The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-10-31

Before daylight on order came to Co
Baker to march the first battalion of th
California regiment to Conrad's Ferry,
miles south Of the island, and then, if Ii
heard firing 90 to the support OF Coggs
we'll and Deyens. Accordingly Lieut.. Col
Wistar advanced with the battalion, 6S!
men and officers, and by sunrise reached
the river and proceeded down to the islan'
crossing. | accompanied the force to ar
range for transportation: was sent to repor
to Gen. Stone for orders; returned, haviny
received orders to cross at once. Onmy wa,
back | overlook Col Baker, who told NJ,
that only the battalion were to cross; h
had no orders for the brigade.
Shortly after Gen. Stone placed Col Ba
ker in command of all the forces on th.
Virginia side. At I a. IN. our battalion
commenced crossing to the island and thel
to the Virginia shore. Meantime we hearo
skirmishing shots on the heights, which
continued without much iniermissior
through the morning.
Now we began to experience the diff.
Guilty which was the chief cause of the
terrible scenes which closed the day.
Capt. Young details the difficulties en-
countered in crossing, which consumed
the entire day till after o'clock Monday:
When our skirmishing companies had
reached the edge of the woods, suddenly
the enemy, hitherto concealed, rose with
yell and fired volley; then began firing
in the usual manner-frst giving yell
and volley; then loading and firing at will
for few minutes; then ceasing an equal
time; then giving another yell and vollcy,
and SO on, pouring n murderous volley in
to our little band for the space of half an
hour. The whole woods around swarmed
with them. They had no artillery and nc
cavalry Our Rhode islanders, except
the officers, deserted their guns, but Col.
Baker, Lieut. Col Wistar, Col Coggswel,
and Adjt Harvey manned the battery and
fired the guns themselves, aided bv Com.
pany G, LIST California, led by the gallant
Capt. Beiral. The latter was conspicu-
Gus for bravery throughout the action be
is wounded, but not dangerously, and is
now safe on Maryland ground
We kept up both musketry and can
non fire as well as we could, but half the
time we could not see the enemy, and his
cowardly discharges were thinning our
ranks; still most of the men stood firm and
acted bravely. The enemy's volleys and
yells increased in loudness, and it was ev-
ident that reinforcements were pouring in
to his aid. Captain Stewart, Gen Stone 5
Adjutant, came on the field with the
cheering statement that Gen. German
would shortly support us At 81 p. m.
We held council of war, and resolved to
stand our ground, Gen. Baker ordering me
to 90 for reihforeemeuts BY this time
Coggswell was wounded Wistar had fall
en-. the cf1ct4y We're growing mare In
ring, rushing out Of the woods, taking
some prisoners, and firing hotly.
just then rebel officer, riding white
horse, came out of the woods and beckoned
TO ms to come forward Col. Baker thought
il was Gen. Johnston, and that the enemy
would meet Us in open fight Part of our
column charged, Baker cheering us on,
when a tremendous onset was made by the
rebels. One man rode forward, presented
a revolver at Baker, and fred all its char
ges AT him. Our gallant leader fell. and
a: the same moment all our lines were
driven back by the overwhelming force
opposed 10 them. But Capt. Beiral, with
his company, fought his way back to Col
Bakers body, rescued it, brought it along
to me, and then general retreat COM
menced.
1t was soure qub peuti | got the Col
onel's body to the island before the worst
of the rout, and then, looking to the Vir.
glna shore, saw such a spectacle as nc
tongue can describe. Our entire forces
We're retreating, tumbling, rolling, leapina
down the steep heights, the enemy fol.
lowing them, numbering and taking pris-
oners. Col. Devens left his command
and swan the river on horseback. Col
| Coggswell, after unavailable bravery, hac
ordered the retreat himself, but being
wounded, was taken. The one boat il
the Virginia channel was speedily fiIlet
and sunk. A thousand men thronged tn,
further hank. Muskets, coats and every
thing were thrown aside, and all wer.
desperately trying to escape. Hundred
plunged into the rapid current, and the
shrieks Of the drowning added to the hor.
ror of sounds and sights. The enemy
kept up their fire from the cliff above
All was terror, confusion and dismay
captain of the 18th Massachusetts at ON,
moment charged calamity up the hll
leading two companies, who still had theil
arms, against the pursuing foe A mo.
ment later and the same officer, perceiy
lng the. hopelessness Of the situation
waved a white handkerchief, aud surren
dered the main body of his regiment 9th
err portions OF the column surrendered
but the rebels kept up their fire upon those
who tried to cross, and many not drowned
I 1 "A hn rlx II, 4 r