The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-11-08
SAINT PAUL FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 8, 1861.

caused an additional fiat boat to be rafteC
from the canal into the river, and had pro-
vided line to cross the boats mere rap
idly.
In the morning sharp skirmish tooh
place between two companies of the Twen-
tieth Massachusetts and about 100 Missis
sippi ritlemen, during which a body Of the
enemy's cavalry appeared. Col. Deven:
then tell back in good order on Col Lees
position. Presently he again advanced, bis
men behaving admirably, fighting, retiring
and advancing in perfect order, and exhib-
iting every proof of high courage and good
discipline. Had the cavalry scouting party
sent him in the morning, been with him
then, he could have had timely warning oi
the approach of the superior force which af-
terward overwhelmed his regiment. Think
ing that Col. Baker might be able to use
more artillery l dispatched to him two ad-
dit;onal pieces, supported by two companies
of Infantry, with directions to come into po-
sition below the place of crossing, and re-
port to Colonel Baker. Col. Baker sugges-
ted this himself, later in the day, just before
the guns on the their way arrived.
After Col. Devon's second advance Col.
Baker went to the field in person, and it is
a matter of regret to me that he left no
record of what officers and men he charged
with the care of the boats and insuring the
regular passage of troops. If any were
charged with this duty it was not performed
for the reinforcements, as they arrived, found
no one in command of the boats, and great
delays were thus occasioned. Had one Off
Ger and a company remained at each landing
guarding the boats, their full capacity would
have been made serviceable, and sufficient
men would have been passed on to secure
success. The forwarding of artillery before
its supporting force of infantry also impe-
ded the rapid assembling of an imposing
force on the Virginia shore. If the infantry
force had first crossed, difference of 1000
men would have been made in the infantry
line at the time of attack, probably enough
to have given us the victory.
! Between II and l P. M. the enemy ap-
peared in force in front of Col. Devons and
harps kirmish ensued, and was maintained
for some time by the Fifteenth Massachu-
sets, unsupported, and finding he would
be outhanked, Col. Devons retired short
distance and took up a position near the
wood, half mile in front fool Lee, where
he remained until 2 o'clock, when he again
fell back, with the approval of Col. Baker,
and took his place with the portions of
the Twentieth Massachusetts, and First
California, which had arrived.
Col. Baker now formed his line, and
waited the attack of the enemy, who came
upon him with great vigor about 3 p.
and was well met by our troops, who,
though pitched against much superior
numbers, three to one, maintained their
ground under most destructive fire of
the enemy.
Col. Coggswell reached the field amid
the heaviest fire, and came gaantly into
action, with a yell which wavered: the
epemy's line.
Lieut.. Bramhall, of Bunting's Battery,
had receded, after extraordinary exertions
and labor, in bringing up piece of the
Rhode Island Battery, and Lieut.. French
his two howitzers, but both officers, after
well Directed firing, were soon borne awsv
wounded, and the pieces were hauled to the
rear, so that they might not fall into the
enemy's hands.
At 4 P. NJ, Col. Baker fell at the head of
his column, pierced by number of bullets,
while cheering his men, and by his own
example sustaining the obstinate resistance
they were making. The command then
devolved upon Col. Lee, who prepared to
| commence throwing out forces to the rear,
but it was soon found that Col. Coggswell
was the senior in rank, and he, taking COM
mand, ordered preparations to be made for
marching to the left. and cutting a way
through to Edwards Ferry. But just as
the first dispositions were being effected,
rebel officer rode rapidly in front and beck
Oned the Tammany regiment toward the
enemy. 1t is not clear whether or not the
Tammany men supposed this one of our
officers but they responded with yell, and
charged forward, carrying with them in their
advance the rest of the line, which soon
received destructive fire from the enemy
at close distance. The men were quickly
recalled, but their new position frustrated
the movement designed, and COL Coggswell
gave the necessary order to retire. The
enemy pursued to the edge of the bluff, over
the landing place, and poured in a heavy
fire as our men were endeavoring to cross to
the Island. The retreat was rapid, but
according to orders. The men formed near
the river, maintaining for nearly half an hour
the hopeless contest, rather than surrender.
The smaller boats had disappeared no one
knew where. The largest boat, rapidly and
too heavily loaded, swamped at fifteen feet
from the shore, and nothing was left to our
| soldiers but to swim, surrender, or die.
With devotion worthy of the cause they
were serving, officers and men, while quar-.
ter was being offered to such as would lay
down their arms, stripped themselves of
their swords and muskets and hurled them
out into the river 10 prevent their falling
into the hands Of the foe, and saved them
selves as they could by swimming, floating