Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-11-07
From the New York World, Oct. 23d.
BATTLE OF LEESBURG HIGHTS.

IuC luil anu tIuc uIStOiy VI t'iC pat'
tie near Harrison's Island, on the Po'
tomac, has just reached us, bringing
the naked truth in all it's stunning
and distressing horrors. We have
met with sickening rcpulse one in
volving the loss of nearly one thou
sand men, in killed, wounded and mis-
sing, and of many brave and skillful
officers and accompanied by scenes
of horror uncquallcd in any previous
battle of the war.
We have the following account from
Capt. Francis G. Young, Of New
York, Quartermaster of Col Bakers
Brigade, who brought Cof. Bakers
body to Washington
On Sunday evening Gen. Stone be-
ing persuaded that no important force
Of the enemy remained along the up
per Potomac, and in obedience to on
ders from headquarters, commenced
his passage of the river at Harrison's
Island. The point of transportation
was about five miles above Edwards
Ferry, and nearly an equal distance
from Lcesburg. The island is a low,
fertile strip of land, several miles in
length, so dividing the river that the
Maryland channel is not furlong in
width, and that on the Virginia side
not more than 200 feet.
Six companies of the Fifteenth Mas
sachusstts Regiment, under Col. Dews,
and two companies of the Twentieth
(Tammany) New York, arrived at the
river about = A. NJ. Monday, and COM
mcnced to cross. At sunrise they
were all OH the Virginia side.
Before daylight an order came to
Col. Baker to march the first battalion
of the California regiment to Conrads
Ferry, two miles sonth of the island,
and then, il he heard firing, go
to the support of Coggswell and
Dcvcns. Accordingly, Lieut.. Colonel
Wistar advanced with the battalion,
six hundred and cighty-nine officers
and men, and by sunrise had reached
the river and proceeded down to the
island crossing. l accompanied the
force to arrange for transportation ;
was sent to report for orders to Gen.
Stone ; returned, having received com
mand to cross at once. On my way
back | overlook Col. Baker, who told
me that only the battalion were TO
cross. lie had no orders for the brig
adc.
Shortly after Gen. Stone placed Col.
Baker in command of all the forces on
the Virginia side. Our battalion,
then, at about I A. NJ, commenced
crossing to the island, and then to the
further shore. Meantime we heard
skirmishing shot on the nights, which
continued without much intermission
through the morning.
Now we began to experience the
difficulty which was the chief cause of
the terrible scenes which closed the
day.
No adequate means of transporta-
ton had been provided. 1t seemed as
if the column was expected to walk
across the watcr-surtace. Nothing
but one old scow, capable perhaps OF
holding forty men, appeared available
on either side of the island. If the
Massachusetts men had any other
boats they we're not visible in the
morning. At length | discovered a
large scow in the canal, and two hours
were consumed in getting it over into
the Maryland channel. 1t would hold
about sixty men. Colonel Baker
Lieutenant Colonel Wistar, Assistant
Adiutant General Harvey and myself
went with the first load to the island
and there superintcnded the transit oi
our men.
1t was II NJ. before our first compa
ny landed at the foot of the bush-cov
cred precipice which rises abruptly
over one hundred feet from the rivel
bed on the further side of the river
Four hours more had elapsed before
the last company landed. Sections o
the Second Rhode Island Battery, com
prising two howitzers, two fielt
smooth-bores, and one riilcd gun, wen
over with us, the men dragging then
up the nights with great difficulty ant
spirit.
All this time irregular fighting was
going on above 1t seems that Colo
mel Dcvcns had in the morning moved
with a small detachment in the direc
ton of Leesburg, shortly after hi
forces had crossed, had advanced ont
mile, where he met the encmy's skir
mishers in feeble force, and had rctireo
to the brow of the nights. Befor'
this the quartermaster Of the Massa
chusetts Fifteenth had gone alone t
a point within a mile of the village
had returned, crossed the river, an,
reported to General Stone that ther
were no hostile forces in that region
But after Col. Devens fell back hi
men were placed in semicircula
clearing, or a natural forest opening
covering five or six acres, with it
base resting on the edge Of the nights
and fanked and frontcd by forest
The enemy, becoming bolder, advanc
ed in scattered parties to the edge o
these woods, and from 10 A. NJ. till .
p. NJ, kept up q random, annoying fir
upon our men. The latter she!tere,
themselves as well as they could, ly
ing just below the ridge, and awaite,
reinforcements.
At4 PM, then, our whole fore
had crossed and ascended, Col. Bake
and staff with the rest, and the troop
were suffering somewhat from tn
concealed enemy's fire. Many ha'
dropped and been carried down tn
hill.
We asked Col. Baker what h
thought of affairs. He said that h
thought we had a good position w
could fall back for shelter behind tn
ridge. "Yes." said we, "bnt what j
in those woods 2" lie answered II"
think the enemy are concealed on ou
right" A private had reported tina
there was no force on our left, but