, 1861-10-30


EDwARDs's FERRY, uFPHn PoxonAc.}
Thursday, Oct. rs, 1861.
rode, last night, to the river aide to Wit
ness the recrossigg OF our troops from the
Virginia aa.a1e. At the first reports, it Was diff
6cnlt 10 beNeV; that any such movement Has
going on; for throughout tho atteznoon the
preparations had all been hastened for the
strengthening Of Gen. Stone'B force By the
addition Of IS many Of Gen. BankB's men IS
could be transported But 1t seemed to have
BEEN later discovered that the metns provided
we're 10 totally inadequate that, with the rise
in the river, Ind the tempeetuous westh~
er, it Non1d be Impossible to send over
sufficient body to render Gen. Stone secure.
Accordingly the order Of advance mas sud
denly changed to that Of retreat. Toward
evening, slight abatement Of the high wind,
which had made the river almost impassable
du1iDg the day, was taken immediate advan-
tsge Of, and the few boats at hand were put to
the work Of restoring our troops in Virginia
10 their to1mef position. At o'clock, the
transportation WAS in full progress Tho
scene Was as picturesque and fal Of activity
SIS any which the campaign has offered, bnt
WA, nt the came time, infinitely cheerle6s and
depressing. The sadness OF a retreat always
stood to their duties with Vigor aud alacrity,
they seemed overwhelmed By gloom which
could Iot be cast Gil. Fresh regiments, which
lined cur store, and had expected tue privi-
le:e Of advancing during the night, received
The orders to withdraw with evident discon-
tent. The ed Massachusetts,, which i nearly
allied, by Old associations and friendships with
the 30.b, were most earnest Ia their dis3atis-
faction. They had lo1ged to meet the enemy
as speedily as might be, especially to endeayor
to redress TIC mlsfortanes OF their comrades.
The troops which crossed from Virginia were
1lf:1e better pleased with the unexpected dis
position made Of thtm, although they must
have known that unsupported "a they Were,
and in 5 position slDgula1ly unfaYoraole for
defense, their chances Of successful resistance
to the approaching enemy we're very feeble
There were t1tqnsnt complaints, much Won
der, and more Indignation not loudly uttered,
but roEe the less Earnest for that.
The long procession moved alow1y aud
! dim}y doHn 10 the opposite banks. aud stood
| irregular columns patiently waiting tkeir turn
| their mingled voices which never rose above
| one dull monotone, and Was never broken by
e cry OF cheer OF hopeful eonnd Of any kind.
The hours seemed to pass more heavily with
them tban with Us. Perhaps their sense OF
t danger WIS more acute. Il might naturally
near BY, and they saw that the thoughtleasnesa
I Of their leaders had lett them unpro7ided with
sufficient safeguards in case OF sudden attack.
For hours the boats shifted from side to
side, and the disembarked groups swelled into
full regiments and marched away. The th1ong
|
30 slowly, that one wondered IT all could be
brought into security before the rebels should
discover their comparatively unprotected po
sitlon. It was not, however, wholly unpro
tected, for a1ong the ridges OF our hills heaV.
batteries were placed, bearing upon the spot
where, it wa2 Spprehended, tne enemy nigh
disclose themselves There YRS little confu
sion among our men, and excepting by tn
| subdued mn1mur of many voices, tie Hgh
plaeh1ug Of oars or poles in the water, tn
ri fHf raf11a1 Tho,
fires, and the rush Of their flames through tn
air, the silence Of the night was undistnrbed
1t Tas very clear and cold, and many euifere
from the unusual keenness Of the wind; bu
complaints which frequently arose Wers nc
? on this score. It Tas the mortifcstion Of th
retreat that seemed to engroas the entire mn
s titude. IneEe1 sa~ such universal and undi
guised detection.
left tie 1iver, laden with our living, ian
r who knows how many Of our 6ead?} an
z turned Into the more remote camps, whe1
:. the debris OF the regiments which fongat Q
Monday were gathered. The Goth Msssaca1
It setts was now commanded by Captain. II
e fine boys were sorrowfl over their lo.sa
l. but in no manner irTeaolute or daun
, I'd in their purpose to follow tt
l. perlous path again, Whenever sun,mo
Cd: was deep'y impressed by the devotis
j. curing the conflict, and Of which had heal
e in every quarter. Is officers came from T
!; gione more devoted, 1t was thought, to eoci
J, delights than to the rigors and hardships
l. wa1fare. We all remember how the gaye
s0d digttiest young men Of England turn
" out the most heroic Of all that fought In t
le Crimea. The case is not altogether d
le similar here. These Harvard boz
= many ct whom lever had 3 care
70 y struggle In the world, from whom, / q
ID sure, ltas endurance ard possibly lees aets
as | minhtion WoulL hRye been looked for th
re f1om set Of officers more ruggedly co.
Us posed, were une1ceptionably conspicuous i
IL their bravery aud daring Throughout the f1g
4 Of Monday. They could not think of 81
&c mhs:on, even when coneoled to submit
u cider officers, aud even sitter orders to eQ.rf
he der had been proclaimed, continued flghts1
ht 1EsIEtt bcpe, with unflinehing desper 4tit
at until The last vestege Of theif strength
II. Val ished.
re Wto VAS responsible for all that s1aunhte
be Tpe qets,1on If eysded hare We knog Ii
,re ! Ater infr ffcient recopt sance few n
'er were wantonly placed at the mercy OF an oy
n. powt ring Rebtl force, and that neatly o
lee Third Ut tEeza were loat. We know that
S. men we're sent scr0ss the river with Mite
a inadequate mears Of transportation, at Il
NJ WHIT the Webtber prevented their prompt
infoFcement, to plsee Of al others tbs VI
!. in which hey could have been sta&aoaed. .