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' u ct| "| 1 nmirrnK VOL. XIII.—NO. 21 WILL YOU LOVE HE THEN I If dire misfortunes overcast My pathway, now so bright, And stern adversity’s chill blast My gladsome spirits blight, Or pride and waywardness abide Within my heart again, Will you, whatever woes betide, O! will you love me then ? If four soore years, perchance, shall bow This form, erect and light, Age whiten the fair auburn locks. And make the eye less bright; If Time, with unrelenting hand, Deep lines the once smooth brow, Will you his blighting power withstand, And love me then as now ? If Fortune’s swift revolving wheel Should crush us in its round, And we in Poverty’s deep toils Were rnthlessly inbound, Could thus thy heart still cherish me, Or would it tben grow cold ? O, Willie! would you love me then With the same love of old ? GOD SAVE JOHN BULL. “God save me, great John Ball! Long keep my pocket fnll! God save John Bull! Ever victorious, Haughty, vain-glorious, Snobbish, censorious, God save John Ball! “ O Lords, our gods, arise! ‘Tax’ all onr enemies, Make tariffs fall! Confound French politics. Frustrate all Russian tricks Get Yankees in a ‘fix,’ God ‘bless’ them all! “ Thy choicest gifts in store, On me. me only pour— Me, great John Ball! Maintain oppressive laws, Frown down the poor man’s cause ! So sing with heart and voioe, I, great John Bull.” The Tone of Ballets. A soldier writing from one of the camps od the Potomac, thus alludes to the pecu liar music made by bullets passing through the air: It is a very good place to exercise the mind, with the enemy’s picket rattliug close at hand. A musical ear cao study the dif ferent tones of bullets as they skim through the air. I caught the pitch of a large sized Minie yesterday, it was a swell irom E flat to F, aud as it passed into the dis tance and lost its velocity, receded to D, a very pretty change. One ol the most start ling sounds is that produced by the Hotch kius’ shell. It comes like the shriek of a demon, and the bravest old soldiers feel like duckiDg when they ht ar it. It is no more destructive than some other bullets, but there is a great deal in mere souDd to work on men’s fears. The tremendous scream is cause by a ragged edge ot lead, which is left on the shell. Id favorable po sitions of light the phenomena can some times be seeD, as yon stand directly behind a guu, of the cliDgiDg of the air to the ball. The ball seems to gather op the atmosphere and carry it along, as the earth carries its atmosphere through space. Men are fre quently killed by the wiod ot a caunon shot. There is a law which causes the atmosphere to cliDg to the earth, or which presses upoD it with a force at the surface, of 15 pounds to the square inch ; does the same law, or a modification, pertain to cannon balls in flight? Ido not remenber ot meeting with a discussion of the subject in any published work. It is certainly an interesting philo sophic question. A Horrible Confession. — It may be recollected by many of our readers that about four years ago we published the aw ful account of the burning of the house of the PerkiDS family, at Milburn, at nigh’, when all the family, including father and mother, grandmother and eight children, eleven in all, perished in the flames 1 A Scotchman by the name of Walter Mitchell, who live 1 in the neighborhood at the time, and who had a dispute with Perkins as to the property, was suspected of the murder, but no proof could be found againgst him. He left soon after for the west. Before the burning of the house he warned Perkins off the premises, and threatened if be did uot leave to burn the house over hie head. This Mitchell recenty died iu Illinois, and on his death bed confessed that he commit ted the horrible crime. He stated that he threw into the house a bottle of liquid which set fire to it and stupefied the inmates, that Mr. Perkins aroused himself and came to the door, when be knocked him back again, killing him. This is a most revolting story, disclosing a depravity which was too horrible to die with the murderer. Ir there be id the in fernal regions one place deeper and hotter than another, this eleven fold murderer will find it!