The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1861-11-07


kerry 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 increased. Gen. Stone ordered Col.
Baker to take command Of the forces on
both sides Of the river at that place. and
to bring up his brigade and the Tammany
regiment. commanded by Col Coggswell.
which was in camp about three miles dis
tan;. and tc cross Immediately.
Capt. Young carried the orders to the
Tammany Regiment. and the whole force
proceeded about mile down river, ready
to cross. We found two scows. each OF
which could carry from forty to fifty men,
and managed to get from the canal dug.
out. which would take seventy more.
Six companies Of the first battalion of
the California Regiment. three pieces Of
artillery. with men and horses, belonging
to the Tammany Regiment. with Col.
Baker, Col Coggswell. Lieut. Gel. Wis,ar,
Assist Adj. Gen. Harvey, and Captain
Young. got to the island. where we were
Joined by battery Of the Second Rhode
Island Artillery with two howitzers. The
passage to the island was very difficult,
with our insufficient means Of transporta.
ton. the distance being quarter of a mile
and the current swift. We poled ourselv.
es up the eastern shore a long distance,
thence were drified down TO the landing
From the island TO the Virginia shore. our
only means of transportation was one
scow and a metallic boat Of little or no
servic. We landed under a steep bank.
100 feet high. covered with rocks and
jungle.
Scrambing up the bank. we found an
open field Of six acres, with thick woods
OH three sides. out of which came a
constant. irregular firing from the enc
my.
Here were Col. Devins' 18th Massa-
chusetts Regiment on the right in line at
the edge of the woods. having been driven
in after proceeding a mile and half to
ward Leesburg. We formed on the left,
and presently advanced two companies of
skirmishers to the woods in front The
concealed enemy drove them back with a
a heavy. telling volley. and followed the
regular with an irregular firing. Our men
fell on their bellies on the brow Of the hill
the enemy not being in sight. The artil-
lery could not be served. because the gun
ners were not to be found
Capt. Stewart. Of Gen Stone staff
came wi h message to Col. Baker to
hold his ground, As Gen. German with
5000 men. was marching from Edwards
Ferry 20 re-enforce him. One company
was advanced to the left. the direction
from which Gen. German was expected.
They were met by a yell and a volley as
before, and fell back to the line. TIE
hidden enemy now appeared to be in
force on three sides Of US, which with the
river at their back, dsheartened the
men,
The line officers Of the Mas ssachusetts
Regiment ordered their companies TO re-
trrat. and the enemy coming out Of the
woods for the first time in sight, general
confusion ensued. The men, rHnning to
the water s edge and finding no boats, raj.
lied. ran up the hill. and discharged two
volevs. when an officer Of the Massachu.
setts Fifteenth tied white handkerchi.
to his sword The enemy ceased firing
and took prisoners. Many escaped into
the woods. Some SWAN for the island
others found small skiffs. Some were
drowned, among them many Of the wound
ed
Soon after Captain Stewar! appearance
, Col. Baker. who was. during the whole
engagement. perfectly cool and brave. OF
foot. cheering and leading on his men
, was shot from the wood; several balls ma
2 king fatal wounds. and all believed t,
: have been shot from one revolver. Th
rebel who shot him ran out in his shin
t sleeves. followed by four or five others
t As they approached the body Captain
n Devins. Bieral Of the Twenty second. an,
Ward the pugilist. with ten men Of hi
e company. rushed forward. shot the killer
!. and drove away the rest.
!. Capt. Young bore the body from th
o field.
Three hundred and twenty Of the frs
u battalion. the only one in the engagement
n Of Baker regiment. were missing at 4
: this morning; Of two companies of TIA
Tammany regiment engaged there wer
: 100 missing Of 600 Of the Massachusetts
n regiment at least half were missing yes
terday. There were about 700 IN all en-
8 gagged.
n Gen. Banks crossed at Edwards Ferr
n at 5 o clock yesterday, and joined 800