The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-11-08

bushes OF the forest, and to make their way
up and down the river bank to place Of
crossing. The instances of personal gallan-
4 try OF the highest order were SO many that
4 it would be unjust to detail particular cases.
Officers displayed for their men, and men,
for their officers, that beautiful devotion
which is only to be found among true sol.
| diers. gt,t lr .gs.a,-.., -. s. ,,f.I
While these scenes were being enacted on
the right, was preparing on the left for a
rapid push forward to the road by which
the enemy would retreat if driven, and en-
tirely unsuspicious of the perilous condition
of our troops. The additional artillery had
already been sent, and when the messenger,
who did not leave the field until after three
! o'clock, was questioned as to Col. Bakers
| position, he informed me that the Colonel,
when he left, seemed to feel perfectly secure
and could doubtless hold his position in case
he should not advance. The same statement
was made by another messenger half an
hour later, and [ watched anxioasly for a
sign of advance on the right, in order to
push forward General German. 1t was, as
had been explained to Col. Baker, impracti.
cable to throw Gen. Germans brigade direct
ly to the right by reason of the battery in
the woods, between which we had never
been able to reconnoiter. a ..as.
At4 P. NJ, or thereabouts, l telegraphed
to Gen. Banks for brigade of his division,
intending to occupy the ground on this side
of the river near Harrison's Island, which
would be abandoned in case of rapid ad-
vance, and shortly after, as the fire slackened,
| a messenger was waited for on whose tidngs
should be given orders either for the advance
of Gen. German to cut off the retreat of
the enemy, or for the disposition for the
night in the position then held. =. ..1
At 5 P. M, Capt Candy arrived from the
| field and announced the melancholy tidings
of Col. Bakers death, but with no intelli-
| gence of any further disaster. L immedi-
ately apprised Gen. Banks of Col. Bakers
| death, and rode quickly to the right to
assume command. Before arriving opposite
the Island, men who had crossed the river
| plainly gave evidence of the disaster, and on
| reaching the same was satisfied of it by
| the conduct of the men then landing in boats.
The reports made to me were that the
| enemy's force was 10000 men. This l
| considered, as it proved to be, an exaggera.
ton. Orders were then given to hold the
| Island, and establish patrol on the tow
path from opposite the Island to the line OF
pickets near the Monocacy, and 1 returned
to the left to secure the troops there from
disaster, and make preparations for moving
them as rapidly as possible. ....
Orders arrived from Gen. cClellan to
| hold the Island and Virginia shore at Ed
wards Ferry at all risks, indicating at the
same time that reinforcements would be
sent, and Immediately additional means of
intrencbiDg were forwarded, and Gen. Cor
man was furnished with particular directions
to hold out against any and every force of
the enemy.
During that time General Hamilton, with
his brigade, was on the march from Darnes-
town. Before left to go to the right,
issued orders to intercept him, and instruc
ted him to repair to Conrad's Ferry, where
| orders awaited him to so dispose of bis
force as to give protection to Harrison's
Island, and protect the line of the river.
At 3 A. M Major Gen. Banks arrived and
took command ......
A report of divisions for the following
days will be made out speedily. I cannot
conclude without bearing testimony to the
| courage, good discipline, and conduct of all
the troops of this division during the day.
Those in action behaved like veterans, and
those not brought into action showed that
alacrity and steadness in their movements
which proved their anxiety to engage the
foe in their countrys cause We mourn the
loss of the brave departed, dead on the field
of honor, if not of success, and we miss the
companionship of those of our comrades
who have fallen into the hands of our ene-
mics. But all feel that they have earned
the title of soldier, and all await with in
strength with the foe.
0af4 CHAS. P. STONE,
Brig Gen. Commanding.
REPORT OF COL. Kinks.
The following is from the report OF COL,
Kinks, Nineteenth Massachusetts, Volun-
teers, to Brigadier-General Lander:
az have to report that the remnant OF the
Tammany Regiment, under command of
Major Bon, deserted its post in the intrench-
ments on the Island, at an early hour il the
forenoon of the 3d. and passed to the
| MARYLAND shore, in dsobedience of orders,
while was engaged in arranging for the
removal of the wounded and the burial of
the dead. / cannot close this report with
justice to our troops who fought so valiantly,
without commenting upon the causes which
led to their defeat and complete rout. The
means of transportation, for advance in sup
port, or for retreat, scere criminally def
cient, especially when we consider the facility
for creating proper means for such purposes
at our disposal.
/ w. W. Smith, a Southern Confeder-
ate, who was in the privateering business,
has been convicted of piracy in Philadel-
pEia. The punishment is death.