The national Republican., 1861-10-26
FROM THE GRAND ARMY.
The Battle of Balls Bluff.
Turt1ae.. E,artiCulars


the affair at Balls BlSf, we csn only present |
our readers with ths most anthentic particu- |
lars. On Wednesday, Secretary Cameron sent |
special messenger to the scene Of the battle,
for the purpose of obtaining the names Of the |
sufferers for publication but the desire not to
mislead the friends aud families of the soldiers
by the publication Of an incorrect list, has oc-
casioned so much delay, that the messenger has |
not yet returned. u. ~,
We gather the following particulars from a
variety Of sources, and, doubtless, most Of them
are entitled to credit, as they were obtained
from Col. Colburn, Gen. McClellan's aid, who
accompanied him to Edwards's Ferry:
On Saturday afternoon, o captain and eigh
teen men of Col. Devens's Fifteenth Massachu
setts regiment were ordered, by Gen. Stone,
to cross the river at Harrisons Island, follow
bridle-path which had been discovered to the
vicinity of Leesburg, and report what was seen.
Tee captain thought he saw thirty rebel tents,
l. aad brought back word to that effect
Acting upon the report, Gen. Stone sent five
companies of Col. Devens's regiment supported
by five companies of Col, Lees Massachusetts,
Twentieth, to capture the supposed rebel camp:
On arriving at the spot, they found no tents and
II
| took position, and sent word back.
Gen. Stone having information that the rebel
l Gen Evans had ), 200 men near Leesburg, and
l that be had sent his baggage over Goose Greek
to the South, that he might not be impeded In
retiring to Manassas If attacked by superior
force, and perceiving that the coast was clear,
concluded to attempt the capture OF Evanss
/ whole force. Col. Baker took command Gen.
i Stone gave him 7 500 men, being Col. Bakers
own brigade and Tammany regiment, with cav
airy, and as much artillery as the enemy had,
l and the residue of the Fifteenth aud Twentieth
Massachusetts,, being the best regiments he
had.
Thus far, all accounts agree; but beyond
l this, there are variety Of conflicting state
ments. According to Colonel Colburn, Colonel
| Blker's orders were to cross at Harrison's ISL
l and: not to 20 beyond the island. unless his
| means of transportation were ample; not to
| move from the Virginia bank Of the river until
| the whole force was over; when be advanced,
| TO be careful in sending out scouts and skir-
mishers; in protecting his fanks and guarding
| bis rear: and on no account to make demon
stratisn unless 20 posted as to feel sure OF sue.
cess.
Il colonel Baker. however, according to Col.
| Coburn's statement, moved forward before
| more than 100 or 800 had crossed. With that
| number, leaving no guard at the river, and
e keeping up no communication with 1t, 80 that
r three companies, which subsequently, crossed
9. were unable to join him.
~ After he had been joined by the nine Massa
w chuse,ts companies, under command Of Colonel
Deyens, with about 1900 men, was attacked
D. by General Evans's whole force, with the ex
of c.ption of his battery, which remained on a
hill oppo lite Edward Ferry, being threatened
e by Gen Stone, who made o feint Of crossing
g in order to keep 1t there.
n, During the fight our men, although outnum.
bered three to one, fought with the utmost
bravery throughout as bravely after the fall Of
officers as before, and to the last of their am
! | munition. Gradually retreating to the river,
D they we're there ordered by their officers to
10 throw their guns into the water, to save them
. from the enemy, and oil that could to swim ful
II the island. The boats were not to be found They
e had been swemped in carrying over the wound
e ed, how many Of whom were drowned is not
J.. yet known, as swimmers were shot in the
water.
IT There are one or two facts that seem to be
10 generally admitted That our force was no,
70 strong enough; that our troops were badly
| oficered, and that our soldiers were too brave
&c They would not retreat In the face of vastly
ii superior numbers, who fired upon them from
le ambuscades, but stood their ground and were
10 shot down by their concealed enemies. The
, troops we're poled across the river, which wal
III much swollen by the recent heavy rains, or
,e The opposite bank was thickly wooded, and
J., the rebel rihemen were concealed in and be
" hind trees, and deliberately picked off oul
I'D men. either in crossing or after they hat
I'd crossed. The regiments which suffered so dis
as,rously were the late Col. Bakers, the Fiji
teenth Massachusetts,, and the Tammany regi
ment of New York. 1t is stated that in one O
ct the companies of the latter regiment there wa
ur but one man left. Agentleman was here from
il Westchester county, N. " who lost three son
:, aud two nephews in the Tammany regiment.
:" The scene at the river side was horrible il
N the extreme. The rebels came to the edge O
Mt the hill and fired down upon our retreatinI
a masses. The one boat filled and sunk, ant
those who did not attempt to swim across wer'
or crossing, and the rebels kept up murderou
at fire on those struggling in the water. ...
al Our troops were drawn up on the edge o
the hill, in semi circular field or opening
skirted by dense woods
The Californians, under Lieut. Col. Wistar
he on the LETT, the Massachusetts, Fifteenth ant
e. Twentieth on the right, and the Tamman,
.o skirmishing.
" Two howitzers, and two field pieces of tn
70 Second Rhode Island battery were also haulet
he up the hill aud effectively handled during tn
fight by Col. Baker himself, aided by Wistar
his adjutant general, Hawly, Col. Coggswell, Q
s ~ the Tammany, and company G, Capt Berrel
ne First California.
,s- The enemy charged from the woods in al
ne directions, converging upon our force. The
y, were bravely met but the slaughter of ou
ie best officers and men was so terrific that tn
u Federalists were at last obliged to retreat.
" From the best data obtained at Harrison
q Island, up to late last evening, 1t Ia believe
,a -, that the number of killed is 70 wounded i
NJ NJ our possession and in possession of the enemy
~ l4l missing, now prisoners in the hands OF tn
" " enemy or wandering In the woods on bot
Id ID shores OF the river, not exceeding 400. Th
w " total loss in kileds wounded, and missing, 62(
~ This will be reduced by men returning to camT
-, ~ az they are constantly coming in.
AZ The officers and men behaved with the m Is
,u extraordinary courage. They were pressed b
C. an overpowering force, but s!ood firm unit