The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-13
A WAR SKETCH.
A Story of Senator Baker and Gen.
Stone.

| ObOh0.
(copyrfyht. 1891. by the United Press)
| New YoRK, Dec. IA was sitting one
evening In the tent of the Commanding
General Charles P. Stone, In Poolesville,
Nd. Just this side Of the Potomac river,
the opposite shore being known as Balls
| Bluff, where an orderly announced "Sena-
tor Baker"
Stone was an inveterate cigarette smoker.
| Before noticing the orderly he lighted
cigarette, which he held daintily III his yell
| low-stained fingers, and then, with quiet
| irony, which was characteristic of him,
said, half TO himself and half to the group,
II wonder If he comes as senator or officer
ask the gentleman to walk i'm
Senator Baker, In full colonel's forgery,
entered with his bluff, hearty manner, and,
after partaking OF the barleycornie refresh
ment, opened fire at once General said
| he, "the public demand fight. 1t is better
that we should fight and be whipped than
sit idle here, the target Of universal criti-
cism." Now, bear in mind that Stone was
In command Of the division and Baker was
In command of regiment, bis change being
subsequently enlarged TO a brigade. Such
talk from a senator was all very we'll, but
from subordinate officer, unasked, was
not ouly intrusive and imDertinent, but
traversing Of ell official etiquette. Nobody
uhaACA oGOoA bLAo lSSS tnhu Dah6I, no OQe
moro keenly appreciated 1t than Stone.
After some considerable talk in this
strain Stone looked up. and said very
quietly, "Where are you Quartered,
colou6ip Baker seemed taken aback, but
answered him, whereupon Stone motioned
once more to the Jug, which motion was re-
garded and accepted as an invitation, rose,
thereby intimeting desire to terminate the
interview, and further said: ~ shall COM
nintnar "a with
matter Of some importance, and trust you
will be refreshed and ready to give US your
cooperation" Baker bowed himself out.
went to the little house where he was STOP
ping, and two days after was ordered across
the river. The battle Of Balls Bluff has
never been thoroughly, has never been
clearly told to the lay mind.
Don't be alarmed. / don't intend to tell
you anything about it. although was there
and saw It.
But. in the first place, imagine a river
with bluffs on the other side; small
plateau on this side Of the bluffs fringes the
river, woods thick aud apparently impen~
etrable flank either side of the approach to
the bluffs The union troops crossed the
river All was quiet They formed Oh
plateau; silence required, the order was
given 30 proceed, when cannon belched
from the bluff. Gross fire from both sides
swept across the line of march,
Murderously assaulted, and thrown into
terrible confusion, the troops reeled, fall
tered, rushed in confusion toward the river
bank. There, by heroic effort on the part
of Baker and several Of Gen. stones staff,
they were to a certain extent reformed on
the little plateau which like the entire dis
lance to the nights beyond, vas but twenty
five feet wide. Below it, some thirty feel
down TO the river, was a muddy, sloppy
waste Of slush, made almost watery by the
passage of the troops with their artillery
| from the boats.
Col now Judgel Devens, of the Fifteenth
| Massachusetts, well remembers, doubt not
the dress parade of the night preceding liz
sharp contrast with the unhappy parade OF
| the succeeding night, the flower of his COM
mand gone, flags battered, disheartenment
1 trouble plainly written, In lines full OF
meaning, on every face.
| "Lie down Baker. for heavens sake, lie
down; why expose yourself needlessly p
1 called out one of Bakers nearest friends
| Drawing himself to bis full hight, Baker
replied: "When you are a United States
senator, you will understand why l don't
lie down." For all that bis bravery was
not war, his courage amounted to nothing.
A swift-winged messenger from a confeder
ate rifle pierced his heart, and he fell upon
the field, covered with glory, to be sure
loved by his men, doubtless, but of nc
|
brief space Of an hour or 30 thereafter hi!
spirit fed. and naught was left but his ire.
| mains."
wonder If the truth will ever be tolc
about that fight.
Poor Stone was hauled over the Goals
Mcclellan going 80 far even as to write, In
October, Immediately after the defeat
my dispatch did not contemplate the
making of an attack upon the enemy, or Of
the crossing of the river. in four, bY any
portion Of Gen. Stones command n whereas
Asst. Adjt. Gen. A. v. Colburn sent &
Gen. Stone In Rockville an order, part o.
which says: "Gen. Mcclellan desires tina
! you keep-a good lookout upon Leesburg. K
see IL this movement has the effect TO driv,
them away. Perhaps slight demonstra
tion on your part would have the effect tC
move them"
well now. as It was, Stones force SEN
across with Baker and Devens amounted
to but ], 100 men, and it was impossible *
keep lookout upon Leesburg from thi
side Of the river. Another force wa
known TO be moving up from Washing.
ton, and Stone very naturally supposed
that he was to act in concert with that
other force, which but the day before had