—j ßinghamton Republican. —The Tribune’s Btory of the rnnuiog away of Captain DnpODt’s clerk grew oat os what the boys call a•* sell.” Some wag innocently remarked that “ the clerk bad gone to parts unknown,” with all the pa pers, orders, Ac. Without stopping to think that be himself was ignorant of the destination of the fleet,the vigilant “special” at onoe informed the Tribune that the clerk had gone to secesb. THE BALL’S BLUFF DISASTER. GEN. STONE’S OFFICIAL REPORT. The Who It Truth of tht Mutter. Headquarters Corps of Obsbrvation, 1 October 28, 1861. f General: On the 20th instant, being advised from headquarters of Gen. McCall’s movement to Drainsville to reconnoitre and draw out the intentions of the enemy at Leesburg, I went towards Edwards Ferry, at 1 o’clock p. m., with Gen. Gorman’s Brigade, Seventh Michigan, two troops of the Van Allen Cavalry, and the Putnam Rangers, while four companies of the Fif teenth Massachusetts Volunteers were sent to Harrison’s Island, under Col. Devons, who then had one company on the island, and Col. Lee, with a battalion of the Mas sachusetts Twentieth, a section of the Rhode Island Battery and Tammany Reg iment, was sent to Conrad’s ‘Ferry. A section of Bunting’s Battery and Ricket’s Battery were already on duty respect ively at Edward’s and Conrad’s Ferries. General McCall’s movements had evi dently attracted the attention of the enemy, a regiment of infantry having appeared from the direction of Leesburg, and taken shelter behind a hill about one mile and a half from our position at the ferry. General Gorman was ordered to deploy his forces in view of the enemy, and in so doing no movement of the enemy was excited. Three Sat boats were ordered, and at the same time shell and spherical case shot were thrown into the place of the enemy’s concealment. This was done to produce an impression that a crossing was to be made. The shelling at Edward’s Ferry and launching of the boats induced the quick retirement of the force seen there, and three boat loads of thirty five men each from the First Minnesota crossed and recrossed the river, each trip occupying about six or seven minutes. While this was going on, the men evinced by their cheering that they were ready and determined to fight gallantly when the opportunity was presented. At dusk Gen. Gorman’s brigade and the Seventh Michi gan returned to camp, leaving the T&mma - ny Regiment and the companies of the Fifteenth Massachusetts and artillery at Conrad’s Ferry in position, awaiting the return of scouts. Meanwhile Gen. Stone remained at Edward’s Ferry. At 12 o’clock p. m., Lieutenant Howe, quarter master of the Fifteenth Massachusetts, re ported that scouts under Captain Phil brick had returned to the island, having been within one mile ofLeesburg, and there discovered in the edge of a wood an en campment of thirty tents. No pickets were out any distance, and he approached to within twenty-five rods without being even challenged. Orders were then instantly sent to Col. Devons to cross four companies to the Vir ginia shore, and march silently under cover of night to the position of the camp referred to, to attack and destroy it by daybreak, pursue the enemy lodged there as far as would be prudent, and return immediately to the island, his return to be covered by a company of the Massachusetts Twentieth, to be posted over the landing place. Col. De vons was ordered to make close observa tion of the position, strength and movements of the enemy, and in the event of there being no enemy there visible, to hold on in a se cure position until he could be strength ened sufficiently to make a valuable recon noisance. At this time orders were sent to Colonel Baker to send the First California regiment to Conrad’s Ferry, to arrive there at sun rise, and to have the remainder of his brig ade ready to move early, Lieut. Col. Wood, of the Fifteeuth Mas sachusetts, was also ordered to move with a battalion to the river bank, opposite Harri son's Island by daybreak. Two mounted howitzers, in charge of Lieut. French, of Rickett’s battery, was ordered to the tow path of the canal opposite Harrison’s Is land. Col. Devons, In pursuance of his orders, crossed, and proceeded to the point indica ted, Col. Lee remaining on the bluff with one hundred men to cover his retreat. To dis tract attention from Col. Devon’s move ments, and to make a reconnoissance in the direction of Leesburg from Edward’s Ferry, 1 directed Gen. Gorman to throw across the river, at that point, two companies of the First Minnesota under cover of a fire from Rickett’s battery, and sent out a party of thirty one of the Van Alien Cavalry under Major Mix, accompanied by Capt. Chas. Stewart, Assistant Adjutant General, Capt. Murphy, and Lieuts. Pierce and Gouraud, with others, to advance along the Leesburg road until they should come to the vicinity of a battery which was known to be on that road, and then turn to the left and examine the heights between that and Goose Creek, and see if any of the enemy were posted in the vicinity, find out their numbers as near as possible, their disposition, examine the country with reference to the passage of troops to the Leesburg and Georgetown 1 urnpike, and return rapidly to cover 'be hind the skirmishers of the Minnesota First. This reconnoisance was mo9t gallantly con ducted, and the party proceeded along the Leesburg road, nearly two miles from the ferry, and when near the position of the hid SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 8,1861. den battery, came suddenly upon a Missis sippi regiment, about thirty five yards dis tant, received its fire, and returned it with