Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-07

returned to camp, leaving the Tanuany regiment
the comp+nies OF the 18Th Massachusetts, and artiler
at C,nrads Ferry In position, awaiting the return
scouts. Meanwhile Gen. s.one remained at Edward
Ferry. Al 10 o'clock p m, Lieut. Hove, Qair.ermas
ter Of the l5h Massachusetts, reported that scouts W
der Capt Phbrick had returned to the Island hsvns
been within mile Of Leesburg and there dscoyern.
10 the edge CT q wood an encsmpment Of 30 tents
No pckets out any dstapcs and he approached
within twenty-five rods without being even challenged
Orders then instantly aeDt to Col Deyers TO cros
four companies to the Virginia Shore and u,srch senl,
under cover of night 10 the position of the camp re
fere1 to- to attack aud destroy a. daybreak pursrC
the enemy lodged there far would be prudent
return Immediately To the island, his rturn 10 be cover
cd by company Of the Massachusetts, 2stb, TO be posi-
ed the landing place. Col Dsvens was ordered
nske clcse observation Of the position strength and
movements Of the enemy and 10 the of there be
ing 70 enemy there visible. TO hold on Ia secure po
stion until he could be strengthened sufficiently msks
q valuable reconnaissance.
At this time orders we're sent 10 COL Baker 10 sem
the let California regiment 10 Conrads peiry TO arrive
there sunrise and to have the remainder of his brig
ade ready to move early.
Lieut. Col Wood of the 25,h Massachusetts was also
ordered 10 with battalion TO the river bank 0p.
posi.s Harrisons Island by dsy-breok. Two mount Il
howizs In charge OF Lieut. French OF Ricketts, battery
ordered 70 tie TOW path opposite Harrisons Island
Col Devtn9 la pursuance OF bis orders crossed and
proceeded 20 the point Indicated Col Lee remaining OF
the blD with 100 TO bis return. To dislrac
attention ffom COL Deyens' movements, and 10 make
Reconnaissance in tho direction of Lee burg from Ei
wards Ferry, directed Gen. German to throw acros,
ibe river at ha. point two compaui's Of the s. Mime
sofa under coyfr Of fire from Ricketts, battery acd
SEQ cut party Of tirtyote Van Allen Cavalry unde
jor NIX accompanied by Capt Charl Stewart Asss
tant i,ant General, Capt Murphy, aud Leus Pierce
and Gouraud with orders TO advaucn along the Iaesbue
road uu they should come to the vicinity Of hattr,
which known 10 be that road aad then turn {,
the left and exaine the Leghs between that and Goose
Creek and II aCy OF the eueny pcstCd in tte
vicinity, fad on. their numbers nearly az posshle
their disposition examine the country with reertnce to
the passage Of troops 10 the Leesdurg and Georgetown
turnpike aud return rapidly TO behld the skrm.
shars Of the Bi.nesoa Let This reconnaissance wa,
mos gaanIy conducted and the party proceeded along
tho Lsesburs road nearly miles from The Ferry ano
when the position OF the hidden battery sud
denly upoa Mississippi regiment about thirty FIVE yards
distant received It's fire. and returned with their pis
tol. The ife of the enemy killed horse but Lieut.
Gourand seized the dismounted naa aud drawing him or
his horse behind him carried him unburt from the field
One private Of ihs An yrgGis cavalry brought CO
by the party prisoner, Who being well mounted
armed his mount replaced the lost by the fire Of he
enemJ.
Meantime, on the right Col Devens, bavng In puIsu
ance Of his orders arrived at tie poson designated &c
him So the site Of the enemys camp found that the
scorls bad been deceived by the Uncertain light anG
mistaken openirg3 in the trees for row Of tents. Col
Deyens found however, = wood in which he concealed
his force and proceeded TO examine the space between
that and Leesbrrg ssndng back 10 report that thus ri
ne could ses no enemy Immediately receipt Of this
intelligence, brought me by Lieut. Hove, who had
c5mpaEied both the parties ordered commission
ed cifcer snd ten cavalry TO join Col Devets fer The
purpose of securing tbs country him while engaged
in his Reconnaissance, aud gSing due notice Of the a
proach vi any force and that Lieut. Col Ward with bis
battalion Of the 18th Massachusetts,, should to
sino0vs H'.i- hAii .a: -. ',~ -;shi ~F thA ernAsi.
place OF Col Deycns AID zee WHERE In s'tong posi-
ion ho could watch and p.otsc. the hank OF OcL De-
us bis retGrr and secure second ctossing mere IA
y,rabis than the first, aud connected by good rosd
With Leesburg. Capt Candy, Assistant A5ju.ant-Geue.
raj and Gen Lander accompanied the cavalry 10
with t. Eor never explained TO ne neither
of these orders csried Out. The cavalry were
transferred to the Virginia shore, bat cent bach
without having loft the shore to 60 inland ard thus Col.
