Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-07
NUMBER IL.

imposing force on the flrgibl3 shofe. III me
try iorce had first crossed difference Of 1000 men
would have been made in the infantry line the time
Of attack probably enough TO have given the yicorE.
Between IL ard p m The en- nv arp ;sred IN fo =
in front OF Col Deyens and sharp tkrnRh eusued and
maintained for SONS time by the ~ bfschusettp
unsupported, and finding he ould be ouih mixed, Col
mel Dsvens retired short distance aad took up posi.
ton the wood, half mile In front Of Colonel Lea
where he NAMED until o'clock, be again fell
bsck with the approval OF Co.. .ker and took bis pscs
sh the portions Of the 25th Massachusetts, and lst C
| tornis, which had arrived
Col Biker now formed his line and waited the attack
OF the eremy, which upon him with grss. vieor
about p. M, and well met by troops, who,
though pitched against much superior numbers three
oiP, maintained their ground uader most destructive
hne OF the enemy
COL Cogesrtil reached the field amid the heayies, Ere
AID came CALAMITY into action, with yell which uaye
| I'd the eremy's line.
Lieut. Bramhlll OF Buntipgs Battery, bad succeeded
after extraordinary and sbor in brrgiue up
piece OF the Rhode Island Battery, aud Lieut. French
his two boritzers, but both ocsrs after wedrectsd
firing, were soon borne away wounded and the pieces
hauled to the rear, that they might fall into
| he eneDys hard.
At4P n, Col Baker fell at the head of bis column
pierced by Dumber Of buets while cheering bis mcp,
BY bis example sustaining the obstinate rrsis:-
ancs they were making. The command then deyolyei
upon Col Lse, who prepared 10 commence throwing cut
forces to the rear, bu; i. found tia. CooL
CJggswel was the senior in rank, and he. taking te
command, ordered prep to be 10 for marching
to the lef and cuuf way through to Eismds Ferry.
But just the first dispositions being eti cted,
rebel officer rode rapidly in front and beckoDed the T. ym
many Regiment toward the enemy. Il is not ch Sr
shether not the Tamminy men supposed this
Cces but they responded with veil sDd cbaig,d
i0rsad carrying with them in their sdvaIcs the OF
'Ge line which received destr: i've lire from the
aHemy close distance. The men quickly recalled,
but their position frustrated the designed
,nd Col CoggsSel gave the necessary order 10 retire
Tho enemy pursued to the edge OF the bluff tho
landing place. and poured in . heavy fire a. cur
cndCaycli1g 10 to the leland. TIE retreat
was rapid but according TO orders. The men formed
the river, maintaining for nearly half hour the
hopeless contest rather than surrender.
The smaller boa.s had disappeared knew whore.
The largest boat rapidly and ooheavy loaded sWampsd
a. fifteen feet from the shore and nothing eit to
our soldiers but to swim, surrender or die.
With devotion worthy Of the canse they were sers
ing, ocers and men, while quarter was being offered 10
such would lay down their arms stripped themselves
OF their swords aud muskets aud hurled them into the
river 10 prevent their falling into the hands OF the foe
and saved themselves az they could by swimming, float!
ing upon logs, and conceaug themselves 10 the bushes
OF the forest and 10 make their way up srd down the
river bsnk place OF crossing The instances oil PER
sonal gCantry OF the highest order mepy tia;
would be just TO detail particular caies Odicers dis
played for their uleD, snd for their olcers, that
beautiful devotion which is only be found among
soldiers.
VIII these scenes we're being enacted Oh the right
preparing the left for rapid push forward TO the
road by which the enemy woGi1 retreat IL driven, sEd
entirely unsuspicous OF the pGrilous condition Of
troops. Tho additional artillery had already been ser;.
f Il 4 es d5s 5 sl ssS SS not leave the hea g
sitioz, he informed hat the Colonel when he LETT
seemed TO feel perfectly secure and could douotess held
bic position 10 he should not advance. The same
s,aemea, made by another messenger bal: an hour
later and watched ans:ousy for tiga Of advance
the right in order to push forward Gen. German. II
was as had been explained TO Col Baker, impraciicabio
to throw Gen. GormlLs brigade directly 10 the right by
reason OF the BAKERY in the woods, between which we
had never been able 10 rocoDn0ter.
