Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-29

Us. AT o4 Z. M. we held o council Of war.
and resolved to stand our ground, Col. Baker
ordering me to go for reinforcements. By this
time Coggswell was Wound6a-Wistar had
fallen. The enemy were growing more daring,
rushing out OF the woods, taking some prison
Just then a rebel officer, riding white horse,
came out oil the woods and beckoned to US to
come forward. Colonel Baker thought IL was
General Johnston, and that the enemy would
meet Us in open fight. Part OF our column
charged, Baker cheering us on, when tre-
mendous onset was made by the rebels. One
man rode forward, presented revolver at Bak-
er, ana nred all its charges at him. Our gal
iant leader fell, and at the same moment all
our lines were driven back by the overuhelm-
Ing force opposed to them. But Captain Bel
raj, with his company, fought his way back TO
Colonel Biker's body, rescued It, brought Il
along to me- and tnen general retreat was
commenced. ~
Il was saure qui pcm,-saye himself who
can. got the Colonei q body to the island be.
fore the worst of the rout, and then, looking to
the virginia shore, saw snch q spectacle as no
tongue can describe. Our entire forces were
retreating, .umbling, rolling, leaping down the
steep heights; the enemy following them, muir
dering, and taking, prisoners. Colonel Devan
ieit hia command, and swan the river on horse
back. Colonel Coggswell, after unavAiling
bravery, had ordered the retreat himself, but,
being wounded, was taken. The one boat in
the Virginia channel was speedily filled and
sunk. A thousand men thronged the further
bank. Muskets, coats, and everything were
thrown aside, and all were desperately trying
to escape. Hundreds plunged into the rapid
current, and the shrieks of the drowning added
TO the horror Of sounds and sights. The enemy
kept up their fire from the cliff above. All
was terror, confusion and dismay. A captain
OF the Fifteenth Massachusetts, at one moment
charged gallantly up the hill, leading two COM
panies, who still had their arms, against the
pursuing foe. A moment later and the same
officer, perceiving the hopelessness Of his situa-
tion. waved white handkerchief, and sur
rendered the main body Of his regiment. Other
portions Of the column surrendered; but the
rebels kept up their fire upon those who tried
to cross, and many not drowned in the river
were shot in the act of swimming.
Night came on. AT P. M. all of our band
whose fortune 1t was to return bad landed on
Harrison Island, and the FIRE from the Virginia
heights had ceased.
The rebels took all our guns but one. When
left yesterday they had shouted to US, telling
US TO come over and take away our dead sons Of
b-s under flag Of truce; had also mounted
our own guns on the heights, and warned us to
leave the island In four hours.
The cause of this sad havoc was that we had
no proper means Of transit and retreat. The
following is an approximate list Of the commits
stoned officers killed, wounded, or missing, fol
the first battalion of the First California Regi
ment, end comprises two-thirds of the entir,
number in command: .
Colonel Baker, killed; Lieut.-Col. Wistar
wounded in arm and face (safe); Company A
Capt Markoe, Lieut.. Parker. prisoners; Com
pany G, Capt. oHer, Lieut. Kerns, prisoners
Company d, Lieut.. Williams, killed, body
saved; Company g, Capt. Beiral, Lieut.. -
eighty wounded and safe; Company H, Lieut.
Hams, prisoner, Lieut.. Uric, wounded and safe
Company l., Lieut.. Fisher, wounded and safe
Company N, Capt. Ketier, prisoner, Lieut.
Hooper, wounded and prisoner; Company p
Capt. Hicks, wounded and safe, Lieut.. KeDney
prisoner.
The California Regiment took into actor
across the river: