Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-11-07
From the National Interigencer
Battle of HarrisOn,s Island.

From the National Intenigencer.
Battle of HarrisOn's Island.
The accounts have been so confused and in.
acuraie which we have seen of this battle, which
has been represented by the reports OF letter
writers and panic makers as disgraceful TO the
Federal arms as well as bloody, but which, in
truth, was so eminently honorable TO The cour-
age and, conduct of our troops. that we
are glad Ia, be able to lay before our readers
the suhjo;ned correct history of the brilliant af-
lair, for which we are indebted to very intel
ligcnt gentlemen, who was near the SCI ne when
the battle was fought. who afterwards informed
himself authoritivsly, of the particulars of tbs
engagement and its objects. and who left Ed
ward S Ferry day before yesterday.
THE AFFAIR AT HARRrsoS's ISLAND.
a In one respect the engagement on Monday
at Harrison's Island, by Gen. Stones advance.
was among the most remarkable in the world s
annals of battles. Of sixteen hundred men en-
gagged, who held out for nine hours against an
overwhelming force of the enemy, little more
than half have returned to their camps on the
Maryland shore, On rare occasions in the his
tory of battles has such a percentage OF loss
been witnessed. Itabundantly attests the cool
the Tkermopyle of this war. 90
q An impression most incorrect with regard to
the morale of this hattie endangers the reputa-
tion Of the survivors and does injustice to the
real character and results OF the movement. as
devised and planned by Gen. Stone. Though
our troops have now been Withdrawn from the
Virginia shore. and the lines of rebel pickeis
now confront Edwards Ferry. a change ofplan
we are not here to discnss, We desire that it
should not be forgotten how gallanly and well
the crussing of the Potomac was won. in the
face of and thwariine the intentions of the enc
my. Not to speak of false impressions We de-
sire TO correct. we have before us the careful in
vestigafions of reporters who have visited the
locality and the camps of regiments engaged
and we are greatly mistaken. if it does not ap-
pear therefrom. that in all respects the achieve
ment was a real and valuable one, though pur-
chased at heavy loss.
The enemy were in possession of the Vir-
ginia shore, and fnlly advised by Gen. Stone Z
intended movement. There are two ferries a.
crosss the Potomac at the place--one of them
Cornads at the head of Harrison Island long
narrow tract of fonr hundred acres. in mid
stream, and the other Edwards Ferry, six miles
below, on the direct road from Po!esville TO
Lcesburgh. 1t was Gen. Stones plan to di-
vert the attention of the enemy from both these
to third point. of his own selection. five miles
above Edward Ferry, at the foot Of Harrison s
Island and by making a feint Of throwing over
his whole column at that place inyitethe rebel
attack; while at Edwards Ferry. thus left free.
the main body could be moved across without
hindrance. And Just this was done. r -es
IF we are understood in, this brief statement
the fact will stand that the little force of the
gallant and lamented Baker because rs it were
forlorn hope. which. at the fearful risk and re-
suit TO themselves. purchased immunity and
safe crossing for the main body. 70 r-s,,,y,
Gen. Baker received the order for this move
ment on Sunday. The same evening Captain.
Philhrick and Lint. Howe, of Col. DeveDs 18th
Massachusetts. with twenty men, crossed the
river at the point above indicated, and made
a through reconnaissance to within mile and a
halfto Leesburgh. and returned. reporting that
no enemy had been seen. All through that
night, by facilities for transport far to incom-
plete and unmilitary for The purpose, Gen. Ba-
ker was throwing over his force and at dav-
break the first hue line was formed at Bulls
Bluff. about eighty feet above the river, offering
OBJ the topaz area ofseveral hundred acres. sur
rounded by the trees. save in the angle to the
southwest. where a clearing and corn6eld. with
the corn. in the shocks, opened out to the main
road. 9....is i1an1
TIE force of Gen. Baker was about 1.700
strong. made mp of hroken regiments. The
Massachusetts, 18TH had 700 men present, the
Doth Massachusetts, only three companies, the
California Brigade about 600 men, and the
Tammany IN. Y.) Regiment two or three
companies. There were also two howi!zers of
Ricketts, q. S. battery. drawn by drag-ropes;
and one James's rihed guns of the Rhode Is
land battery, to The command of which Lint.
Bramhall was detained from the New York 9th.
Il.
six o'clock. from rude rife pits in the corn
Massachusetts 18th. who drove the enemy from
:hie eoverts at the paint Of the bayonet. After
short work for some three hours along the whole
foot of the little line, the enemy being kept in
check with the three pieces of artillery, ;hey
themselves using only rifles and cavalry car
bines in the action. a lull took place during
which it would appear, from the very misappre-
hension Gen, Stone had designed to create. the
rebels were drawing their whole force from
above and below 10 strengthen the centre of
their line, which they believed 10 be threatened
by the head of our main column.
While our troops were eating their dinner
about two clock p. M, the rebel firing re-com-
menced, ut short rifle range, from line extern
ding on three sides about our battle front from
amung the trees and from the tree tops. many of
which were full of sharp shooters From this
time until nightfall the fight new no c, SIT on
We cannot write its details; they press upon US
from every hand, and the account would pos
sess well nigh the melancholy and tragic inter-
est of "Lovewell's Fight" .-.--g .t...J.
About o'clock Gen. Baker fell. pierced by
four mortal wounds. The rebel sharp shooters
picked out the officers with unerring aim. Only
one captain in the Massachusetts 18th, Cap.
Philbriek. returned 10 their camp; the other
six. with five Lieufenanis. are missng--severai
known to be killed. The entire loss set down
as missing TO Col. Deven's regiment is three
hundred and thirty-one men-nearly half OF
their number in the field.l They were recruit
ed in Worcester county. Said Gen. Baker chad
two more regiments like the Massachusetts
18th, would cut my way to Leesburg." The
other regiment did well and suffered nearly as
severely. ID
As evening came on Col.s sCoggswell, succeed
ing to the command at the death of Gen. .Ba-
ker. gave orders to form in column and cut their
way down the river bank to Edwards Ferry,
with the hope of reaching Gen. Stones COM
mand. At this juncture ammunition gave out
on the left of the line; the weary troops there
wavered, but were sustained by the centre and
right, though the hopeless success against such
odds. The order was then given to retreat
across the river to Harriscn's Island. and Col.
Devens deployed his 18th as skirmisbers to Gov
er the retreat down the bluff. sFi g. I,aF
Here commences the saddest feature OF tne
fight. The means of transport was inadequate