. The history of the Civil War in America; comprising a full and impartial account of the origin and progress of the rebellion, of the various naval and military engagements, of the heroic deeds performed by armies and individuals, and of touching scenes in the field, the camp, the hospital, and the cabin . the morning before Gen. Bakers brigade were all at the Ferry,and orders there reached him to cross the river should he hear any he sat upon his horse, and looked upon the swift and turbid current,spanned by no bridge, and without any pontoons or boats, except twowretched scows, in
. The history of the Civil War in America; comprising a full and impartial account of the origin and progress of the rebellion, of the various naval and military engagements, of the heroic deeds performed by armies and individuals, and of touching scenes in the field, the camp, the hospital, and the cabin . the morning before Gen. Bakers brigade were all at the Ferry,and orders there reached him to cross the river should he hear any he sat upon his horse, and looked upon the swift and turbid current,spanned by no bridge, and without any pontoons or boats, except twowretched scows, into each of which, with difficulty, thirty men could bo BALLS BLUFF AND HILTON HEAD. 217 crowded, with a smile he turned to Coh Wistar, and said, What are weto cross in ? The question manifestly admitted of no reply. He put spurs to his horse, and galloped down to Edwards Ferry, toconfer with Gen. Stone, who was only three miles distant. Immediatelyhe returned, accompanied by his son, informing him, on their gallop back,that his orders were to cross, with his force, and take the command. Thetransportation was at once commenced. There w^ere two scows. It re-quired both to embark a company. The flood was so rapid that the aver-age trip required three-quarters of an hour. Impatient of this tedious pro-. lALLS BLUFF AND VICINITY. cess. Col. Baker found another and a larger scow at a short distance, in acanal. This was brought into service. About eleven oclock, rapid tiringwas heard on the Virginia shore. Col. Baker sprang into a light skiff, which would hold but three per-sons, and was ferried across, leaving orders for the remaining troops topass as rapidly as possible. He knew that the troops under Devins andLee were engaged, probably by superior numbers, and that it was needfulfor him to rush to their rescue. It will be remembered that there was anarrow island, three miles long, dividing the stream. The first channel,from the Maryland shore to the island, was about one-eighth of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectuniteds, bookyear1879
