, 1861-11-05
xaeIG cnts Of the Rails Bluff Ffeht.
tFrom the New York T1ibnne.l
WASHINGTON 0rt m 1864

Ite1 4 JEW uEbacncu lnciaen1s o. the ac-
tion If the goth Mas achusctts Regiment in
tie engagement at Balls Bluff. Undoubtedly
me experience nf other regiments would fa1n-
!Eh 9 hcst ct stirring anecdotes, but it is not
easy either to find the participants, or to col
lect narratives, when they have purely per
eopal relation.
After all WAS finished, and the fragments Of
the regiment were brought together at tle
waters edge, It was determined to push up
ward along the shore, with the uncertain
hope OF tinding some means of recrossing to
the Maryland side. In the event Of meeting
the enemy, however, it was determined to sur
render at once, since any contest under the cir
cumetances would be useless sacrifice of life
After going q mile or so the officers {Capts.
Bartlett md Tremlett, and Lieuts. Whittier
aud Abbott) discovered mill, surrounded BY
cottages, about which numbers Of persons
we're eeen moving. Here it seemed that they
must yield themselves. The officers ordered
3 halt, and directed the men to cast all their
arms into the river, 30 that the enemy should
gain % little as possible By the surrende-.
shall we be accountable if we throw them
away" ashed one or two. "Gaess not, said
others, ''.f an officer orders us;' 80 everything
vent over.
Lieut.. Whittier walked on in advance
with white handkerchief tied on his sword,
to be used when occasion should demand. The
first person met was an old negro, who, though
greatly terrified at encounterIng 60 large and
unexpected IN assemb1age, contfiyed to regesl
that an old boat was stored near the mill,
which might be ba1ed out and used to convey
the fngitives across the river. 4 gift OF five
dollars Insured his services, and the boat WAC
in due time launched and ready for use. It WAS
email, and only few could pass at each trip.
Until dawn it passed baek and forth, until ail
were transferred in safety. One officer went
over in the third boat, to keep the men well
together On the Maryland side, the others
vailed till the last.
Mspy OF the survivors Of the fight escaped
by swimming. Capt. C1owninsneld, long
Known In Harvard - the stroke,oar Of The
boat club, swan to Harrlson's Island, without
clothing, and saving nothing but his watch,
which be carried in his mouth. Being greatly
{atigEed, he turned in beneath the most coa.
ycnient hay rick, and slept till morning, when,
i1 the hurry If departure, aud the especial
without 9iylcg thought to the watea wti h
be had taken such pains to keep possession Of
the night before, and which he had tucked
away beside him before going to sleep.
a German sergeant, on seeing his Captain
fail, toward the close Of the fight, collected
men altogether, and crying, " Boys, We can
only die once; we'll avenge the captain's
death" led them fighting into the very heart
Of the enemy's position He immediately dis,
appt tared, and nothing was afterward seen ol
HIM OF any Of his hand.
confusion, the Goth men lay down at the edge
Of the steep river bank, guarding themselves
| until rally could be made. Some of the Off.
GERS renamed stsnding, Col. Lee called to
them to LIE down also, and especially urged
Lieut.. Whittier not to needlessly expose lin
self, but take shelter, as he wss doing. Lieut.
Whittier then dropped to the ground, and 2t
! almost the same instant a rush of bullets all
! around and above him told that he lad beou
taken as particular mark, and that anothe,
second would have been too late to save hi
| life.
Before starting upon the expedition on
Monday morning, the men had left their knap
In the retreat it wns impossible for more thar
a:tew to gather them up again. A Lieutenant
volunteered on "Wednesday, after the islani
/ had been visited by the rebel scouts, to e
t over with five and collect what remained. 81,
| did 50, ard returned with more than bun
dred knapsacks and blankets, to the grea
comfort Of many Of the men who had sufIsrei
from the icy weather. While there, the mel
secured nearly the whole island, but could no
be persuaded to enter the building which ta.
been used as hospital, in which 80 man
cQrpeeS Of their former c0mfHde8 lsY