The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-11-02
Correspondence OF the n. Y. World.
The Engagement Near Leesburg.
AsuIyGToN, Oct. "A


advanced to within mile and half o
Leesburg without finding any trace O
rebels This was soon followed by a repor
that Colonel Devens had been attack &c
with superior force, and was falling bacl
in good order, skrH,ishing towards tn.
river. Knawing from previous intorma
ton that there should be in that vicinit,
from five to six thousand rebels, who haC
occupied the position since July last, Gen
Stone deemed it necessary to send for
ward sufficient force to overwhelm then
if they should still be there Col Bake
had recently been attached to Genera
Stone division He had been under hi
command only two or three days, but h
was eager to head the enterprise on foot
His request was granted. General Stou'
gave him 1900 of his choicest troops, ant
gave, also, strict instructions that ate
securing and protecting his crossing h'
onou'o oe p'tftivrs3~~ i.a sondinn ont scout
ing parties in his front, and look CAREFUL,
to the protection of his TANKS aud no
to engage the enemy unless sure that hi
could maintain the position"
The iording of such river as the Poto
mac is always a difficult operation for ar
army. In its present swollen condition il
is doubiy hazardous A sufficient force
Tor all operations should have been crossed
before beginning an engagement
During the day General Stone received
messages from Colonel Baker that all wa.
progressing finely, that he had no Difficult
~ IN crossing, and the impression wa:
made that he had crossed his whole com
mand, and was able to drive the rebel.
before him, until the news came of the
death Of Colonel Brker and the repulse OF
the force with him.
IT was then rscertained that Col Baker
had crossed the river with only abou,
seven hundred men, and that Col. Dcven.
was falling back in good order, but closely
pressed 10y the enemy in superior mum
berS. Without waiting for the crossing oi
his whole command, he pressed forward
with hIs seven hundred men, and, without
sending scouts to the front or uron his
hanks he rushed out and engaged the
whole force OF five or SIX thousand Of the
enemy. The men, who were then about
seventeen hundred in all, fought like
hons. They disputed every inch Of the
ground, but were driven back The rein
iorcements, coming up from across the
river III detached COMPANIES, We're attack
ed by the flank, and there was alternative
but To fall back. which was done in good
order unit! the river bank was reached
Arrived there. the means nf trans porta-
ton were insufficient. Some OF the boats
were overloaded and swamped, one OF
them containing fifty men. The rebels
were pouring plungjBg fire down among
them from the bank above them. and
called out that they would cease firing II
they would surrender: but they refused
10 surrender They were ordered 70 throw
their arms IN the river and save them
selves has order was coolly obeyed
Mu-kcts ana swords were cast into the
river, tut still the men refused 10 surrcn
der. Those wao could swim took to the
water, others availed themselves Of logs
or p!anks, others scattered up and down
the river, and while some must have
fallen into the encmys hands, others have
escaped, mdny OF whom have since man.
aged to get back to camp
The 5ieil IN which the battle was fought
Is circum>cribed within an area o! six
acres
he conduct of Col Baker in Li- effoi,
to rescue the Massachusetts ana other
men, under fire, was heroic beyond de
scription.
The forces engaged in the affair were
six hundred of the Massachusetts, Fif
teentii. six hundred and eighty nine OF
Baker California, two hundred OF the
Iammany, and two hundred of the Tweu
tleth Massachusetts Regiment
lhe officers ana men behaved with the
most extraordinary courage. They were
pressed by an overpoweIiug force. bul
stood firm until their whole supply oi
ammunition was exhausted and thru re
treated TO the river, and threw their gun:
and swords into it, to pieven, ,he enem,
from getting possession of them Csioue
Raymond Lee and staff were furnished
with skitf TO make their escape. Tn,
Colonel gallantlry refused, and gave order:
TO Use II for conveying the wounded acros:
the river. 1t was filled with wounded
whe reached the Maryland shore in safety
and the humane and gallant officer wa:
taken prisoner All credit is due to him
Col Cogswell took command when Col
Baker tell, and behaved with the creates
GOODNESS and gallantry. He also is a pri
Soner
The self possession, coolnoss, and cour
age of the men is greatly commended by
those who witnessed the contest. and til,
Opinion of both officers and men Is tina
the loss Of the enemy was infinitely great
er than it was on our side The enem,
outnuinbered our forces a least three I,
one.
Yesterday a Captain of the Rhode Is
land Regiment, went across with flag o
truce to bury our dead The men wer,
permitted to perform this duty. but tn
Captain was made a prisoner, but subse
quently released and allowed to return
with his men.
All the dead of ours found We're buric,
by them before returning
The official report at dark to night i
that seventy-nine are ascertained to b,
killed, but the list of missing is ever,
moment lessened by the learn Of thos
who have escaped This morning tn,
number of killed, wounded and missin,
was six hundred and twenty-five, but i
has been much lessened since.
Lieutenant Bennell, who was taken pri
soner, reports that Col. Hilton, of tn
rebel army, was killed at the commence
ment of the engagement.
1t was never the intention Of Genera
Mcclellan to occupy Leesburg. 1t is Sc
situated to be of no more use 10 him II
the present position OF two armle
than the occupation OF the north bank o
the Potomac He vas willing to send ou
"A Reconnaissance in force, as he did ol
Saturday by the advance of Gen. Mccall
division beyond GAINESVILLE, with a viev
of simply maxim. such demonstrations a
would induce the abandonment 10y tn
rebels of Leesburg, as well as the place.
they had occupied Immediately i'll from
OF Washington.
Those who wish to wage this war 70
the DETERMINATION Of slavery, remind u
the old negro, who, when returning from
hunt, was furiously butted down 10y
ram. attacking him unawares. Cutfee sho
| the assallant and then commenced ioadIn
and firing piomiscuousy at the whoi
flock OF sheep, killing the innocent lamb:
| as we'll as the pugnacious rams. On bein
demonstrated with, he urged the pie
| that de ole buck forced the fight on mo
and now lse goin to lick de wnole ierna
nation of UNI