History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1861 BANL'S BLUFF. 789
Markoe, were thrown out as skirmishers. The night was dark, and the road a
narrow track through dense forest. Erroneous information had been received
by the general in command respecting the pickets of the division on the left.
The result was a collision, by which four men were killed and fourteen wounded,
several of them mortally. Order was at length restored and the advance resumed.
Early in October the regiment moved to a position near Poolesville, Maryland, not far from the mouth of the Monocacy. It was here united with other
regiments, forming a brigade,* which was commanded by Colonel Baker, and
was assigned to duty in guarding the fords of the Potomac, from Point of
Rocks to Edwards' Ferry. At one o'clock on the morning of the 21st of October orders were received from General Stone, in command of the division, for
the right battalion, consisting of eight companies, A, C, D, G, HE, L, N, and
P, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Wistar, to march so as to reach Conrad's Ferry by sunrise. Upon its arrival it was reported by a mounted officer
to division headquarters, at Edwards' Ferry, seven miles below. At seven A.
M. Colonel Baker arrived, and proceeded down the river to confer with General Stone. At half past eight Lieutenant Colonel Wistar received orders to
cross with his battalion, the only means provided for doing so being four scows,
a skiff, and a small metalic life-boat. At ten Colonel Baker returned, and giving orders to hasten forward the men, crossed over and began to place them in
position. They were afterwards joined by portions of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts, and two companies of the Forty-second New York. At
a little after midday an irregular fire of the enemy's skirmishers was opened
from the tree tops of the circumjacent woods, principally directed upon the
field officers. At two P. M. companies A and D, under command of Captain
Markoe, were sent forward on the left as skirmishers to ascertain the extent
and disposition of the enemy's right flank. They had advanced but a little
when they came suddenly upon the right of his line of battle concealed in a dense
wood, and were at oncehotly engaged. They maintained their position gallantly
against overpowering numbers, until all of their officers and fully two-thirds of
their men had been killed or captured, when they retired in good order, bringing back twenty prisoners, including an officer of the Eighth Virginia. For
nearly two hours the action continued, the enemy assaulting impetuously, and
the little force, isolated and cut off from all supports, with no way of retreat,
meeting him at every point, and stoutly resisting his advance. But the odds
were too great, and gradually yielding ground, it was finally forced to give
Way, retiring in good order to the edge of the bluff. This point had scarcely
been reached, when a determined attack was made against the left flank, which
was gallantly met, and though outnumbered three to one, maintained its ground
under a most destructive fire. At about four o'clock Colonel Baker fell at the
head of his command, pierced by a number of bullets, while cheering his men,
and by his own example encouraging them to obstinate resistance. The line
now wavered, and shortly after, it broke and retreated in disorder down the
*Organization of the California Brigade, Colonel E. D. Baker, Division commanded by
General Charles P. Stone, General Banks' army. Seventy-first Regiment Pennsylvania Voluntears, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac J. Wistar; Sixty-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers,
Colonel Joshua T. Owen; Seventy-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel De Witt
C. Baxter; One Hundred and Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Turner G.
Morehead.