The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-06
NEW SERIES-NO. 4l8

ness, and for q short time the firing was ra..
pid, when the two pieces Of artillery opened
upon the enemy a. well directed FIRE,
doing fearful execution, causing them
to give way in very great confusion, and
make hasty retreat within their breast
works near Leesburg, suffering q loss of
sixty killed and wounded, as ascertained
from their wounded aud from citizens in
the vicinity. The loss in my brigade ia one
killed, and one severely wounded, both be.
longing to Company l, First Regiment
Minnesota Volunteers. On the 23d, by the
Generals order, directed further intrench.
ments around the enemy's works. I also
had the fences, yards and lanes bsrricaded
and strengthened with logs, rails, old plows,
wagons and lumber. On the night OF the
%. about Sc zen o'clock, the General ordered
me again to proceed to the Maryland side
and take charge Of the crossing OF artillery
and more troops. On arriving, / started
across four more pieces Of artillery. A storm
of wind, which had been prevailing all day,
seemed to forbid the possibility of crossing
further re nfOrcements from this side. Pro.
visions were getting short the artillery on
the Virginia side were getting short OF ams
munition the wind was setting strongly
from the Virginia shore; the means Of
transportation were heavy scows and clumsy
canal boats, managed by poles--when at
eight o'clock P. M. / received notice from
Major Gen. Banks that General Mcclellan
bad ordered the withdrawal of the whole
force from the Virginia to the Maryland
side--and orders to proceed with all energy,
bat quietly, to make necessary arrange.
ments on the Maryland side--and direct me
to call to this work the boatmen and lum>
bermen of the First Regiment OF Minneso-
Ia Volunteers. as it was now evidnt that
everything depended on the energy, courage
and muscle of the boatmen to contend
against the adverse wind storm. This de-
tail was made, to which was added 100 men
from Colonel Kenty's Maryland Regiment,
100 more from the Thirty,fourth. New
ork Volunteers, and $50 from the Sew
enth N cbigan Regiment. The plan being
matured, the seemingly impossible enter
prise was entered upon with spirit and
energy that knew " no such word az fail, ;"
and between 9 o'clock p. NJ. of the 23d
and o'clock A. NJ. Of the Oath, every
man, horse, and piece Of artillery was safe.
ly withdrawn from the Virginia shore and
landed on this side again without an acci
dent or the loss Of man or horss, save the
causilty Of the fight. The fortitude, en-.
durance and energy displayed by the men
detailed to perform this work, deserves the
highest commendation. The Minnesota
lumbermeD performed their part with such
skill as to merit special notice. ~
The courage and GOODNESS Of the officers
and men of my brigade, 10 most part, as
exhibited in their crossing the river, engag.
ing the enemy, and their orderly withdraw
al across again, give reliable assurance OF
their efficiency. 1t may not be improper
here to say that the result of this move
ment, as q reconnaissance, must prove
highly beneficial to any future movement
in that direction. Each order was strictly
followed. and the desired result accomplish
ed. Trusting that have performed sat.
isfactoriIy the somewhat difficult and re-
sponsible duty to which General Stone and
General Banks assigned NE,
am, very respectfully, your obedient ser.
want, w. A. GORMAN,
Brigadier General.