Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-13

upon the Island. ana had dispatched an officer to
investigate report Of muskstry upen the upper
and of the Island before Capt Vaughn's return.
With thanks for your kindness in the matter Of
burying the dead and removing prisoners,
am, respectfully. yours,
EDWIN ". Inks,
Colonel Commanding Brigade.
In this connection. may add, that the intercourse
between Generals Stone and Evans has been Of the
most gentemanlY and officer ike character, and
contrasts strongly with that which has marked the
communications from other Federal officers. Both
were classmates al West Point, as was also Colonel
CogsweD, one Of the prisoners.
| EDwARDs FERRT, October 81, 1851 write you
8 few lines In the presence of the enemy. The
statement has been made in several Of the Richmond
and other papers, that grave error was committed
/ by Gen Evans, In not attacking the Federal force
here on the Wednesday after the battle of Lsesburg
and that dissatisfaction existed among the Fifth
South CaFoliniAns and Eighth LoaisaDiaus, because
after marching from Centreville, they were not
pushed headlong into q fight desire to make
few cOu ter observations, to show that instead Of
committing an e, ror the course Of the General was
dictated BY the soundest military sense, good dg
ment and regard for the lives Of those under his
command.
The river at this point is about four hundred
yards wide, and forbade, the water being waist
deep On the Virginia side the bank is steep
ascent forming natural breastwork then follows
succession of open heds, almost fat, and ofcOurse
incapable of sfOrding protection to an attacking
party of COnfeueFates On the right is Goose Greek
lined with thick woods and on the left another for
est Both these woods were occupied on Weanes
day. with strong, fanking columns and artillery.
Three hundred yards in the interior in one of the
fields is line Of more than one hundred rifle pits.
Further on to the right is the house Of one DAILY.
situated on the edge of the road, where commences
a substantial entrenchment six hundred yards in
/ length, behind which another strong force of the
Federals WIS posted Nearly half mile still fur
Their on are more woods. the only protection our
soldiers could have in advancing to an attack So
much for this side of the PotOmac-none for the
other.
At the edge of the river is row Of trees and
bushes, which make an admirable place of conceal
men for shsFphooters.This is occupied by their
pickets. The land then commences TO rise until
It reaches elevation Of nearly two hundred feet
On the summit and side Of this long high hill, be-
hind ridges which form natural breast-wo are
placed the long ranged rlhs cannen of the enemy,
and from this point with their twenty guns, and
many more as they choose to bring to bear, they
can throw a shower of shot and shell that would
sweep through our forces like scythes- Their bat
| teries one command every position that we could
take, and we have not the power to dslOdge them
| with half the artellery in the army.
| Now, suppose an advance had been made. Large
numbers would have necessarily been killed be fore
getting fairly the field. Then come the entrench-
ments, bristli with three thousand or more mus
kets Admit that they are carried by charge.
The enemy fly to the shore, or to the woods. Here
they join their hanking columns and they fall upon
Us right and lett the batteries meanwhile playing
upon as over the heads of the Fe1ersl forces in
| front. Suppose, however, that we whip these and
drive them to the river. What advantage have we
gainedg Not the slightest We should have killed
few hundred men, and lost equal, if not 3
greater number ourselves. The batteries would
kave remained intact, reinforcements might have
been sent over by thousands every hour, and even
dear bought success, as far as regards their
whipping on Virginia soil, would not have enabled
Us to bring away our prisoners, or to have claimed
| our victory complete. Possession of the place
| could not be retained one hour, and we should be
compelled to retreat as precipitately as we ad-
vanced.
This is the Taiionale-the sum and substance of a
! fight Gt Edwards Ferry had it taken place; and
moth Bout the best of military Judgment, in my
opinion prevented an sttemptsO lncOnsderately de-
sired.
Precisely the same state of aft lirs existed on the
Peninsula. The army under General Msgruder
were eager to drive the Yankees from Newport
News. To satisfy them he marched his entire force
within mile and half of the fortifcauoD, faunt-
ed his banners in their faces, and for whole night
and part of day invited them to battle. They re-
fused to come out, and with true military sagacity
he declined to attack, even though he could have
defeated them and taken the fertilization, for the
simple reason that in one hour he would have been
sheled from the stronghold by the feet only half
mile distant, and the next day week would prob
ably have found another army occupying the same
| place.
The considerations l have named above were
carefully weighed, not only by Gen. Evans, but by
Coils. Critic, Faith, rstOne, B8rksdsle and HuntOn,
and whatever may have been the disappointment
experienced by other officers al men equally am
bilious TO distinguish themselves, the people Of the
Southern COnfederscy have reason to thank the
gentlemen mentioned above for the prudence and
foresight they shOw wed, in declining contest which
would have thrown q funeral pail over many a
family hearthsIOne. hope for the credit of these
officers that this matter may be fairly understood
There are several interesting points about e.
wards Ferry worthy of visit principal among
which is the view afforded Of the Yankees.
To get fair sight, is obliged TO creep almost
on his hands and knees, and dodge tree to tree
until reaching q covert near the waters edge.
Here you see the Federal pekets so close that with
a strong arm you can nearly throw q stone among
them.
One fellow, in his shirt sleeves is just now lsziy
/ Furnishing his gun He probably kaOws that he
will not be fired upon, for instructions are not
TO shoot unless in case Of an emergency. Some
! time ago Gen Evans came down here, and was
kept dogding behind trees for more than an hour,
before he could make his escape from the bullets
fired at him. and old oak behind which be stood
has now the marks Of eight balls intended for his
personal use Since then, however, the practice
has been generally discontinued
On the hill, some OF their guns are visible, while
groups of men, and officers on horseback are as
plain view if you stood on the corner of Meet
ing street and Touchdown to the pOrtcO Of the Post
office.
Another object Of interest is the DAILY House
This appears TO have been the hesdquart rs of the
| Tiger Fire Zouaves, o Boston, for their picturez
initials, names hieroglyphies and NOTES are writ
ten everywhere. They have "a great propensity
for leaving their marks behind them we have for
making our marks upon the same sltustion.
On the outside of the house, printed in charcoal
letters foot long, are the words
''oCr 23RD.
TIGER FIRE Z0UAVES co. K, BOSTON.
FIRM TO OUR Trust AND EVER on THE ALERT
They probably refer to q trust" in their legs
On the inside, among others, found the following
sentences:
BOSTON-TAYLOR'S FIRE ZOUAVES.
CAPT. D. WATTS, COMMANDING,
Whose exceeding bravery in facing about six hun
dred rebels shall ever stand imperishabe upon the
memory of his company.
Signed by vote of his company
But the vote don't appear. Just beneath the
above is the following which is no doubt a foul as
persion on the other ZouHves cast by some jealous
rival: