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BALL’S BLUFF AND THE ARREST OF GENERAL STONE.

Colonel Devens thus describes the closing events as observed by him:

“ The action commenced about 3 P. M., and at about 4 P. M. I was ordered to detach twocompanies from the left of my regiment to the support of the left of the line, and to draw in,proportionately, the right flank, which was done, Companies G and H, Captains Forehand andPliilbrick, being detached for that purpose. By this time it had become painfully evident,by the volume and rapidity of the enemy’s tire and the persistency of his attacks, that lie wasin much larger force than we. The two howitzers were silent and the 6-pounder also. Theircommanders came from the field wounded.

“ Soon after, I was called from the right of my regiment, there being at this time a compara-tive cessation of the enemy’s fire, to the center of the line, and learned for the first time thatColonel Baker had been killed and that Lieutenant-Colonel Ward, of the 15th Massachu-setts , had been carried from the field severely wounded. Colonel Lee supposing it his duty totake command, I reported myself ready to execute his orders. He expressed his opinion thatthe only thing to be done was to retreat to the river, and that the battle was utterly lost. Itsoon appeared that Colonel Cogswell was entitled to the command, who expressed his determi-nation to make the attempt to cut our way to Edwards Ferry, and ordered me, as a preliminarymovement, to form the 15th Regiment in line toward the left. The 15th Regiment accord-ingly moved across from the right to the left of the original line. Two or three companiesof the Tammany [42d New York] Regiment, just then arrived, formed also on his left. While en-deavoring to make the necessary dispositions to retreat, confusion was created by the appearanceof an officer of the enemy’s force in front of the Tammany Regiment, who called on them to chargeon the enemy, who were now in strong force along the wood occupied formerly by the 15thMassachusetts during the former portion of the action. The detachment of the Tammany Reg-iment, probably mistaking this for an order from their own officers, rushed forward to thecharge, and the 15th Massachusetts , supposing that an order had been given for the advanceof the whole line, rushed with eagerness, but was promptly recalled by then* officers, who hadreceived no such order. The detachment of the Tammany Regiment was received with a showerof bullets, and suffered severely. In the disturbance caused by their repulse the line was broken,but was promptly re-formed.

“ After this, however, although several volleys were given and returned and the troopsfought vigorously, it seemed impossible to preserve the order necessary for a combined militarymovement, and Colonel Cogswell reluctantly gave the order to retreat to the river-bank. Thetroops descended the bluff, and reached the bank of the river, where there is a narrow plateaubetween the river and the ascent of the bluff, both the plateau and the bluff being heavilywooded. As I descended upon this plateau, in company with Colonel Cogswell, I saw the largeboat, upon which we depended as the means of crossing the river, swamped by the number ofmen who rushed upon it.

“ For the purpose of retarding as much as possible the approach of the enemy, by directionof Colonel Cogswell I ordered the 15th Regiment to deploy as skirmishers over the bank of theriver, which order was executed, and several volleys were given and returned between themand others of our forces and the enemy, who were now pressing upon us in great numbers andforcing down furious volleys on this plateau and into the river to prevent any escape. It wasimpossible longer to continue to resist, and I should have had no doubt, if we had been contend-ing with the troops of a foreign nation, in justice to the lives of men, it would have been ourduty to surrender; I had no hesitation in advising men to escape as they could, ordering themin all cases to throw their arms into the river rather than give them up to the enemy. Thisorder was generally obeyed, although several of the men swam the river with their muskets ontheir backs, and others have returned to camp, bringing with them their muskets, who hadremained on the Virginia shore for two nights rather than to part with their weapons in orderto facilitate their escape. Having passed up along the fine of that portion of the river occupiedby my regiment, I returned to the lower end of it, and at dark myself swam the river by the aidof three of the soldiers of my regiment.”

pieces were disposable on the Maryland shore near might have crossed in time to take part in thethe landing. Had the full capacity of the boats action. Second. The dispositions on the field werebeen employed, more than twice as many men faulty, according to my judgment.”— Editors.