At D. IN, or tn resbou's | e!egraphsd 20 General
Banks for brigade of biz division, intending IL TO oc-
cupy the ground this side OF the river, uear Hsrr.
sons Island, which would be abandoned in case Of
rapid advance, and shortly aaer, he fire sackened,
messenger SailCd for on whose tdiags ehou.d bs
given orders either Tor the advircs Of Gen Gorm2a 10
cu eff the retreat of the enemy, fer the Opposition
for the night in the position then held.
AZ 5p m Capt Candy arrived from the field, AID
nounte ei the melancholy dings Of Col Bakers desih
but with no intelligence o any further disaster. ian,
meiiatsly apprsed Gen. Banks Of Gel Bakers death,
aud rode quickly 10 the right 10 assume command. Be.
fore arriving opposite the island, men who bad crossed
the river plainly gave evidence OF the disaster and on
reaching the same sais, Of it by the conduct Of
the men then lan5ing in boats
The reports made TO me were that the onemJs force
was Ia 900 men This considere5, as Il proved 70 be,
an exaggerstion. Orders then given to hold the
lslsnd, snd establish patrol On ihe oS-pah, from op'
pose the island the line Of pckets the RoDoecy,
aud returned she left the troops there from
disaster and make preparations for noyrg them as rap
idly as possible.
Orders arrived from Gen Mcclellan TO hold the ISL and
Virginia shore at Eiwards shore ct all rsks indicating
A. the came te that endorsements would be 5ent and
inme1l.sely additional Of DtrenobiDg were for
wSrda6 and Gen German furnished with particular
directions to hold out asan; any and every force the
enemy.
During that time Gen. Hamilton With his brigade Wss
on the march rom DarneslovD. Before lett to 60 10
the right issued orders TO intercep. him. ald Instructed
him 10 repair to Cc1rsds Ferry where orders awaited
hin to so dispose OF his force 81 10 give protection -
Harrsons bland, and project the lire OF the river At
a. N Nsior General Banks arrived and took command
rtpcrl of division for the following days will be
mad. out speedily. / ciDno; conclude without bearing
s iilony to the courage, good csspine aud concuct
Of all the troops OF ths ciSsol during the day. Tbosc
ia action behaved like veterans, and those rot brought
into action showed that 1Icrty and stadiness 10 their
movements which proved heir anxiety TO engage The 100
in their cnun:ryS cause. We mourn the loss OF tho
bravo departed, dead the 'fid OF honor, not oi
sscces and miss the companonshp oil lhose oil our
comrades who have fallen into the bands OF our ene
mics Ba. a feel that Iey hsye earned the title oi so'
der and all await with increased confidence another
'''''' Gas p. srosr,
Big-isn. Commanding.
REPORT OF A-YAEKEE COLONEL
Colonel Hicks, Of tho Nineteenth Massachusetts, reg!-
meat, ha. made the su joined eli :iai report:
HEADQUARTERS NNkrEEsTH REeINESr,
Mass VOis
lamp Denton, octoosr 2S, 1861. }
To Brigadisr Genera, Lande:-sI: Learning that a
coamn Of our troops crossing The Potomac tho
II ys iasGu. a. point the centre OF Harfisons
slsnd in which the companies Of my regiment Stationed
as pckeis upon the river had been ordered to join ty
Gea Baker h'sened thiher IN sniicipahon OF orders
rom Gen. Stone.
arrived there about half PAS; one O'CLOCK r H. and
fond among the troops at the point o crossTg great
confusion TO competent tic'r setm'ng 20 nave oetn
sf in Charge of the transportation, and the Progres
made In embirking was very slew. OF ohee 'ook
charge at Ills p1nt caused os to be stretched aero
Tho river by witch to prcpl the boa's AM ir"arded
the troops in the following order, viz:
Pa-s Of California regiment not already creased,
the Rhodo Island aud New FORK bs tsres the New ios
a.d Tlmmsoy regiments and the NineteenIh hssseeha'
W,,h ,La latter rc1iuent + rrocaeiel To tho