Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-10-30
TIE WAR NEWS!
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THE BATTLE OF BALLS BLUFF
NEAR LEESBURG VA.
Our Army Again D'1ealed !!
The Massachusetts Men the first TO Re
treat, and ruise White Flag.
-Four Colonels and large number Of
O.her Commissioned Officers Killed.


the battle of Ball's Buff, and such as hav
ron.elohanI throw no very clear light VI
on the action. 1t appears ,hat,on Snnda
night, Col. Devins, of the fifteenth Mas
saehIsetts. who had for some time guard
cd Ilarrison's Island with one compan,
ordered Capt. Phi!briok. of Company n
and Quarier-master Howe, OF his stat
with a detachment. of 20u men. TO scou
i.he Virginia shore in the direction G
Leesburg They crossed from the islam
TO the shore, AMI executed tho order b
approaching within three fourths OF
mile of Leesburg, returning to theii stari
ing point about ten O'Clock at night dis
covering. "a they supposed, n small camp
one mile or more from Leesburg.
On reporting to Col. Devin, the latte
with about three hundred men Iushe,
forward by direction of Gen. Stone In tn
same locality with orders 20 destroy tho
camp. At aybreak the scouts returned
TO Col Dev!n, who remained with hi
command concealed, and word was sen
back that no enemy was in sight, Colone
Philhick's company taking an advanced
position, while the remaining compan:e,
were concealed as reserve in case Of an
attack on the advance.
When about mile and half from the
river, and five hundred yards IN advance
of Col. Devn's reserve, Capt. fhilbick, ac
companied by Col Devin in person, at.
tackled anu drove back company Of
Mississippi rihemen. and then fell back tc
the reserve oncealed lr tho rear, on the
appearance Of II body of rebel cavalry. In
the skirmish Cap, rhilbick had diff
Guilty in getting near enough to the enc
my for hls smooth bore guns to have mucl,
effect, whereas the othels used long range
rifles on our forces.
AT daylight. and the same hour that Col
Dsvin's GO nmand left the shore 10 make
the advance, Co.. Lee, of the Twentieth
Massachusetts, sent over one company OF
his regiment, which remained on shore Ia
cover the return Of Col Devin. Tho Col
however, maintained his ground, and was
reinforced during the morning by 300
more oi his regiment under Lieut.. Colonel
Ward.
About one o'clock he was attacked BY a
considerable f,rce of rllemen who at
tsmpted 10 outtlank him. Fearing that
they might be successful, and after resist p.
ing them for some time. Colonel Dcvn
slowly retrested, in perfect order to the
riv":, where Gen. Baker had arrived with
a battalion Of the California regiment,
which was commanded By Lieut.. Colonel
Wisiar.
Gen. Baker then took command com,
plmenting Col Devin for his successful
resistance to a superior fprce. and giyi NJ
his command, now less than coo men, tae
right OF the line Of battle the centre and
left heing formed OF atolt 300 of the q, III
Massachusetts, under Col. Lee, and the
California battalion. about 500 in number,
under Col Wstar.
Two mountain howitze.s, commanded
by Lieut.. French, and one piece o. the \.
Y. Battery, commanded By Lieut.. B,am-
ball, were in front of tue centre. imnadi.
dlately pre- 7ious to the mmancemen, OF
the action.
The attack was commenced by the en-.
emy or cur right, but was soon directed
more heavily TO the centre and left. For
about two hours the battle RACED terrifi
cally a complete shower of leaden hail
feN. Three times the left OF the lines
made an advance, but We're compelled TO
retire MS often. The right was better PRO
tectea, and held their position.
An order came from Gcn. Baker 10
throw two companies Of the Fifteenth
Massachusetts 10 tho centre, which was
Immediately executed. This produced
the impression that the battle was going
against US, but cau.ed no confusioa or
dsmay.
The left was hard pressed hut remained
firm. About this time tho news spread
that Gen. Baker was killed. While In
the &C. of pushing "a cannon forward with
his shoulder TO the wheel he was pierced
10y six balls. II is very eviden. that he
was the object Of the enemy's sharpshoot.
ers.
After this there was a cessation of the
hre Tor few minutes, during which Col.
Cogg'wcll, of the Tammany Legimert, ar
rived with two companies, and, he being
the senior officer, the command devolyed
uron him.
In short time il became evident 10
Col. CoggsreIl that the day was lost. and
lie thought 1t best TO ont his way through
TO Edwards Ferry, where Gen German
was in charge, throwing over reinforce,
men is by direction of Gen. Stone, who
was in sight of the battle Geld at Ell.
wards Ferry, directing The general move
ments.
An order was now issued 10 transfer the
Massachusetts 18th from The right to the
left, which was executed as calmly as n, n
drill.
Col. Coggswell soon became satisfied Of
The imposSibfity OF reaching Edwards
Ferry as desired, and gave an order TO
fall back towards the river, which vasex.
ecuted as well as the circumstances would
permit he reached the ri, er bank above
about twenty minutes before nightfsil.-l
Here, the 18th deployed as skirmisber
along the shore.
Tho only means of conveyance on shore
to the island was large boat, capable of
carrying about forty persons, which was
overcrowded and swamped. and another
boat of smal, dimensions. The troops re.
along the shore made desperate
and it is believed that th ,ne-
my took comparatively few prisoners in
Those who GOULD swim plunged into the