The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-09


cretion, gave him entire control of operations
on the right. This gAllant and energetic on
Ger left me about A. M, or hall. past 0: and
galloned off quickly to his command.
Reinforeements were rapidly thrown to the
Virginia side by Gen. German, at Edwards's
Ferry, and the skirmishers and cavalry
scouts advanced cautiously aud steadily to
| the front and right, while the infantry lines
were formed in such positions as to act rapidly
and in concert In case OF an advance of the
| enemy, and shells were thrown by Lieut..
Woodrufss Parrot guns into the woods be
yond our lines as they gradually extended,
| care being taken to annoy the vicinity OF the
battery on the right. Messengers from Har-
rison's Island informed me, soon after the ar
rival or Dol. Baker opposite the island, that
he was crossing his whole force as rapidly as
| possible, ana that he had caused an addi-
tienal fat-boat to he RATED from the canal
into the river, and had provided line to
cross the boats more rapidly.
In the morning a shar skirmish took place
| between two companies of the Goth Massa-
| chusetts and about loo Mississippi rifiemen,
during which body OF the enemy's cavalry
appeared Col. Deyens then fell back in
good order on Col. Lees position. Presently
| he again advanced, his men behaving admi-
| rably, fighting, retiring, and advancing in
perfect order, and exhibiting 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 of the approach of g. su-
peIior forge which afterwards oyerWh elm ed
might be able to use more artillery, dis
patched to him two additional pieces, sup
| ported by two companies Of infantry, with
directions to come into position below the
place OF crossing, and report 10 Col. Baker
Col. Baker suggested this himself later in
the day, Just before the guns on their way ar
| rived.
After Col. Dayens'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, 1T was not performed, for the REIN
| iorcements IS as they arrived found no one in
| command Of the boats, and great delays were
| thus occasionei H6G one officer and cora.
| pany reinained.*t each landing guarding the
| boats, their fun capacity would have been
made seryiceabie, and sufficient men would
have been passed on TO secure success. The
forwarding of artillery before its supportiu &
| force Of infantry also impeded tn. rapid as
seMblage Of an i'm posing force on the Virginia
shore. If the in fantry force had first crossed,
| q difference of 1880 men would have been
made in the infantry line at the time of at
tack, probably enough to have given US the
victory.
| Retween I2 and =. NJ. the enemy appeared
| in force in front of Col. Devens, and 4 sharp
skirinish ensusd, and WAS main tanned for
some time by the 18th Massachusetts, unsup-
ported, and Il uding he would be outfl ked I,
Col. Deyen retired s. short distance and took
up = position near the wood, half q mile in
| front of Col. 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 Goth Massachusetts, Is
and 1st CalifoTDis, which had arrived.
| Col. Baker now formed his line and waited
| the attack OF the enemy. which came upon
him WI Tn great vi yor about Z. III. :, and was
well met by our troops, who, though pitched
against much superior nurnbe three 10 one,
| main tanned their ground, under q most -
structiye fire Of the enemy.
| Col. Coggswau reached the field amid the
| heaviest nre, and came gallantIy into action,
with yei3 which wavered the enemy's line.
| Iient Rramhall, of Buntitg's Battery, had
succeeded, after extraordinary exertiors and
! labor, in bringing up piece of the Rhode
| howitzers, bat both officers, after we'll -di-
rected firing, were soon borne away wound
ed. and their pieces were hauled to the rear,
| 50 that they might not fall into the eEemy's
hands.
| At4 2. NJ. Colonel Baker fell ct the head OF
| his column, pierced by a number OF bullets,
while cheering his men, and by k's own ex-
ample sustaining the obstinate sistauce they
were making. The command then devolved
upon Colonel Lee, who prepared to commence
| throwing out forces to the rear, bat 1t was
| soon found that Coloael Coggswell was the
senior in rank, and he. taking the comn,a nd,
| ordered preparations be made for march.
