The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-25
,as BATTLE AT BALLS BLUFF.

h~ss then ascetaioed that Cclre Baker had crcssed
we rivyr with only shcat hundrei men, and ta
oas psvss falling back In good order, but closely
r-csses by The encmy in superior numbers, Without
waiting far Ii, crossing Of his Whole command, he
pzs a. tsywaEdw bis hsadred men, and without
sendrs scouts the iron, upn bis zaks he rushed
q: and ENGAGED Tie who's force Of Ave six thousand
* he srsny Tie nsh, vic were then abo@t seventeen
h hundred in al fought lsSe lions They disputed every
aaca q ground a0t driven back. The reinforce
suts coiag from across the river in detached com
n MES wsge attacked by the hsnk, and there no
elernsiive ia, Ia a IN which dole In good order
,at.l the liver bank reached
Arrived ,hefe, the means OF transportation
vas Insufficient, Some Of the boats were over
.cadcl ana ~ mpea one Of them containing Glty
taca. I'll, reae wors pouring rianging IRE down
smonp them tror he bank above them, and called out
tlat they woai firing they would surrender but
shy refused to surrender, They ordered 10 throw
'hor n the river aud themselves This order
was eoclly obeyod. n skcts and swords were east
Into the river, but stl che refused 70 surrender
Those who could swim took to the water others awaited
themselves a logs plants, others scattered w and
down the river, ani white must have fallen the
enenys naus others have escaped, many whom have
since managed 10 get back to camp.
Tho Geld il which tho battle fought "a circum
/, scrlned within m area Of six acres.
TIL conduct Of Colonel Baker in his effort TO rescue tue
MASSACHUSETTS, and other men, under Ore was heroic be-
You'd description.
Tie forces engaged the affair six hundred Of tho
Mssach, sat Fifteenth, Elk hundred AMI eighty nine Of
Eakers California, two hundred or tho Tamnany and
two hundred Of the Twentieth Massachusetts, regiment
OF these up 70 this mornng there reported Killed.
wounded ana missing not exceeding two hundred and
aftytwo of the Fifteenth Massachusetts, two hundred
and thirty of the California, and about hundred
sud ATTY Of tho Tammany regiment The toss Of tho Fir
tesh Massachusetts, considerable has not been
asccr,alned.
Icin Tho best data obtained from Harrisons Island up
" hie this evening It is believed that the rumbcr Of
ke3 WAS 20 wounded In possession; and tosses-
scn nf the enemy, 14l missing, prisoners in the
hans Il The enemy and wandering Ia the woods GA both
shores Of the river, not cxcoedng 400; total loss
killed, wounded and missing, $40. This will DO reduced
By men returning TO camp, they are constantly coming
In.
The officers ana behaved with the most extraor.
binary courage They pressed by an overpower.ag
force, but eood firm until heir whole supply OF a,nmu.
milton was exhausted and thcn retrcated the river
and threw their guns and swords into it prevent
TIC enemy from getting possession OF them Colonel Ray
mond Ice and staff furnished with Skin to make
their escape. The Colonel calamity refused, and gave
orders 10 use it for conveying the woanGod across the
river. " was filled with wounded, who reached the
harylald shore in safety, and the humane and gallant
officer was taken prisoner. All credit is due TO him.
Co ne cogswen took command VIII Colonel Baker
fell an behaved with the greatest GOODNESS and gallant
ny. lie also Is prisoner
The self possession, coonoss and courage OF tho men
engaged is greatly commended by those who witnessed
e contest and the opinion of both officers and mon IS
that the loss Of the enemy the field was iniatoy
greater than IL on side The enemy outnunbered
forces at least three to one
Yesterday captain OF tho Second Rhode Island regi-
mont with twenty men, went across with flag Of truce
70 bury eGrdead. The men were permitted perform
this duty, bit the Tan tado prisoner but sub
seqaently released and allowed return with his men
All the dead Of ours found buried By them before
returning
Tie Official report at dark tonight is that seventy nine
ascertaneI 10 be killed, bpt that tho list OF missing
Is every less ned Ny the rctarn OF those who
have escaped. This morning the number of killed,
wounded and missing six hundred and twenty-five,
but u has been much lessenod since Among those who
have como in Captain Watson and the sergean'
Major Of the Fifteenth Massachusetts regiment
The following despatch from General Stone to General
Mcclellan received 10 night
The entire list Of killed. FAR ascertaned is seven
ty nine The list o is essenng every mo,nen
by the return OF parties who accounted killed or
N ssing among whom arc Canaan WATSON ,nJ lie Co.
gsant Major of the Fifteenth Massachusetts,
Lieutenant J. Owe Berry, OF the Eighth Virginia reri
ment Qebel) taken prisoner ard sent TO the head
quarters OF General Banks. lie appears be unwilling
70 communicate much intelligence, but stated that the
rebels had plenty Of arms ammunition and food but wa,
sadly oil for clothing
Among the incidents or the recent battle, it Is related
that Lieutenant Fke with five men after the fight
travelling through the woods seeking conveyance across
te river when they found negro VINO FOR i've dollars
serried them over 10 the Maryland side.
Lieutenant Eennen, who was taken prisoner, reports
chat c,cno. Hilton, Of the rebel army, killed at the
comrnencement Of the engagement
Colonel 0weos, Of tho Second California regiment ar
rived here tonight direct from Edwards Ferry ard reat
cd ths following additional particulars in regard to the
recent engagement
The force 73s sid ard Of The number XIII
ed led AMI sslns 2s7 belonged to Colonel Bakers
regiment.
Csploin Vaughn, who sen, over to bury the dead
reports tina, large number Of the rebeis who we're stain
were carried away, while others were inferred On tho
battle field.
The impression tina, tho reason their killed so far OK
cceded owing the efficiency Of our artillery
Lieutenant Colonel wistar, who wounded in the
shoulder, arm and Jaw, is considered out Of danger
Captain AaTkoc wounded IN the arm and taken
prisoner.
lieutenant Williams, of Captain putman's company.
killed.
Colonel owens further states that Immediately previous
10 the fall Of Colone! Baker the rebels made flank move
mcnt 10 turn the latter line Colonel Rakcr pcrceiving
TINS Immediately wrote an order 70 be conveyed tho
Tnriny companies which had lust arrived and While
the right was facing his command TO meet tho flank
movement and When ebou. giving orders TO charge he
was killed, failing ten feet in advance Of his column
II was never tho Intention Of Cen Mcclellan 10 occurv
Lccsbug II II situated TO be Of no more use 10 him
IN the present position 4 the armies than tie occu
patton The north bank OF the Potomac He was wiling
10 send out Reconnaissance 10 force as he DID on atur
day by The advance Of Gen. Mctals division 10 beyond
Drancsville, with Wow Of simply making such demon.
stratloa ne would induce the abandonment by the
rebels cs Lcosburg, rs .eli as The places they had
occupied Immediately IN front OF Washington. Gcno-
ral Mccall ordered lol1gaH and occupied tho
position assigned from Saturday I'll Monday forenoon,
when, in Obedience TO orders, bio eisdrey returned.
When tho afst intelligence Of the engagement near
Leeshurg was received, orders TO General
Mccall u rcaiu his position at Dralncsville bat bo had
Then already reached his headquarters at Langeys, and
wa a ioAe days march from the sccno or action.
GENERA lcClellani accompanied by Colonel Coburn, &C