Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-26
THE BATTLE AT EDWARDS FERRY-IN-
TEREsTING DETAILS OF THE FIGHT

IEhE0llNI DElhlDO Ut l1E
PooLEsvILLE, Md, Oct. %, 1861.
d. D. Baid.cia, Esq ,-Dea' Sir You will
have heard before this reaches you of the
great disaster that has befallen the federal
troops at the encounter which took place yes.
terday near Leesburg but, as L have just ar
rived at this place, hasten 10 give you such
incidents as have fallen under my observation,
or been communicated 10 me by persons who
took part in the battle, Col Devens' regi-
ment, the fifteenth Massachusetts, has just re-
turned to its camp at this place. 1t crossed
over the river on Sunday, at midnight, about
six hundred strong. Five companies went
first, and the other five followed in the morn
ing. This regiment took the bunt of the bat
tie, and conducted with the greatest GOODNESS
and bravery. Col, Devens says that every
man did his duty there was no disobedience,
no finching, no cowardice, and they fought to
the very last with great cheeriulness, notwith'
standing ii was apparent after four o'clock that
the day lad gone against them. / learn from
various sources that the officers of the reg-
ment behaved with great gallantry. l have
conversed with the men, and they express
themselves well satisfied v ith the conduct of
their officers.
This disaster was the result of sheer blum
der on the part of the commanding officer, l
| think. Col. Baker, commanding brigadier
general, was u brave and noble man, but he
certainly erred in taking only about sixteen
hundrt troops the river, a few at time, in
one mud scOw, without any reserve 10 sustain
him or rciniol ce him, in Of necessity, or
any means of retreat in case of Il repulse Our
men fought with the utmost bravery. There
was no panic, even at the last, when their case
was desperate. They were cool and deter.
mined, and when after retrcatiDg to the river
| and finding their single sCow had been swamp
ed, and no means left OF escape, they kept up
constant fire on their assailanls till darkness
hid them from view.
When | arrived here about one o'clock a
good part OF the survivors Of the battle had
got in, bit for several hours they continued to
arrive and The scene was exciting in the high.
est degree. One good fellow after another
would arrive, and his comrade would seize him
by the hand, and congratulate him on his
escape. The wounded, too, were coming in
by the ambulances. One hospital building
was already filed. DR.. Bates and his assist,
ance were intensely busy in disposing OF the
several cases. Lieut.. Col. Ward lay on one
of the cots, having just suffered the amputa-
ton Of one OF his legs below the knee. He
bore up under it with great fortitude, but it
was a sad sight TO see brave officer in that
condition. One poor felow-I do not recol.
lect his name-had been shot through the
body, and was in dying condition; but with
that exception there was not case regarded
as desperate, at the time | was a, the hospital,
and most Of the sufferers appeared in very
good spirits. The wounded continued to ar
rive and to fill up the other building, and /
propose 10 make another visit to morrow, to
see how they get on. The hospital accommo-
dations are excellent, compared with what 1
expected The government has just erected
two frame buildings Of one story, made tight
and comfortable, and vastly preferable to tents,
for sick or wounded soldiers.
Ii has raned all day, yet there has been
constant stream of troops and baggage wagons
pouring through the town for Edwards Ferry,
and the expectation here nov is, that a great
battle is to be fought, and general forward
movement made throughout the entire line.
The killed, wounded, and missing, in Col
Devens' regiment is about 300. OF these
many are doubtless prisoners, and many more
are on their way back to camp, without doubt
! One hundred are thought to be killed or
wounded, and two hundred, prisoners or miss
ing.
No regimenal officer is injured, except
Lieut. Colonel Ward. -Four of the captains-
Watson, Philbrick, Joslin, and Bowman-are
here safe probably others will come in. If
circumstances will permit, l intend to write
you by next mail, giving particulars which
cannot now state with precision, in regard 10
the different companies. Col Devens is put
ting his regiment in order, and ascertaining its
condition. as fast as possible.
Yours, i'll haste, AMAsA WALKER.
| P. s., 8 P. M.-Gens. Mcclellan and Banks
are said to have just passed by, en- route for
Edwards Ferry, or Conrad's.
9 P M. Gen. Lander has just arrived here
from Edwards Ferry, slightly wounded
Fighting has heen going on all day over the
river, and the coniederates are understood to
have the worst Of it.
Several letters, containing affecting and in.
teresting details of the fight, were received by
! friends OF members OF this regiment vesta,doy
agreeing in the essential particulars One of
! them writes as lollows:-
PooLEsvILLE, Oct. %, 1861.
| About midnight on Monday morning, Oct
! 81, the 'loHg rolf beat for our regiment 10
fall into line for battle and we reached Con.
RAIDS Ferry about 4 o'clock, Embracing on
scow boats, we crossed the Potomac to an isl
and, and tken from tile island on to the Viz.
ginia shore, about two miles below the ferry,
landlng in the mud and going up very steep
and prnak,.1 uata w snO1 fnnud W haf t,rnvad