The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-09
THE ELEEsRURa BATTLE.
Official Report sf the Yankee General Gem.
manding.

we nave Already puDIiSneQ great deal In
connection with the late battle at Leesburg,
which resulted so brilliantly to our cause !;
but doubt not that the following official re-
port from General Stone, chief in command
of the Yankee forces, addressed to Lieut.. Gen.
Scott, will prove in interesting to the reader
1t will be seen that the attempt of Gen. Stone
to throw the blame Of the whole enterprise
and it's results upon Col. Baker. is miser.
able failure, and the whole responsibility re.
coils upon him with double force:
HsADa'Rs CoRPs OF OBSERVATION,
Oct. Is, 1851.
General: On the Goth instant, being advised
from headquarters of Gen. McCalls move
ment to Drainsville to Ieconnoiter and draw
out the intentions Of the enemy at Leesburg
went to Edwards's Ferry at one O'Clock +.
NJ, with Gen. G0rmans brigade, 7th Mchi-
gan, two troops of the Van Allen cavalry, and
the Putnam Rangers, while four companies
OF the 18th Massachusetts volunteers were
sent to Harrison s island, under Col. Deyens,
who then had one company on the island and
Col. Lee, with battalion of the Massschu-
sets goth, a section of the Rhode Island bat
terry, and Tammany regiment, was sent to
Conrad's Ferry. section OF Banting's New
York battery and Ricketts, battery were al
ready on duty respectively at Edwards's and
Conrad's Ferries.
Gen. McCalI's movement had evidently at
tracted the attention OF the enemy, a regiment
VI dppGdTeu from the QiT1c-
ton Of Leesburg, and taken shelter behind a
hill about one mile anj O. half from our posi-
ton at the ferry.
Gen. German was ordered to deplOv his
forces in view of the enemy, and in so doing
no movement of the enemy was excited
Three fiatboats were ordered, and at the same
time shell and spherical case shot were
thrown into the place of the enemy's con-
cealment. This was done to produce an ini-
preston that a crossing was TO be made. The
shelling at Edwards's Ferry and the launch
ing of the boats induced the quick retirement
of the enemy's force seen there, and three
beat loads of 35 men each, from the lst Min
nesota, crossed and recrcssed the river, each
trip occupying about six or seven minutes.
While this was going on, the men evincsd
by their cheering that they were all ready
and determined to fight gaiiantly when the
opportunity was presented At dusk, Gen
Gorman's brigade ami the zth Michigan re-
turned TO camp, leaving the Tammany regi-
ment and the companies of the 10Th Massa-
chusetts and artillery at Conrads Ferry in
position, awaiting the return of scouGs.-
Meanwhile Gen. Stone remained at Cdws rfis' 8
Ferry. AT 10 o'clock T. NJ, Lieut. Howe,
Quartermaster OF the 18th Massachusetts, re-
ported that scouts under Capt. Philbrick had
returned to the island, having been within
one mile OF Leesbnrg. and there discovering
in the edge of wood an encam pment Of 30
tents. No pickets Were out any distance and
he approached to within % rods without be-
ing even challenged.
orders We're Then instan tly sent to Colonel
Devens to cross fonr companies to the Vir-
ginia shore, aud march silently under cover
OF night to the position of the camp referred
to, to attack and destroy 1t e day break i,!tr-
sue the enemy lodged there s far as would be
prudent and return imme lately 10 the
island, his return to be cover d by COM
p'ny OF the Idassa eh usetts 18th, to ne posted
over the landing place. Col. Dexens was or
dered to m Ike close observation or the posi-
ton, strength and movement is OF the enemy
ana, In the event OF there being no enemy
there visible, to hold on in secure position
until he could be rengtheneG Sufficiently to
make q valuable reconnaissance
AT this time orders We're sent to Col. Baker
to send the First California regiment to Con.
rad's Ferry, to arrive there at Sunrise and to
have the remainder Of his brigade ready to
move early.
Lieut. Col. Wood, of the 25th Massachu.
sets, was also orieTed to move with bat.
taiion 10 the rlver bank opposite Harrison's
island by daybreak. T~omouGted nowi:zars
IN Gu trga Of Lieut.. French, of r. kett's bat
terry, were ordered TO the tow-pat III opposite
Harrison S island.
