The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-28

assisted in pushing II forward. Then, rsmountug his
horse he yaopcd to the right waving his hat and shout
ing, FORWARD my brave men, forward, for Mcclellan
and our couEry This cry seemed 10 eecrify the whole
brigade The responded with shouts and advanced
with the deern, naton TO conquer or die Never did
tsran troops behave with more GOODNESS and steadness
They charged mp to the solid squares Of the rebel br
gades with the bayone and hand hand conflict took
place in part Of the Ged that have left scores Of
wounded and many dead upon the ground But the enc
my had the choice Of position, and had chosen sot
where It was found impossble 10 disodge them,
~ one time the California regiment after delivering
tremendous volley at regiment opposed 70 theinr
charged on them double quick time The rebels broke
ana He'd IN disorder leaving their flag In our hands fas
no had they got away than two fresh regiments OF
rebels advanced 10 take their places fred at the bravo
calornians and forced them In Turn to retreat IL was
in this melee that General Baker received his death
wound is true that he was pierced with six bas pt
he was not tho only honored sergeant INST
behind him, had two balls in his head. private within
SIX feet Of him. had bail In his right arm nnt one IN
tho breast. Several soldiers in his vicinity had two
hah dozen OF his brave soldiers fell dead around
him He was on horseback at the time and his horso
wounded. As Colonel Coggswell knew that
General Baker killed he assumed tho command ana
conducted himself with great GOODNESS and gahntry Hc
convinced that by this time the day was lost. He
ordered tho brigade, therefore, 10 retire to Edwards
Ferry and this movement commenced. He sent an aid
General Stone who was on tho Maryland side Of tho
river des ing him to send General German his assist
apce and TO cover his retreat with ono fresh troops
He hen exered himself in rcpellng the enemy, who
were by this time pressing hard upon rctreating
Columns The behaved with great stcadiness firing
wherever possible. and nothing like rout took place.
fuscd to leave the post q danger and surrouhdc
cut Of and tnken prisoner with Ave q his men, who did
their best to save him. The men became somewhat dis
piflted after this but maintained good order
and continued their retreat to the river They reached
the river about shutdown.
Here commenced a really terrific scene. Whatever
ofdscer here took rlaceamong the they
not be greatly blamed for them. They had fought brave
ly all day against an overwhelming force OF the enemy
and LAD only retreacd when their General and many Of
their officers had been slain and when their ammunition
had become exhausted The enemy flushed with success,
were cose upon them, pouring vollcys into them
every few minutes Tho boats crowded to In
a moment and all Of them swamred and rendered
useless The then seeing no other mode OF escape,
plunged into the stream and attempted TO cross Most
Of the threw Their nrskes into the river bat some
tanned them and brought them over safely Many Of the
could not SWIM and these of course drowned.
Their cries for help drea9fn but il was after
nightfa but little If any aid could b. rendered them.
Many who were afraid to venture In the water were
taken prisoners by the rebels few escaped this fate
by running into the woods. Thus ended tho night at
Lcesbnre disastrous in The death Of the gallant Baker
and many OF his heroic command, but NJ the same
time 81 honorable to tho brave offenders Of the Union
engaged therein.
FRspERlcx, Nd, Oct. Is, 1861
Tie Movement Unauthorized ty General McC2eHan-Our
Troops, Their Bravery and Their Su1efass, dc. dc.
Since General McClelans return to Washington It
turns out that tho whole movement tho part OF
General Stone was entirely unauthorized by him. and
that he Is greatly dispIeascd with General Stone for
making such an important movement without his OK
orders ~ VIII be remembered bhat tIcbcrai store
attempted to take Lecsburg by force OF to be
thrown tho Potomac In "A canal boat and two old
scows each Of which required hour to make
trip, and coud only carry Atty men. When General Nc
CleIan is ready to take Leesburg lie will have such
means transportation ready that the whole Of General
Banks division be thrown across and movement
will be mai until suitable "Reminiscences have been
Effected The result Of this bnder on the part Of Gene
raj stonc is that all attempts on Leesburg have been
abandoned and those troops that had been transported
across to the Virginia side Wednesday had to be
brought back to the Maryland side on IN uslay.
On Tuesday The enemy showed no disposition to renew
he battle. They all day ing the woods
in search Of the fgitvcs who had sought that Of
escape the previous evening. Many were found,
nearly persisted from cold and hunger, and taken
prisoners without resistance The bodies of those who
drowned continued drift ashore both sides OF
the river ali day Those that reached tho Maryland side
carefully removed and properly disposed Of They
win undoubtedly DO recognized. and list made Of them.
have boon promised cory Of the list il is
made out but doubt whether will ever get it, Up to
this time a hundred bodies have been taxi up.
These hat washed ashore the Maryland side have
probably been inferred
During tho whole of Wednesday there was some skir-
sh!ng betwe forces the Virginia side and the
rebels, but without important results. Our men
enough to make any e. .rd movement, and acted
strictly On the defensive. They held their ground till
troops were withdrawn to the Maryland side OF tho
river
The statement was circulated IN Washington Thurs
day that General Mc( fei'an, consulting with Parks,
Wednesday had expressed himself as perfectly salts
fed with the result, and had said also that there
enough Of Pauks' division then AGREES the Virginia
side rctei any force that the enmy could possibly
bring against This statement has found its way into
seine OF the parcfs but Is incorrect from beginning to
end. What General Mcclellan did say his return to
Washington that no was more tfan satisfied
with orr soldiers, aud with all the officers that
were engaged IN tho action {and he cmpha-
sized tho words engaged" and 'acien'); that they
all behaved noby had fought like veteran sodicrs
and the officers had shown themselves to be what he
though they werc and Just such officers he wanted
10 serve under him. But he 6id not say that he was
satisfied with the result. On tho other hand know
that ne deeply greved at the result and that he
siers the lives of the officers ana who fell need
cssly thrown away Ie has not expressed so far as
know any opinion about General Sores conduct. Bat
the accountability Of the disaster must rest somewhere
and il am not much m sakcn II viii rest uron him.
And 20 Gar from saying that had enough tho
right bank at Edwards Ferry, to hold tho position, he
gave orders have these who were there brought back
20 this side this had not been done they would have
bgea cut 10 pieces.