The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08

CAPT. FRANCIS G. YoUNG's STATEMENT.

HE 0AIxu0 We AS00OO 1--WE
CAPT. FRANCIS G. YoUNG's STATEMENT.
Correspondence Of the New York world.
WASHINGTON, October 23.-The full and
true story of the battle near Harrison's
Island has reached Us within the last hour.
Now comes the naked truth, in all its
stunning and distressing horrors. Col.
Bakers body arrived 10 town, guarded by
q squad of Van Aliens cavalry, and is now
lying in the mansion of Col. J. w. Webb.
Capt. Francis G.. Young, of New York,
Quartermaster of Bakers Brigade, came in
command Of the sad cavalcade, accompanied
by Major Smith of the California First.
Having obtained promise of the real posi-.
tion of affairs, I had started for Edwards
Ferry this evening, but meeting the pro-
cession have returned with my friend Capt.
Young, from whose lips take down the
following terrible summary of Mondays
events-condensing it as much as possible
to forward it by to-nights mail.
We have met with sickening repuIse !;
one involving the loss of nearly one thous.
and men, in killed, wounded and missing,
and of many brave and skillful officers and
accompanied by scenes of horror unequalled
in any previous battle of the war.
CAPT. FRANCIS q. YoUNa's STATEMENT.
On Sunday evening Gen. Stone being
persuaded that no important force of the
enemy remained along the Upper Potomac
and in obedience to orders from headquar,
tiers, commenced his passage of the river at
Harrison's Island. The point of transport
tation was about five miles above Edwards
Ferry, and nearly an equal distance from
Leesburg. The island is low, fertile strip
of land, several miles in length, so dividing
the river that the Maryland channel is not
furlong in width, and that on the Virginia
side not more than 200 feet.
Six companies of the Fifteenth Massa-
chusetts Regiment, under Col. Dews, and
two companies of the Twentieth (Tammany)
New York, arrived at the river about two
A. M. Monday, and commenced to cross. At
sunrise they were all on the Virginia side.
Before daylight an order came to Col.
Baker to march the first battalion of the
California regiment to Conrad Ferry, two
miles south of the Island, and then, if he
heard firing, 60 to the support of Coggswell
and Devens. Accordingly, Lieut.. Col.
Wistar advanced with the battalion, six
hundred and eighty-nine officers and men,
and by sunrise had reached the river and
proceeded down to the island crossing. /
accompanied the force to arrange for trans
p0rtation was sent to report for orders to
Gen. Stone; returned, having received CON-
mand to cross at once. On my way back l
overlook Col. Baker, who told me that only
the battalion were to cross. He had no
orders for the brigade.
shortly after General Stone placed Col.
Banker in command of all the forces on the
Virginia side. Our battalion, then, at
about A. NJ, commenced crossing to the
island, and then to the farther shore. Mean
time we heard skirmishing shots on the
heights, which continued without intermis-
sion through the morning.
Now we began to experience the diff
Guilty which was the chief cause of the ter.
rible scenes which closed the day.
No adequate means of transportation had
been provided. 1t seemed as if the column
was expected to walk across the water SUR
face. Nothing but one old scow, capable
perhaps of holding forty men, appeared
available on either side of the island. If
the Massachusetts men had any other boats
they were not Visible in the morning. At
length discovered large scow in the canal,
and two hours were consumed in getting it
over into the Maryland channel. 1t would
hold about sixty men. Colonel Baker, Lieu,
tenant Colonel Wistar, Assistant Adjutant
General Harvey and myself went with the
first load to the island, and there superin-
tended the transit of our men
1t was II NJ. before our first company
landed at the foot OF the bush covered preci..
pice which rises abruptly over one hundred
feet from the river bed on the further side
Of the river. Four hours more had elapsed
before the last company landed. Sections
of the Second Rhode Island Battery, con-
prisiDg two howitzers, two field smooth
bores, and one rifled gun, went over With
US, the men dragging them up the heights
with great difficulty ard spirit.
All this time irregular fighting was going
on above. 1t seems that Colonel Devens
had in the morning moved with small de-
tachment in the direction of Leesburg
shortly after bis forces had crossed, had
advanced one mile, there be met the
enemy's skirmlshers in feecle force, and had
retired to the brow of the heights. Before
this the quartermaster of the Massachusetts
Fifteenth had gone alone to a point within
mile of the village, had returned, crossed
the river, and reported to General Stone
that there we're no hostile forces 10 that re-
giOn. But after Colonel Devens fell back
his men were placed in a semieircular
clearing, on natural forest opening, cover
ing five or six acres, with its base resting on
the edge of the heights, and flanked and
fronted by forest. The enemy, becoming
holder, advanced in scattered parties to the
edge of these woods, and from 10 Am. till
4 Pm. kept up random, annoying fire upon
our men. The latter sheltered themselves
as we'll as they could, lying just below the
ridge and awaited reinforcements.
At four, then, our whole force had crossed
and ascended, Colonel Baker and staff with
the rest, and the troops were suffering some
what from the concealed enemys fire. Many
had dropped and had been carried down the
bill.
We asked Col. Baker what be thought of
affairs. He said that be thought we had a
good position could fall back for shelter
behind the RIDGE 0Yoo ooid mo 6 hat