Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-09
Qua WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
ZEE oAmPA1eN N vIRe1NIa.
From the Army Of the POfOmae-The Bat.
tie Of LseAburg.

From the Army Of the POfOmac-The Bat.
tie Of LeeAburg.
Correspondents of the eavannah RspebIic'n.
CzNTREvIILR, Oct 3I-The more we hear of the
battle of Leesburg, the more complete and brilliant
our victory appears to have been No affair of the
present campaign has been more satisfactory.
General Evans not only did his work well, but he
finished 1t up and roundedit Off so as to leave moth
ing to be desired. II reminds one of painting
into which the artist has introduced but one sub
ect, and thas subject he has presented so clearly
and fully and distinctly, that the eye can take in
the whole at single glance. There It stands ike
college on the hill, ship upon the sea or amoun-
tain cutting its sharp outlines against the blue sky.
There are no unnecessary Rojuncts-Do eztraneOus
trappings or unnatural combinations nothing to
distract the eye or mar the effect. The picture is
single and simple; yet such as it is Il Is finished
One more touch of the brush, would have been one
too many Such is the battle Of Leesburg; and
such it will be written in history.
am indebted 10 an intelligent gentleman who
resides near Leesburg for some facts concerning
the topography of the surrounding country which
cannot fail to interest your readers. The distance
from Leesburg to the river is about two miles Ed
wards Ferry below. and Whites Ferry above, are
each about two miles and a half from the battis
ground, which lies midway between the tewn and
river. Just opposite to the town Is Hsrrison's Is
land which contains some 400 acres of land and
lies close TO the Maryland side The island has been
occupied by the enemy. who had thrown ur sone
works as protection against the guns of the Con
federstes The bluff on the Virginia side is preeiB
itous and varies from forty to seventy feetn hight
The forces which engaged Gen. Evans crossed to
The island and from the island to this side hoping
that the high bluff would enable them to conceal
their movements and to take him by surprise They
even dragged their cannon up the steep banks and
mad got into position before Gen. Evans who was
tationed on the west side of Leesburg, was aware
# their presence. The main channel of tie river
which was come six feet above the usual water
mark, runs below the island and the Virginia side
and is deep and rapid. The ground upon which tn,
OriRcipal engagement occurred is eircumscribed
within an area of less than ten acres.
Col Baker commanded the forces that crossed a,
Harrison's Island Gen. Stone, who was in com
msnd of the whole expedition, crossed at Edwards
Ferry, aud took position with his troops near thai
place. As already stated in former letter, the
Confederate battery took no part in the affair. Il
was divided into two sections, one of which was
posted on the road leading to Ewards Ferry to hold
Gen. Stone 10 check, if he should attempt to ad-
vance, and the other on the road leading to Whites
Ferry, to prevent reiniorcements from coming
down from that direction. As no attempt of the
kind was made on either road, the battery remain
ed idle during the day. The enemy's artillery
however, kept UP a constant fire, from both the
guns that had been brought over and those that
were posted on the Maryland side. The first pieces
we captured, and those beyond the river were com
PEELED to their fire late IN the afternoon when
for the pursuit was 90 close and furious, that they
C uld not distinguish between friend and foe
The cavalry as such. were likewise unable ow-
ing to the peculiar character Of the ground, to par
ucipate in the action. The men dismounted, how
ever, and fought bravely as infantry under their
gallant commander. Capt. Jennifer, of Maryland.
Capt ]. rnerly belonged to the o. S. cavalry and
is the officer who resigned his commission early
last winter, and was several times arrested in Penn.
sylvania and again released while on his way from
Carlisle Barracks to his home in Maryland. Thus
he has repaid the enemy for the treatment he re
ceived at their hands.
The fight commenced early in the day Captain
Dunn, with forty-fve men Of the 18th Mississippi
Regiment, was in advance and the first to engage
the enemy. With his small force he held six com
panies Of the Massachusetts, Regiment in check one
hour, until Gen. Evans, who was in the rear of
Leesburg could double quick it to his relief A
series of skrmlshes then ensued, aud were kept up
till late in the afternoon, when the principal en-
gsgement took place in the small field alluded TO
above. The fight swept on to the river. just on the
brink of which Capt. Jones, also of the 18th Mssis
sippi had desperate hand-to-hsnd encounter with
a large and powerful Yankee who had eezed him
by the collar. But it was no time for an army to
stop to see personal combat cut; so 3 stal1art
Aississppian, with one blow on the head with the
but of hs musket felled the Northman to the earth
and sent his spirit to its long account.
