Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-10-30
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Disheartening Details Of the Affair.
NUMBERS OF OUR MEN DROWNED.
Upwards of 1000 Missing.


Capt, 7. g. Young, OF New York, aid to
Col. Baker, ard who was with him when
he died, gives tho following account ot
the recent engagement near Edward,
Ferry:
Gen. S,ons or dered Col. Baker on Sun
day evening, to have his brigade ready 10
move at o'clock on Monday morning.
The brigade was then stationed five miles
from Conrad's Ferry. Al o'clock in
the morning, however. Mes.en ger froui
Con. Stone ordered the first battal or. un.
der Lieut.. COL Wisthr TO move immedi
ately, SO as to be at Conrads Ferry at
sunrise, which they did, and reported
themselves TO Gen. Stone.
Orders were tEen sent from Gen Stone
to The battalion to stand fast until they
should hear heavy firing in front, and
then to crosj. About an hour afterwards,
muNkeiiy havirg been heard previou:ly.
dead and wounded began TO be brought
aver TO where we were. At 10 o'clock
the number OF killed and wounded bro, ,
in was increa ell. General Stone or
dered Col. Baker 10 take command of the
forces on both sides of the river ut that
place. ard to bring up his brigade and the
! Tammany regiment, commanded by Col.
! Coggswe!l, which WAS in camp ab,ut three
miles distant, and TO GROSS Immediately.
! Capt. Young carried the orders 10 the
rammany Regiment, and the whole force
! proceeded ABOUT a mile down river, ready
to cross. We found two sccws, each of
which could carry from forty to fifty men
and niaraged 10 get from the canal dug
out. which would takO sixty or seventy
more.
Six companies OF the frs. battalion oc
the California Regiment, three piece. of
artillery. With men and horses, Belonging
to the Iammany Regiment with Col, Ba,
ker, Lol. Cogsswell, Lieut.. Col. Wistar,
Assistant Adj Gen. Harvey, and Cap,an
Young got TO the island, whore We were
joined by battery Of the 81 Rhode Is.
land Artillery with two small howitzcrs.
The passage to the Island was very diff
cult with our insufficient means of trans
poriation, the distance being quarter OF
a mile and the current swift
We poled ourselves up tie eastern
shore long distance, thence were irif,ed
down TO the landipg Flom the island
to the Virginia shore our only means of
transportation was one scow and metal.
ic boat OF little or no service. We landed
under steep bauk, 100 feet high, covered
with rocks and jungle
Scramb!ing up ths bank, We found an
open field OF six acres with thick woods
on three sides, out of which came a con.
slant, irregular firing from the enemy.
Here were Col Devin's Fifteenth Mas
sachnset,s Regiment on the right line at
the head OF the woods, having been driven
in after proct eding mile and hnlf to
wards Leesburg. We formed on the left
and presently advanced two comrunie. Of
skirmishers TO the woods in front Tn.
concealed enemy drove them back with
heavy, telling volle,, and followed the
regular with an irregular firing. Our men
fell on their faces under the brow of the
hill, the enemy not being in sigI,. The
artillery could no, be served because the
s1nners we're not to be found.
Capt. Stewart, of Gen. Stones staff.
came with message to Col. Baker To
hold his ground, as Gen. Gorman, with
5000 was marching from Edwards Ferry
to reinforce him. One company was ad.
vanced to the left. the direction from
which Gen. German was expected. They
we're met 10y n yell ana volley as before,
and fell back to the line. The hidden
enemy now appeared to DO in force on
three sides o. us, which, with the river at
their back, dishear.ened the men.
Tho limo officers OF the Massachusetts,
Regiment ordered their companies to re.
treat, and the enemy coming o., of the
woods 'or the first time in sight, general
confession enSued. The men, running 10
the waters edge, and finding no boats,
rallied, ran up the hill, discharged two
yolleys. when an officer Of the Matsaohus.
etts 18th tied white handkerch ier to his
sword. The enemy oeased'tiring, aud took
prisoners Many escaped into the woods
Some swan for the island, others found
small skitfs. Some we're drowned, am oor
them many Of the wou njed.
Soon after Capt. Stewards appearance.
Col. Baker, who was, during The whole
engagement, perfectly cool and brave. on
foot, cheering and l,adng on the men.
was sho. from the wood sev ersl balls ma.
KING fatal wounds, and AL believed to have
been shot from one revolver. The rebel
who killed him ran out in his shirt sleeves.
followed by four or FIVE others. As they
approached the body CT Capt. Deyin, !
Bleral. Of the 22d, and Ward, the pugilist,
with ten men of his company, rushed for.
ward, shot the killer and drove away the |
rest. Capt. Young bore the body from
the field.
Three hundred and twenty of tho 6rst
battalion. the only one in the engagement
OF Bakers regiment. we're missing at ten
o clock on Tuesday of two companies Of
the Iammany regiment engaged there
were 100 missing; Of 600 Of the Massachu.
setts regiment, at least half were missing.
There were about LOO in all er gagged, Of
which less than 500 returned TO calnp. ~
I.iauI Col MI...x IL - n.l--,