Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-11-07
From the Washington ST.
BATTLE AT BOLIVAR. VA.

BATTLE AT BOLIVAR. VA.
On the morning of October 10th, at
81 O'Clock, an attack was made upon
our forces near Harper's Ferry. Col.
John. w. Geary, of the 28th Pennsyl-
vania Regiment, and about 400 men,
composed of fractions of companies
A, ID, L, and G., of the 2Sth Pennsyl-
vania, G, l, and X, 18th Massachu-
sets, A, G, and Ii, Sd Wisconsin, aid
ed by two amateurs" Judge Daniel
McCook and Benjamin G. Owens, of
Illinois, were attacked by $500 or
more of the rebels, including the cele-
brated cavalry regiment Of Col. Ash
by.
The rebels had six pieces of artille-
ry-four of them upon London flights
south, and two upon Bolivar Nights
west, upon the Charlestown road, and
midway between the Potomac and
the Shenandoah river, and mile and
a half back of the Ferry. The rebels
first drove in our pickets from Bolivar
lights, and then began cross fire
upon US, which lasted for several
hours. Their cavalry charged into
Bolivar, but were driven back by the
Sd Wisconsin boys, aided by shells
from Capt. Tompkins' battery, which
was upon the Maryland flights, east
of the Ferry. ......-
The Wisconsin companies, led by
Capt. Henry Bertram, then made a
desperate charge upon the enemy's
guns and took 32-pound column
bad, but were driven back 10y
a cavalry charge and heavy firing
from Smallwood's woods. Shell then
fell around us thick as hail, and max
ing a noise over us about like train
of cars when crossing bridge. Cap
tain Tompkins at this time turned his
guns upon London flights, silenced all
their guns there, and scattered the
enemy, who were seen in great num-
bers.
The two rebel guns upon Bolivar
flights kept up constant fire with
shell and canister until about p. Nj.
and our men were gradually advan-
cling upon them under cover of the
houses, breaking down the fences as
they went to the west end of the
town, when Lieut. Martin, with a
piece of Artillery, belonging to the
New York Ninth Regiment, came to
our aid and fired upon the enemy with
terrible effect, advancing at intervals,
accompanied by Col. Geary in person
The Wisconsin men, commanded by
Capt Bertram, were on the left the
Massachusetts men, under Lieutenant
jackson, Pennsylvania compa-
ny, and one of the amateurs" COM
posed the right wing. Col. Geary,
Judge McCook, and the balance of
the Pennsylvania were in the centre.
Our brave band, with universal
shout for the Union, stormed the
nights of Bolivar, drove the enemy in
the widest confusion from Small
woods woods, recapturcd the 49,
FOUNDER and two ammunition wagons,
disabled several of the enemys horses
took four prisoners, including Chap
lain BILLY North" of jefferson coun-
ty, Va. The rebel Colonel's cap was
among the trophies. He was shot
from his horse, but remounted and
made his escape.
The rebels could not stand the
fire of our artillery and Enfield rifles,
so they fed to the woods near Hall
town and began Smelling us with the
only available gun they had left but
onr shells soon silenccd it one of them
striking the rebel caisson, caused
great explosion. When we reached
the nights, we found the axle of the
new.convert considerably damaged
by shell, and also found that the
rebels had used great industry during
the day, by making extensive addi-
tions to our works there, from which
they had driven our pickets in the
morning.
The rebels disgraced themselves
more than ever by taking off the
clothing, rihing the pockets, and then
running their bayonets through the
Federal killed.
A team of dozen horses was
brought up from the Ferry with re.
markable expedition, and the big gun
was conveyed across the river, placed
in position commanding Harper's Fer
ny, and the mouth Of the Shenandoah,
and was there, by one Of the "ama.
Tours" named "The New Convert to
the Union" As the gun moved down
the street to the Maryland side, we
met Major Tyndale and Adjutant
Flynn, with reinforcement of five
companies.
The cheering of these troops was
most vociferous, and the Virginia la
dies of the place gave strong proof of
their love for the Union by waving
their handkerchiefs and joining in the
general jubilee. About p. NJ. one or
two other cannon Of the New York
Ninth crossed the river, assembled Boz
ivar flights, and then the woods in
the direction of Halltown, as well as
London Nights, were completely
shelled. but with no reply.
Our loss was four killed and eight
wounded, theirs must have been very
heavy, as they had all the wagons
in the neighborbood busy in hauling
of the slain two wagons were seen
full Of the killed. Their chaplain ad-
mitted the loss to be very heavy, and
much blood was found upon the hill
from which they were driven.
Judge McCook, fully sustained the
high reputation of the McCook fight
ing family" This was not "Bull
Run !" but Rebel-run affair. The
Rebel Colonel. during the next day,
sent down flag Of truce, Offering TO
exchange the only prisoner they took
"a Pennsylvania corporal-for the
chaplain. A few of their cavalry also
appeared back of Bolivar, but were
promptly shelIed and dispersed by the
Rhode Island Battery.
Col. Geary was ordered by Major
General Banks to cross the Potomac
at Harper's Ferry. in order that he
might capture large quantity of