Edward W. Hinks to Nineteenth Mass. Vols, November 4, 1861

SIR :

General Orders, No. 24, this day received and promulgated to this”

A e Ra TOM as ot E ali : ai 3 : 5

BALL’S BLUFF AND EDWARDS FERRY, VA.

brigade,* though not refuting the statement alluded to, is one of implied censure to myself for stating a matter of unquestioned fact in the performance of the disagreeable duty that devolved upon me to report “that

the remnant of the Tammany regiment, under the command of Major

Bowe, deserted its post at the intrenchment on the island at an early

hour in the forenoon of the 22d and passed to the Maryland shore in . disobedience of orders.” –

I therefore request to state that at about 9 o’clock on the evening of the 21st ultimo 1 was informed by Lieutenant-Colonel Devereux, of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, whom I dispatched to apprise you of the condition of affairs at Harrison’s Island, that your directions were to hold the island at all hazards, and as the enemy was in considerable force, apparently threatening to occupy the island, I availed myself of all the forces there, consisting of nine companies of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, two companies of the Twentieth Massachusetts, and about three companies of the New York Tammany regiment, together with the three pieces of artillery, commanded by Captain Vaughan, to enable me, at whatever cost, to hold the island, in accordance with your directions.

Just at daybreak on the morning of the 22d I changed the disposition of the troops, with a view of defending the island against any attemptof the enemy to occupy it, either from the vicinity of Ball’s Bluff or from the crossing near Smart’s Mill. In making the disposition, I directed Major Bowe to place the companies under his command behind the breastworks, in the rear of the ditch from the corner of the old tobacco mill to the water at the Maryland side of the island, which ditch and breastwork were made under your personal direction, with a view, as I supposed, of defending the position against any advance of the enemy from the direction of Smart’s Mill. I received no orders for the relief of these companies, neither were they relieved by any other troops, neither were any other troops at my disposal to relieve them.

Between 8 and 9 o’clock on the morning of the 22d, while upon the opposite side of the island, in conversation with the rebel officers, relating to a flag of truce, I was informed by Lieutenant Merritt, of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, that the companies of the Tammany regiment had taken possession of the boats and were passing to the Maryland shore. I hastened thither, and found that a portion of them had already crossed; others were preparing to cross. [addressed them, and inquired by whose authority they left the island. Several voices replied that no orders had been given for them to do so, of which fact I, as commander of the forces upon the island, had no need to be informed. I at once replaced them with companies G and F of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, which I moved from another part of the island for the purpose.

At 5 o’elock on the evening of the 22d an order stating that troops would be sent for my re-enforcement, a copy of which I here inclose (A),

. was received from General Hamilton, and four hours later the re-enforcements alluded to arrived upon the tow-path and reported to LieutenantColonel Devereux. ‘A summary of the matter may be presented, as follows: A remnant of the Tammany regiment was upon the island subjeet to my command. -In accordance with your directions for the holding of the island this detachment was placed in position at the intrenchments. This position was deserted. The remnant did pass to the Maryland shore in disobedience of orders given by myself to maintain the position. Twelve

* Attached hereto as inclosure B.

te v 5 e Cds ae p EAN A dis in.

$ NARA = s A wer EST hours after it had deserted its post fresh troops arrived upon the towpath, by which it might have been relieved had it remainedeat its post. Consequently it became my duty, however disagreeable, to report the fact in precisely thé terms that I used. For this report of facts, which as yet remain undisputed, I have been censured in orders. – I thereforerespeetfully request a court of inquiry, as provided in the ninety-second article of war. I beg further to state that [ had and now have no desire to cast any aspersion upon any regiment or body of men in the service of the country, much less upon the gallant spirits who rallied to the call of

Cogswell, or dashed upon the foe with O’Meara; but truth compels me.

to state that had the men of the Tammany regiment upon the island- . put forth but a single response to my directions to bring a boat from the Maryland to the Virginia side of the island, many, if not all, of

O’Meara’s men now in imprisonment would have been rescued from their .

perilous position on the Virginia shore to engage again in their country’s battles. And the act of desertion by this remnant of the Tammany regiment seemed to me to be the more reprehensible, from the fact that they were fresher troops than any others there stationed, and were

called upon to do less of duty and encounter less danger than any others ‘

upon the island, and all other troops vied with eaeh other in kind offiees to the wounded and ready response to calls for laborious duty in the burial of the dead, the erection of additional field works, and the digging of rifle-pits to render our position more secure. Upon the men of my own regiment, as well as the Twentieth Massachusetts and Captain Vaughan’s Rhode Island Battery, I hesitated not to impose any task, and had but to speak to be obeyed; but to intimate, and the work was done, notwithstanding nearly all of them had been for two successive days and nights subjected to constant and fatiguing duty.

I am, very respectfully, yours,