Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-11-01
LATE NEWS.
THE BATTLE OF LEESBURG HEIGHTS.
Capt. Francis G. Young's Statement.
Correspondence of the N. Y. World.l


Harrison's Island has reached us within tn
last hour.
Now comes the naked truth, in all it's stur
ming and distressing horrors. Col. Baker
body has just arrived in town. l had star
ed for Edwards Ferry this evening, bu
meeting the procession have returned wit
my friend Capt. Young, from whose lips
take the following terrible summary of Mon
days events
We have met with sickening repulse
one involving the loss ofnearly one thousan
men, in killed wounded and missing; and c
many brave and skillful officers and accom-
panied by scenes of horror unequaled in an,
previous battle Of the war.
General Stone placed Col. Baker in com
mand of all the Virginia side. Our battalion
at about 6 A. NJ, commenced crossing to tn
island, and then to the further shore. Mean
time we heard skirmishing shots on tn
heights, which continued without much inter
mission through the morning.
Now we began to experience the difficult,
which was the chief cause of the terrible scenes
which closed the day. .>.....
No adequate means of transportation ha(
been provided 1t seemed as if the column
was expected to walk across the water-sur
face Nothing but one old scow, capable per
haps Of holding forty men, appeared availa
bic on either side of the island If the Mas
sachusctts men had any other boats they
were not visible in the morning. At length
discoveries large scow in the canal, anc
two hours We're consumed in getting it ovel
into the Maryland channel 1t would hold
about sixty men. Col Baker, Lieut. Coone
Wistar, Assistant Adjutant General Harvey
and myself went with the first load to the
island, and there superintendent the transit O.
our men.
1t was 70 NJ. before our first company land
ed at the foot Of the Undiscovered precipicl
which rises abruptly over one hundred feet
from the river bed on the further side of the
river. Four hours more had elapsed before
the last company had landed. Sections Of
the Second Rhode Island battery, comprising
two howitzers, two field smooth-bores, and
one rihcd gum went over with us, the men
dragging them up the heights with great diff
Guilty and spirit.
All this time irregular fighting was going
on above 1t seems that Col. Devens had in
the morning moved with small detachment,
in the direction of Leesburg. Shortly after his
forces had crossed, and advanced one mile,
there he met the cnemy's skirmishers in fee
Die force, and had retired to the brow Of the
heights.
At 4, then, our whole force had crossed and
Col. Baker and staff with the rest,
and the troops were suffering somewhat from
the concealed enemy's fire Many had
dropped and been carried down the hill.
We asked Col Baker what he thought of
affairs. He said that he thought we had a
good position; could fall back for shelter be-
hind the ridge "Yes," said we, "but what s
in those Gods ~ He answered 81 think
the enemy are concealed on our right" A
private had reported that there was no force
On the left, but a deep ravine, hidden by the
woods. We then proposed sending skirmish-
ers to make a reconnaissance on the right, and
Capt Markoe, Second Lieut.. Williams and
myself advance with companies A and d of
he California regiment. Company A got in
'ront On rising ground in skirmishing order,
D following in line.
The California battalion, to make the story
lear, were drawn up on the left of the open
ield the Massachusetts, 18th and Tammany
N the right, and the Massachusetts Goth near
he centre. Col. Cogswell took charge of the
rtiliery. Only four guns were planted in
ield, the rified gun having been hauled up at
he wrong place, and being afterwards seized
~ the enemy and.spiked.
When our skirmishing companies had
cached The edge of the woods, suddenly the
nemy, hitherto concealed, rose with yell
nd fired a volley; then began firing in the
Usual ma ner: first giving yell and volley,
hen load and firing at will for few min
ties, then ceasing an equal time; then giving
yell and volley, and so on, pouring q muir
lerous volley into our little band for half an
hour.
The whole woods around swarmed with the
nemy. They had no artillery and no caval
V. Our Rhode Islanders, except the officers
deserted their guns, but Col. Baker, 1t. Col
Eistar, Col. Cogswell and Adj. Harvey man
led the battery, and fired the guns them
elves, aided by company G, LIST California,
ed by the gallant Capt. Bairal. (The latter
vas conspicuous for bravery throughout the
lction; he is wounded, but not dangerously,
md is now safe On Maryland ground.)
We kept up both musketry and cannon
ire as well as we could, but half the time we
,ould not see the enemy, and his cowardly
discharges were trimming our ranks; still most
if the men stood firm and acted bravely-
[ he enemy's yells and volleys increased in
oudness, and it was evident that reinforce
nents were pouring in to his aid. Captain
Stewart, Gen. Stones Adutant, came on the
ield with the cheering statement that Gen.
5orman would shortly support us. At 81 p.
" we held a council Of war, and resolved 10
stand our ground, Gen. Baker ordering me to
20 for reiniorcements By this time Coggs-
we'll was wounded Wistar had fallen. The
enemy were growing more daring, rushing
out of the woods, taking some prisoners, and
firing hotly.
Just then q rebel officer, riding a white
to us to come forward Col. Baker thought
it was Gen Johnston, and that the enemy
would meet us in open fight. Part of our
column charged, Baker cheering US on, when
a tremendous onset was made by the rebels.
One man rode forward, presented a revolver
at Baker, and fired all its charges at him.
Our gallant leader fell, and at the same mo-
ment our lines were driven back by the over
force opposed to them. But Capt.
Beiral, with his company, fought his way
back to Col. Bakers body, rescuedit, brought
it along to me, and then general retreat
commenced.
1t was sauce qui peut! l got the Colo
ners body to the island before the worst OF
the rout, and then, looking to the Virginia
shore, saw such a spectacle as no tongue. can
describe. Our entire forces were retrcating
tumbllng, rolling, leaping down the steep
heights, the enemy following them, murder
ing and taking prisoners.
Col Dcvens left his command, and swan
the river on horseback. COL Coggswell, after
unavailable bravery, had ordered the retreat
himself, but being wounded, was taken
Muskets, coats and everything were thrown
aside, and all were desperate trying to es
cape. The one boat in the Virginia channe
was speedily filled and sunk. A thousand
men thronged the further bank. Hundreds
plunged into the rapid current, and the
shrieks of the drowning added to the horror
of sounds and sights. The enemy kept W
thsir firing from the cliff above. All was ter
ror, confusion and dismay.