our pistols. The fire of the enemy killed one horse, but Lieut. Gouraud seized the dismounted man, and, drawing him on his horse behind him, carried him unhurt from the field. One private of the Fourth Vir ginia cavalry was brought off by the party a prisoner, who, being well mounted and arm ed, his mount replaced the one lost by the fire of the enemy. Meantime, on the right, Col, Devons, having in pursuance of his orders arrived at the position designated to him as the site of the enemy’s camp, found that the scouts had been deceived by the uncertain light and mistaken openings in the trees for a row of tents. Colonel Devons found however, a wood in which he concealed his force, and proceeded to examiue the space between that and Leesburg, sending back to report that thus far he cculd see no enemy. Im mediately on receipt of this intelligence, brought me by Lieut. Howe, who had ac companied both parties, 1 ordered a non commissioned officer and ten cavalry to join Col Devons for the purpose of scouting her country near him while engaged in his recon noissance, and giving due notice of the ap proach of any force,and that Lieut.Col.Ward, with his battalion of the Fifteenth Massa chusetts, should move on to Smoot’s Mills, half a mile to the right of the crossing place of Col. Devons, and see where, in a strong position, he could watch and protect the flank of Col. Devons in his return, aud se cure a second crossing more favorable than the first, and connected by a good road with Leesburg. Capt. Candy, Assistant Adjutant General, and General Lander accompanied the cavalry to serve with it. For some rea son never explained to me neither of these orders were carried out. The cavalry were transferred to the Virginia shore, but were sent back, without having left the shore to go inland, and thus Col. Devons was de prived of the means of obtaining warning of any approach of the enemy. The battalion under Col. Ward was de tained on the bluff in the rear of Col. Dev ons, instead of being directed to the right. Col. Baker, having arrived at Conrad's Ferry with the First California Regiment at an early hour, proceeded to Edward’s Ferry, and reported to me in person, stating that his regiment was at the former place, and the three other regiments of his brigade ready to march. I directed him to Harri son’s Island to assume command, and in full conversation explained to him the position as it then stood. I told him that General McCall had advanced his troops to Drains ville, and that I was extremely desirous of ascertaining the exact position and force of the enemy in our front, and exploring as far as it was safe on the right toward Lees burg, and on the left toward the Leesburg and Gam Spring Road. I also informed Col. Baker that Gen. Gorman, opposite Edward’s Ferry, should be reinforced, and that I would make every effort to push Gorman’s troops carefully forward to dis cover the best line from that ferry to Lees burg aud Gum Spring Road, already men tioned, and the position of the breastworks and hidden battery, which prevented the movement of troops directly from left to right, were also pointed out to him. The means of transportation across, of the sufficiency of which he (Baker) was to be the judge, was detailed, and authority given him to make use of a seotion each of Vaughn’s and Bunting’s batteries, together with FreDch’s mountain howitzers, all the troops of his brigade and the Tammany Regiment, besides the Nineteenth and part of the Twentieth Regiments of Massachu setts Volunteers, and I left it to his discre tion, after viewing the ground, to retire from the Virginia shore under cover of his guns aud the fire of the large infantry force, or to pass our reinforcements in case he found it practicable and the position on the other side favorable. I stated that I wished no advance made unless the enemy were of inferior force, and under no circum stances to pass beyond Leesburg, or a strong position between it and Goose Creek, on the Gum Spring; i. e., the Manassas road. Col. Baker was cautioned in reference to passing artillery across the river; and I begged if he did do so to see it well support ed by good infantry. The General pointed out to him the position of some bluffs on this side of the river, from which artillery could act with effect on the other, and, leaving the matter of crossing more troops or retiring what were already over to his discretion, gave him entire control of ope rations on the right. This gallant and en ergetic officer left me about 9 or 9% a. m., and galloped off quickly to his command. Reinforcements were rapidly thrown to the Virginia side by Gen. Gorman, at Ed wards’ Ferry, and his skirmishers and cav alry sconts advanced cautiously and steadily to the front and right, while the infantry lines were formed m such positions as to act rapidly and in ooncert in case of an advance of" the enemy, and shells were thrown by Lieut. Woodruff’s Parrott guns into the woods beyond our lines as they gradually extended, care being taken to annoy the vi cinity of the battery on the right. Messen gers from Harrison’s Island informed me, soon after the arrival of Col. Baker opposite the island, that he was crossing his whole force as rapidly as possible, and that he had INTENTIONAL DUPLICATE EXPOSURE caused an additional flat boat to be rafted from the canal into the river, and had pro vided a line to cro?s the boats mere rap idly. In the morning a sharp skirmish took place between two companies of the Twen tieth Massachusetts and about 100 Missis sippi riflemen, daring which a body of the enemy’s cavalry appeared. 