The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-24
THE BATTLE FIELD At BOLIVAR.

the Damned Yankeeso Signed Mississippi Second" Why
Dsnt You Stay and Try Hp" Signed Massachusetts 7hr
senth-7he Rebels, Though in Large Numbers, Cottn
Without Their Host-Opening Of the Cannonade-Un'on
Forces Engoged-Colonel Geary Opposed to Retredfng-
He Rallies His Men after Severe Repuse-Galtdnry OF
Our Troops-Our Loss in The Acknowledged o. me ne
bels-Hcrrs Mills the First Object Of the Enemys F'e-
The MIL Vdrio,sy Occupied By Unioists and Reb'ts-
Incidents, de-
visit to the battle ground at this place and Harpers
Ferry with Investigations upon the spot proves the con-
nct of the 10th instant to have been among the most
severely contested during the The rebels had
sembled In great FORCE and to use their own words
threatened TO "wipe out' the Unionists, as they
bad troops enough, and burn both Bolivar and
Harpers Ferry. That they would have succeeded
IN the latter exploit had they not been shelled out
Is evident from their burning Herr Welchs Touring
mill the retirement OF the Union forces the Mary
land side On every side hear Of their threats of
them Of the most diaboca character against the few
Union people who dare to remain this part of the soil
Of Virginia. There is good believe that the
rebels, and that at least Mississippi regiment 1.-THE
Second) was engaged Upon a tree between the Ferry
and this place saw posted notice like the following
wc can whip tho damned Yankees
MISSISSIPPI SECOND.
And underneath, in lead pencil, written in bold
characters
Why don't you stay and try itY
MASSACHUSETTS THIRTEENTH.
II is difficult estimate the loss of rebels There
no reliable data People tell that tile church and
Achoolhouse occupied by their killed and wounded
In large numbers; at least fifty Of the former aud ono
hundred Of the latter. The rebels had according the
same authority five hundred Homo Cavalry a regiment
Of the Home Guard and the Mississippi regiment with
hye pieces of artillery, including iron thirty.two
lob, ~. TT..s
sequence Of the axle breaking rendering difficult for the
rebels to remove when they their retreat The
piece is an old iron gun and mperecy spiked with
couple of rusty nails being left. am told that not
wihstandng its age it threw showers OF grape and can
lister down the street which it was planted on the
approach OF the Union troops 1t is turned upon its
former possessois from point the opposite shore
saw 1t to-day the spikes withdrawn and the piece rsgcd
with new axle, secured by iron bands. The entire
rebel force must have numbered about $500 and
is said, was part Of the command of Gen. Evans II
was under tho immediate command of Col Turner Ashbv
who was wounded in the right breast while in tho act Of
attempting TO cut down with his sabre corporal in the
Wisconsin Third.
The cannonadpg on the part OF the rebels commenced
about hafpast eight O'Clock A. NJ, throwing small shot
A first It was from pieces planted Ioudon Heights
and directed against Herrs Mill from which the Unioniss
had been engaged In removing large quantity of rebe,
wheat About Is COO bushels had been removed when
the action commenced Companies and OF the Massa
chnsets thirteenth were stationed at the mill prevent
the rebels crossing the Shenandoah that point Upon
this force, as well as the mill upon the platform
boats crossing with Union renio ts the battery
from Loudon Heights played durmg The forenoon and
until senced by Major Could the Massachusetts, Thir
teenth Commanding post at Sandy Hook, with two
swevepounder iron guns and Capt Tompkins with his
and bat yvbi
The opposite Maryland Heights about mile and half dis
Ant The rebels on Ioudon hts had rcd cannon firing
we old style fuse shell. Their shot and shell had but
mite eject on the objects fired at, killing none wound
g ighty but one or two, and doing little damage To
The mi while THY had Of their gun carriages car
rieu away and much other damage done by tie sharp
aho Wen directed firing Of Captain Tompkns' battery
me 0oh forces engaged consisted of three companies Of
the Massachusetts, Thirteenth under command of Major
loud three conn anes Of the Third Wisconsin, com
manied by Captains Henry Bertram and Whitman and
