The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-28
OUR FREDERICK CORRESPONDENCE.

FREDERfcK Cfry, Oct "a 1861.
The First Crossing Of The PonaeThc Adocnce 7o,ca,ds
Leeslurs-Fira Encounter lciih The Enep.-Gen Ba'er
in The van-The Shock Of CS4G,e--72e Union fsrce
attacked in Front and Fdsl1 ,rih Rf,d canin4--Dedh
Of Gen. Baker and Capture IF CeagsirtIl-Heroic Con
duct Of Baser-" Fo,pasdi ft Mcclellan asd OR Coaa-
hyi,-Fauing Bacl ~ Ge Poo,ndc--The Night Cross
tnS-Tncidents, de-, DC.
BY examining the map 1. would appear that important
to the OF the movements OF our army on tho
Potomac is the occupation by our forces of the town OF
Leesbnrg and II impossible to resist the conviction
that the capturing of that place accordingly formed
portion Of tho plans Of the Commander in Chief. That
part Of Major General Banks corps darmss Of which Gen.
stones formed part, was already posted ~ Tho left
bank Of the Potomac holding Edwards Ferry, within five
miles Of Leesburg, and therefore tho proper corps
to tako possession Of that place For several days pre-
vonsly the brigades the right bank OF the Potomac,
above the Chain Bridge and the Falls Of tho Potomac,
had pushed up the direction of Lcesburg These
brigades however, commanded by General Mccall, did
advance further than Dranesve twelve mites south
Of eesbarg, although their scouts pushed for
ward to Goose creek four mics from that place. On Sat
urday and Sunday Gen. Mccall made Reconnaissance
Leesburg and could End trace Of the enemy
Tho country people declared that the rebels had aban
doncd that place scme dnys before.
!, had been generally believed for days ously
Al that they had retired from tina. place Aide ten
miles southwest, where they fortifying. Aide is
much stronger position than Lesburg. At Aide the
rebels could place creek between themselves md
the advancing Union troops. Goose creek Is stream
about the size Of Bull run, but has high and steep
banks and be crossed by artillery except by
bridges. On the right bank Of the creek high
hills admirably calculated for defence, and these
understood, the rebels were foriiyng These facts
rather these reports current in the army and in
Washington. Believing them to be true General Store
advanced in the direction Of Lecsburg. Before he
did however, he sent Major Mix, with company Of
cavalry to mako reconnaissance Of Leesburg and
ascertain whether it had been Abandoned Major
Mix crossed at Edwards Ferry and proceeded
towards Ieesburg at daybreak Monday morning.
The order Of the General commanding at this point
was to cross the Potomac at two places; with his
left wing, 5,o60 strong, at Edwarfs Ferry, and his
right wing under Brigaer Genera, Baker at ffarrisons
Island between Conrads Ford and Edwards Ferry, and
only four miles from Eeesburg General 8akcr's brigade
consisted Of hyo reslinehs-iarey his own California
regmant), 500 strong; The New York Tamtnany rcg
ment, ] 900 men, Colonel CogsSe the Fifteenth, Nine
tenth md Twentieth Massachase'is regiments command
OF r,spec lively by Colonies l,eveDs, Hinchs an Lee
making in all about 5000 men, Of when less than
500 were in the action reconnaissance had be made
On Sunday night, and another as daybreak on Monday
morning By Colonel pcvens, TO Lecsburg who reported
to Gen. stone that enemy in sight. Gen. Stone
tn ordered Gen. Eakcr to advance with his brigade to
Leesburg occupy and hold IT, and to report for further
orders General rakcr Immediately projected 10 execute
this order The Fifteenth Massachusetts, regiment was
already across he river. The Twentieth crossing
Ordering the Tanmany regiment and the Nineteenth
Massachusetts Immediately General Baker placed
himself Ut the head Of his own California; regiment ard,
cioesre the river took comm,rd Of the advance
meat. The colGmn thcn moved forward towards Lees
burg Colonel revens h right. Colonel lee following
a, distance, and the California regiment next The
apparent deserton Of 1eesurg was opy ruse on the
part the enemy VITO had drawn their forces out Of the
/ town. aud posted IN strength in such posi-
tons between Ieeshurg and the river, that they
1 could cnniade our adyencing columns, and attack
them no
| in the rear also Skirfnishers thrown the
column advance bot no signs q an enemy were seen
destination. Tn first ntimation Of the presenre Of the
enemy the simultaneous dis barge Of about hun
dred rifes frcn thickct the top OF an eminencc
The fire received by the right wing OF thu Fifteenth
Massachusetts,, who were N the advance lieutenant
and six or eight men were killed and eighteen severely
| wounded. Three companies, however, immediately
dashed up the slope in the direction of the fire. and on
reacbng the SPOT, found themselves confronted with
| regiment OF Mississippi rlemcn, who, rcservng their
! fire Till brave fellows within thirty yards,
| poured into them another volley. captain, a
lieutenant, and twelve thirteen killed by
this discharge. Our men, however, nothing dauned,
delivered their IRE with good effect and then charged
with tho baycnet The enemy did not wait for the latter,
bnt cut aud towards Leebrg in disorder. Colonel
Devels did not think II prudent 10 them body
OF rebel cavalry just then made s appearance in the d.
recon of Lecsbnrg but retired with his men to the
ground occupied by the Twentieth regiment. Sending
word then to General Baker Of the position OF affairs,
Colonel Devens advanced again with his and Colonel
Lees regiment Before the two regiments had reached
the scene Of the first engagement however, they
tackled on both tanks at once by riemn and red
skrmish here took place, but the enemy were
In superior force and the two regiments compelled
70 retreat to the river This movement effected in
good order but with loss the enemy red cannon
Icing admirably served. The whole brigadc, being by
this time the river wns formed In order Of battle
and advanced against the enemy. The latter retired
slowly dispung every inch OF ground that the path
o our advance the bod II many of brave
fellows. Not whit dish ar,ene however, Gen. Baker
made dcpcrate effort 70 drive tho enemy from their po
ston battery Of field artillery and two small bras;
howzrs all the guns lie had but OF these tic hes
| rossibe use was made. He ordered these up
aud when at one time the vince 81 OF th
guns got stuck in the mud, he dlsmounted am