001. Devens then tell back in good order on Col Lee’s position. Presently he again advauced, his men behaving admirably, fighting, retiring and advancing in perfect order, and exhib iting every proof of high courage and good discipline. Had the cavalry scooting party, sent him in the morniug, been with him then, he could have had timely warning of the approach of the superior force which af terward overwhelmed his regiment. Think ing that Col. Baker might be able to use more artillery I dispatched to him two ad ditional pieces, supported by two companies of infantry, with directions to come into po sition below the place of crossing, and re port to Colonel Baker. Col. Baker sugges ted this himself, later in the day, just before the guns on the their way arrived. After Col. Devon’s second advance Col. Baker went to the field in person, and it is a matter of regret to me that he left do record of what officers and men he charged with the care of the boats and insuring the regular passage of troops. If any were charged with this duty it was not performed for the reinforcements, as they arrived, found no ODe in command of the boats, and great delays were thus occasioned. Had one offi cer and a company remained at each landing guarding the boats, their fall capacity would have been made serviceable, and sufficient men would have been passed on to secure success. The forwarding of artillery before its supporting farce of infantry also impe ded the rapid assembling of an imposing force on the Virginia shore. If the infantry force had first crossed, a difference of 1,000 men would have been made in the infantry line at the time of attack, probably enough to have given us the victory. Between 12 and 1 p. m. the enemy ap peared in force in front of Col. Devons and a s harps kirmish ensued,and was maintained for some time by the Fifteenth Massachu setts, unsupported, and finding he would be outflanked, Col. Devons retired a short distance and took up a position near the wood, half a mile in front of Col Lee, where he remained until 2 o’clock, when he again fell back, with the approval of Col. Baker, and took his place with the portions of the Twentieth Massachusetts and First California, which had arrived. Col. Baker now formed his line, and waited the attack of the enemy, who came upon him with great vigor about 3 p. m and was well met by our troops, who, though pitched against much superior numbers, three to one, maintained their ground under a most destructive fire of the enemy. Col. Coggswell reached the field amid the heaviest fire, and came gallantly into action, with a yell which the enemy’s line. Lieut. Bramhall, of Bunting’s Battery, bad receded, after extraordinary exertions and labor, in bringing up a piece of the Rhode Island Battery, and Lieut. French his two howitzers, but both officers, after well directied firing, were soon borne awtv wounded, and the pieces were hauled to the rear, so that they might not fall into the enemy’s hands. At 4 p. m., Col. Baker fell at the head of his column, pierced by a number of bullets, while cheering his men, and by his owu example sustaining the obstinate resistance they were making. The command then devolved upon Col. Lee, who prepared to commence throwing out forces to the rear, but it was soon found that Col. Coggswell was the senior in rank, and he, taking com mand, ordered preparations to be made for marching to the left, and cutting a way through to Edward’s Ferry. But just as the first dispositions were being effected, a rebel officer rode rapidly in front and beck oned the Tammany regiment toward the enemy. It is not clear whether or not the Tammany men supposed this one of our officers, but they responded with a yell, and charged forward, carrying with them in their advance the rest of the line, which soon received a destructive fire from the enemy at close distance. The men were qnickly recalled, but their new position frustrated the movement designed, and 001. Coggswell gave the necessary order to retire. The enemy pursued to the edge of the bluff, over the landing place, and poured in a heavy fire as our men were endeavoring to cross to the Island. The retreat was rapid, but according to orders. The men formed near the