The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-15

The Philadelphia Press obtains from a
corporal of Bakers regiment, the following
narratives of the incidents which occurred
at the Leesburg engagement
George Merlin, of the California regi.
ment, is missing. He had dropped on bis
knee to take aim at group of rebels who
stood near the edge of woods. Finding
that his cartridges were all gone, be turned
to ask some OF his comrades, but found, to
his amazement, that he was effectualIy sur.
rounded. His astonishment, as may be i'm.
agined, was only exceeded by his chagrin.
Between private, na ned Fairbanks, OF
the Twentieth Massachusetts, and a young
man named Heap, of the First California
regiment, strong attachment is said to
have existed. They fought side by side
during great portion Of the contest, seem
ing to rival each other as to the rapidity
with which they could load and fire. When
the retreat was sounded they leaped into
the Potomac together Fairbanks, all
though good swimmer, he was seen to
sink, as though attacked with cramp, and
Heap has not since been seen. Both were
doubtless drowned.
A young man, named Greenhall, of the
California, missing, secreted himself, with
three comrades, in some underbrush. Green
hall was an excellent marksman, and pick
ed off seven of the enemy who had got be-
tween him and the river One of them, be
thinks, was an officer. The rest then hur-
riedly vacated the spot, and, with his
comrades, Greenhall managed to make bis
way back to our lines.
The number of those killed while recross-
ing in the boats must have been quite large,
In one of the boats Phiadelphian, name
unknown, and two men of the Tammany
regiment, were pulling at the oars They
we're compelled to stand upright, and their
shoulders were used as rests by their COM
rades, who kept up continuous fire. Sin.
gular to say, the boat had reached the mid
die of the stream before one of the oarsmen
was struck They iually fell simultaneous
ly. Their places were instantly supplied.
The boat, turning with the current, drifted,
as they thought, out Of danger. In less
than fifteen minutes, however, terrific fire
was poured into it from skulking enemy,
and, filling slowly, it began to sink. The
scene then presented was fearful beyond
conception. A shrek of horror went up
from the crew. Men clutched each other in
despair, and went down together. Voices
that strove to shout for help were drowned
in the rusing waters and died in gurgles.
Among the rebels was one prominent in
dividua, who wore red handkerchief tied
around bis head, but was utterly hatless,
coatless and reckless, standing out in ad-
vance of his line. He loaded and deliber-
ately fired at our men for nearly an hour
before he was struck down. He was shot
by member Of the Tammany regiment,
who, almost at the same moment, was
pierced by reDel musket ball.
After the battle one of our men was
found stark and dead in the hollow of log.
The manner of bis death is supposed to
have been as follows. At the commence
ment of the battle, while general confu-
sion prevailed, he probably crept into the
log, (which lay near the river bank,) tor the
purpose of picking of " the enemy. This
shelter was very much decayed and worm
eaten, and was speedily pierced by rife
ball, When dragged out bis mdsket was
found to have been recently discharged.
The rifle ball had entered his breast, and
passed through the LETT lung.