The National tribune., 1904-01-28


abandon Leesburg, directed Gen. Stone,
whose division of observation was guard
ing the left bank Of the Potomac above
Washington, with Headquarters at P0oles- |
vile. to keep d good lookout upon Lees
hnrg,"' ard suggested "a slight demonstra-
ton as likely to have the effect OF moving
the enemy at that point. Accordingly. on
the afternoon of the Goth, Gorman's Brig
ade was sent to Edwards Ferry to make
display of force, and the 18th Mass.
under Col Devens, was sent 70 Har- |
.aisons Island, from which place n small
by Balls Bluff, to the Virginia side, and
ordered to push out towards Leesburg and
report the position Of the enemy. The
accommodating ~ party having returned. |
bringing report OF a small encampment OF
the enemy, within q mile OF Leesburg. Col.
Devens was ordered by Gen. Stone to cross
five companies OF his regiment to the Vir.
ginia shore, and advancing under cover OF
the night to the enemy's camp. to destroy |
it at daybreak., and, after making obserya- |
ton OF the country. to return. The report |
touching the enemys encanpment proved
to be mistake: but Col. Devens found q
wood in which he concealed his men, and
proceeded to examine the fpace between |
that and Leesbnrg. About s. o'clock. how
ever. finding his position discovered. he re-
tired TO the Bluff, but presfntlv returned
towards .Leesbur9. and occupied the ground
Till IOWardS % CLOCK WLAsa1s ~ Ucihs NJ
tackled bvs q regiment of the enemy, he
again fell back to field in front OF the
bluff, where the main action afterwards
took place, and where WAS ported small
supporting force under Col. lee. Mean
time. in the asevBing, Gen. Stone had as- +
right wing nj sBails HIuG, giving him q
discretionary order either 10 retire the
small force on the VifginA side, or to /
reinforce it from his own byisade.
COZ. BAKER KIkIED.
Col Baker determinsd IN the latter
course, and succeeded In feYrying over
about 1000 men OF his command
These he united - to stpe commands
Of os,r Col nsssas Pc h,s wlS ne an
with this force Of about I8Q0 z1en fOrmedf
line of battle in the field Attfhe top 0f the I
biuf,s where, about half -rnsf in the after L
noon, he began to receive tb4 attack OF the +
enemy. The Southern fore was composed
Of four regiments, under command Of Col.
Evans. who with his brigade had been hold
ing post ut Leesburg. Finding that the
small Union force. which had been easily
driven back from its advance toward Lees
burg. was constantly being reinforced by |,
the fresh troops which Baker was bring
ing across the river. Evans ordered gem
efale attack. The action colfinued for two
hours !; the Confederates asgaulting impet-
uously, and the Union force st0utly resist !,
ing, though losing ground. In the midst OF
the contest the commanding officer. Col.
the line, receiving severe lnre on the left
flank. retreated in disorder down the bluff
towards the river.
REBELS BECOME HUrGHERs.
Here, towards dusk, an appalling scene
ensued. The troops sWarnaed down the
steep bluff, pursued by the, yelling South
erners,. who shot apd baydneted them as !
they ran. The means OF transportation
had been very Inadequate; fhe one fatboat
down the stream, and the couple Of skifs
which made up the total we're soon lost.
Many were shot while i'm the water many
we're drowned :. many surrendered; others
succeeded in swimming to the island. Not
half OF those who went over returned.
COOPERATION WAS WANTING.
This lamentable affair discouraged the
people Of the North as much as It elated
the Southerners. (10) Its entire history
affords striking exemplif ifcation Of theI
looseness of military conduct and relations
at that time. In venturine on the under
position % that Gem Mccall wSo, 70 us as Gem s
McC CleIlan informed him, had occupied
Drainesville on the 10Th, and was to ''send
out reconnoissances in all directions" still
remained there; vet Mccall was with
drawn the. following morning, when Stone
the latter's being Informed of the fact
Again. though Gen. Mcclellan did not
order the expedition across the river, yet
on being Informed OF the crossing during
the day, he congratulated Gen. Stone: there
plan of operations lacked definite purpose
1t was neither d feint nor q serious attack.
He seems to have left Cols Baker in mis-
understanding az to the cooperation of the
force at Edwards Ferry and the conduct
otic man, who had quilted !his seat in the
United States Senate to take the field
was without militury skill Or discretion.
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LlN.oLS S.Saoae1.D