New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-10
..,,or from Gen. Stone 10 Col. Baker, sent some
time later, was found upon bis body after no was
Killed. The two papers are as follows:

| time later was found upon bis body after no was
killed. The TWO papers are as follows:
! "HEApouARrnRs CoRrs OF OBSERVATION
"RpviRpss FBRRI. Oct 81, 1861 :.
acnroys,: In case oihesvy hhng In ffont Of HsT,on
Island you viii advance the California regiment yyso,
as'S Sn To. si1i is a q. V
Stunning command on arrival. ..r,.nt.
"Vy c sHSs y'H1 mot ss's:as
"o'l gAEns cS|%sns q. 3, s os.:ssy.ro
CoIoSxI am informed that II: force vou may do
a % AL s. .ron, ys% p@:s s.s
keep them befc: yoe syodss insI ROAD you will follow
but seize the first good position 20 cove, - a. far a.
design to draw they are ooseu S fom Msns.,s
Goose Greek where they can bs resni0oe0 "0'A '''-
sSns thu. when they pushed German
oaxsss Ff:F sfSs sd B truly Commanding
| "Col T. d. BAKER, Commanding Brigade"
| Col. Baker proceeded to Harrisons Island, and
finally concluded to send over troops to re-enforce
Col. Devens and Col. Lee. One Of the witnesses
states that Col. Baker was in doubt for time
whether TO recall the troops already over or to re-
enforce them; but, upon hearing some one on the
Virginia shore call out that they needed assistance,
as the enemy were coming, he determined to re-
enforce them and proceeded himself to the Virginia
side and assumed command. Col. Baker directed
the forces to cross at the point where COL Devens
and Col Lee had crossed with their forces.
! The means Of transporting troops at Balls BLUM
was exceedingly limited. Between the Maryland
shore and Harrson's Island were only three nat
boats or scows ell together capable OF crossing about
lbs at time. On the Virginia side OF the island
there were at fret only Francis metallic hfe-boat
and two small skifs, together incapable OF carrying
| from IS to 80 men at time. After time, one OF
the scows, or Haboats, was taken from the Mary
land to the Virginia side Of the island.
The landing on the Virginia side was at the foot
of Q very steep bluff, up which narrow path, wild
enipg toward the top wound its way and on the
top Of the bluff was o cleared space or field Dor.
dered by woods which afforded cover to the enemy
until within short distance Of where our troops
were formed.
Col. Baker, according to the testimony arrived on
the field between and o'clock, and proceeded at
once to form a line of battle upon the field at the
top of the bluff The amount Of the force engaged
upon our side between ], 7UO and 800 uen,
consisting Of about half Of the 18th Massachu-
sets Regiment, under Col DsveDs; portion (3l7
men, of the Doth Massachusetts, under Col Lee; the
\ Tammany Regiment, under Col. Cogs well; and the
California Regiment, under Lleut-Col. Wlstar. Inc
enemy forces were about 600 men.
4 The enemy began the attack--some OF the wit
q nesses say between and o'clock. others at s
oelock--at frat heavily, on the right Of our line,
then moving along toward the center and left,
where the hardest fighting took place.
It Your Committee do not deem it necessary TO go
into the details of the action. II continued for over
!, two hours, our troops contending most bravery
u against greatly superior numbers. COL Baker fell
uous for his bravery and almost reckless darng
When be fell the line began 10 waver. and some por
tons of it gave way before the destructive lire Of
. the enemy.
I After he death Of Col Baker. the command do.
% volved upon Col. Cogswell Of the Tamnany Regi-
ment, who proposed to attempt to cut through TO
; Edwards Ferry, which was assented TO By the
other regimental commanders. Upon attempting
movement 10 that direction, they were met by
9 Mississippi regiment coming from below, which
a dea fire.
, troops gave way, and retreated down the bluff
toward the river. This about dusk, 90 that our
y troops were somewhat concealed by the bushes on
the side of the bluff. The enemy continued TO fire
. upon them from the top OF the bluff. The men at
tempted TO escape to the Island in the boats aud by
4 swimming, being exposed all the time TO the fire Of
the enemy. The fatboat was soon riddled and
sunk tho feboat dTifted down the stream and the
skiffs were lost. Many were shot while in the
water others succeeded in swimming to the island
u some few under cover of the darkness succeeded In
70 escaping along tho bank of the rver, and finally
Id reached our hnes. But the greater portion were
It. killed or taken prisoners. .......
In relation to the operations at Edwards Ferry,
under the supervision Of Gen. Stone and the irme-
q date commsnd Of Gen. Gormsp, as there was no
I serious fighting there il may not be necessary TO go
much into detail. The crossing was commenced
about daybreak by the forces under COL Dana Of
Z the 1s, Minnesota Regiment, and was continued
until 2, 500 men were crossed over that day.
The means Of crossing were very limited rs at Har-
risons Landing consisting OF three or four ia-boats
or scows propelled across by poles. The place of
landing was very good, and covered by our artillery
ON the Maryland side. There were no important
I demonstrations made by our forces on the Virginia
h side of Edwardss Ferry. Some reconnoissances
were made for short distance, and one regiment Of
the enemy seen, probably the Mississippi regiment
. that arrived the field at Balls Bluff, near the
close of the action there.
Gen. McCalps division had remained at Draines-
o vile all OF Sunday and Sunday night. Gen. Nc
: Call tesufics:
AT o'clock Monday morning reported him toen
McC esn that the engineers whom had consulted reported
that express Gen. Mcclellan O'clock, got bis reply
dated ocoor telling me TO return the work
dered the troops then to be ready and
Is Both Gen. Mcclellan and Gen. Mccall testify
that the movement to Dranesviiie was for the pur
pose of reconnoterng the country in that direction
Bot Gen. Stone received no inmation of the object
of the movement. On the contrary, the language Of
II the dispatch of Sunday might well lead him to be-
|. leve that the movement had reference to driving
9 the enemy from Leesburg.. The dispatch contained
d no intimaton that Gen. Mccall was to be soon
d withdrawn from Drainesville. He was directed
d to keep good lookout upon Leesburg to see if
n this movement has the effect 10 DIVE them he
, myl away. Perhaps slight demonstration on your
II part would have the effect to move them" Gen.
T Stone made demonstrations both at Edwardss Ferry
n and at Balls Bluff and promptly notified Gen. Nc
% Cellan OF what he bad done. He sent that inform
l. alton ON Sunday night, and he testies that he
n ceiyed no intimatiOn from Gen. Mcclellan as to
what he should do, whether 10 continue the demon
II STATIONS not; and received no intimation that
g Cen Mccall was not close at hand to come TO his
assistance until about III O'Clock Monday night.
= Ii was very general impression among the officers
S and men at Edwards's Ferry during Monday that
Gen. Mccall would come to their assistance; and
Gen. Stone testifes that be cautioned bis artillery
about firing upon any troops that might show them
= - laaf tbav fntU fra