Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-25
The Skirmish on Tuesday.
rERRlBLE FIRE OF A COMPANY Of MASSAGRu-
SETS SHAHp5H0QTERS.
THE TROOPS WITHDRAWN TO THE
MARYLAND SHORE.

EDWARDS FERRY, Oct. 23.-Yesterday
Captain Vaughn OF the Rhode Island battery,
went over the river with Il flag OF truce 10 re
cover some Of The dead, and ascertain the fate
OF others. lie was detained by tile enemy and
had not returned at nighlaf.
About P. NJ. today rebel brigade was seen
proceeding in the direction OF COnrad's Ferry,
and ii disappeared behind wood, where, it is
stated, they have an earthwork mounting
seven guns. The point is between the river
and Leesburg, two miles from the latter place.
and about three miles from Edwards Ferry
1t is supposed that they are the same troops
which attacked our pickets yesterday.
About tile same hour Gen. Abercrombe
sent word to headquarters that the enemy's
force was advancing towards his position, on
the Virginia side, from above and below, and
asking for reniorcemeus. His command
was seen drawn up in line of battle near the
shore, and orders were issued to push over a
strong force to his relief Up TO the present
hour, ten p. NJ, 20 attack has been made.
Five persons were arrested at Poolesville, to-
day, On charge of being secession spies.
They were examined and remanded for safe
keeping.
The skirmish of yesterday was fought on
our side exclusively by the independent corps
of Andrews Massachusetts, sharpshoOters and
CO. X of the nineteenth Massachusetts regi
ment The enemy'S force consisted of one
regiment each from Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Virginia. The latter attempted to outtlank
our little force, but the terrible fire from the
sharpshooters IA rebel falling at each shot,)
and the firmness OF Co. X, prevented the
execution of their plan. The loss Of the
enemy was great, while only one of our men
was killed. The skirmshers were aided by
several shots from our batteries on the Vir-
ginia shore.
EDWARDS FERRY, Oct A,-Yesterday, on
learning thai large force OF the enemy were
approaching and had arrived at two points
above and below, and in the immediate vi
emily of the ferry it was judged advisable TO
withdraw the portion OF our troops from the
Virginia shore, both at Edwards Ferry and
Harrison's Island. This was rendered the
more necessary from the high state of the wa
ter and the gale, which made it matter of
impossibilty to throw over sufficient force to
make our positions perfectly secure against
general attack.
The force at Harrison Island were removed
in the face of, and unmolested by, a large body
of the enemy, who wisely, perhaps, forebore
to make any demonstration. Gen. Stone COM
manded the division opposite Edwards Ferry,
and removed them during q tempestuous
storm in The night safely aud without any
accident, he being among the last TO leave the
shore.
The numbers of the enemy are unknown to
outsiders but it is inferred that they had be
tween $1,000 and 10000. Their positions
were in dangerous proximity to The ferry, and
a night attack would have been disastrous to
our small numbers there. This morning none
of their eneampments or troops are visible, ex-
cept perhaps one occasionally passing along
the road through openings OF the forest,
HARRISBURG, Oct. n The war depart