Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-11-01
b Y TELEG r A p H
VERMONT wATcHMAN Il JOURNAL

which occurred yesterday, has been gieaneo
from authentic sources; 80 a.
On Sunday night. Col Devens with the
50th Mass. who for some time guarded dar'
rison's Island with ono company, capt Fhil-
brick. Co. H., and Quartermaster Howe oil
hi, staff. with a detachment OF twenty men
10 scout the Virginia shore in the direction
of Ieesburg. They crossed from the Island
70 the shore and executed the order by APP
proaching within three-fourths Of mile OF
Ieesburg Returning to their starting point
about ten o'clock at night, discovered as they
supposed. n small camp one mile VI more
from Leesburg. On reporting to Col. Dew
ems. the latter with about three hundred men
pushed forward by direction Of Gen. Stone,
In the same locality with orders to destroy
the camp at daybreak. When about mile and
a half from the river aud four hundred yards
in advance Of Col Devens' Reserve. Captain
Philbrck, accompanied by Col. Devens, at
tackled and drove back company of Mississ-
ippi rihemen and fell back to the rear on the
appearance of body Of rebel cavalry. Capt.
Philbrick had some difficulty in getting near
enough to the enemy for his smooth bore
guns to have effect as the rebels used long
range rifles on our forces. At daylight
and at the same hour that Colonel Dew
ems command left the shore to make the
advance. Colonel Lee OF the Twentieth
Massachusetts, sent over one company Of his
regiment which remained on shore to cover
the return of Col Devens. Col. Devens
maintained his ground and was reinforced
during the morning by three hundred men Of
his regiment under Lieut.. Col. Ward. About
one o'clock he was attacked by considera-
bic force of rinemen who attempted to out
flank him Fearing they might be success
full. and after resisting them for some time,
Col Deyens slowly return in perfect order to
the river where Gen. Baker had arrived with
h battalion Of the California regiment, com
handed by Lieutenant Colonel Wistar.-
Gen. Baker then took command, first com
plimenting Col. Devens for his successful re-
sistance to superior force, and giving his
command, now less than six hundred, the
right of the line of battle. The center and
left wing being formed Of about three hun
bred of the Massachusetts Twentieth I'M
der Colonel Lee and the California Battalion,
about five hundred, under Lieut.. Col Wistar.
Two mountain howitzers commanded by
Lieut. French, and one piece Of the New York
battery commanded by Bramban we're in front
of the centre just previous to the commence
ment of the action. The attack was com
menced by the enemy on our right but was
soon directed more heavily to the center and
left For about two hours the battle ragged
terrihcally and was complete shower OF
laden hail Three several times the left of the
line made an advance but were compelled to
retire as often. The right was better pro-
tected and held their position. An order came
from Gen. Parker to throw two companies OF
the 5th Mass. to the center which was i'm
mediately executed. This produced the i'm
preston that the battle was going against us,
but caused no confusion or disorder. The
left was hard pressed but remained firm.
About this time the news spread that Gen
eral Baker was killed while in the act OF
pushing a cannon forward with his shoulder
to the wheel. He was pierced by six balls,
being evidently the object of the enemy's
sharp shooters. After this there ces-
sation of the fire for few minutes, during
which Col. Cogswell of the Tammany regi-
ment arrived with two companies, and he be-
ing the senior officer, the command devolved
upon him. In a short time it became evident
TO Col. Cogswell that the day was lost, and
he thought it best to cut his way through
to Edwards Ferry, where General Dorman
was in charge throwing over reinforce
mepts by direction of General Stone, who
was within sight of the battlefield at Ed
ment The order was now issued to transfer
the 5th Massachusetts, from the right to the
left, which was executed as calmly as bat
tallion drill. Col. Cogswell soon became
satisfied OF the impossibility of reaching Ed
wards Ferry as he desired and gave an order
to fall back towards the river which was exc
cuted as well as the circumstances would per
nit. They reached the river bank about 20
minutes before night fall. Here the Fifteenth
Massach usetts deployed as skirmishers along
the shore The only means of conveyance
to the Island was large boat capable Of car
rying about forty persons, which was over
crowded and swamped, and also one of small
er dimensions. The troops remaining OF
shore made desperate resistance and it i,
believed that the enemy took comparativel,
few prisoners in consequence. Those VIII
could swim. plunged into the water, thos
carrying their arms who could and other
throwing them into the river to prevent thei
falling into the enemies hands. Some escap
ed by availing themselves of the darkness
aud the heavily wooded banks but several ar,
known to have been drowned in the waters o
the Potomac.
The behavior of our troops before su
peror number of the enemy, was marked a
noble, brave and enduring. Near the clos
of the action and after the day was consid
cred as irretrievably lost, the two recent,
arrived companies of the Tammnny regimen
made a gallant charge, but were met with
desperate FIRE by the enemy. II is probabl
that rebel officer was mistaken for one @
our commanders who appeared in front AM
gave the order to charge. The brave Lieut.
Bramhall lost one Of his guns and hmsel
was wounded severely but not fatally
The gallant Lieut. French, of the howitze
battery, fred with his own hands four shot
after the day was lost and his men was scat
tered. he was shot in the left breas
and ANGLE, but not MORALLY wounded
He reached the Island by throwing hi
sword and revolver into the river, an
swimming across. Colonel Deyens a
once posted about thirty Of his men to pre-
vent any attempts of the enemy at pursuit.
This force was subsequently augmented b
the arrival there of other companies from tn
Maryland shore under Colonel Kinks Of III
10th Massachusetts. Colonel Devens receive
slight confusion in the breast from a mus
ket ball. The killed among the commits
stoned officers of the Massachusetts Efficient
are Captain George w. lockwood, Compan