Report frequently, so that when they are | Aspinwall, shot through the arm, above the pushed, Gorman can come up on their flank. Yours respectfully and truly, CHARLES P. STONE, Brigadier-General Commanding. LIEUTENANT ADAMS' REPORT. WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 1861. General Barry, Chief of Artillery : SIR: Agreeably to your instructions, I give below a correct report of the circumstances connected with the recent battle near Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861. "The left section of Battery B, Rhode Island Artillery, was ordered on the 20th of October to proceed to Conrad's Ferry. Captain Vaughn immediately started, camping at the New York Ninth regiment's camp on Saturday night, and, proceeding to the ferry the following morning, placed one of his pieces in readiness to cross the river. General Baker at that time gave Captain Vaughn orders to place the centre section of his battery, which was two miles and a half distant, in a position to shell the woods. Captain Vaughn immediately started, ordering Lieutenant Bramhall to see to the piece in the event of his not getting back in time to cross with it. Very soon after Captain Vaughn left the river, orders were given to transport one piece of artillery across the river. Lieutenant Bramhall, being at that time chief in command, crossed with the one best situated for immediate and most expeditious forwarding, which was one of Captain Vaughn's pieces. The piece was taken across the river, with the timber, seven horses and fourteen men, including Sergeant Tucker. After dismounting the piece the men dragged it up a steep hill, and, returning for the carriage, brought it up also, mounted the piece, and commenced firing; continued to do so until all the cannoneers, with the exception of two, were shot down. Sergeant Tucker remained by the piece until his right leg was shattered by a musket ball, and then, unassisted, retired. elbow; Bromley, arm grazed by musket ball; M. Carmichael, A. J. McAllen, C. L. Woodmancy and M. Tillinghast escaped without injury. The wounded men will probably recover. Dr. Crosby informs me that he has no fears of any one wounded, but intimates that there is a possibility of its being necessary to amputate Sergeant Tucker's leg. I feel it my duty to say, that had Captain Vaughn not been prevented by illness, caused by his arduous labors in carrying the dead and wounded across the river, immediately after the battle, a full and authentic report would have been forwarded to you. Respectfully, GEORGE W. ADAMS, Lieutenant Battery B, R. I. A. Addenda.-General Stone visited the wounded · men, praised them for their bravery, and told them that no men could have worked the piece better. G. W. ADAMS, Lieutenant. COLONEL HINKS' REPORT. HEAD-QUARTERS NINETEENTH REGT. MASS. VOL. CAMP BENTON, October 23d, 1861. To Brig.-Gen. Lander: Learning that a column of our troops was crossing the Potomac on the 21st inst., at a point near the centre of Harrison's Island, in which the companies of my regiment stationed as pickets upon the river had been ordered to join by General Baker, I hastened thither, in anticipation of orders from General Stone. I arrived there about half-past one o clock P. M., and found among the troops at the point of crossing great confusion, no competent officer seeming to have been left in charge of the transportation, and the progress made in embarking was very slow. I at once took charge at this point, caused a line to be stretched across the river by which to propel the boats, and forwarded troops in the following order, to wit: Lieutenant Bramhall speaks of both the ser- Part of California regiment not already geant and all the men, with the exception of crossed, the Rhode Island and New York batone, who retired after the third fire, as exhibit-teries, the New York Tammany regiment, and ing the greatest bravery. He was also particular to speak of the bravery shown by M. Carmichael and W. F. Matteson. His report to Captain Bunting is full of the praises of the whole detachment. The loss sustained by the battery is as follows, viz.: One James's rifled cannon, bronze, one gun carriage, one gun limber, seven horses with equipments, four men missing, six men wounded. The following is a list of those who were in the detachment which crossed the river: Sergeant S. G. Tucker, right leg shattered; Corporal W. F. Tanner, missing, probably drowned; Corporal L. C. Olney, missing, probably drowned; privates Charles Connell, missing, probably drowned; W. F. Matteson, missing, probably drowned; B. W. Matteson, shot through both legs; G. R. Matteson, shot through the side; N. C. Haskins, shot through the chest; John the Nineteenth Massachusetts. With the latter regiment I proceeded to the island. I learned that General Baker had been killed, and found every thing in confusion, our column being entirely routed and in precipitate retreat, throwing away their arms, deserting their killed and wounded, and leaving a large number of prisoners in the hands of the enemy. I at once took command, arrested as far as possible the progress of the rout, restored order, and, to check the advance of the enemy, who threatened to occupy the island, I sent the Nineteenth Massachusetts regiment to the front, and placed one gun of the Rhode Island battery and two of the New York battery in position, supported by two companies of the Massachusetts Twentieth, and so much of the Tammany regiment as was upon the island and could be induced to remain; which disposition being made, and pickets extended upon the good order, to