New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-05

faO In clear them out. just Nv 'De - y rebel
.;obt NJ n vbte-baired officer ri'rng "'"A led
sront. and recognizing him as be 'hOusn'' lin
t,, pistol. aud Of the same nohsi" :.
a;.,;nsn;shed rider ont, be excla"eu'
ca,ersl Johnston-fre boys, tieI "o "0
's oOA 81 ,eoo;ve the weapon be had called ''f'
..n .od.Laired man emerged sudaeny iIou'
.,1oL. ord walking qnickly up to Wi'lnn hVe
s-r ~, poter. presented sel!-eocAing re-
'0.' v o,;dls az lie could crook bis finger,
=, ,ha bul,ets it contained into bis body.
A, the very same moment a musse'-oSh sleo
to,,,b and through his skull behind the ear, enc
- ,vbirlng slug from Mississippi wager tore
80 ope.balf Of the muscle Of the night arm, ana
nsrsd hole uto bis side large enough to thrust 10
tts handle of sword. Al the death-dealing shots
seemed to strike at once and the noble leader and
orator matcbless of the earth, fell mute, to speak no
more. The tragedy had paralyzed all beholdeFs for
tie moment; but Capt. Beirel rec overlnS DIS SCH
pos,.ssion first. rushed at tie slayer as he bent 70
nossess himself Of the Generals sword, seized Dim
by the throat, and placing his pistol al HE temples
blew the ruffsn's braiu il red fame over 'Ae nuf-
,3ered body. Beirel had been followed IN hs Oh.
slauqbt by several members OF hls company abd
numbers of the Rebels on the other side bad pressed
forward to protect their rehared eomraoe us they
,aw ,be svsnoer rush toward him, and savage
bsnd.to.band fight ensued over the corse. Sword
,brust pistolsbot, aud bayone,-siab interGingled
,ckly In that ferocious episode and the body OF the
dead leader, though tIampled in the melee, lay
smiling in its newfound quiet, approving OF the
scene.
The accession of the Confederates wac, however,
the greatest ut this point and the Califonans swayed
backward some few feet from the corse. The Rebels,
in turn, retired and then momentary pause enSued,
during which tears might have been seen coursng
themselves down many smoke-smeared cheek, on
our side, at the eight of their great loss. They did
DOT in that moment however, forget that he had en-
Joined many of them that il he fell in battle they
were not 10 let traitors get possession of his body
Adjutant Harney was the frst to remind them oi
tbis pledge, and, responding to the appeal, Berei,
who all through bad been one of the main heroes oi
che fght called to bis men to follow him just ss
large number of the Rebels started from the oppo'
ate woods, evidently after the distinguished trophy
Before, however, the creatures could possess them
selves of the noble SPOIL Beirel and his men beat
them back. The gallant fellow then Ia sed the corpse
of his commander 10 bis arms and, bearing IT, amid
shower of bullets, within our lines delivered II to
Msor Young, who at once conveyed 1t safely to the
river.
But this event though II cast resistless gloom
over our men in all psrts Of the field, did lot un-
nerve them nor make ;bemsck of battle. 1t inspired
them with fresh rage-the californian battalion al
most with frenzy. They rushed back, ard with
shrieks and cheers and suca osths as maddened
courage consecraies like prayers, they poured again
into the thckest of the fight. Coggs~ell took CON-
mand. Bramhall, though wounded, was yet at his
gun, aided ftill by Private BoOth, ard Massachu-
setts color bearer with one leg shattered stood rest
Ing himself bravely Oh the staff, while he uudaunt-
edy maintained his position in the front of battle on
the other. Here wts a sight. The North, which
shis day had leaders who stood by item, proving
its strain, and Notwithstanding the enemy's excess OF
numbers their killed and wounded at that time out
numbered ours two to one.
But the battle could not lsst-could not be kept up
ander our disadvantages No heroism could COM
pensate for our inferorty Of forcei no generaship
remedy our dangers of position. We were being
pushed step by step toward the bank, and 10 default
Of transportation there no prospect but surren-
der, or watery grave. Surrender, however, was
rot once thought of by single man, and no one
murmured at the fight COL Coggswen, however,
made an effort to retreat toward Edwards's Ferry,
In The hope that be might find tie promised forces Of
GoEman's brigade advancing by that rOutei but the
rebels swarmed too tlckly on the left, and be was
forced TO retire backward upon tie river. Foot by
foot be and hs heroes fought, the rebels equsling
them now in desperation and driving the shattered
remnants steadily back. Finally we were forced TO
the shore the boat which had been bearing wounded
all the afternoon was showing of with mapgled,
moaning load, and the rebels in full strength ap-
peared upon the bluff. Their unesrhly yells then
wsat up sgain, but our dsheartened were SILENT
vet they strsgglngy returned the concentrated and
decimaliDg fire that was now poured upon them.
Amid their voeys, they shouted to us to surrender;
but this was answered with rough expressions Of
disdain ald responses from our muskets. But hope
bad now quite abandoned our side. BramhalPs gun,
which lad been brought from the feld, but which be
bad failed to get to the river with The purpose Of
snbmerging it, had been tumbled down the cliff and
spiked, and all power for active retaliation was de-
parted. Yielding 10 a stern necessity, therefore,
Col. Coggswen gave the order for the men 70 cast
eheir arms into the stream aud rave themselves as
best they could. The panic common to the climax of
protfaeted suffering then set in and the seene became
one Of route, carnage, and dismay. Hundreds
plunged into the river, and large NUMBER regard
less Of the safety Of the wounded swan after the
returning scow and swamping it with their weight,
che wounded quick and dead went down together
Many able swimmers were stfed in the fierce, un-
friendly current and those who through lack Of that
accomplishment, or miStrustful Of their strength,
would not tempt the river, wandered YEARLY up and
down tho hoetiie shore, and were eventually taken
prisoners. Cos. Coggwell and Lee were among
khe latter number, in consequence Of having yielded