Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-31


timely warning Of the approach Of superior
force which afterwsrd overwhelmed HIS reei-
ment. thinking that Col. Baker might be able
to use more artillery, dispatched to him two ad.
infantry, with directions to come into position
below the place Of crossing, and report TO Col,
Baker Col Baker suggested this himself, later
In the day, just before the guns on their way ar
rived
After Col. Devens's second advance, Col. Baker
went to the deld in person, and It is a matter OF
regret to me that he left record Of what officers
and and men ne cbs'sed with the care Of the boat.
and insuring the regilar passage of tfoops III
any were charged with this duty, Il was not per;
formed, for the re-inforcements az they arrived
found no one in command Of the boats, and great
delays were thus occasioned Had one officer
fnd company remained at each landing, guard
Ing the boats, their full capacity would have been
made serviceable, and sufficient men would have
Deen passed on to secure success. The forward
a.o the OF
Imposing force on the Virginia shore. IL the
infantry force had frst crossed, a difference Of
Loo men would have been made In the infantry
line az the time Of attack, probably enough to
have given us the victory.
between IL and p. m the enemy appeared In
force In front Of Col. Devens, and a sharp skir-
mish ensued, and was maintained for some time
6y the 18th Massac husetts, unsupported, and find
Ing he would be outhanked. Col. Devens retired
short distance and took up a position near the
WOOD, half mile In front Of Col. Lee, where he
until O'CLOCK. when he again fell
back, with the approval. Of Col Baker, and took
his place with the portions Of the Goth Massachu.
sets and LIST California, which had arrived
Col Baker now formed his line, and waited
the attack Of the enemy, which came upon him
with great vigor about 8 p m and was well met
by our troops, who, though pitched against much
| superior numbers, three to one, maintained their
ground, under most destructive fire Of the enc
nv.
Col. Coggswell reached the field amid the
nravest hre, and came gallanty into action, with
yell which wavered the enemy's line
Lieut. Bramhall, of Bunting's Battery, had sue
ceeoed, after extraordinary eIertions and labor,
In bringing up piece Of the Rhode Island Bat.
terry, and Lieut.. French his two howitzers but
both officers, after well-d rected firing were soon
borne away wounded, and the pieces were hauled
to the rear, SO that they might not fall into the
enemy's hand
Al p. m. Col Baker fell at the head Of his col.
umn, pierced by number Of bullets, while
cheering his men, and by his own example sus.
tanning the obstinate resistance they Were making
The command then devolved upon Col Lee, who
prepared to commence throwing out forces to the
rear, but 1t was soon found that Col. Copgswell
was the senior In rank, and he, taking tue COM
mand, ordered preparations to be made for ma rcb-
ing to the left, and cutting a way through to
Edwards Ferry. But just as the first dispositions
were being effected, rebel officer rode rapidly in
front and beckoned the Tammany Regiment TO.
ward the enemy. IL IL not clear whether or not
the Iammany men supposed this was one Of our
oncers, but they responded with a veil and
charged forward, carrying with them I'm their
advance the rest of the line, which soon received
destructive fire from the enemy at Close distance
The men were quickly recalled, but their new
position frustrated the movement designed and
Col Co2gswell gave the necessary order TO retire
The enemy pursued TO the edge Of the Bluff over
the landing place, and poured In a heavy FIRE az
our men were endeavoring to cross to the Island
Tue retreat was rapid, but according to orders
The men formed near the river, maintaining for
nearly half an hour the hopeless contest rather
than surrender.
he -
knew where. The largest boat, rapidly and too
heavily loaded, swamped at fifteen feet from the
shore, and nothing left 10 our soldiers but to
swim, surrender or die
With devotion worthy of the cause they ,ueye
serving, officers and men while quarter was being
offered to such an would lay down their arms
stripped themselves Of their swords and muskets
and hurled them into the river to prevent their
falling into the hands Of the foe and saved them
selves as they could by swimming floating upon
logs, and conc ealing themselves In the bushes OF
tne forest, and to make their way up and down
the rlVer bank to a place Of crossing. The in
sttncesiof personal galantry of the highest order
Were 30 many that IL would be unjust to detail
particular cases Officers displayed for their men
and men for their officers that beautiful deyotion
which Is only to be found among true soldiers
w lille these scenes were being enacted on the
right, was preparing the left for rapId pu n
forward to the road by which the enemy would
retreat II driven and entirely unsuspicious of the
periious condition Of our troops. The ad fitionaI
artillery had already been sent and when the
messenger, who did not leave the field until after
O'Clock, was questioned az TO Col Baker,s nosi
ton, be informed me that the Colonel when he
left seemed to feel perfectly secure, and could
doubtless hold his position In case he sbould NOT
advance The same statement was made by an
other messenger half an hour later, and watched
anxionsly for sign Of advance on the right, In
order to push forward Gen German. II was an
had been explained to Col Baker impracticsbIs
TO throw Gen Germans brigade directly to the
righ by reason Of the battery In the woods he
tween which we had never been able to recon-
hotter.
Ala p. m or Whereabouts. telegraph to Gen.
Banks for brigade OF his division, intending II
TO occupy the ground this side of the river nea,
Harrison g Island. which would be abandoned in
case OF rapid advance, and SHORTLY after IA the
nre slackened, messenger was waited for on
whose tdlngs should be given orders either for
the advance Of Gen German to cut off the retreat
OF the enemy, or for the disposition for the NIGHT
In the position then held
At p m. Capt Candy arrived from the field
ana announced the melancholy tidings of Col
Bakers death, but with no intelligence of anv
further disaster. | Immediately apprised Cen
Banks Of Col. Bakers death, and rode quickly
10 the rig mt to assume command. Before arriving
opposite the Island, men who had crossed the
river plainly gave evidence Of the disaster, and
on reaching the same was satisfied of II by the
conduct OF the men then landing in boats
Inc reports made to me were that the enemy's
force was 10000 men This I considered, as a
proved to be, an exaggeration. Orders were then
given to hold the island and establish patrol on
the tow-path from opposite the island to the line
OF pickets near the Monocacy, and returned 10
the left to secure the troops there from disaster
and make Preparations for moving them az rap.
Idly as possible
Orders arrived from Gen. Mcclellan to hold
the island Virginia shore at Edwards, Perry at
all rlsks, indicating al the same time that rein
forcements would be sent, and immedi ately adj
dinonal means Of intrenching were forwarded,
and Gen. Gorman was furnished with particula,
directions to hold out against any and every force
Of the enemy
During that time, Gen Hamilton with hi.
brigade was on the march from Jamestown Re-
ioie left to go to the right, l Issued orders 10
intercept him, and instructed him 10 repair 10
Conrads Ferry, where orders awaited him to SO
dispose Of his force to give protection TO Bar.
Tlson's island, and protect the line of the river
Ats a. m. Major-General Banks arrived and took
command. wv
report of division for the following DAVIS will
be made out speedily. cannot conclude without
bearing testimony TO the courage, good dsci pline.
and conduct OF all the troops Of this division du
ring the day. Those In action behaved like vete.
rams and those not brought into action showed that
alacrity and steadiness In their movements which
proved their anxiety to engage the foe In Their
country's cause We mourn the loss Of the brave
departed, dead on the field Of honor, IL NOT of
success, aud we miss the com partnership of those
OF our comrades who have fallen into the hands of
our enemies. But all feel that thew have e,rnsd