the Maryland shore, without Virginia side of the island, I commenced active | any casualties or loss whatever; and completmeasures for the gathering of the wounded, ing the retreat at twelve o'clock, I immediately and rescue of straggling parties of our troops passed my compliments to the rebel commandupon the Virginia shore, by the construction er, in the form of four shells from Captain of rafts and the use of small boats; the boats Vaughn's guns, which had been placed in batused for crossing to the Virginia shore having tery upon the high ground overlooking the been swamped and lost in the precipitate and canal and river. During the retreat I was redisorderly retreat. No field-officer was on duty inforced by five companies of the Massachusetts npon the island, with the exception of Major Second, under command of Captain Tucker, Bon, of the New York Tammany regiment. who remained upon this side of the river, where I stationed him with his command in support of the battery, and ordered to camp the companies of the Nineteenth and Twentietli, who were greatly exhausted, having been constantly employed in the intrenchments, burying the dead, removing the wounded, and transporting the artillery to and from the island. The enemy known to have been engaged consisted of the Eighth Virginia regiment, under the command of Colonel Janifer, and the Seventeeth and Eighteenth Mississippi regiments, with a squadron of horse and battery, the whole under command of General Evans. Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing cannot be determined, as large numbers of wounded and unwounded were drowned when the boats were swamped, as well as in attempts to swim the river during the night; and no reports have as yet been made to me. The Fifteenth Massachusetts regiment, the Twentieth Massachu After the passage of the Nineteenth Massachusetts regiment, no reinforcements crossed to the island, although several regiments were upon the tow-path on the Maryland side, but returned to their camps during the night; a considerable number of unarmed fugitives from various regiments were passed to the Maryland shore during the night, and the transportation of the wounded was continued until noon of the 22d. On the morning of the 22d I despatched Lieutenant Dodge, of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, with a flag of truce, to request of the Confederate commander permission to remove our wounded, of which numbers lay in view, uncared for, on the Virginia shore. This request was denied, except in the case of a few apparently mortally wounded. The remainder were taken prisoners. Permission for my surgeon to cross and treat the wounded was also refused, except upon condition that he should remain a prisoner in their hands. Subsequent-setts, Baker's California regiment, and a part ly I despatched Captain Vaughn, of the Rhode Island battery, with another flag of truce, to obtain permission to bury the dead, which was acceded to, with the stipulation that no movement of troops should be made from the island to the Maryland shore in retreat, while the burying party was employed; and I despatched Captain Vaughn with a party of ten men for that purpose, who remained till after dark, and succeeded in burying forty-seven bodies, which he reported to be about two-thirds of the number lying upon the ground; but night coming on he was unable to bury the remainder. of the Tammany regiment, lost a large number of men, who were made prisoners. Colonel Lee and Major Revere, of the Twentieth, and Colonel Coggswell, of the Tammany regiment, are reported missing. Lieut.-Col. Ward, of the Fifteenth Massachusetts, was severely wounded. We have lost two howitzers and one rifled cannon belonging to Capain Vaughn's Rhode Island battery, and a considerable number of small-arms, (say fifteen hundred,) with equipments. I shall make a further report of the killed who were identified before burial. I have to report that the remnant of the During the afternoon factious complaint was Tammany regiment, under command of Major made by the rebel commander that I had vio- Bon, deserted its post in the intrenchments on lated the stipulations under which the flag of the island at an early hour in the forenoon of truce was protected, accompanied by a threat the 22d, and passed to the Maryland shore in to retain Captain Vaughn and his party as disobedience of orders, while I was engaged in prisoners of war. I at once addressed a note arranging for the removal of the wounded and to the rebel commander denying the accusa- the burial of the dead. I cannot close this retion, threw up new intrenchments, and made port with justice to our troops, who fought disposition of troops, with a view of renewing valiantly, without commenting upon the causes hostilities if the threat was carried into execu- which led to their defeat and complete rout. tion. Subsequently, however, Captain Vaughn The means of transportation, for advance in returned with his party, and informed me that support, or for a retreat, were criminally demy explanation was deemed satisfactory by ficient-especially when we consider the facilthe rebel commander. Immediately after Cap-ity for creating proper means for such purposes tain Vaughn's return, under cover of night, I commenced a retreat, in pursuance of orders previously received from Gen. Hamilton, and transported three pieces of artillery, with caissons and ammunition, thirty-six horses, and the eleven companies of infantry under my command, numbering some seven hundred men, in at our disposal. The place for landing on the Virginia