The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-11-01
The Battle on the Potomac.

That was most aWlul Ohlue III WINCH
Col. Baker fell. In proportion 10 the
numbers engaged. fewer lives were lost at
Shebsttle Of Bull Run F.. and. il that battle
was A bldnder, surely this was madness.
And yet leading journals say il was a
success Is any thing TO be gained BY at.
tempting thus 10 deceive the people9 We
have had too many Of these inexcusable
disasters to record, and is there 10 be no
end TO them 'Tis very easy 10 say that
Lyon, and Baker, and other officers who
have fallen while leading our brave
soldiers, in unequal numbers. against the
eueay. we're rash and foolish; "dead men
tell a0 tales" but is this all the consola-
lion sotrowing people may expect
Here is an account Of the battle on the
Potomac, copied from the New York
Tribune. Read It, and Remembering
that all our Generals must be loyal) say
If even Braddock could have planned a
defeat moro disastrous or humiliating:
"Gen. Stone ordered Col. Baker, on
Sunday evening, to have his brigade
ready to move att o'clock on Monday
morning. from Conrad's Ferry. AT 8
O'Clock in the morning, however, a mes
senger from Gen. Stone ordered the rst
battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel Wis
tar, 10 move Immediately, so as to be at
Conrad's Ferry at sunrise, which they
did, sAd reported themselves to Gen.
Stone. ..
"Orders were then sent form General
Stone TO the battalion, to stand fast until
they should hear heavy firing in 'front.'
and then TO cross. About an hour after.
ward, musketry having been heard pre-.
viously,. 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 increased. Gen. Stone
ordered Colonel Baker to take command
Of the forces on both sides OF the river al
that place and TO bring up his brigade
and the Tammary regiment, commanded
BY Colonel Coggswell. which was in camp
about three miles distant, and to cross i'm.
mediately.
Captain Young carried the orders TO
the Tammany Regiment. and the whole
force proceeded about a mile down the
river, ready 10 cross. We found two
scows, each Of which could carry from
forty to fifty men, and managed TO &c,
from the canal dug-out, which would
take sixty or seventy more. ''~
"Six companies Of the frst battalion oI
the California Regiment, three pisces ol
artillery, with men and horses belonging
20 the Tammany Regiment. with Col
Baker, Col. Coggswell, Lieutenant. Col
onel Wistar, Assistant Adjutant General
Harvey, and Capt. Young, got TO the
island, where we were joined by battery
OF the Second Rhode Island Artillery,
with two small bowilzers. The passage
TO the island was very difficult with our
insufficient means of transportation, the
distance being a quarter of milo. and
the current swift. We poled ourselves
up the eastern shors a long distance,
thence were dri(ted down to the landiag
From the island to the Virginia shore, our
only means Of transportation was one
scow aud metallic boat. Of little or no
service. We landed under a steep bank
100 feet high, covered with rocks and
jungle. ,l.s.) A.a-'t p. .~
"Scramtling up the bank, we found an
open field OF six acres, with thick woods
on three sides, out of which came a con-
stant, irregular firing from the enemy
Here were Col. Devin's Fifteenth Massa.
ehusetts regiment on the right in line al
the edge Of the woods, having been driven
in after proceeding a mile and hal
toward Leesburg. We formed on the
left, and presently advanced two com
panies OF skrmishers 10 the woods il
front. The concealed enemy drove then
back with heavy, telling volley. ant
following the regular with an irregula
dring. Our men fell on their belize
under the brow Of the hill, the enemy
not being in sight. The artillery coult
not be served because the gunuers wer,
not to be found. H.' a..
"Capt. Stewart, Of Gen. Stones staff
came with q message TO Col. Baker to hole
his ground. as Gen. German. with O0t
men. was marching from Edwards Ferr,
TO reinforce him. One company was ad
vanced TO the left, the direction from
which Gen. German was expected -
They were met by yell and vollev n
before, and fell back TO the line. Tn
hidden enemy now appeared to be il
force on three sides Of as, which, with thu
river at their back, dishesrtened the men
''The line officers OF the Massachusetts
regiment ordered their companies to re
treat. and the enemy coming out Of tn
woods for the first time in sight, genera
sonfusion ensued. Tho men, running l.
the waters edge and finding no boats, raj
lied, ran up the hill. discharged two vol
leys. when.an officer OF the Massachusett
Fifteenth tied white handkerchief 10 hi
sword. The enemy ceased firing an
took prisoners. Many escaped into th
woods. Some swan Tor the Island, 9th
ers found small skiffs. Some wer
drowned. among them many Of ,h
wounded. =. ~.. .aH- -'... 't
''sooA after Capt. Slewsrt's appearance
Col. Baker, who was, during The whol
engagement, perfectly cool and brave, o.
foot. cheering and leading ON the men
akoN L.. Al