The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-11-06

The Battle OF Harrison,s Island---The
Thermopylae Of the WaI---A Contest
OF Nine Hours DuFation.--The Brave
Bearing Of the Troops. p
~ From the National Iutellgcncer.l
The accounts have been SO confused
and Inaccurate which we have seen of
this battle, which has been Represented
by the reports of letter writer's and pam
ic makers as disgraceiul to the Federal
arms as,well as bloody, but which, IN
truth, was so eminently honorable'to
the courage and conduct of our troops,
that we are glad to be able TO lay be-
fore our readers the subjoined correct
history of the brilliant affair, for which
we are indebted to a very intelligent
gentleman, who was near the scene
when the battle was fought, who after
wards informed himself authoritativeIy
of the particulars OF the engagement
and its objects, and who left Edwards
Ferry day before yesterday. 4 ri.
In one respect the engagement on
Monday at Harrison's Island by Col.
Bakers brigade, OF Maj. Gen: Stones
advance, was among the most remarka-
BILE Of the worlds annals Of battle. "
sixteen hundred men engaged, who held
out for nine hours against an overwhelm-
ing force of the enemy, little more
than half have returned 10 their camps
on the Maryland shore. On rare occa-
sions in the history of battles has such
a per centage of loss been witnessed.
1t abundantly attests the cool courage
and daring of the troops, and will stand
the Thermopyle of this war.
An impression most incorrect wIthre
gard to the morale of this battle endan-
gers the reputation Of the survivors,
and does great injustice to the real
characters and results of the movement,
as devised and planned by Gen. Stone.
Though our troops have now been with.
drawn from the Virginia shore and the
rebel pickcts now confront Edwards
Ferry, change of plan we are not here
to discuss, we desire that it should not
be forgotten how gallantly and well the
crossing of the Potomac was won, III
the face of aud thwarting che intentions
of the enemy. Not to speak OF false
impressions we desire to correct, we
have before lis the result OF the careful
investigation of the reporters who nave
visited the locality and the camps OF
regiments engaged, and we are greatly
mistaken if it do not appear thereirom
that in all respects the achievement was
a real and valuable one, though pur-
chcsed at heavy loss,
The enemy were in possession OF the
Virginia shore, and fully advised q
Gen. Stones intended movement
" There are two ferries across the river
: at that pace--one of them Conrad's, az
the head of Harrison's Island, long
narrow tract of four hundred acres, IN
mid-stream, and the other Edward $
! Ferry, SIX miles below, on the direct
, road from Poolsville to Leesburg. 1t
was Gen. Stones plan to divert the at
5 tention of the enemy from these TO
; third point, of his own selection, hve
miles above Edwards FIVE, at the loot
of Harrison's Island, and by making a
feint of throwing over his whole col
umn at that place, invite the rebel at
D tack; while at Edwards Ferry, thus lett
Vi free, the main body could be moved
2 across without hindrance. And just
e this was done.
a If we are understood in this brlel
: statement the fact viii stand that the
. little force of the gallant and lamented
: Baker became as it were forlorn hope
, which, at fearful risk and result to them
h selves, purchased immunity and safe
n crossing for the main body.
Gen. Baker received the order for his
4 movement on Sunday. The same even
u ing Capt. Philbrick and Lieut.. Howe
5 of Colonel Devcns' 18th Massachusetts
" with twenty men, crossed the river al
- the point above indicated, and made
n thorough reconnaissance to within
d mile and a half of Leesbnrg, and re
l. turned, reporting that no enemy hat
}. been seen. An through that night, b.
|. facilities for transport far too incom
e plete and unmili,ary for the purpose
a Gen. Baker was throwing over his torce
n and at daybreak the first line was form
70 % ed at Balls Bluff, about eighty fee
y above the river, offering on the top Al
I'll area OF seven hundred acres, surround
ni ed by trees, save in the angle to tn
N south where clearing and corn
N field, with the corn in tie shocks, open
} ed out to the main road. @ .
es The force of Gen. Baker was abou
y 1900 strong, made up of broken reg
!. mcnts. The Massachusetts, 18th ha'
,e 700 men present, the goth Massachu
\. setts only three companies, the Califor
- mia brigad. about 600 men, and tn
re Tammany IN. w regiment two o
a three companies. There were also tw'
a howitzers of Ricketts, U. S. battery, Z
4 the command of which Lieut.. Bramha
y was detailed from the New York 9th
- The first attack of the enemy wa
~ W made about six clock, from rude riff
in pits in corn field. This was met by
In gallant charge OF the Massachusett
S. 18th, which drove the enemy from thel
IN coverts at the point of the bayonet.-
as After sharp work for some three hour
Nc along the whole front of the little line
$, s. the enemy being kept in check with tn
a a three pieces Of artillery, they then
;" selves using only rifles and cavalry cal
bines in the action, a lull took place
:. during which it would appear, from tn
very misapprehension Gen. Stone ha
a signed to create, the rebels wer
a. drawing their whole force from abov
and below to strengthen tho centre {
their line, which they believed to b
/. threatened by the head of onr mai
lie COLLINS. .-..... .r.-..,. ..i... ..
'u While our troops were eating thei
o dinner, about 2 P. NJ, the rebel firinl
:, ! recommended, at short rifle range, frof