shore was most unfortunately selected, being at a point where the shore rose with great abruptness for a distance of some one hundred and fifty yards, at an angle of at least thirty-five degrees, and was entirely studded with trees, being perfectly impassable to artil lery or infantry in line. At the summit, the surface is undulating, where the enemy were placed in force, out of view, and cut down our troops with a murderous fire, which we could not return with any effect. The entire island was also commanded by the enemy's artillery and rifles. In fact, no more unfortunate position could have been forced upon us by the enemy for making an attack-much less selected by ourselves. J. Lowell, shot in leg, not serious. Second Lieut. Putnam was shot in the bowels, and died in this camp yesterday. His body was sent on to Boston this morning. Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, of non-commissioned officers and privates, is reported at one hundred and forty-seven, of whom forty-five are at the camp, and most of them will recover. The other wounded are believed to be prisoners. At about three o'clock on Tuesday morning, I was ordered to march, with all my remaining troops, including even the camp guard, to the river, and cross, and join the advance. I did so, and we returned this morn Within a half mile upon either side of the points sélected a landing could have been effected where we could have been placed upon equal terms with the enemy, if it was necessary to effect a landing from the island. My judging. We were under fire for a few moments, ment, however, cannot approve of that policy which multiplies the number of river crossings without any compensation in securing commanding positions thereby. LIEUT.-COL. PALFREY'S REPORT. HEAD-QUARTERS 20TH REG. MASS. VOL. Camp Benton, Poolesvile, Md. Thursday, Oct. 24, 1861. To His Excellency Governor Andrew: GOVERNOR: It is my painful duty to make the following report: On the morning of the 21st, Col. Lee, with Major Revere and Adjutant Pierson, conducted the whole or the greater part of Companies A, C, D, E, G, H, and I, of the above regiment, to a point on the Virginia shore opposite Sullivan's Island, a little below Conrad's Ferry. The command numbered something over three hundred men. They were accompanied or followed by other troops, the Massachusetts Fifteenth, Col. Devens, among them. They were soon attacked by the enemy, who outnumbered them greatly. The attack continued to be made at intervals, and most of the fighting was in the afternoon. They were very severely treated, and the following is the result, as nearly as I can state it: Missing, believed to be prisoners of warCol. Lee, Major Revere, Adjutant Pierson, Assistant Surgeon Revere, First Lieut. Geo. B. Perry. Believed to be wounded-First Lieut. Babo, Second Lieut. Wesselhoeff. Wounded in this camp-Capt. Dreher, shot through the head from cheek to cheek; recovery possible. Capt. J. C. Putnam, right arm taken off at socket; doing well. First Lieut. O. W. Holmes, jr., shot through chest from side to side; doing well. Captain Schmidt, shot three times through the leg and through small of the back, from side to side; doing well. First Lieut. J. and in a position of great peril all the time. I have had to go through such fatigue and anxiety for the past four days, and had so much to do in arranging what is left of this gallant and unfortunate regiment, that I can only write briefly, and at a late hour, to state the principal facts of the sad story. All accounts agree that the conduct of officers and men was gullant in the extreme. The enemy paid them the highest tribute when they permitted our burying party to land the following day. You will see from the following table that our loss was about fifty per cent.: officers engaged, twenty-two; officers safe, nine; killed, one; missing, seven; wounded, five; rank and file engaged, three hundred and eighteen; killed, Iwounded, and missing, one hundred and forty seven. I may add that I was ordered to remain in charge of the camp, and that I was called from attendance on the wounded, who were arriving all night, to form my men for the advance to the other side. I brought all my men back in safety. I shall endeavor to write at greater length by the next mail. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. Com, 20th Reg. Mass. Vol. GENERAL MCCLELLAN'S ORDER. HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, The Major-General commanding the Army of the Potomac desires to offer his thanks, and to express his admiration of their conduct, to the officers and men of the detachments of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts, First California and Tammany regiments, the First United States Artillery and Rhode Island battery, engaged in the affair of Monday last near Harrison's Island. The gallantry and disciplino there displayed deserved a more fortunate result; but situated as these troops were-cut off alike from retreat and reinforcements, and at tacked by an overwhelming force-five thousand against one thousand seven hundred-it was not possible that the issue could have been successful. Under happier auspices such devotion will ensure victory. The General Commanding feels increased confidence in General Stone's division, and is sure that when they CAPT. FRANCIS G. YOUNG'S STATEMENT. On Sunday evening, Gen. Stone, being persuaded that no important force of the enemy remained along the upper Potomac, and in obedience to orders from head-quarters, commenced his passage of the river at Harrison's Island. The point of transit