Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-19
THE aMccooK FIGHTING FAMILY
TwENTY.ONE THOUSAND BUSHELS OF
CONFEDERATE WHEAT TAKEN.


TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND BUSHELS OF
CONFEDERATE WHEAT TAKEN.
Editor Star :-On the morning of the 10th inst :,
at 6 \ O'Clock, Col. John w. Geary, Of the Twen-
ty-Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, and about
four hundred men, composed of fractions OF CON-
panies A, D, F, and g. Of the Twenty. Eighth
Pennsylvania; C, /, and X, Thirteenth Mass,-
chusetts, A, C, and II, Third Wisconsin, aided
by two "amateurs" Judge Daniel McCook and
Benz G. Owens, Of Illinois,) were attacked by
twenty five hundred or Of the rebels, includ-
ing the celebrated cavalry regiment of Colonel
Ashby. The rebels had six pieces of artillery
four Of them upon Loudon Heights south, and two
upon Bolivar Heights west, upon the Charlestown
road, midway between the Potomac and the Shen-
andoah rivers, and mile and half back Of the
Ferry. The rebels first drove In our picke.s from
Bolivar Heisht aud then began cross FIRE upon
us, which lasted for several hours. Their cavalry
charged into Bolivar, but were driven back by
the Third Wisconsin boys, aided by shells from
Captain Tomkinss battery, which was upon the
Maryland Heights, east Of the Ferry
Two Wisconsin companies, led by Capt Henry
Bertram, then made desperate charge upon the
| enemy's guns and took 32-pouud colunbiad
heavy firing from the vicinity Of Smallwood's
woods Shell then fell around us thick as hail
and making noise over about like a train Of
cars when crossing bridge. Capt Tompkins
at this time turned his guns upon Loudoun
heights, silenced all their guns there, and scat
tered the enemy who were seen in great numbers
The two rebel guns upon Bolivar heights kept up
constant fire with shell and canister until about
p. m, and our men were gradually advancing
upon them under cover Of the houses, breaking
down the fences as they went to the west end Of
the town, when Lieut.. Martin, with piece of
artillery. belonging to the 9th New York Regi-
ment, came to our aid and fired upon the enemy
with terrible effect advancing at intervals, acs
companied by Col 6eary In person. The men
Ranking right and left considerably in advance
Of the piece, aud deployed obliquely.
The Wisconsin men, commanded by Capt III
Bertram, were on the left; the Massachusetts men,
under Lieut.. Jackson, a Pennsylvania company,
and one Of the 80 Amateurs" composed the right
wing Col. Geary, Judge McCook, and the bal
ance Of the Pennsylvanians were In the center
Our brave band, with universal shout for the
Union. storfned the heights Of Bolivar, drove the
enemy In the widest confusion from Sma llwood's
woods, recaptured the 81 FOUNDER and two anu
munition wagons, disabled several Of the enemy's
horses, took four prisoners, including Chaplain
Chilly NORTH" Of Jefferson county, Va. The
rebel coonel's cap was among the Trophies; be
was shot from his horse, but remounted and made
his escape. The rebels could not stand the fire
Of our artillery and Enfield rifles, so they fed to
the woods, near Halltown, and began Smelling US
with the only remaining available gun they had
left but our shells silenced 1t; one of them
striking the rebel caison caused a great ex ploson
When we reached the heights we found the axle
Of the new convert" considerably damag ed by
a she'll and also found that the rebels had used
great industry during the day, by making extern
sive additions to our works there, from which
they had driven our pickets in the morning.
The rebels disgraced themselves more than ever
by taking Of the clothing, rfing the pockets, and
then running their bayonets through the Federal
killed.
A team Of dozen horses was brought up from
the Ferry with remarkable expedition, and the
big gun was conveyed across the river, placed In
position commanding Harper's Ferry and the
mouth OF the Shenandoah, and was there, by one
OF the "ninateurs, - named "The New Convert to
the Union" AS the gun moved down the street
towards the Maryland side, we met Major Tyn-
dale and Adjutant Flynn, with a reinforcement Of
FIVE companies, to wit: B, c, 1, X, and NJ, of the
18th Pennsylvania, who had just arrived from
was most vocferous; and the Virginia ladies Of
the place gave strong proof of their love for the
Union by waving their handkerchiefs and Joining
In the general jubilee About five m one or
two other cannon Of the New York Ninth crossed
the river, ascended Bolivar Heights and then the
woods In the direction Of Halltown as well as
Loudoun Heights, were completely shelled, but
with no reply
Our loss was four killed and eight wounded 4:
theirs must have been very heavy, as they had all
the wagons Of the neighborhood busy in hauling
of the slain two wagon were seen full of the
killed. Their Chaplain admitted the loss to be
very heavy, and much blood was found upon the
hill from which they were driven
Colonel Geary displayed much skill and great
bravery during the whole Of the engagement
This was my first day upon the battle. field and
NV venerable friend Judge McKook fully sus.
tanned the high reputation of the MeCook fight.
ing family " This was not a &c Bull Rum, but q
rsbeLrnn affair. The rebel Colonel during the
next day sent down a flag Of truce, offering to OK.
change the only prisoner they took-a PennsySya-
MIA corporation the chaplain few of their
cavalry also appeared back Of Bolivar, but were
promptly shelied and dispersed by the Rhode
Island battery.
Great praise is due the surgeons Of the Sd Wis
consin and 18th Massachusetts for skill and atten
Hon to the wounded, and to Corporal Myers, Of
Co. A, Sd Wisconsin, for efficient aid in bringing
the captured gun off the field
Col Gsary was ordered. by MAJOR General
Banks to cross the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, in
order that he might capture large quantity Of
wheat, most Of which was stored In mill belong
ing to gentleman by the name Of Herr. The
order aforesaid was obeyed and twenty one thous.
and bushels Of wheat was taken. The object Of
the mission was accomplished before the battle
began.
THE LATE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT ON THE Mis-
sIssIPPI.-The New York Times has received ,