Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-05
NORTHERN WAR NEWS.

BURG
The New York Herald has a statement from it
Washington correspondent written from memOran
da furnished by Captain YoUSG. and said to be con
rmed in all its details by Maj SMITH, of the Cali
fOrnis regiment We copy portion Of it as fol
lows:
AZ four o'clock our whole force had crossed and
ascerded Col Baker and staff with the rest, and tht
troops were suffering somewhat from the concealed
enemy's FIRE Many bad dropped and been carried
down the hill.
We asked Col Baker what he thought Of sff4irs
He said that he thought we had good position
could fall back for shelter behind the ridge. Yes
said we, " but what's in those woods?" he an
swered "a I think the enemy are concealed on ouI
right" A private had reported that there was nc
force on the left but deep ravine, hidden by tbs
woods We then proposed sending skirmishers Il
make reconnaissance on the right, aud Capt. Mar
koe second Lieutenant Williams and myself, ad
vanced with companies A and Of the Caifornis
regiment. Company A got in front of rising grount
! in skirmishing order, company d following in line
The California battalion, to make the story clear
were drawn mp on the left OF the open field, tbs
Massachusetts, 18th and TsmtAany on the right, anc
the Massachusetts 10th nearer the centre. g Ion
Coggsweu took charge of the artillery. Only foul
guns planted in the field, the rifle gun havIn
been hauled up at the wrong place, and beng after
wards seized by the enemy and spikei
| When our diminishing companies had reached the
| edge of the woods, suddenly the enemy, hitherto
concealed, rose with yell and fired q volley; theI
began fighting in their usual manner, first giving
yell and volley, then loading and firing at will for
few minutes. and then csasing an equal time then
giving another yell and vOley, and so on pouring
murderous IRE into our little band for the space o.
| half an hour. The whole woods swarmed will
them. They had no cavalry and no artillery. Gu
Rhode Islanders except the officers, deserted thei
guns but Colonel Baker; Lieutenant Colonel Wistar
Colonel Coggswell, aud Adj 1tant Harvey manned
the battery and fred the guns themselves aided b.
Company G. lst California, led by the gallant Capt
Beiral.
We kept up both musketry and cannon fire a
well as we could, but halt of the time we could no
see the enemy, and his eowardly discharges wer
! thinning our ranks; still most Of the men stood
| firm and acted bravely. The enemy's volleys and
yells increased in loudness, and it evident ths
achievements were pouring in to his aid. At5i
| P. NJ. we held council of war. and resolved I.
stand our ground; Gen Baker ordering me to go fo
reinforeemeuts. By this time COggswei wa
| wounded-Wister had fallen The enemy wer
growing more daring rushing out of the woods
taking some prisoners. and firing hOtly.
| just then rebel officer, riding q white hors
came out of the woods and beckOned to US to com
| forward. Col Baker thought il was Gen Johnston
| aud that the enemy would meet US in open fight
Part of our columa charged, Baker cheering US on
when tremendous onset was mads by the rebels
One man rode for ward, presented q revolver at Ba
ker. and fred sll its charges at him. Our gallsn
! leader fell, and st the same moment all eur lines
were driven back by the overwhelming force OD
posed to them. But Capt Bieral, with his comps'
ny, fought his way back to Col Bakers body, res
cued it, brought along to me, and then genera
retreat commenced.
| got the COlOnels body to the island before the
worst of the rout and then looking to the Virgins
shore, saw such a spectacle IS no tongue can de-
ar IN prfir rp
rolling, leaping d0wn the steep heights; the enemy
followed them, murduring, ard tskiDg prisoners
Col. DeVIn left hiS Command. and swan the river OF
horseback. Col COgswell, after unavsilIng brave
ry, had ordered the retreat himself but. being
wounded, @&s taken The one boat il the Virgins
chsEnel was speedily filed and sunk. thousand
men thronged the further bank. Musksts. coats and
every thing thrown aside, and all were despair
ately trying to escape Hundreds plunged into the
rapid current, and the shriks of the drowning ad
ded to the horror of sounIs and sights The enemy
kept up their fire from the cliff above. All was
terror. confusIon and dismay A Captain of the
Fifteenth Massachusetts, at one moment charged gal
family up ME hill leading two companIes, who still
had their arms, against the pursuing foe.
A moment later, and the same officer. perceiving
the hopsessuess of the situation, waved white
handkerchief and surrendered the main body of his
regiment. Other portions pt the eOlupn surren
dered; bot the rebels kept up their fire on those who
tried TO cross and many not drowned 10 the river
were sU6t W Tue act OF swimming
Night came on. Ats P. NJ, all of our band whose
fortune it was TO return had landed on Harrison
Island, and TIE fire from the Firsinia heights had
ceased. The rebels took all our guns but one
When left yesterday they had shouted to US, tell
ing US to over and take away our dead soma Of
b. under flag of truce had slso mounted cur
ON guns on the heights, ami warned Us to leave
the island in four hogrs,
A correspondent of the New York Tribune, writing
D n
(2Oth,) gives hefOllOwing graphic particulars Of
the engagement at Lsesburg. @
At this juncture Gen. Baker, who sd dsmounted
from his horse, ard was advancing at the head of
his command co0lly but resolutely encouraging his
men, received bail threugh his head, killing him
instantly. The Generals blood bespattere1 Capt.
CroWningshield who stood beside him at the mo
ment. re meyer spoke. His body YVES Immediately
taken To the. a. by IDS men, who rssly wept at
their tie Is placed ina sc0W RRd transported
to the IA 4 and thsnce 20 the Maryland shore
LIS remains were aent TO Edwards Ferry, anu
thence to PoOlsville His horse, which had been left
standing, was afterwards shot. small canvass
satohen, containing his papers, saw in the hands
Of young man to whom they were delivered
shortly before he fell .--
THIS was the turning point Of the battle. The
Confederates were Eve TO one of the Union force,
and the latter were finally ordered to leave the
field The retreat was made after the Bull Run pat
tern, WIN sllgnL Improvements, the men rOillnY'
sliding and and almost turning summerssults
down hill, to escape the calling fire which now as
sailed them from all points The COnfederates
were constantly reinforced. screaming like furies
at each onset Before Fetreatng they threw the
six FOUNDER down the bill into the river. The how
izsrs were left on the field and fell into the enc
ny'S hands.
The Fifteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts, regi-
ments suffered very severely losing large part
of their numbers in killed and wounded.
The Tammany regiment covered itself with glory. I
Captain 0'HeFFa often rallied his command, throw /
ing defiance into the very teeth of the enemy, and
showi g the UOniederstes that he could scream
equal to the worst of them. Captain OAerra took