New-York daily tribune., 1861-10-30

.n,;cna5 and the position OF the No auv t
ridden battery, which prevented Ine N
troops directly from LEFT to rgn "''0 'i'' P'''''
out TO him. II. .o,oss of thA snfii-
:.,a., oS ,b;cb he Baker was to be ladge, was de-
,s;Isd and authority given him 70 maze u,o ~ ~.
,,,,,ss ~ section each OF Vaughan ana b9ntinB
Ssteres together with frene5S m9uI'aI nv. nUmIn
ses oII ,bs troops of bis Brigade and the lammany
Dsc;,nsnt hesds the 18th and ana part OF the 2Vth
pn,sn,S of Massachusetts Volunteers, and lett IL
S;scrstop after viewing the ground, to retire
s.. ,h V;rcini. shore under the cover OF his guns
Gre of the large infantry force, or 10 pass Our
f--s,ents ip case he found il practicable and the
;;or o the other side favorable. stated that
i~;.bsd no advance made unless the enemy were
of inferior force and under no circumstance TO pass
beyond Leeoburg, or strong position between u
and Coose Creek, on the Gum Spring; / g., .ne
Manassas road. Col. Baker was cautioned IN REFER
encs 10 passing artillery across the rlyeri anu l
begged if be did 90 so TO see II well suPpor.eu ~
good infantry The General pointed out 70 MN l lne
position of some bluff on this side OF the
which artillery could act with efec. on .ne me-. ~
and leaving the matter Of crossing more .rools " "
Tstirino what were already over to his dscreu9n'
gave bira entire control Of operations ou ~ sIon,
This gallant and energetic officer LEFT me spoas
ga m, OF half-yast 9, and gauoPea oH 4"'Ai' "
his command. nv. .,,o,,., 90 tbA Viz.
,i; i,ia bv Gen. Csorman. at Edwards s Ferry, ana
ia sk;rm;.bers and cavalry scouts advanced eau
;n, and steadily 10 the front and night, whle tDe
nsnirv lines were formed in such positions as 70 ACT
;Si.. ard IN concert In case OF an advance OF the
aasy; and shells were thrown by iieut Woodruh's
perit Guns into the woods beyond our lines as they
ersdns nv extended, care being taken TO annoy the
vicinity Of the battery on the right. Messengers
from Harrisons Island informed me, soon after the
srryal Of Col Baker opposite the island that he was
crossing his whole force as rapidly as possible and
hat ne had caused an additional fatboa to be RATED
from ,he canal into toe riyer and had provided line
20 cross the boats more rapidly.
In the morning O sharp skiImish took place
be veen two companies of the Goth Massachusetts
and about 100 Mississippi Rihemen, during which
body of the enemy's cavalry Appeared. Col
Devens then fell back in good order on Col. Lees
position. Presently he again advanced, bis men
behaving admiralty fighting, retiring and advancing
in perfect order, and exhibiting every proof Of high
courage and good discipline. Had the cavalry
securing party, sent him IN the morning, been with
him, then be could have had timely warning Of the
approach Of the superior force which aiterward
Overwhelmed bis regiment. Thinking that Colonel
Baker rnignt be able to use more artillery,
I disnstehed 10 him two additional pieces, sup
porsl by two companies OF inf ntry, with directions
10 CONT into position below the place of crossing,
,,S renod 10 Col. Baker. Col. Baker suggested this
Himself later in the day, just before the guns Oh
their way arrived
After Col Devenss second advance Col. Baker
went to the field in person, and il is a matter of
Oet to me that be left record of what officers and
men he charged with the care OF the boats and nsur
mg the regular passage OF troops. II any were
charged With this duty, 1t was not performed for
Inc re.euforcements as they arrived found no one IL
eommand Of the boats, and great delays were Thus
occasioned. Had oDe officer a0o company remained
nj each landing, guarding the boats, their full
canarv would have been made serviceable, and sui-
6cent men would have been passed on 10 secure sue
cess The forwarding OF artillery before ITS support,
ing force OF infantry also impeded the RAPID
assembling of an imposing force on the Virginia
sb5ra n the infantry force had first crossed dit
feroncs Of i,O0O men would have been made 10 the
infantry line at the time of attack probably enough
10 have given us the victory.
Betvetn l2 and p. N. the enemy appeared III
sorce In front of Col Deyens, and sharp sklrmish
snsued, and was maintained for some time By tpe
18th MASSACHUSETTS, unsupported, ana nnur's he
Yyoald be ousdanked Col. Devens retired short
distance and took up position pear the wood, half
a mile in front of Col. Lee, where he remained until
2oclock when be again fell back, with the approval
Of Col. Baker, and took bis place with the portions
Of The aoh Massachusetts, and Let California, which
bad arrived.
Col. Baker now formed his line, aud waited the
attack Of the enemy, which came upon him with
great vigor about p H., AID was well met by our
troops, who, though pitched against much superior
Qumbers three TO one, naintsined their ground, un
ler a mos. destructive fire Of the enemy.
COL Coggswell reached the field amid the heaviest
ire, aud came gallautly into action, with yell
winch wayered the enemy's line.
Lieut.. Bramhall Of Buntings Battery, had sue
teeded after extraordinary exertions and labor in
bringing up piece of the Rhode Island Battery, and
Lieut.. French his two howitzers, but bot officers,
after well-direeted firing were soon borne away
wounded and the pieces we're hauled TO the rear so
ihst they might not fall iQo the enemy's hands,
Al .. n Col Baker fell al the head of bis col
gmD, pierced by number OF bullets, while cheering
bis men, and by ls own example sustaining the ob
.'nate resistance they were making The command
then devolved upon Col. Lee, who prepared TO CON-
uenee throwing out forces to the rear, but 1t was
soon found that Col. Coggswell was the senior III
ank, aud he, taking the command ordered Prspara-
tion to be made marching to the left and cutting
a way through to Edwards 10 Ferry But Just as the
first dispositions were being effected, reb-
o. officer rode rapidly in front and beek0ned
the Tsmmany Regiment toward the enemy
u is NJ! clear whether or nor the Tanmsny men
supposed this one Of officers, but they responded
with yell and charged forward carrying with them
IN their advance the rest Of the line which
eeiyed destructive tire from the enemy al close dis
lance. The men We're quickly recalled, but their
new position frustrated the movement designed, and
Col COggsweu gave the necessary order TO retire. .
The enemy pursued 10 the edge OF the Bluff, over
the laudng-place and poured In heavy FIRE az oar
men were eDdeavoring 10 cross to the Island. The
retreat was rapid, but according to orders The
men formed near the river. maintaiDipg for nearly
half an hour the hopeless contest rather than sur
render.
The smaller boats had disappeared, no one knew
Shsre The largest boat, rapidly and too heavily
Iesded swamped at fifteen feet from the shore, and
pohng s0as left TO our soldiers but 10 swim, surren
der, OF die.
Witha devotion worthy Of the cause they were
..fyiug officers and men, while quarter was being
offered TO such as would lay down their arms stripped
themselves OF their swords and musksts and hurled
them out iao the river TO prevent their falling into
the hands Of the foe and saved themselves as they
coald by swimming, floating on logs and conoeallng
themselves in the bushes Of the forest and TO make
shsir way up and down the river back to place Of