The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-08-21

How? He could do it in but one way,
and that was by crossing the river aud
moving upon it.
According to the testimony Of Col.
Lee, confirmed by Major Revere, of the
Twentieth Massachusetts,, the following
dispatch was sent from Mcclellan to
Stone:
OCTOBER 20, 1861.
General Mcclellan desires me to inform you that
General Mccall occupied Dranesvie yesterday,
and Is still there. Will send out heavy reconnoi-
sances to-day in all directions from that point
The General desires that you keep good lookout
upon Leesburg, to see if this movement has the
effect to drive them away. Perhaps a slight dem
onstration on your part would have the effect to
move them. A. ". CULLUM.
| Assistant Adjutant General
General Mccall says:
General Mcclellan told me, when he gave me
the orders TO march Saturday morning, that there
| were no confederate troops at Leesburg that they
had left there several DAYS before. On my arriva
at Drainesville all the inhabitants told me that the
brigade at Leesburg had crossed Goose Greek, and
returned to Manassas Tuesday. That
thing clearly understood We did not see a man
on the Leesburg road. / ascertained afterwards
that Evans had sent back his heavy baggage with
guard; and that body crossing Goose Creek gave
| rise to the report that he had retired with his
whole force. But he was there ut the time was
at Dranesville but did not know it. Had been
ordered forward, | have not the slightest doubt
that could have defeated Evans and captured his
| whole command. But it certainly would have been
very delicate matter; because they could have
| thrown up twenty or thirty thousand men from
Centerville, and cut off my retreat from Draines
| Vile"
In another place, General Mccall
says:
"At six o'clock Monday morning, l reported to
him General Mcclellan that the engineers whom
| had consulted reported to me that they would
finish their work in two hours. sent that express
to Gen. Mcclellan at six o'clock. got his reply,
dated eight o'clock, telling me to return soon as
nine and ten o'clock. ordered the troops to be |
ready to move and as the work was finished
| returned to my camp under orders"
Here are the orders given by General |
Stone on that occasion:
HEADoUARrNs, CAMP OF OBSERVATION,
Poolesville, October 20, 1861, 10Y p M.
Especial Orders, Mol
Colonel DevOns will land opposite Harrison's |
Island with five companies OF his regiment and |
proceed to surprise the camp of the enemy discov
cred by Captain Philbrick in the direction of Lees
burg. The landing and march will be effected
with silence and rapidity.
Colonel Lee, twentieth Massachusetts volunteers |
will Immediately after Colonel Devens departure |
occupy Harrison's Island with four companies of |
his regiment and will cause the four-oared boat to |
be taken across the island to the point of depar
ture of Col. Devons
One company will be thrown across to occupy |
the b. h.ights the Virginia Shore after Colonel |
Devens departure to cover his return.
Two mountain huwItzers will be taken silently /
up the tow-path and carried to the opposite side |
Of the island under the orders of Col. Lee
Col Devens will attack the camp of the enemy
81 day md hay cd fham will
them as far as he deems prudunt, and will destroy
tue camp, ifpractiabe, before returning.
He wal. make all the observations possible on the
country. will under all circumstances, keep his
command well in hand and not sacrifice to any sup
posed advantage of rapid pursuit.
Having accomplished this duty, Colonel Devens
will return to his present position unless he shall
see one ON the Virginia side nearer the river.
which he can undoubtedly hold until reinforced
and one which can be successfully held against
largely superior numbers. In such case, he will
hold on aud report.
CHARLES P. STONE,
Brigadier General.
HEADQUARrERs, CORPS OF OBSERVATION
Edwards Ferry. October 81, 1861.
COLONEL: In case of heavy firing in front of
Harrisons Island you will advance the California
regiment of your brigade, or retire the regiments
unLer Colonels Lee and Devens now on the Vir-
gna side of the river. at your discretion, assum-
ing command your arrival.
Very respectfully, Colonel, yours, most kindly,
CHARLES p. STONE,
Brigadier-General Commanding
Colonel E. D. BAKER, Commanding Brigade.
HEADoUARTERs CORPS OF OBSERVATION,
Edwards Ferry. October 2l, 1850.
COLONEL: | am informed that the force of the
enemy is aboul four thousand all told. Ii you can
push them you may do far to have strong
position near Leesourg, if you can keep them be-
fore you, avoiding their batteries. Ii they pass
Leesburg aud take the Gum Springs road you
will not follow far, but seize the first good position
to cover that road. Their design is draw us on,
if they obliged to retreat as fa- Goose Creek
where they can be reinforced from Manassas. |
have strong position. Report frequently, SO that
when they are pushed German can come in on their
flank. Very respectfully and truly, I
CHARLES p. STONE,
Brigadier-General Commanding
Colonel E. d. BAKER, Commanding Brigade.
Thus it is shown that Colonel Baker
had reason TO expect reinforcements,
for the enemy were to be pushed upon
their flank by Gen. German.
At two o'clock on Monday morning,
Col. Devons crossed the river upon
reconnaissance with four hundred men al
Balls Bluff, opposite Harrison's Land
ing, as directed by Gen. Stone. At
daylight Col. Baker was ordered to
cross to the support Of Col. Devons. ]
have read his orders. One scow and [
two small boats were their only means
transportation. At eight o'clock on
Monday morning the fighting com
menced by Col. Devons, and Col. Baker
was placed in command, as is alleged,
with discretionary orders. Col. Baker
knew that Smith and Mccall were at
Draine>ville, or within striking dis
,ance, that our troops were crossing at
Edwards Ferry, or, in other words,
that forty thousand effective men were ,
within twelve miles of him, and that at
least thirty thousand were upon the
Virginia side of the Potomac, and that
in the nature of things he must be re-
inforced. He did not know that at
half past ten, a. mh, of Monday, or two
and ono half hours after Col. Devens
commenced the fight, the division of
Smith and Mccall, commenced their
retreat, 10y the express orders of Gen.
Mcclellan. He knew that Col. Dew
ems was contenling with greatly super
ior forces, and, like gallant soldier :
AZ he was, he hastened to his relief
with all the force he could cross with !;
his adequate means of transportatlon.