The National tribune., 1889-03-28

retreat was certain destruction. Under mas
orders the line was quickly rearrangeq' Win
the intention Of cutting their way 10 EoWarus
Ferry. where Stone was known 10 be ID FORCE
At this point conflicting statements appear
in all reports. COgswell says he ordered an
advance of the entire line, but that for some
unaccountable reason the 18th and 20th Mass.
failed 10 obey and left him with the Iammany
regiment and part Of the list Pa. TO MAKE the
assault alone. Deyens of the 18th Mass ana
officers Of the Doth affirm that just as they got
in line man advanced from the woods IN front
aud beckoned to the Union force Our soldiers,
thinking this was signal from one OF their own
officers. or perhaps challenge from the enemy,
sarang forward with cheer, but the 10Th and
20th Mass. were instantly recalled by their
officers, they having received no orders TO
advance.
No matter who is correct, the fact remains
that only small portion of the command at
tackled the rebels. and these were overwhelmed
IN a short time and borne back upon thelr
comrades, fighting desperately.
The victorious rebels now gathered them
selves for final onslaught; dashing madly for
ward, with that wild yell for which they were
famous. and which once heard is never forgot
ten they flung themselves against the weary
veterans of Baker with terrific force. But the
Union line though badly broken, was IN
stantly reformed, and then poured in such
deadly volley that the solid column OF the MIS-
sissippians shook and recoiled before II. But
our forces were row in no condition TO renew
the attempt TO get TO Edwards Ferry, and the
precious moment was lost
The rebels recovered themselves with shout
and dashed furiously forward, rivaling the
Mexicans at the siege of the Alamo in their on
slaaght; their lines reached around three sides
Of their opponents and, with treble the men,
they supposed a few moments would suffice 10
break our line. When the Union column was
almost encircled. when the troops were subject
70 a fearful enfilading fire, when worn and dis
spirited by incessant fighting, 90 you think
our gallant soldiers yielded thenP No, not
they. Again they forced the rebels back little
distance and got a breathing spell. Then the
enemy advanced with still more yigOr 10 the
charge.
The troops Of Baker poured in q deadly fire;
they struggled more like demons than like
men; they cheered each other on like the heroes
that they were; they dubbed their guns; they
used their hayOnets; they did everything TO
stem the rebel torrent that men are capable of
doing-all in vain. In vain were the efforts of
their officers, who worked as man has seldom
worked before; in vain did the brave color
bearer Of the list Pa. wave the ensign in front
Of the line. cheering the men on to the de-
Tense of their Tag Back, back they moved,
slowly backward, fighting over every foot,
forced backward. not by equal fighting, but
driven BIZ the very numbers Of the enemy;
l0Ely az first. then faster; q moments pause
and heroic fighting, then back again, faster
yet fighting till their line was pierced In
score Of places; then they gave way-who could
blame them 2-and rolled backward in disor-
dered masses to the bluff The slaughter was
fearful in this last encounter, and the enemy
captured hundreds of prisoners.
The triumphant rebels now advanced, and
frem ala sides rained disastrous fire upon the
devoted troops Of Baker But they had vet TO
b.l1
gun were not to be despsed; that our troops,
though most unskillfully handled, preeipi-
tated into needless perils. entrappcd, sur
rounded, hopeless had still the courage to fight
aud the manhood to die" Broken as they
were, Col. Cogswell by superLuman efforts re-
stored something ike order, encouraged his
men, gave rapid directions everywhere, and
proved himself IN every respect an able officer.
The remnant Of the 18th Mass was quickly
reformed aud thrown out as skirmishers and
two companies Of the Tammany regiment, I'M
der Capts. Gerety and O'Meary, having Just
arrived, were sent TO join them. The cannon
were tumbled over the bluff, but lodged some
distance down and were afterWard hauled up
by the enemy. The mouth Of the rayine was
filed with rebels, and was the source Of a heavy
fire upon our troops CogsWell gathered a
dozen men around him and moved upon it to
check the fire. and, as a browning disaster, was
Immediately surrounded and captured.
Francis q. Young. Of Bakers staff took that
officers body in charge and brought 1t 10 the
river bank, loaded it on fatboat together
with many wounded, and with it safely reach
ed the island.
Now did the fatal defect show itself again,
In the crossing Of the river no boat crews were
detailed; no guards were placed at the landings.
and the result was the fatboat was overloaded
on its second trip aud sank within 10 feet of the
shore. All the smaller boats were upset and
lost.
The skirmishers held the enemy in check for
a while, but were finally overpowered Cant.
Gerety being killed and forced back upon the
disOrdered mass below. Never did the hero
ism Of the Union soldiers shine out more bril-
liantly than in this dark hour Of defeat when.
srorning TO surrender, they threw their arms
into the river and boldly sprang in after them,
resolving rather to die IN that swift current
than yield TO the rebels.
Deyens thus rings the sentiment of nearly
every man on that disastrous day: 4" 1t was
impossible longer to resist and / should have
no doubt ii we had been contending with the
troops Of a foreign nation, in justice to the
lives OF cur men, it would have been our duty
70 surrender; but il was impossible to do this
TO rebels and traitors, and ] had no hesitation
u advising men TO escape as they could order
ing them in all eases to throw their arms int
the river rather then give them up to the enc
my" Some Of the men, however, swan to tn,
island with their guns on their backs Will,
Others remained concealed on the Eirgini;
shore all night and came in next day with thei
arms
There were now three alternatives open &
our troops: swim, hide or surrender; and man
Of those who chose to swim were drowned upo1
the way, Lieuts. Wesslehoeft and Babo bein
among the number. The gallant Capt OMear
swan TO the island and implored Col Kinks
there in command, 70 send a boat over to rescu
his brave men from the hands Of the rebel.
The request could not be granted Just then, an
OAeary, with magnificent devotion, swan bac
20 the Virginia shore TO aid his men and wa
captured.
Col. Lee 10th to leave the scene of actor
was persuaded to come down the bank by Can
Bartlett, Of his regiment Bartlett started on
10 collect the rest Of his company. and upon h
return was told that Lee, with Mai. Rever
Adj't PieTsou, DIR. Revere and Lieut. Perry, ha
taken a boat, and were by that time safely o
the island. Treasured, Bartlett called on a
who could not swim, and with 20 men of til
goth Mass, 90 of the 18th, and about 40 of til
list Pa. and Tammany regiments, started u
the river. They went up as far as Smart's Nil
and there, by means Of negro, found a dilap
dated skif sunk in the Midway, got it GU
placed it in the water, and, expecting ever
momentto be discovered by the rebels began I'll
crossing Of the river In about an hour a
were over. and Bartlett followed his men,
Upon reaching the island he found with su