Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-05
gl)e Ohio 3tates,,fon
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THE BATTLEsNEAH LEEsBURG
Ial' eFS, STONES oFFIorAI REPORT.

THE BATTLEeNEAH LEEsBURG
i.. is,' errI STONES OFFICIAL REPORT. g9 :
The following is copy Of Gen. isrosr's re-
port Of the 3Ssb battle Of Bilps Bluff, mads to the
War Department: jsau.1. g551.as l. tra't1
i 'l HEADoUARTERs CoRrs or oBsERvArroN,l Z
\ siti ,1i,i} t"', October %. 1861. ipt
GENERAL: On the 20th instant, being advised
from headquarters Of Gen. MoCal's movement
to Drainsviile to reoonnoitte and draw out the
intentions OF the enemy at Lsesburg, went 10
EdWardss Ferry at O'Clock P. M, with Gen
Gorman's Brigade, Seventh Michigan, two
troops of the Van Allen Cavalry, aud the Pot.
nam Rangers, while four companies of The Elf
teenth Massachusetts, volunteers were sent to
Harrison's Island, under Col Devens, who then
had QUE company on the Island. and Col Lee,
with abattAllon Of the Mass chusetts Twenti
I.eth, section Of the Rhode islaud Battery and
Tammsby Regiment, was sent TO Courad' e Fer
ry. a section OF Budting's New York Battery
and kicketts's Battery were already on duty re.
speotiveiy at E1wards's AID Conrad's Ferries
General McCsli's movement had evidently
attracted the attention of the enemy, regiment
OF infantry having appeared from the direc(ion
about one mile and half from our position at
the Ferry.
Gen. German was ordered to deploy his forces
in view OF tue enemy, and in so doing no move
ment Of the enemy was excited. Three fat.
boats were ordered, and at the sapt time she'll
and spherical case shot were thrown into the
place OF the enemy's conceslment. This was
done 70 produce an impression that Crossing
was to be made. The shelliDg at Edwardss
Ferry and launching of the boats induced the
quick retirement Of the enemy's force seen
there, and three boat loads OF thirty Eve men
each, from the First Minnesota, crossed and re-
crossed the river, each trip occupying about elk
or seven minutes.
While this WIS going on, the men evinced by
their cheering that they were all ready and de-
tsrniaed TO fight gallanty when the opportunI.
" was presented At dusk Gen. German q
Brigade and the Seventh Michigan returned to
camp, leaving the T4mmany Regiment and the
companies Of the Fiji eenth MASSACHUSETTS and
artillery at Cpnrad's Ferry in position, awaiting
the return of scouts. Mean while General Stone
remaiued at EdWards's Ferry At ten O'Clock
P. M Lieut.. Howe, Qlartermaster of the FIT.
teenIh Massachusetts, reported that scouts nm
der Capt. Pbilbrick had returned to the Island,
having been within one mile Of Leesburg, and
there discovering In the edge of a wood an en-
cimpment OF thirty tents No pckets were out
any distance, and he approached to within tRen.
" i've rods without being even challenged.
Orders we're then Instantly cent 10 Col. Dew
ems 70 cross four companies to the Virginia
shore, and march silently under cover of night
| TO the positi n Of the camp referred to, to at
tack and destroy II at daybresk, pursue the en-.
| emy lodged there, as far as would be- prudent,
and return Immediately to the island. his return
to be covered by q company of the Massachu.
| sets 2Osh, to be posted over the landing-place.
Col. Devsne was ordered to make olose obser-
walton of the position, strength, and movements
OF the enemy, aud, In the event Of there being
no enemy there visible, TO hold on in secure
position until he could be strengthened sufi-
ciently to make valuable reconnoisssnce.
AT this time orders were sent to Col Baker
to send the First California Regiment to Con
RAIDS Ferry, to arrive there at sunrise, and 10
have the remainder of his brigade ready TO
move early. ....
Lieu enant- Colonel Wood, Of the 18th Mass.
kchusetts, wac also ordered to move with bat
talion to the river bank, opposite Harrisons lei.
and, by daybreak, Two mounted howl xers, 10
charge OF Lieut.. French, of Ricketts, battery,
| were ordered to the tow-path of the canal oppo
site Harrison's leland.
| Colonel DeVens in pursuance Of his orders,
crossed and proceeded TO the point indicated,
Col. Lee remaDiGg on the bluff with one hun
dred men 90 cover bis return. To distract at
tention from Col. Devens's movements, aud to
% axe Reconnaissance Ia the direction of Lees
ourg from EdWards's Ferry, directed Gen.
German TO throw across the river az that point
tao companies of the ist Minnesota under cover
Of fire rom Rckette's battery, ana sent out a
party OF thiTty-one of Vas Allen cavalry under
MsjIr Mix, accompanied by Capt Chas. Stew
art, Assistant Aojatsnt General, Captain Muir
ply, and Lieuts Pierce and Gourand, wuh
orders to advance along the Leesburg road un
Gil toey should come TO the vicinity Of q battery
which was known t1 be on that road, and then
turn to the left and examine the heights between
that and Goose Crsek, and see Il any of the
enemy were posted in the vicinity, fnd out
their numbers IS nearly az possible, ttieir dis
position examine the country with reference 10
the passage Of troops to the Lees6drR add
Georgetown turnpike, and return rapidly to
cover behind the skirmishers Of the Minnesota
lst. This reconuoissance was most gallantly
conducted, and the party proceeded along the
Leesburg road, nearly two mile, from the Ferry,
and when near the position of the hidden bat.
tery came suddenly upon Mississippi regiment,
about thirty-five yards distant, received ice Are,
and returned it with their pistols The FIRE OF
the enemy killed one horse, hu. Lieutena
Gourand seized the dismountsd man, and dra "
ing him on his horse behind hin carried him
unhurt from the field. One private of the 4th
Virginia cavalry was brought off BY the party a
prisoner, who being we'll mounted and armed,
his mount replaced the one lost by the Ere of the
enemy. 2 ~
Meanwhile, on the right, Col Devens, having
in pursuance of bis orders arrived &C the posi-.
i \ -. 49, a. L L "a -
my's camp, found that the scouts had been de-
ceived, by the uncertain light, and mistaken
openings in the trees for q row of tents. COL
Deyens found, however, a wood in which he
concealed his force, and proceeded to examine
the space between that and Leesburg, sending
back to report that thus far he could see no
enemy. Immediately on receipt OF this intelli-
| gence, brought me BY Lieut. Howe, who had
accompanied both the parties, ordered non.
commissioned officer and ten cavalry TO Join
Col. Devens for the purpose Of securing the
country near him while engaged 10 HE recon.
noissance, and giving due notice Of the approach
of any force, and that Lieut.. Col. Ward, with
his battalion Of the Fifteenth Massachusetts,
should move on to Shoots Mills, half q mile
to the right Of the crossing place Of Col. De-
vens. and see where, In a strong position, he
could watch and protect the flank Of Col De
vens In his return, and secure second crossing
more favorable than the first, and connected by
good road with Lsesburg. Capt Candy, AS.
sistant Adjutint-G General, and General Landei
accompanied the cavalry TO serve with it.. Fol
some reason never explained to me, neither o.
these orders were carried out. The cavalry
were transferred to the Virginia shore, bu
were sent back without having left the shore L
go inland, and thus Col. DeveDs was depriyes
OF the means Of Obtaining warning Of any up
proAch OF the enemy. sa.s-t 81
The battalion under Col. Ward was datain