Col Devens. in pursuance OF his orders,
crossed ana proceeded TO tne point infiicatei
Col Lee remaining on the bluff with loo meg,
TO cover his return To distract attention
from Col. Devens's movements ard to make
reconnaissance In the direction of Leesburg
from Edwards's Ferry, directed Gen Cor.
man to throw across tbe river,.at that point
two companies Of the lst Minnesota under
cover OF a fire from Ricksttas battery. and
Scht Out purity Oh 81 ' an Allen cavalry.
under Mi Mix, accom- panied by Cant Chas
stewart, Assistant Adjutant General, Capt
murphy, and Lisuts. Pierce and GouraIld
with orders TO advance along the Lees burg
ro;to until they should come to the vicinity OF
q battery Which was known to be on III /
road, and then turn to the left aud examine
the heights between that and Goose Creek
and See if any OF the enemy were posted in
the viclnity, mud out their numbers as nearly
as possible. their disposition, examine the
country with reference 10 til rs ssags of fro0rg
TO the Leesburg and Georgetown turnpike
and return rapidly to cover behind the skirrn
ishers OF the Minnesota LIST. This recon nois-
sance was most galiantIy conducted. and the
party proceeded along the I.eesbnrR road
nearly two miles frcm the ferry and when
near the position of the hidden battery came
suudeniy upon mississippi regiment, about
80 yards distant, received is fire. and re-
turned II with their pistols. The lire of the
enemy killed one horse, but Lieut.. Gouraud
seized the dismounted man, and drawing hi m
on MS morse, behind him, carried him unhurt
from the field. One private of the 4th VirQi-
MIA cavalry was brought off by the party e.
prisoner, who, being well noun ted and arm .
ed, his mount replaced the one lost by the
fire OF the enemy.
meantime, Oh the right Col Dayens. hayir o
in pursuance of his orders ;rri we'd at the nosi
t.on designated 10 him as the site Of the enc
mys camp, found that the scouts had been de-
eeifeo oJ Tue uncertain light, and mistaken
openings In the trees for row of tents Col
Deyens found, however a wood in which he
concealed his force, and proceeded to examine
the space Between that and Leesburp send. :.
Ins oack 10 report that thus far ne could see
nc enemy. Immediately on receipt Of this in /.
telilKence, brought me by Lieut., Hove. who
hao accompanied both the parties, I ordered
non-comnlssloned officer and ten cavalry
10 JON Coi. OeVeEs, for the purpose of scour-
Ing the country near him while engaged n
his reconnaissance, and giving due notice of
the appoach OF any force, and that Lieut. Col
Ward, with his battalion OF the 10Th Nassa-
cnusstts, should move on to Snoot's Mills half
4 mile to the right OF the crossing place of(yoi
Deyens, and see where, in q strong position
he could watch and protect the flank OF Col
DeFens in his return, and secure a second
crossing more favorable than the first, and
connected by good road with Leesburg -
Capt. Candy Assistant Adiutant General and
Gen. Lander accompanied The cavalry to
serve with IL. For some reason never ex-
planned TO me. neither OF these orders were
carried out. The cavalry were transferred to
the Virginia shore, but were sent back with
out having left the shore to go inland, and
thus Col. Deyens was deprived of the means
enemy.
TIE battalion under Col. Werd was de-
tained on tile Bluff in the rear of Colonel
Devens, instead of being directed to the right
Col. Baker having arrived at Conrad's Ferry
with the lst California regiment at an early
hour, proceeded TO Edwards's Ferry, and re-
ported to me in person, stating that his reei-
ment was at the former place, and the three
other regiments of his brigade ready to
march. directed him to Harrison's Island
TO assume ornrnand, and Ia a full converse
ton expi lined to him the position as il then
stood. / told him that General Mccall had
advanced his troops to DrainsviIls. and that
was extremely desirous Of ascertaining the
exact position and force Of tho enemy In our
front, and exploring as far AZ il was safe on
The right toward Leesburg, and en the left
toward the Iseesburg and 9nm Spring road.
also informed Colonel Baker that General
Gorman, opposite Edwards's Ferry, should
be reinforced, and that would make every
effort to push Gormau's troops carefully. for
ward 10 discover the best line from that ferry
to the Leesbarg and Gum spring road. a.
ready mentioaed, aud the position OF the