mr. Seward personally, who immediately sent Mr. Webster with the following note to General McDowell:

Department of State,

Washington, D. C., June 20, 1861. My Dear General-This note will be handed you by Mr. E. D. Webster, one of the clerks in the State Department, who comes over at my request to enquire into the case of Geo. A. Armes (under arrest at Alexandria), and to see whether anything can be done with propriety in his behalf. Mr. Webster will explain to you my impressions in reference to the matter.

Alexandria, Va.:

W. H. SEWARD.

Sir-Through the intercession of Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, I am induced to order that Geo. A. Armes, now a prisoner under your guards, be returned to his place in the State Department on his own recognizance.

(Signed)

1. MCDOWELL, Brig. Gen. Commanding.