The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-21

Was no advantage to be gained by bein
% far from my covering force as the
was ordered Capt Philbrick to fal
back to the woods, and short time afte
WE FELL BACK
On Col. Lees position on the bluff"
Thus it will be seen from Col. Deyens'
own testimony that after having report
ed to Gen. Stone that he held gooC
position in the woods, and was concealed
from the enemy and awaiting his fur
ther orders; yet, in the face of this re
port, discovering q small body of tht
enemy which might have been captured
quietly without firing shot or making
a noise to arouse an enemy of whose
strength and position he was at thi.
time entirely ignorant, he sent for
ward one company of his regiment tc
attack this small body of troops, there
by exposing his men and deliberately
bringing on a battle. Then he fell
back 10 a position on which no man
with anv military training would have
selected to fight battle under the cir
Cunstances
After Col. Devens had fallen back
on Col Lees position, the latter officer
expected that in view of the orders un-
der which Col. Devens was acting, that
officer would have Immediately fallen
back and recrossed the river under his
QIee's) protection while there was still
opportunity of doing so, when both these
officers might have Withdrawn their
troops in safety, without any further loss
than sustained in the skirmish.
Col. Devens, however, did not see
proper to pursue that course, but, on the
contrary, and without saying anything
Of his intentions to Col. Lee, he again
advanced in the direction of the posi-
ton he had just left. After bis depart
ure, Col. Lee, supposing Col. Devens in
tended TO fight Immediately sent orders
across to the island TO have the three
companies Of his regiment there under
the command Of his Major (Revere)
cross the river to reinforce him.
This was promptly done. And as
Col Lee had about completed the plac-
ing Of his troops in position, there was
some heavy firing in front, and pres
emily Col. Devens's men fell back again
out Of the woods upon Lees position.
At this time, however,
IT WAS TOO LATE
TO make any attempt to recross the river,
as the enemy in considerable force had
closely followed up Col. Deyens's troops,
which fell back before them.
1t was now evident that the enemy
was in force in both Lees and Devens's
front, and in order to save these troops
already in Virginia from entire annihi-
lation or capture, a battle must be
fought, or at least enough troops sent
over there to enable them to hold their
position until further troops should ar
rive. Gen. Stone was of the opinion.
even at this time, that Col. Devens held
the position. Accordingly, Col. Baker,
Of the LIST CAL Cor list Pa received
orders to cross the river with his COM
mand and take command of the troops
In Virginia. Gen. Stone gave him, to-
gether with his own regiment, the AID
n. Y, Col. Cegswell, and whatever
troops he might find in the vicinity Of
Harrison's Island, together with some
SIX or eight pieces Of artillery, some Of
which were to have been placed in po-
sition on the hills on the Maryland side
Of the river
Col Baker crossed tie river about /
o'clock p. m. At this time there were
In the river two fatboats in which the
Massachusetts troops had crossed, and
which were now leaking badly, the old
canal boat which Col. Baker had ordered
taken out Of the canal, across the tow
path, and placed in the Maryland branch
Of the river, in which most OF his troops
crossed, and a small boat or skif, q rude
structure, made OF thin boards, not more
than four or five feet long, and square
Oh both ends.
When Col. Baker arrived on the isl
and be found some 400 or 500 of his
men on the Virginia side Of it, awaiting
transportation to Virginia The only (
means OF transportation on this side con-
sisted of one fatboat and one metallic
rowboat, the latter having considerable
water and mud in it. There was also a
wide crack in the side, through which |
the water kept flowing freely.
Up 70 this moment Col. Baker did |
not seem to be aware of the means of |
transportation at his disposal on this side /
Of Hanison's Island, and while he was
making some remarks to Capt. Young, |
the Quartermaster Of bis regiment, about |
Il, and at the same time thinking what |
sas best 10 do under the circumstances,
sne Of the officers of the 18th Mass. ap-
peared on the opposite side, asking to |
hurry up reinforcements, as the enemy
IN their front was being reinforced by |
three additional regiments, coming from |
the direction Of Leesburg.
This news seemed TO have decided Col. |
.taler, who was thinking deeply at the |
ime, and he Immediately crossed the |