river, maintaining for nearly half an hour the hopeless contest, rather than surrender. The smaller boats had disappeared no one knew where. The largest boat, rapidly and too heavily loaded, swamped at fiiteen feet from the shore, and nothing was left to our soldtere but to swim, surrender, or die. With a devotion worthy of the canse they were serving, officers and men, while quar ter was being offered to such as would lay down their arms, stripped themselves of their swords and muskets and hurled them out into the river to prevent their falling into the hands of the foe, and saved them selves as they coold by swimming, floating on logs, and concealing themselves in the bushes of the forest, and to make their way up and down the river bank to a place of crossing. The instances of personal gallan try of the highest order were so many that it would be unjust to detail particular cases. Officers _ displayed for their men, and men for their officers, that beautiful devotion which is only to be found among true sol diers. While these scenes were being enacted on the right, I was preparing on the left for a rapid push forward to the road by which the enemy would retreat if driven, and en tirely unsuspicious of the perilous condition of our troops. The additional artillery had already been sent, and when the messenger, who did not leave the field until after three o’clock, was questioned as to Col. Baker’s position, he informed me that the Colonel, when he left, seemed to feel perfectly secure and could doubtless hold his position in case he should not advance. The same statement was made by another messenger half hn hour later, and I watched anxiously for a sign of advance on the right, in order to push forward General Gorman. It was, as had been explained to 001. Baker, impracti cable to throw Gen. Gorman’s brigade direct ly to the right by reason of the battery in the woods, between which we had never been able to reconnoiter. At 4 p. m., or thereabouts, 1 telegraphed to Gen. Banks for a brigade of his division, intending to occupy the ground on this side of the river near Harrison’s Island, which wonld be abandoned in case of a rapid ad vance, and shortly after, as the fire slackened, a messenger was waited for on whose tidings should be given orders either for the advance of Gen. Gorman to cut off the retreat of the enemy, or for the disposition for the night in the position then held. At 5 p. m., Capt. Candy arrived from the field and announced the melancholy tidings of Col. Baker’s death, but with no intelli gence of any further disaster. I immedi ately apprised GeD. Banks of Col. Baker’s death, and I rode quickly to the right to assume command. Before arriving opposite the Island, men who had crossed the river plainly gave evidence of the disaster, and on reaching the same I was satisfied of it by the conduct of the men then landing in boats. The reports made to me were that the enemy’s force was 10,000 men. This I considered, as it proved to be, an exaggera tion. Orders were then given to hold the Island, and establish a patrol on the tow path from opposite the Island to the line of pickets near the Monocacy, and I returned to the left to secure the troops there from disaster, and make preparations for moving them as rapidly as possible. Orders arrived from GeD. McClellan to hold the Island and Virginia shore at Ed ward’s Ferry at all risks, indicating at the same time that reinforcements wonld be sent, and immediately additional means of intrenching were forwarded, and Gen. Gor man was furnished with particular directions to hold out against any and every force of the enemy. During that time General Hamilton, with his brigade, was on the march from Darnes town. Before I left to go to the right, I issued orders to intercept him, ahd instruc ted him to repair to Conrad’s Ferry, where orders awaited him to so dispose of his force as to give protection to Harrison’s Island, and protect the line of the river. At 3 a. m. Major Gen. Banks arrived and took command A report of divisions for the following days will be made out speedily. I cannot conclude without bearing testimony to the courage, good discipline, and conduct of all the troops of this division during the day. Those in action behaved like veterans, and those not brought into action showed that alacrity and steadiness in their movements which proved their anxiety to engage the foe in their country’s cause. We mourn the loss of the brave departed, dead on the field of honor, if not of success, and we miss the companionship of those of our comrades who have fallen into the hands of our ene mies. But all feel that they have earned the title of soldier, and all await with in creased confidence another measurement of strength with the foe. CHAS. P. STONE, Brig. Gen. Commanding. REPORT OF COL. HINKS. The following is from the report of Col. Hinks, Nineteenth Massachusetts Volun teers, to Brigadier-General Lander : “ I have to report that the remnant of the Tammany Regiment, under command of Major Bon, deserted its post in the intrench ments on the Island, at an early hour in the forenoon of the 22d, and passed to the Maryland shore, in disobedience of orders, while I was engaged in arranging for the removal of the wounded and the burial of the dead. I cannot close this report with justice to our troops who fought so valiantly, without commenting upon the causes which led to their defeat and complete rout. The means of transportation, for advance in sup port, or for a retreat, were criminally defi cient, especially when we consider the facility for creating proper means for Bach purposes at our disposal. —W. W. Smith, a Southern Confeder ate, who was in the privateering business, has been convicted of piracy in Philadel phia. The punishment is death. NEW SERIES-NO. 414 All Sorts of items. —An old man in Yarmouth, Maine, bad his leg broken in two places by being tripped and thrown down by a lady’s crin* oline. —We have the authority of Thnrlow Weed for the assertion (says a Buffalo paper) that Mr. Lincoln expresses the most intense regret that he did not urge the adoption of the Crittenden compromise resolutions by his friends in Congress. —Large quantities of American batter and cheese are now finding their way into the Canadian market, In consequence of trade with the Sooth befog closed. —Madame Lind Goldschmidt was an* nonneed to siog at Exeter Hall on the 22d ult., in the oratorio of “ Elijah,” in aid of the fnnds tor the erection of a church, and Cor the enlargement of the Industrial Insti tutions in the Victoria Docks district. —Lord Forth recently committed suicide owiDg to some trouble about his mistress, a very handsome youDg woman, a Mrs. Lloyd, who bad separated from her husband. She was the daughter and heiress of a gen*, tleman of property in Herefordshire. Be fore Lord Forth killed himself he drank nearly a quart of brandy. —We have sem some strong puffs of our Lake Superior mineral wealth, but we ad-, mit that the Marquette Journal is in ad vance of all its contemporaries. It sayß that if all the iron of that region was dog from the earth, it “ might almost entertain the apprehension that the earth wonld lose its balance &Dd stagger from its orbit.” —The Mayor of Albany, on attempting enter a ball room in that city, a few nights since, was prevented, and assaulted by the doorkeeper, who wonld not admit him unless he paid fifty cents. The door keeper was arrested, when the Recorder decided that the Mayor of a city had a perfect right to enter a place of amusement without paying. —Mr. E D. Ellsworth, the father of the lamented Colonel of the Zouives, has gone to Alexandria to visit the scene of bis son’s sudden death. Letters say he will find the hotel in which the tragedy was enacted a mere *bell, everything portable having been carried away by the troops or visitors, with the stairway, flooring, plaster and laths from the vicinity of the place of assassina tion. —“Pray, Miss C.,” said a gentleman the other eveoing, why are ladies so fond of offi cers?” “How stupid 1” replied she. “Is it Dot natural that a lady should like a good offer , sir f" —The residence of the Misses Scott, about three quarters of a mile west of Falls Church, is again within the Union lines. The young ladies profess to be loyal, and strenuously deny being a party to the cap ture of Captain Kellogg, of the Connecti cut regiment. The captain’s over gallantry in iusistiug upon accompanying them home against their cantion and wish, placed him within the power of the rebel pickets, who saw him approach, and hence be was canght. The household consists of Mrs. Scott, her two danghtere, and some negroes. —Professor Ridgeway of Boston, a cele brated geologist and scholar, has been for a number of weeks in the Titusville oil re gions making scientific observations. He has concluded that the oil originated from murine plants that grew and flourished at a period of time long before the plants that have produced our coal beds, and that the oil found on Oil Creek may be considered the syrup of marine plants and not coal oil. —On Tuesday evening a meeting was held at the Tremont, in Chicago, to take the necessary steps towards the erection of a suitable monument to the memory of Sen ator Douglas. The proposed structure is to cost one hundred to one hundred and fifty tbousacd dollars, and, in order to make it a popular movement, subscriptions sre limited to one dollar to each person. —A special dispatch from Jefferson City to the St. Louis Democrat, reports that Col. Mulligan has been releas;d, un conditionally ; probably exchanged for Gen. Frost, as proposed. Mulligan was at Warrens burg on Wednesday, going to Lexington to bring awv a child left there • He was expected in St. Loois on Saturday. —The Charleston Courier states that the Federal flee: of that port consists of seven vessels.