was about five miles above Edwards' Ferry, and nearly an equal distance from Leesburg. The island is a low, fertile strip of land, several miles in length, so dividing the river that the Maryland channel is not a furlong in width, and that on the Virginia side not more than two hundred feet. next meet the enemy they will fully retrieve | our first company landed at the foot of the bushthis check, for which they are not accountable. | covered precipice which rises abruptly over one By command of Major-General MCCLELLAN. hundred feet from the river bed on the further S. WILLIAMS, side of the river. Four hours more had elapsed Assistant Adjutant-General. before the last company landed. Sections of the Second Rhode Island battery, comprising two howitzers, two field smooth-bores, and one rifled gun, went over with us, the men dragging them up the heights with great difficulty and spirit. All this time irregular fighting was going on above. It seems that Colonel, Devens had in the morning moved with a small detachment in the direction of Leesburg, shortly after his forces had crossed, had advanced one mile, there met the enemy's skirmishers in feeble force, and had retired to the brow of the heights. Before this the quartermaster of the Massachusetts Fifteenth had gone alone to a point within a mile of the village, had returned, crossed the river, and reported to General Stone that there were no hostile forces in that region. But after Colonel Devens fell back his men were placed in a semicircular clearing, or natural forest opening covering five or six acres, with its base resting on the edge of the heights, and flanked and fronted by forest. The enemy, becoming bolder, advanced in scattered parties to the edge of these woods, and from ten A. M. till four P. M. kept up a random, annoying fire upon our men. The latter sheltered themselves as well as they could, lying just below the ridge, and awaited Six companies of the Fifteenth Massachusetts regiment, under Col. Devens, and two companies of the Twentieth (Tammany) New York, arrived at the river about two A. M. Monday, and commenced to cross. At sunrise they were all on the Virginia side. Before daylight an order came to Colonel Baker to march the first battalion of the California regiment to Conrad's Ferry, two miles south of the island, and then, if he heard firing, go to the support of Coggswell and Devens. Accordingly, Lieutenant-Colonel Wistar advanced with the battalion, six hundred and eighty-reinforcements. nine officers and men, and by sunrise had reached the river and proceeded down to the island crossing. I accompanied the force to arrange for transportation. Was sent to report for orders to General Stone. Returned, having received command to cross at once. On my way back I overtook Colonel Baker, who told me that only the battalion were to cross. He had no orders for the brigade. At four, then, our whole force had crossed and ascended, Colonel Baker and staff with the rest, and the troops were suffering somewhat from the concealed enemy's fire. Many had dropped and been carried down the hill. We asked Colonel Baker what he thought of affairs. He said that he thought we had a good position; could fall back for shelter behind the ridge. "Yes," said we, "but what's in those Shortly after General Stone placed Colonel woods?" He answered, "I think the enemy Baker in command of all the forces on the Vir- are concealed on our right." A private had reginia side. Our battalion then, at about seven ported that there was no force on the left, but A. M., commenced crossing to the island, and a deep ravine, hidden by the woods. We then from thence to the further shore. Meantine proposed sending skirmishers to make a reconwe could hear skirmishing shots on the heights, noissance on the right, and Captain Markoe, which continued without much intermission Second Lieutenant Williams, and myself adthrough the morning. Now we began to ex-vanced with Companies A and D of the Caliperience the difficulty which was the chief cause of the terrible scenes which closed the day. No adequate means of transportation had been provided. It seemed as if the column was expected to walk across on the water-surface. Nothing but one old scow, capable of holding perhaps forty men, appeared available on either side of the island. If the Massachusetts men had had any other boats, they were not visible in the morning. At length I discovered a large scow in the canal, and two hours were consumed in getting it over into the Maryland channel. It would hold about sixty men. Colonel Baker, Lieutenant-Colonel Wistar, Assistant AdjutantGeneral Harvey, and myself went with the first load to the island, and there superintended the transit of our men. It was twelve M. before fornia regiment. Company A got in front on rising ground, in skirmishing order, Company D following in line. The California battalion, to make the story clear, were drawn up on the left of the open field; the Massachusetts Fif teenth and Tammany on the right, and the Massachusetts Twentieth ncarer the centre. Colonel Coggswell took charge of the artillery. Only four guns were planted in the field, the rifled gun having been hauled up at the wrong place, and being afterward seized by the enemy and spiked. When our skirmishing companies had reached the edge of the woods, suddenly the enemy, hitherto concealed, rose with a yell and fired a volley, then began fighting in their usual manner: first giving a yell and volley; then loading and firing at will for a few min utes; then ceasing an equal time; then giving | fire from