The National tribune., 1883-12-06
GEN. 0. 0. HlWbRDS "REMINISCENCES.
I Continued from LIST paqs.l

ncared Leesburg, returned, and reported an
encsmpment without pickets. They had, it is
believed, mistaken an orchard for camp. On
this report General Stone, instead Of keeping
"a good lookout" and making perhaps
slight demonstration" decided to make a
strong demonstration and occupy Leesburg
with his troops.
Immediately upon this decision, he ordered
Colonel Deyens, with the 18th Massachusetts,,
to cross to Virginia from Harrison's Island, and
his place to be filled by the Goth Massachusetts,,
under the command of Colonel Lee. Further,
German was sent over at Edwards Ferry for
another accommodating expedition, while Baker
was instructed at Conrad's Ferry to watch Dew
ems support him with his own brigade, or cause
his return should that, after the attempt, ap-
pear TO be the best thing 10 do.
Had this combined movement succeeded,
General Stone would have been praised largely
and loudly for his energy and enterprise. And
at first. the morning Of the Dist, Devens, with
several hundred men, made his way over the
steep bluff aud on to the vicinity of Leesburg
and back with very little molestation.
The same Confederate officer, Evans, who fig
ured at the Stone Bridge, and changed front
Just In time TO save Beauregards flank at Bull
Run, was here with upwards of 5000 men-the
18TH 18th, and 18th Mississippi and the 9Th
Virginia, regiments He had concealed his
forces in town. cautiously took up the pursuit
of Deyens skirmishing ieebiy, and then waited
in the enYeloping wood above the bluffs, under
cover, till Stone Baker. and Devens were full
of a false confidence. Deyens was ordered by
Stone to stay on the Virginia shore, and Baker
was REINFORCED by the troops on Harrison's
Island.
THE BATTLE
The battle opened by an attack against Dew
ems on the bluff. at the sound Of the heavy
firing, the gallant Colonel Baker stopped for
nothing-did not even think TO secure his
three boats for a possible rstreat. Up the
heights, steep and precipitous, he went, took
command Of his men, then less than 1900 all
told, and much hGddled together under the fear
ful prearranged FIRE of Evans. We know the sor-
rowful result. Sheer pluck kept our men there
for an hour. After the death Of Colonel Baker,
Colonel Coggswell tried to withdraw, SO as to
save q remnant. Many officers had already
fallen. Over the steep bluffs tbs soldiers ran,
10 be shot relentlessly as they descended, or to
be moved down as they huddled IN groups
along the shore. The overloaded boats were
capsized and many drowned. Some were saved
by hiding in the wood till dark, and some man
aged nobody knows exactly how, TO succeed IN
getting over to the island. The enemy counted
to US 223 dead. 259 wounded, 3 pieces of can
non, and between 800 and 600 prisoners.
The enemy though ginning so easy a victory,
had lost heavily having more than $50 among
the slain. 1t fell TO my lot, later IN the war to
command Colonel Bakers brigade. The names
Of many of the officers who suffered imprison-
nent, wounds or death with him, were familiar
in that brigade. as that of II. t. Coggswell,
Gerety, Alden, Gilliss, and Bramhall, Of New
York; WA. Raymond, Lee, Devens, GatcheI,
Grout Rabo. and Vim Lowell Putnam, OF Mas
saebusetts; Wistar Beirei, Lingenfeiter, Otter,
J. u. Williams, and Sheweil Of Pennsylvania,
and Frank 5. French, of the LIST regiment of
artillery. Duyckinck, the war historian,
graphically describes closing scene near the
river: Colonel Coggswell gave the necessary
order to retire. The enemy pursued TO the edge
of the cliff over the landing place, and poured
in heavy fire as our men were endeavoring to
cross TO the island. The retreat was rapid, but
according to orders. The men formed near the
river, maintaining for nearly half an hour the
hopeless contest rather than surrender. The
smaller boats had disappeared no one knew
where The largest beat, rapidly and too
heavily loaded, swamped some fifteen feet from
the shore, and nothing was left TO our soldiers
bat to swim, surrender, or die. With deyo-
ton worthy the cause they were serving, OIL
GERS aud men. while quarter was being offered
10 such as would lay down their arms stripped
themselves of their swords and Eluskets and
hurled them out into the river TO prevent their
falling into the hands of the foe, and saved
themselves as they could by swimming, float
| ing on logs, and coneealing themselves IN the
/ bushes OF the forest, and made their way up
and down the river bank 70 the place Of cross
/ ing. The instances Of personal gallantry of the
highest order were so many that it would be
unjust to detail particular cases. Officers dis
played for their men, and men for their Off
1 GERS, that beautiful devotion which is only t.
/ be found among true soldiers
PUBLIC FEELING AT TEE cAPrTAL,A
was in Washington al the time of this fear
/ fnl disaster liz affected everybody deeply. The
President knew the patriotic Baker. He had
but recently gone from the Senate into the
I field; so President Congress, and people felt
bereayed- was made, By an order, one of the
pall-bearers when the body Of Colonel Baker
arrived. | wrote few words about the con-
bat and the funeral, which l have preserved
The news this morning is, thai
General Stone, formerly of the ordnance, has
withdrawn his forces 10 this side Of the river
1 has Cut-lnaneuTered him up opposite Pooles
vile. -'s plan mast be 10 cut of these
forces Ga the right whip them out, cut cur only
line Of communication, while Johnston holds
4 Manassas by sufficient force 70 check the ad
vance Of our center. It wiz delight me ex
ceedingly II Mcclellan viii cut of '
communication By a march plumb TO the front
Yesterday ] was one Of the pail bear
ers 10 General Colonel list Pennsylvania
also known as Bakers LIST California infantry
Baker General Baker Was brought to th,
house Of Mr. Webb, near Us, and ! went in {,
see his corpse, but the lid was closed. / saw
his hat, ike ny old dress bat, with q bulle
hole just az the base Of the crown, OF one side
] sax, also, his uniform coat, covered with dirt
I noticed one cut with ballet on the arm bu
did rot raise it up to look further. The sol
diers who had taken his body from the enem.
II believe il WAS they were near by in th
room, drawn ap IN one line.
THE FUNERAL SERMON.
REV. DR. Sunderland, OF this city, preached hi
present. One of the men fell down ia swool
70 General Denver, Of California, two colonel
ahead OF ae and two in advance Of him. Tn
distance to the cemetery must be at least tire
Of the pail bearers. ! was introduced to him
and hsd moments conversation. An immcnE
crowd Of most unintellectBal people came TO &c
the procession. Nobody evineed sorrow
Amongst them some raised their hats as W
passed / wondered where SO many peopl
, came from Washington Is no criterion b,
which 20 judge OF our country. The passion
and sppetites and SINS Of great small ne
I, VINO have run our Government upon tho rock
. hsvc left their sad impression here and doub
not the srniy has called into its train its usu
] ally dirty brood of army followers. j don
! love tbe concOmitants OF war! What = wal
there viii be in Massachusetts eTsr the sa
! disaster 1T Balls Bluff.
$ AT home the people are getting vexed an
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