Deyens was deprived OF tho Of obtaining warning
of any approach OF tho enemy.
T1e bs.tllon under Col Ward was detained on the
Bu in III, rear OF Col Dssens instead of being direct
ei to the right. Col. Baker having arrived a. Corsds
Ferry with the lst California regiment at esfy hour
proceeded 10 Edwards Ferry, and reported to me iu
person. stating thai bis regmeGt a, former place.
aud the three other regiments Of his Brigade ready to
march directed him 10 Hafrisons Island 10 assume
command and in full conversation explained 10 him the
position as it then stood. told him that Gen. HcCsl
had advanced his troops 10 Drainsvie, and that
ex xemely desrous OF ascerainng the let pcston anG
force of tho enemy in 'front.' and exploring far
WAS SAT. Oh the rgh. toward Leesburg and on the left
toward the Leesburg and Gum Spring road. also in-
formed Col. Baker that General German, opposite Ell
ward Ferry should be reinforced, and :bs. would
make every efos to push Germans troops carefully for
ward 10 discover the best lne from thai ferry 10 the
Lsesburg and Gum Spring road already mentioned, and
TIC position of the bees.~orks and hidden battery
which prsyentei the Of troops directly from
loft 20 right, were also pointed on: to him.
The means OF transportation across Of the sui cpoy
Of which be Blker) was 70 be jadge, was detailed and
authority given lin to make OF the guns Of sec
each Of Vaughns aud Buatngs ba.t.ries together with
Frenchs mouataa howitzers al the troops OF his brig
alc and tho Tsmmiuy regiment beside the Nineteenth
and par. Of the Tsentish regiments of Massachusetts
Volunteers and e!t i; to his discretion, after vlewrg
.he grcu5d TO retire from the Vigria shore under the
cover of his guns au the e Of the large infantry toIc
or to "a our reinforcements il he found it praci
die and the position on the other SIDE favorable.
sated that wished 10 advance made uhes5 the enemy
we're OF iEeFor force and uader no circumstances TO pas
bsyogd L,es5utg, or sLJlg p0siaof Dst"een II and
Coos, Creek ON TIE Gum Spring, c. the Manassas read
Col Baker was cautioned in reference 10 passing artillery
across the river aud Ibgged IL he did do to see well
supported by good infantry The Genera! pointed Out
10 hn tic position Of bus on this side OF the y.
er from which artillery could acs with ef ct on the 9TH
er aud leaving the matter OF crossing more troops OF
rc,i,inr what we're already over his Discretion gave
l,pt and energetic officer left ne sbou, M CT half
pist ., and z Hoped eff quickly to his command
R,-enfo.cements we're rapidly thrown TO the virginia
side by Gen German, at Edwards Ferry and The skir-
uishers mad cavalry scouts advanced cautiously and
steadily co tho front aud right Wills the iGfaniry lines
vere formed IL such pos TO act rapidly anu Ia
eoncer, in case of al advance Of the enemy, and shells
were thrown by Lieut.. Woodruff Parrot gems into the
woojs bsyond our lines as they gradually extended,
bens taken 70 annoy the vicinity OF the battery on
the right Messengers from HarrEons Island Informed
me soon after the arrival of Col Baker opposite the
IJspd tina. he was crossing his whole force as rapidly
as possible aud that be had caused al additional
70 he rated frcm the canal into the ryer and had pro.
vided A line to cross The boats more rapidly.
In ,be uo-ring sharp skrri,h took place between
o e,mpanies OF the 2Oh Massachusetts, ard about 100
Mississippi fsmen during which body OF the enemy's
cavalry Col Owens then fell back in good ord.I
ON Col Les position Presently be agin advanced,
hs men behaving admirably, fighting, retiring, and ad.
vaucing 10 psriac: order and e.hbnS every proof oi
scouting party sen. him n the morning, been Si!a hin,
then be could have bal timely warning OF tho approach
- -,as, al hta