Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/92

78 the 8th Virginia, returned to Dranesville, but, finding the Federals gone, he gathered those of his wounded and dead that remained and returned to Centreville.

The same uncertainty that attaches to the statistics of other battles of the war confronts us when we attempt to sum up the numbers engaged and the killed and wounded at Dranesville.

Ord reported his loss as 7 killed, 61 wounded, and none missing; total, 68.

Stuart reported 43 killed, 143 wounded, 8 missing; total, 194.

The Federal forces must have numbered at least 5,000; the Confederates between 2,000 and 2,500. The engagement lasted about two hours. The colors of the Federal regiments here engaged were taken to Washington, and on each flag "Dranesville, December 20, 1861," was painted in golden letters.