Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-29

pooLrsvlLLE, MD, Oct. %, 1861.


Blood from the Heart OF our GEAR Old Com
monwe ath has been freely shed and honor
nobiy won. will give you the simple facts us
am too weary to enter into details My first
wish IS to do what am as yet unable To-
give you the names of the killed, wounded,
and missing. THIS, however, is being official
ly arranged, and tile dread anxiety will soon
be confirmed TO some, and removed from
the trembling souls Of others. Harrison Isl
aud, which we had possession OF when you
was here, was the starting point of our expe-
dition. On Sunday night the four companies
on picket were thrown upon the island with
Capt Philbrick 5, and during the night passed
over on to the Virginia shore, But before
they moved from the island Capt Philbrick,
the quartermaster, and twenty men, went
over to reconnoter, and went within Il mile or
so of Leesburg without meeting any opposi-
ton. BY daylight Col, Deyens and the above
named officers went out some distance over
the same ground, retired again TO the vicinity
of their ascent, for hey went up over steep
bank some rs leet high The scouts were
thrown out, and soon reported the approach OF
rife company from the direction OF Con
RAIDS Ferry. Captain Philbrick's company
were detailed to look out for them
He advanced TO meet them, drew his
men up across the road, which they no
sooner discovered than they changed their
direction and retreated, followed on the double
quick by Capt P. The fellows soon tumbled
into a long ditch Or rifle pit, and opened
CALLING fire. Thirteen poor fellows fell wound.
ed, and four died. Our men held their posi-
ton until they drove the rebels from their pit
TO the corn stacks i'll the neighboring field.
Here, with their rifles, they fought with every
advantage, and a body OF some one hundred
cavalry making their appearance for the pur
pose of cutting them off, led them to retire 10
the other companies, Cvl. Devens directing
their movements in person.
Having fallen into their selected position,
they remained quiet waiting for the enemy to
with large force, probably somewhere in the
vicinity of three times our numbers. They
opened fire, which was brisk!y returned, until
the approach of cavalry in large numbers
compelled the withdrawal of our men to the
corner of the bluff on the banks of the Poto.
mac. The quartermaster was now dispatched
to Gen. Stone, with report from Col. Devens
OF the state OF affairs, and returned from Ed
wards Ferry with orders to Lieut.. Col. Ward
to reinforce Col Devens with the rest of the
fu-a hav Ipff Ia Mt
o'clock Sunday night, and had been awaiting
orders to cross from A. NJ. on Monday morn
ing). When Lieut.. Col. Ward arrived Col
Deyens advanced to his previous position,
which he held until Gen. Baker arrived with
seven hundred Of the California regiment and
some three hundred of Col. Lees Massachu-
sets twentieth Gen. Baker, on taking com.
mand, ordered Col Devens 10 occupy the right
and make the advance. The heaviest of the
firing commenced at about half past two P. NJ,
and lasted with perhaps ten minutes intermis-
sion unri halt past five. Gen. Baker fell
pierced by FIVE bullets. Col. Coggswell of the
New York Tammany took the command, but
the overwhelming numbers of the enemy
made it evident that the field could not be
much longer contested. lie gave u4u oc4o.-.
retire just after one or two companies OF his
own regiment charged furiousIy over the enc,
my, and received deadly fire from them.
Here We we're completely at their mercy.
They fired down the embankment upon US in
perfect storms, sending two or three volleys
among our wounded on the island and those
who were careing for them. The forces en-
gagged there, numbering in all some sixteen
hundred men on our side, were repuIsed. But
men nowhere or ever fought more bravey.
They held their own till halt past five against
some five thousand men, and rather than sur
render, IA word not entering into the vocabu-
larry of the fitteenth,l they breasted the Poto-
mac against mereiless volleys of musketry.
We We're repulsed, but what did we accom-.
plish? Enabled Gen. Stone to throw the main
body of his division over at Edwards Ferry,
unmoested. Our skirmishing in the morning
led them TO expect the main body of the army
in that vicinity, and their forces were ccntered
at that point TO repulse. But we think that
our conflict purchased the possession for the
others OF the ford below where Thousands are
Sugly entrenched, and l know not but
near the doomed locality of Leesburg The
colonel has drawn the men to him by bond
never to be severed-has shown himself a man
fit 10 command. He led them 1t was the same
with Lieut. Col. Ward, who was borne from
the field graspiag the sword lie had shown his
| fitness 10 WELD. May the loss of bis foot
| prove no loss to the military demand of his
country for we cannot spare him from our
midst The major was manly and true to his
| position, roaring out his commands so as to be
| distinctly heard over the island In fact, Col.
| Devens says he saw no officer or man through.
out that whole day who did not do his whole
| duty in fearless manly way. l pause but
| for a moment, to give you the sad nua.ber Of
| our loss. But before doing that must say
that we have now written in characters of
| blood our need OF the rifles we used every
honorable effort TO obtain. Had We possessed
| them, our men need not have been exposed
| near as much as they were. In the morning,
Capt. Ph.Ibrck's company had to 90 within
| deadly range of theirs, ere he could drive
them from their pits with his smooth bores.
| Friends, be hopeful for those that are miss
ing Many are no doubt prisoners, and will
again be permitted to meet you. But l must
close, as | expect 10 leave soon for Washing.
ton, in command of some rebel officers.
Yours, with deepest sympathy to the sor-
| ROWING hearts of ftIr oof,,,pouWoot,h