Ing to the left, and cutting way through to
| Edwards's Ferry. But just as the first dispo-
sitions were being effected, rebel officer rode
| rapidly in front, and beckoned the Tamm an y
| regiment toward the enemy. 1t is not clear
| whether or not the Tammany men supposed
this was one of our officers, but they respond
ed with yen and charged forward carrying
| with them in their advance the rest of the
| hne, which soon received a destructive fire
| from the enemy at close distance. The men
| wers quickly recalled, but their rev position
| frustrated the movement designed and
| Colonel CoggswelI gave the necessary order
| to retire. The enemy pursued to the edge OF
| the bluff, over the landing place, and poured
| III heavy fire rs our men were endeayoring
1 IN aN-g 4 fhAy tn.
| i'd but according to orders. The men formed
| near the river, maintaining for nearly half
| IN hour the hopeless contest rather than sur
| render.
the smaller boats had disappeared, no one
| knew where. The largest boat ranidIy and
| too heavily loaded, swanped at Is feet from
the shore, and nothing was left to our sc cIdiers
| but to swim, surrender, or die.
With q devotion worthy Of the cause they
were serving, officers An men, while quarter
| was being offered to such as would lay down
| their arms, stripped themselves OF their
| swords and muskets and hurled them into
| the river to prevent their falling into the
| hands OF the foe, and saved themselves as
| they could by swimming, floating upon logs
| ana conceaiing themselves III the bushes OF
| the forest, ana TO make their way up and
| down the river baak TO place of crossing. -
| The instances of personal gallantry, of the
| highest order, were 50 macy that it would be
unjust 10 detail i-particular cases. Officers dis
played tor their men, and meA for their off
| GERS, that beautiful devotion which is only -
| be found among true soldiers.
| While these scenes were being enacted or
the right, was preparing on the left for a
| rapid push for ward 10 the road by which the
enemy weuld retreat If driven. and en.irely
| unsnspieious OF the psrilous condition of our
| troops. The additional artillery mad already
been sent, and when the messenger, who did
| not leave the field until after 3 o. clock was
questioned as to Col Baker posi- ton, he in :
| formed me that the Colonel, when he left
| seemed to feel perfectly secure, and could
doubtless hold his position il case HI sWhonld
| not advance. The same statement was ma q q
by another messenger half an honr later, anu
| / watched anxIousiy fora sign OF ady.nce on
| the right, in order 70 push forward General
German. II was, as had been explained 70
| Col. Baker, I'm practicable TO throw General
| Gorrnan's brigade directly to the right by
| reason Of the battery in ths woods, between
! which We had never been able 10 reeonnoitre,
| At 4 =. M, or thereabouis, teiegraphed to
| Gen. Parks for brigade of his division, In
| tending II 10 occupy the ground ON this eide
| OF thu rirer, near Harrisons Island, which
would be abandoned in case of a rapid All
vance, aud shortly after, as the fire slacx
ened, q messenger was waited for ON whose
tidiugs should be given orders either for the
| advance Of Gen. Gorrlan TO cut OF the re-
| treat Of ths enemy, or for the disp0siti0n for
| the night in the position then held.
| Ats p NJ. Capt. Candy arrived from the
! field, and srnouncei the melancholy fidings
| or Colonel Bakers death, but wi tn no intelii.
| gence of any further disaster. immediately
| apprissd Gen. Banks of Col. Bskers death, |,
and rods quickly To the right to assume
command. Before arriving opposite the
| island, men who had crossed the river plain "
| gave evidence Of the disaster, and cr reach.
| Ing the s.me was satisnsd OF IL by the con-
duet Of the men then iandins in boats "a
The reports made TO me were that the enc.
| my 's1orce was Il, 900 Iisn. This considered.
| ~ II proved to be, en- e1axgeration Order
| were then given 70 hold tho island and es-
| tabiish patroIou tho tow path from oppo-
| site the island 20 the line OF picket. near the
| Mcnocacy, and returned to the left 10 e.
cure the troops there from disaster and make