the cliff above. All was terror, conanother yell and volley, and so on, pouring a fusion, and dismay. A captain of the Fifteenth murderous fire into our little band for the space Massachusetts at one moment charged gallantly of half an hour. The whole woods around up the hill, leading two companies, who still swarmed with them. They had no artillery had their arms, against the pursuing foe. A and no cavalry. Our Rhode-Islanders, except moment later and the same officer, perceiving the officers, deserted their guns; but Colonel the hopelessness of the situation, waved a white Baker, Lieutenant-Colonel Wistar, Colonel | handkerchief, and surrendered the main body Coggswell, and Adjutant Harvey manned thie of his command. Other portions of the column battery, and fired the guns themselves, aided by surrendered; but the rebels kept up their fire Company G, First California, led by the gallant upon those who tried to cross, and many not Captain Beiral. (The latter was conspicuous drowned in the river were shot in the act of for bravery throughout the action; is wounded, swimming. but not dangerously, and is now safe on Maryland ground.) We kept up both a musketry and cannon fire as well as we could, but half the time we could not see the enemy, and his cowardly discharges were thinning our ranks; still most of the men stood firm and acted bravely. The enemy's volleys and yells increased in loudness, and it was evident that reinforcements were pouring in to his aid. Captain Stewart, General Stone's adjutant, came on the field with the cheering statement that General Gorman would shortly support us. At a quarter to six P. M. we held a council of war, and resolved to stand our ground, General Baker ordering me to go for reinforcements. By this time Coggswell was wounded -Wistar had fallen. The enemy were growing more daring, rushing out of the woods, taking some prisoners, and firing hotly. | Night came on. At eight P. M. all of our band whose fortune it was to return had landed on Harrison Island, and the fire from the Virginia heights had ceased. The rebels took all our guns but one. When I left they had shouted to us, telling us to come over and take away our dead under a flag of truce; had also mounted our own guns on the heights, and warned us to leave the island in four hours. The cause of this sad havoc was that we had no proper means of transit and retreat. Doc. 36. BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL, S. C. FOUGHT NOVEMBER 7, 1861. WAR DEPARTMENT ORDER. Just then a rebel officer, riding a white horse, War Department, Oct. 14, 1861. came out of the woods and beckoned to us to SIR: In conducting military operations withcome forward. Colonel Baker thought it was in States declared by the proclamation of the General Johnston, and that the enemy would President to be in a state of insurrection, you meet us in open fight. Part of our column will govern yourself, so far as persons held to charged, Baker cheering us on, when a tremen-service under the laws of such States are condous onset was made by the rebels. One man rode forward, presented a revolver at Baker, and fired all its charges at him. Our gallant leader fell, and at the same moment all our lines were driven back by the overwhelming force opposed to then. But Captain Beiral, with his company, fought his way back to Colonel Baker's body, rescued it, brought it along to me, and then a general retreat commenced. It was sauce qui peut! I got the Colonel's body to the island before the worst of the rout, and then, looking to the Virginia shore, saw such a spectacle as no tongue can describe. Our entire forces were retreating, tumbling, rolling, leaping down the steep heights; the enemy following them, murdering, and taking prisoners. Colonel Devens left his command, and swam the river on horseback. Colonel Coggswell, after unavailing bravery, had ordered the retreat himself, but, being wounded, was taken. The one boat in the Virginia channel was speedily filled and sunk. A thousand men thronged the further bank. Muskets, coats, and every thing were thrown aside, and all were desperately trying to escape. Hundreds plunged into the rapid current, and the shrieks of the drowning added to the horror of sounds and sights. The enemy kept up their cerned, by the principles of the letters addressed by me to Major-General Butler, on the 30th of May and the 8th of August, copies of which are herewith furnished to you. As special directions, adapted to special circumstances, cannot be given, much must be referred to your own discretion, as Commanding General of the expedition. You will, however, in general, avail yourself of the services of any persons, whether fugitives from labor or not, who may offer them to the National Government; you will employ such persons in such services as they may be fitted for, either as ordinary employees, or, if special circumstances seem to require it, in any other capacity, with such organization in squads, companies, or otherwise, as you deem most beneficial to the service. This, however, not to mean a general arming of them for military service. You will assure all loyal masters that Congress will provide just compensation to them for the loss of the services of the persons so employed. It is believed that the course thus indicated, will best secure the substantial rights of loyal masters, and the benefits to the United States of the services of all disposed to support the Government, while it avoids all interference with the social systems or local institutions of every State, beyond that which insurrection |