The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-19
THE BATTLE NEAR WILLIAMSPORT
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS OF PATTER.
SONS ADVANCE.

and detailed account of the battle near
Gainesville, which has been only briefly re-
ferred to by telegraph. We quote from the
Press
The telegraphic account of the battle
near Hainesville was exceedingly meagre
and unsatisfactory. This fact may be ac-
counted for by mentioning that the govern.
ment operator at Hagerstown became so
excited, when the account of the fight
reached him, that be shouldered his musket
within quarter of an hour, to rejoin his
comrades in Virginia.
1t was fully intended, few nights before,
to send the army over the river in two di.
visions the first, under General Patterson,
to cross at Williamsport; the second under
General Cadwallader, to cross at Shepherds
town, some miles below, and thus flank the
enemy, and drive him from his position or
capture him.
der. The men were nightly aroused, and as
often disappointed, until on Tuesday morn
ing, at o'clock, positive orders came, and
the army got under weigh. The river was
crossed at an early hour on Tuesday morn.
ing. McMullin's rangers dashed in first,
the City Troop and General Patterson and
staff followed, and afterwards came the
two regiments of Wisconsin and Pennsylva-
MIA.
The remaining regiments took the matt
ter less impetuously, and so lost their share
in the honors of the battle. They marched
leisurely into field on the margin of the
river, removed their boots, stockings, draws
ers and breeches, wound these articles
around their necks, and thus, with the whole
lower portion of their bodies nude and their
white muslin shirts flying in the wind, pre-
coded by full band in similar undress, they
plunged into the stream and reached the OPP
posite shore.
1t was full daylight when these latter
regiments proceeded up the turnpike. Be-
You'd the toll gate, the road hard and mar
row, dotted with farms and groves, went
meandering up and down the hills. The
troops did not march shoulder to Shout
der, but scattered along the way to
eat blackberries, and question the Virgin
ians.
All the occupants of the farm houses
came out to see them, and the girls waved
their handkerchiefs.
Most of the people protested to be Union.
lists, and were, in the sembIance at least,
glad to see their deliverers. Their own
troops had spoiled them shamefully, turning
their horses to Craze in the unrpe wheat
fields, and exacting corn and meal without
money and without price. A curious fea-
ture of the march was the appearance of
many Union refugees, who hung to the
skirts of the advance guard of our army.
While thus marching along in the dawn,
the hinder regiments, among which was the
Scott Legion, heard the first peals of the
cannon, far ahead. Instantly every man
fell into run, and with wild shouts they
broke away, each anxious to be cup the
road and at 'em." At each new peal their
step became quicker, but laggard haste
would not atone the fight was over before
they reached the ground.
Further on five miles from the Potomac)
they reached Porterfe!d's Farm, the battle
ground proper.
1t seems that Gen. Patterson and staff,
Majors Craig, Biddle and R. B. Price, Col.
VIM. G. Patterson and Captain Newton,
with the first Wisconsin regiment and the
eleventh Pennsylvania regiment, Colonel
Jarrett,) preceded by the City Troop and
Doubleday's battery, the whole led by Cap.
tain McMullin and the Philadelphia Inde>
pendent Rangers, reached this farm at seven
o'clock in the morning The enemy were
drawn up behind the house in line of battle
order, with their park OF four guns directly
upon the turnpike, bearing upon our ranks.
McMullins men were some rods in ad-
vance, and they first opened fire. The first
cannon shot of the enemy passed over the
heads of our men, single ball striking the
gable of Porterfied's dwelling, and passing
out at the peak of the roof.
They fired badly, not a single cannon ball
during the whole action of half hours
duration, iphicting I mortal wound. One
ball passed between soldiers musket and
his cheek, AID almost simultaneously Sc
cond shot struck is gun, bending the tube
double ard sending the splinters into his
face and breast. The man will probably
lose an eye.
Our men advanced continually, loading
and firing until the Wisconsin regiment had
approached to within three hundred yards
and McMullin's were less than one hundred
yoAuO AOhI tuO lCoCi OOSduCC IIuCS
They must have lost from all statements
at least one hundred in killed and wounded
Their ambulances were ordered to the front,
and our men saw them heaping in the fallen
to be in time for retreat.
After firing for an hour or less, they re.
tired at rapid trot and in great disorder,
seeming to labor to overstrip each other in
their Aighty purpose.
At Evansville three miles beyond, they
made q second futile and shorter stand,
but were driven back with renewed loss.
This latter place had been the site of
their encampment.
Our own troops had no sooner reached
the village than they scattered on pleasure
excursion. One of the first places to which
they paid their respects was the store and
post office of one Turner, the secession
postmaster of the village. He had been an
applicant for the postmastership, but Mr..
Myers, an opponent, was appointed; where.
upon Turner received the appointment
through Mr.. Jefferson Davis' povernment