Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-10-31
THE BATTLE OF EDWARDS FERRY.

THE PASSAGE OF THE RIVER
THE DEATH OF COLONEL BAKER.
INTERESTING DETAILS BY AN EYE
- WITNESS. ~ ~as -
i A special dispatch Of the Esd inst
to the New York Tribune, gives th
following account of the battle Of Ed
wards Ferry, which is the most com
plete and connected that has ye
reached us:
/ A gentleman attached to Colone
Bakers Brigade. who witnessed par
of the engagement. furnished the fol
loving particulars: Two battslions
1 600 men oGthe California, the Tam
many and Massachusetts, 18th Regi'
menis, crossed on Monday morning Al
Conrad's Ferry and landed. Picket:
were thrown out. and large force o.
rebels discovered. About 8 O'Clock
Baxter's. Owens and Morehead's regi-
ments. Of Bakers Brigade. arrived al
the Ferry, but failed to cross, the only
two scows used in the morning having
been sunk, one in the morning while
taking a cannon across, and the other in
returning after the FIRST repulse, with
about hundred men. who jumped on
board in the widest confusion, many ol
whom were drowned.
Colonel Baker was killed when ma
king the first charge after successfully
rallying bis men.
No cannon was used BY the enemy in
the engagement, and the Union forces
got but one across. There were seven
in position on this side. two at Conrad's
Ferry, and FIVE at Edwards Ferry,
about six miles apart. At the latter.
two scows and a canal boat were used
TO convey troops across all day.
A considerable number had assem-
bled on the Virginia side Of this ferry
when the battle commenced, but it was
not considered safe to re-enforce Col.
Baker from that point. 1t took each
scow, with fifty men, over an hour to
make trip; so that much valuable
time was lost, owing to the limited
means of transit.
Col. Devins of the Massachusetts,
Regiment escaped to this side BY swim
ming the river, and many Of the troops
followed bis example. Several were
drowned in the attempt, the river being
fifteen feet deep.
The enemy were seen in and around
a fortification opposite Edwards Ferry
in the morning. and the guns on this
side were opened upon them under the
personal directed Of General Stone.-
AT the first fire the rebels struck their
tents and fed.
The loss on our side is unquestion-
ably very large-larger than that Of
the enemy.
A presentment of Colonel Bakers
death came to him on Friday. At
night he made his will; in the morning
he told Mr.. Webb that he should be
killed within forty-eight hours, and
asked him to take care Of his body
His wife is on her way to California.
Lieutenant Colonel Wistar of Colonel
Bakers regiment, was brought from
the field with leg. an arm. and his
lower jaw shattered. Assistant Adju-
tanL General Harvey of the brigade.
an6 Captain Markee, were captured
The brigade returned to its former en-
campment, FIVE miles from Conrad's
Ferry, the same evening. Scores Of
men, nearly naked, arrived at tie camp
yesterday, having thrown away their
clothes to swim the river. Upward of
1000 were missing yesterday.
A telegraph from Gen. Mcclellan at
Edward Ferry this morning, says that
all is secure, and that no new attack has
been made.
No additional particulars touching the
killed and wounded had been received.
The conduct of our men was excellent,
and the disaster, though great, was not
so great as at first supposed.
Capt. F. G. Young of New York. aid
to Col. Baker, and who was with him
when he died, gives the following &C.
count:
Gen. Stone ordered Col. Baker, on
Sunday evening, to have his brigade
ready to move at 2 o'clock on Monday
morning. The brigade was then sta
toned FIVE miles from Conrad's Ferry.
at o'clock in the morning, however.
a messenger from Gen. Stone ordered
the first battalion, under Lieutenant
Colonel Wistar. to move Immediately,
so as to be at Conrad's Ferry at sunrise,
which they did, and reported themselves
to Gen. Stone.
Orders were then sent from Gen
Stone to The battalion, to stand fast un-
Ill they should hear heavy firing in
front, and then to cross. About an
hour afterward. musketry having been
heard previously, dead and wounded
began to be brought over to where we
were. At 10 o'clock the number Of
killed and wounded brought in was in
creased. Gen. Stone ordered Col. Ba-
ker to take command of the forces on
both sides OF the river at that place,
and to bring up bis brigade and the
Tammany regiment, commanded by
Col. Coggswell, which was in camp
about three miles distant, and to cross
Immediately.
Can't. Young carried the orders to the