Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-11-07

ant Williams, and myself advanced
with Companies a and d of the Cali
fornia Regiment. Company A got in
front on rising ground, in skirmishing
order, Company d following in line.
The California battalion, to mako
the story clear, were drawn up on the
left of the open field the Massachu-
setts 18th and Tammany on the right
and the Massachusetts, goth nearer the
centre. Col. Coggswcll took charge
of the artillery. Only four guns we're
planted in the field, the riled gun
having been hauled up the wrong
place, and being afterwards seized by
the enemy and spiked.
When our skirmishing companies
had reached the edge of the woods,
suddenly the enemy, hitherto conceal
cd, rose with yell and fired volley;
then began firing in the usual manner;
first giving yell and volley then
loading and firing at will for few
minutes then ceasing an equal time;
then giving another yell and volley,
and so on, pouring q murderous fire
into our little band for the space Of
half an hour. The whole wood around
swarmcd with them. They had no ar
stiFlery and no cavalry. Our Rhode
Islanders, except the officers, deserted
their guns, but Col. Baker, Lieut. Col.
Wister, Col. Coggswcll and Adjutant
Harvey manned the battery, and fired
the guns themselves, aided by Compa.
ny G, lst California, led by the gallant
Captain Beiral. (The latter was con-
spicuous for bravery throughout the
action he is wounded, but not dam
gerously, and is now safe on Maryland
ground
| We kept up both musketry and
cannon fire as we'll as VIC could, not see
ing the enemy, and his cowardly dis
charges were thinning our ranks still
our men stood firm and acted bravely.
The enemy's yells and volleys incrcas-
ed in loudncss, and it was evident that
reinforcements were pouring in to his
aid. Capt. Stewart. Gen. Stones Ad-
Ejutant, came on the field with the
cheering statement that Gen. German
would shortly support US. At 81 7. NJ.
we held council Of war, and resolved
to stand our ground, Gen, Baker or
dering me to go for reinforccments.
By this time Coggswell was wounded
I-Wistar had fallen. The enemy
were growing more daring, rushing
out of the woods, taking some prison.
ers, and firing hotly.
Just then a rebel officer. riding .
white horse, came out of the woods
and beckoned to US to come forward.
Col. Baker thought it was Gen. john
, ston, and that the enemy would meet
us in open fight. Part of our column
charged, Baker cheering us on, when
a tremendous onset was made by the
rebels. One man rode forward, pre-
sented revolver at Baker, and fired
all its charges at him. Our gallant
leader fell, and at the same moment all
our lines were driven back by the
overwhelming force opposed to them.
But Capt. Beiral, with his company.
fought his way back to Col. Bakers
body, rescued it, brought it along to
me, and then general retreat COM
menced.
1t was saare qnt peut! got the
Colonel's body to the island before the
worst of the rout, and then, looking
to the Virginia shore, saw such Il
spectacle as no tongue can describe.
Our entire forces were retrcatng, tum-
bling, rolling, leaping down the steep
nights, the enemy following them,
numbering and taking prisoners. Col.
: Devens left his command, and swan
the river on horseback. Col. Coggs-
: we'll, after unavailing bravery, had or.
dered the retreat himself, but being
wounded, was taken. The one boat
in the Virginia channel was speedily
filled and sunk. A thousand men
thronged the further bank. Muskets,
coats, and everything were thrown
: aside, and all were desperately trying
: to escape. Hundreds plunged into
the rapid current. and the shrieks OF
, the drowning added to the horror OF
. sounds 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 gallantly up
the hill. leading two companies, who
, still had their arms, against the pur'
suing foe. \ moment later and the
same officer, percciving the hopeless
ness of the situation, waved white
: handkerchief, and surrendered the
main body of his regiment. Other
portions OF the column surrendered
but the rebels kept up their fire upon
: those who tried 70 cross, and many
not drowned in the river were shot III
!, the act of swimming.
Night came on. At 8 p. M. all o
our band whose fortune it was to re-
. turn had landed on Harrison's Island
; and the fire from the Virginia nights
had ceased.
, The rebels took all our guns bu
one. When left yesterday they had
> shouted to us telling us to come over
: and take away our dead sons of BIS
: under flag of truce had also noun
. ted our own guns on the nights, and
: warned US to leave the Island in four
! hours.
The cause of this sad havoc was
4 that we had no proper means of tran
sit and retreat. The following is AL
. approximate list Of the commissioned
= officers killed, wounded or missing
: for the first battalion of the First Cal
. ifornia Regiment, and comprises two
! thirds of the entire number in com
. mand
Col. Baker, killed Lieut.. Col Wis
Q tar, wounded in arm and face (safe)
Q Company A. Capt. Marke, Lieut.. Par
G kcr, prisoners Company G, Capt. OF
g ter, Lieut.. kerns. prisoners Compa
S ny ID, Lieut.. Williams. killed, bod,
| saved; Company G, Capt. Bciral
r Lieut.. -, slightly wounded ane
I safe Company ii. Lieut.. Hams, pris
a oner, Lieut.. Uric, wounded and safe
). Company l.. Lieut.. Fisher, wonnde'
= n Cant l. nfl