The fugitives tried to reach Harrison's Island
They leaped down the precipice and rushed into
the fats and skifts upon which they had crossed
the preceding night It Is supposed that four
hundred Of them crowded INTO two fats, and when
our men began to fire upon them from the bluff
above, they pressed forward to the further end
upset the fats, and all went down together. The
the screams and frantic GESTURES of the
drowning men, were indesorlbable. Their cries
rose high above the din and turmoil of battle
Some disappeared the moment they struck the
water: others buffetted the waves for time and
hen vrp Ia Othpr1 stP OnfI
boldly for the island, and few reached it, But |
nearly all who attempted to escape, either BY |
swimming or upon the bosts and fats, were swept
DOWN by the swollen and turbid river, and now /
.leep the sleep that knows no waking, beneath |
IL angry waters. The few VINO reached the 1
,thsr shore, naked and panic stricken, did not |
,ease their fight when they had gained the hills Of
Maryland. On they rushed until they had got f. |
Frederick and Washington, in the streets of which
ome of them made their appearance in state /
almost literal nakedness Meanwhile the terror OF I
he scene at the river was heightened by the Cen
edeTates, who, relentless as fate, kept up deadly
ire upon the struggling and drowning fugitiyes !
They had invaded our soil, destroyed our property
md insulted our women andnothing but their Ulood
.ould expiate their moDstroRs crimes
The cay after the battle (Tuesdsy) the enemy
ent over detachment, with q request 70 be al
owed to bury their dead. The petition was grant
d, condition. that the then military status of the
nemy should not be changed during the perform
Lnce of the necessary duty. And yet the Hessisns
rue to the instincts, violated the solemn pledge |
nd awaited themselves of the suspension of hostll |
ties to evacuste the island and cross over to the
ther shore.
Late Tuesday afternoon the 18Th Mississippi Reg.
ment Col Bsrksdala, which had been held in re,
erve the proceeding day, and took but little part
n the fight, encountered portion of Gen Stone's
Orces which had advanced up the road from Ed
Yards Ferry A sharp sktrmish. ansued. which re
ulted in the loss to the enemy of AZ killed his
rounded we're carried back. Our loss was FIVE or
x killed and few wounded. Col Barksdale was
irving the. enemy back, when he was ordered to
ease the pursuit and return to camp. Gen. Evans
I'D but $500 men when he entered the fight the
revious day he had been marching aud counter
lsrchin for a week, without their tents and fire.
uenty with but one meal day. They had been
} the top of the Blue Ridge to the assistance OF
oil. Ashby, at Harper's Ferry, but arrived too
tie to take part in the late affair at that place. and
ad to return, In addition to this, the enemy had
2 900 men just across the river, and heavy force
Glow. In view of these facts, Gen. Evans very
Tisely concluded that it was best to give his men
tile rest, and to await the return of the enemy
lhich he was hourly expecting. Independently OF !
lese considerations, the order of recall turned out
be both wise aud timely for it has since been as
ertened that the man body of Gen. Stones forces
coupled strong position, protected by impromp- q
bresstworks and two hundred rifle pits and this q
the very point upon which Col. Barksdale was
ivancing when he was recalled. The enemy, how |
yer, did not renew the attack, but reerossed into
aryland that night. q
Col Baker was killed at the head of his command
i'd not IN a tree as was first represented. His
cath seems to have been the occasion of much ex
tement and sorrow at Washington. The Presi-
INT and his wife represented to have been in e
'nsolable at his loss. The body of the deceased U
as land out in state at the residence of Colonel
ebb, and thousands of people went to see it. His
mains were followed to the Congressional CemeA a
ry by large procession of soldiers and citizens,
GLIDING Mr.. Lincoln. Gen. Scott, the head of de- b
lrtments. and Standardization and 'DougaI of Cali
rnia. The Yankees made the most of the event -
ey could. Like anthony standing over the dead O
dy of the great Cesar" they pointed the gasp g
g multitude to the "cruel wounds" of the fallen
arrior, and invoked them to aveRge his untimely Il
ath Isuspeet however that more of them were {,
ightened than inspired By the bloody spectacle. a