Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-10-30
ThB WAR NEWS
rHE BATTLE of BALLS Bturr
NEAR LEESBUKG VA
oar army Agaia DJca'cd !
7Re Adssdclusais Men ne fra 70 Re-
treat and rdise a Waite Flag.
-Four C0ioncis and large numbcr Of
Olhel Commisg.9ned Oaicers Killsd.

fOm J0tOHctS ana tuIgc hhWOI "
4 Other Commissioned Officers Killed.
We pre vet without foil pa ticulars OF
tho battle OF Balls Buff and such ~ have
romo,ohand throw no very clear light up
on the action, II appears ,hat,on Sunday
night, CD. Dey.ns of the fifteenth Mas
sachtsotts. who had ror some time guard
cd usrrison's Island With one company,
ordered Capt, Philbricls, OF Company H.,
and Quarter.mastor Howe, OF his stati,
with detachment Of 200 men. 10 sco ut
,.he Virginia shore in the direction OF
Leesbrrg. Tney crossed from tho islam d
8 10 the shore, an / executed the order by
approaching within three iourths OF a
mile of Leesburg, returning to theli start
Ing point about ten o'clock at night dis
covering AZ they supposed, small camp,
one mile or m1re from Leesburg.
/ On reporting to Col. DOWN, the latter
with about three hundred men pushed
forward by direction of Gen. Stone In the
same locality with orders to destroy the
camp. At day break the scouts returned
: to Col Devin. who remained with hiA
command concealed, and word was sent
back that no enemy was in sight, Colonel
Phlhick's company taking an advanced
position, while the remaining companies
were concealed as a reserve IN case of an
attack on the advance.
! When about a mile and half from the
river, and FIVE hundred yards in advance
/ of Col. Devin's reserve, Capt. Philbick, &c
companied' by Col Devin in person, at.
tackled and drove back company OF
Mississippi ritlemen, and then fell back to
the reserve concealed ir the rear on The
appearance OF a body OF rebel cavalry. In
the skirmisk Capt philbck had diff
+, Guilty in getting near enough TO tao enc
my for his smooth bore guns 10 have much
effect whereas the othe!s used long range
rifles on our forces.
AT daylight. and the same hour that Col
D.yin's 90 umsnl left the shore TO make
the advance, CO.. Lee. of the Twentieth
Massachusetts,, sent over one company oi
his regiment, which remained on shore tc
cover the return OF Col Devin. Tho Col
however, maintained his ground, and was
reinforced during tue morning ty 3OC
more OF his regiment under Lieut.. Colonel
Ward
About one o'clock he was attacked by q
considerable flroe Of rlAemen who at
Itsmpted TO ou,Aank him. Fearing that
thoY might be successful, and after resist'
ling them for some time. Colonel Devir
slowly retrea;sd, in perfect order 10 the
riya:, where Gen. RLklr had arrived will
a battalion of lhs California regiment
which was commanded by Lieut.. Colone
Wis,ar.
Gen. Baker thor took command. cons
plimen,ing Col Devin for his successful
resistance TO superior flrce. and givi NJ
his command, now less than quo men, th'
0 right of the line OF 5attio the centre anc
{ left heinC formed OF atodt 800 Of the 20.f
+ Massachusetts. under Col. Lee. and tht
California battalion. a53ut 500 in nunlbsr
under Co! Wistar.
{ Two mountain hSwitseS, Commando
by Lieu: French, and one piece oi the n
". Battery, commanded by Lieut.. Bsam-
? bail, were in front of the centre. immedi
diatelY pre e7ious 10 tho commencement o
the action.
The attack was commenced by the en-
emy or cur right, bu; was soon dlrectet
: more heavily TO the centre and left. Fo
about two hours the battle ragged terrih
cally a complete shower of lssden ha
:, fell. Three times the left Of the line
: made An advance, but were compelled {,
= retire as often. The rigat was better pro
= tecteA, and held their position.
/ An nrdcr came from Con. Baker e
y throw two companies Of the Fifteenth
. Massachusetts, 10 the centre, which wa
q immediately executed. This produced
the impression that the battle was gnin!
against US, but eau.ed no confusion {
dlsnay.
n The left was hard pressed hu, remsiae'
is firm. About this time the news rprea'
. tina, Gen. Baker was killed. Whie il
the act of pushing cannoa furwrd will
. his shoulder to the wheel. he was pleree
e by six balls. 1t is very eviden: hat h
,f was the object OF the euemys shnrpshoot
.r erS.
Aftcr this there was cessation nj III
FIRE for q few minutes. during which Col
'e Coggswcll, Of the Tammany regiment, ar
: rived with two com panies, and, he bsin
W the senior officer, the command devolye
:. on him.
In short time /, became evident
Col Coggsvell that the day was lost an
y he thought it best to cut his way throug
:, TO Edwards Ferry, where Gen Gorma
" was in charge. throwing over reiniorc'
i. men Is by direction Of Gen. Stone, wh
c, vas in sight OF the battle held at T.
ID wards Ferry, directing the general NOV,
ments.
IN An order was now issued 70 transfer Il
g. Massachusetts, 18th from The right to ii
as left, which was executed as calmly as at
! battalion drill.
= Col. CoRgswel soon became satisfied
w the impossibiiiy Of reaching Edward
- Ferry as desired, and gave an order
or fall back towards the river, which was e.
ecuted as well as the circumstances wouI
permit he reached tho river bank abe,
en- about twenty minutes before nghtfail.-
t,- Here, the 18th deployed as ski!mishe
along the shore.
eo Tho only means of conveyance on sho,
er to the island was large boat, capable
lie carrying about forty persons, which WI
10, oyercrowded and swamped and snoth
boat OF small dimensions. The troops r
g. naming along the shore made a despera
d. resistance, and it is believed that th tn
ty my took comparatively few prisoners
consequence.