The national Republican., 1861-10-18
FROH THE GRAND ARMY
a BATTLE AZ HANPEa,s snRaY.
TIE RxBE1s DKFEArEr.


GEARY ATTACKED BY LARGE REBEL |
FoRoE-HE CALAMITY DRIVES THEM BACK |
THREE MILES AT THE POINT OF THE BAYoNET. |
On Wednesday night, the War Department
received copy of dispatch from Colonel
Geary to General Banks announcing that he
had just routed large body of the enemy, and
stopped in the pursuit only to take time to
write that brief announcepent on 80 2.pounder
(for table) that an instant before fell into bis
hande.
Subsequently the Department received the
following dispatch from General Banks's head
quarters describing the battle:
Hayper's Ferry Virginia, October l6, ls6l.-|
The battlefield was at Bolivar Heights, near
Harper's Ferry, where four hundred and fifty
of Colonel Geary's force, with three pieces of
artillery, were attacked by the rebels, three
thousand strong, including FIVE hundred cav
airy. i
They had seven pieces Of artillery. The fight
lasted eight hours. Onr loss was four killed,
one mortally, and eight slightly wounded. One
corporal missing.
and held his position, In spite of tremendous
cannonade from flank and 'front.' and we'll
directed attacks Of infantry and cavalry, but
drove them by impetuous bayonet charges for
three miles, and took 32.pounder columbiad
and considerable ammunition, at the point of the
bayonet
The rebel loes is at least 100 killed and
wounded. Rebel Colonel Ashby reported
killed. Three rebel prisoner captured, among
whom is the chaplain of one Of their regiments.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT AT
HARPER's FERRY.
Baltimore, October IA gentleman from
near Hsrper's Ferry furnishes the particulars
Of the fight between six companies, consisting
of parts of the wenty-eighth Pennsylvania,
third Wisconsin, and thirteenth Massachusetts,
regiments, under the command of Colonel John
W. Geary, and three thousand rebels.
Early yesterday morning, the rebels showed
themselves on Bolivar Heights, at Harpers
Ferry, and commenced an attack with artillery
upon three companies, under Major J. P.
Gould, stationed on the north side Of the Poto.
mac. A constant fire was kept up for some
hours, when three companies Of the third Wis.
consin regiment crossed, formed into line and
drove the enemy back and succeeded in cap.
turing one Of their heavy guns.
They were, however, compelled to retreat,
but in good order, to the river, where they
we're reinforced by the three companies. They
then, with Col. Geary at their head, marched
upon the enemy, and after hard fighting, drove
them from their position, and recaptured the
gun, 32-pounder, columbiad.
Our forces had but three pieces of artillery,
and these were fred from this side of the river,
until the enemy retreated. The enemy had
seven pieces, and five hundred cavalry, together
with infantry
The enemy was completely routed, and
driven back some three miles.
0ur loea in killod n xunundad Ia mt Ovar
seven that of the enemy Is at least one hun
dred and fifty.
Colonel Ashby, who was at the head of the
enemy, is among the killed.
THE ENEMY RETIRING.
We visited Camp Lyon last evening, and
learned. from lieutenant colonel Of one Of
the regiments there, that the enemy has fallen
back in that quarter, certainly to Fairfax
Court House, and perhaps farther.
A coNTRABANp, AND HIS REPORT.
On Tuesday evening, at 10 O'Clock, the sixth
Alabama regiment, stationed near Springfield,
broke up their camp and retrested. A con.
traband," the slave of one of the officers,
escaped in the confusion, and is now with one
OF the Maine regiments. He reports that the
order 10 retreat was received at O'Clock on
Tuesday evening, and directed them to retire
to Bull Run.
This "contraband" reports that the regi.
ment has baen paid but once in FIVE months,
about three months ago He, Of course, got
no pay and was very ragged. He had earned
little money, by washing for the Off ,ers, but
his "patriarchal master had appropriated all
that to his own use.
THE REBELS IN SIGHT.
| II is reported that from the observatory at
Upton's Hill, on Wednesday, "a large rebel force,
consisting of cavalry and infantry, were seen
on the Leesburg turnpike, four miles from Falls
Church. Twenty three army wagons accom-.
panied them. They were supposed to be on a
forsging expedition.
FALSE ALARM.
The divisions on the right Of our army were
| ordered under arms at o'clock Wednesday
morning, in consequence of an alarm caused by
the firing Of the pickets of the seventy ninth
regiment, between Falls Church and Lewins
vile, but nothing Of consequence ensued.
ANOTHER sKIRMIsH.
| Another skirmish occurred over the river on
Wednesday afternoon, between the Federal and
rebel pickets. While the guards were on duty
about one mile from Falls Church, they were
suddenly surprised by the rebels, aud fired into
Our men returned the fire, when one of the
rebels was seen to fall. Charles Ramsley, ol
Company H, thirty.Hfth New York regiment
was shot through the lungs, and 1t is feared the
wound will prove fatal. He was doing well
however, on yesterday morning.
| OF IMPORTANCE TO SOLDIERS
HEADQUARTERS. ARMY OF THE PorOMAC,
Washington, October 10, 1861.
General Orders, No. %.
l. All soldiers in confinement, in charge o
the various guards in this army, against whom
there are no charges, will be released from
confinement and returned to duty. The atten
ton of all officers Is directed TO paragraph 22(
| of tho n evised Reunlations of 1851 which ra