lieut. Bryan and three companies of Col Gearys Twenty
eighth P,nnsyivalia regment-in all about ESQ men,
some 300 bel actively engaged Colonel Geary arrived
from The Point Of Rocks shortly the action COM
mencei and assumed command Of entire Union force
His conduct in action and under most irving crcum
stances everywhere and by everybody referred TO in
the highest terms Of enecmium Officers and priyates
molsy join their praise of the gallant conduct the
cool, determined bravery of their commanding officer AZ
one tine after temporary repl,e some one suggested
tt some precautions should be taken secure the rope
cable by which the troop boats hauled from one
side OF the Potomac to the other. No said (;eary
y 90 not intend TO retreat until am ready' About the
was
seen 10 fall back before the CALLING of grape ana CAMS
Ter poured down upon them Tho Colonel was instantly
Deiore thein and, by his determined conduct rallied
then restored order, and the ranks reformed with
IS much celebrity ii the troops were on parade His
voice could be heard above the din battle cooy giving
eoeis ana ms presence and encouraging gave re-
newed co ence and strength the brave bows under
nun How h. escaped with only slight wound is al. |
N, st a mi acle
The man features of this action have already been |
forwarded by telegraph, and win therefore not refer
tharfn
TIE section OF the New York Ninth battery consisting
o. two PEGS commanded by Lieut.. Martin, came into
the action IN the Afternoon and materially aided the gal
ihit wise nsin boys in capturing the 30 FOUNDER with
which the rebels had been doing much damage This
credit of the capture Of this piece accorded to the com
panies # tho Wisconsin Third who acted with gree
OF bravery and personal daring and courage during the
sntrc engagement that commanded the admiration of
their friends as il did the malignant yeng nce of III If
foes. AT ore timo their charge repnls, by the
superior numbers OF the enemy, and they were obliged
y leave their dead and some Of their wounded on the
ied o. ralyBg TO the OF their comra les they
drove back their foes at the point Of c bayonet Sc
cured The bodies Il four of their dead five of their
wounded The dead bodies hal been dragged some dis.
lance from tho ground stripped their clothing ami
some had the appearance Of beng bayonetod on the
he'd, after falling wounded. One would probably not
have persn1d had he not been bayoneted. There
charge by the enemy while the Union
witnesses is that those who were killed were
brutaly slaughtered while lying wounied and
helpless The shoes and stockings o several were gone
others were stripped entire, and although some were
known to have had from twenty thirty dollars in gold
was found upon them VIII their bodies recovered In
the words OF participation in the fight, .'Ihe enemy
acted IKE henis, and verify they shall have their re-
ward The Union loss four killed outright one
mortal wo nded, five slightly. All were attached to
thc Wisconsin regiment, with but execution hear
~ acki owcged that the Wisconsin bog bore the brun
Of the bate. From the body OF one Of the Killed watch
was taken by the enemy, which, 1t is stated will be re-
stored 70 the friends Of TIE deceased As near as con
xccr tain at present, the following is Part list of Ina
Gas at es in the Wisconsin companes:-
ktlled-Rriva.es Lorenze futile and Henry Clemens
Company Al - Mosher, Company X, aud private FROM
Com qany II.
Wowufei-Corparal Foster Company G. in the foot.
Corporal Ross, also in the foot, and taken prisoner
private ia Company c, also private MoscriW IN Com
peny ! (rbirteenth Massachusstts) supposed MORALLY
ard taken to Frederick.
The main body OF the Union troops avoided the cnemys
grape and car ster by constructing road in the
rear Of The man one, which the were planted
This was elected by tearing down the garden fences
Wien the fire tecnme too hot, tbs Union troops would
occupy the deserted houses, from which they could take
Gel oerae aim wih deadly effect upo. the enemy, aticu
lsry his cavalry. Many asaddle was Gmptied by
sron these places q comparative security. Occasl naly
sally wGud be ma ie and the approach too largo
force of tie enemy the Union troos Agould return to
S mi cover aud hhze away with mpulity upon their