Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-10-25
There has been another skirmish near Linn

Inc w aSlllnSIoA CiUT ueScTlpIlOn OF Inc
the fight at Edwards Ferry, says:
Both wings were attacked earl in the fore
noon, but the enemy were repulsed whenever
they appeared At about P. NJ. the right
wing found itself fronted by nearly 1000
rebels under Gen. Young, with artillery
Gen. Baker CALAMITY essayed the charge, in
which he was killed. The officers left in
command Immediately ord red the men to
fall back near the river, where they could be
by Gen. Stone, and the portion of
the army that had at that time effected
crossing. The men obeyed in good order,
carrying off all the dead and wounded. On
reaching the position selected, the right wing
turned, though under fire of the enemy,
which gradually slackened up until midnight,
when it ceased.
Throughout the night the balance of Gen.
Stones command crossed the river and threw
up temporary works, which rendered their DO
sition secure, and enabled them to protect the
crossing; of the division of Gen. Banks to
be essayed this morning The object of Gen.
Stones movements was toenable his command,
with Gen. Banks division, to be safely trans
ported to Virginia.
Evans attacked Col. Baker in front and on
both tanks. Col. Cogswell was probably
taken prisoner. Our information so far this
forenoon is, that Gen. Banks army arrived at
the Maryland landing, Edwards Ferry, last
night, and have been crossing the river Sc
curely since daylight.
Information received late tonight from
Gen. Stones command, announces that the
fight was desperate, and that a large number
were killed on both sides. Although the enemy
was much stronger than Gen. Stone, he was
falling back before the advance of our troops,
and would have undoubtedly been totally
routed, but for the fall Of Col. Baker, which
produced sudden confusion among our
troops. Gen. Gustavus w. Smith command
ed the rebels, and a private dispatch asserts
that he was shot from his horse and carried
off the field. Gen. Banks, with his command,
is now supporting Gen. Stone, and being
Major General, is in full command.
Gen. Mcclellan left for Gen. Banks head
quarters, in the field, this morning.
1t is subject of regret that Gen. Baker
should have engaged the enemy, when, ac-
cording to report, he ives ordered to make a
reconnaissance only, with strict instructions
if attacked, to fall back and not fight.
| Gen. Baker made his will on Saturday last,
and deposited it with Col. Webb. When he
left for the field he said to the latter, 81 shall
participate in battle in As hours. If I fall I
request that you take charge of my body"
An effort is making to supercede Gen. Nc
Clellan with Gen. Halleck, who is on his way
here from California This change would
create new revolution in militia ry and civil
circles, where the greatest confidence is en-.
tertained in Gen. Mcclellan.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct %.
Information received by private letters esti-
mate the loss in killed and wounded, at Ed
wards Ferry, at IT'S.
| The main portion of Sickle's Brigade is
now opposite the Confederate batteries, and,
it is said, are prepared to act on the offensive
against them.
| HARRISBURG, Oct. %.
A general order was issued Immediately on
the receipt of intelligence of the death Of COL
Baker, which contains the following:
sit is with great regret that the Governor,
commander-in- chief, has learned of the death
of Col Baker, upon the field. Although not
a citizen of Pennsylvania, he had been select
ed by many of her sons as their commander,
and met his death while gallantly leading
them into action. The same feeling which
inspired the soldier to regard no State lines,
when our common country was in danger,
|
him, while living, as a Pennsylvania soldier,
and it impels him, now that he is dead, to
bear this public testimony to his gallantry
and worth"
Signed by command of Gov. Curtin.
| [TribHnes Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, Oct o.
The report made by Adj't Gen. Thomas,
at his recent examination into the Admins
tration of the Department of the West, COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Fremont, was this
morning considered in full Cabinet meeting,
with the reluctance which hesitates to iniure
a distinguished man and wound and disap-
point the friends whom a popular leader gath
ers in his career. All the members of the.
Cabinet slowly pronounced that in the inter
est of Missouri and of the Union required,
that Gen. Fremont should be superseded in
his command by Major Gen. Hunter. The
order to this effect will be issued tomorrow.
| Herad's Dispatch.
| The latest news tonight is that the whole
of Stones column has crossed the Potomac,
and is in full pursuit of the enemy, and that
Gov. Banks column had reached the banks
of the river, and would speedily follow and
support Stone.
Col. Geary reports that the four men who
were killed at the battle Of Bolivar Heights
were afterwards charged upon by the caval-
ry, and stabbed through the body, stripped
| of all their clothing, not excepting shoes and
stockings, and left in perfect nudity. One
was laid out in the form of crucfixicD, with
his hands spread, and cut through ts,s palms:
with a dull knife.
Times Dispatch.I
At the Cabinet meeting day, il was de-
cided not to interfere for the rresent with
Gen. Fremont and his COMMAND. Judge
Davis of Illinois was com, nissioned to take
testimony in reference TO contracts made in
the Western Departo' .ent. All bills that he
passes will be pail
trustworthy inform ation received this
morning from Fairfax Court House, states
that only tie rebel pickets are present at
toned at Germantown, mile and o half dis
tant..
WASHINGTON, Oct. %.
The success of the movement ofGen. Stone
i and Gen Banks across the Potomac is now
established, as the enemy did not venture to
make any further resistance to it yesterday.
All accounts agree that our men conducted
themselves finely in the affair of Monday
Even TIE pOrtlOl VI tle Coluiutl Which IT,
ceived temporary check, by the death of
Col. Baker, behaved calamity, although OPP
posed by force three times their number.
The ground thus gained was retained in
the possession Of our troops all day yester-
day. Scouts and accommodating parties OBJ
tanned valuable information in regard to the
enemy.
The above facts are derived from reliable
sources.
Asburry Dickens, late Secretary Of the SEN
ate, for many years, died here this morning,
a the age of SO.
1t is understood that Che blankets ordered
IN Europe in August by the Quartermaster
Department are arriving. 29,500 have al
ready arrived at New York. They cost the
United States 40c per pound, and weigh 5
pounds each.
Especial to Post.I