The national Republican., 1861-10-24
FROM THE GRAND ARMY.
BATTLE OF BALLS BLUFF.
Particulars Of the Fight.

Ferries, and opposite Harrison's Island, which
occurred yesterday, has been cleaned from
authentic sources.
On Sunday night, Col. Devens Of the Fifteenth
(worcesterJ Massachusetts,, who had for some
time guarded Harrison's Island, with one COM
pany, ordered Captain Philbric, Of company H,
and Quartermaster Howe, Of his staff, with
detachment of twenty meu, to scout the Vir.
ginis shore in the direction Of Leesburg.
They crossed from the island to the shore,
and executed the order, by approaching within
three. .fourtbs of mile Of Leesburg, returning
to their starting point about ten O'Clock at
night, discovering, as they suppose, a small
camp one mile or more from Leesburg.
On reporting to Colonel Devens, the latter,
with about three hundred men, pushed for.
ward, by direction Of General Stone, in the
same locality, with orders to destroy the camp
at daybreak and return, and Colonel Devens
remained with his command concealed, sent
back wopd, no enemy was In sight. Captain
Philbrick's company taking an advanced rosi.
ton, while the remaining companies were con-
cealed as reserve in case of an attack on the
aivance When about mile and a half from
the river, and Ave hundred yards in advance Of
Colonel Devens's reserve, Philbrick, accompa.
MED by Colonel Devens in person, attacked
and drove back n company of Mississippi rifle.
men, and then fell back TO the reserve con-
eeaed in the rear, On the appearance of body
of secession cavalry.
In the skirmish Philbrick had difficulty in
gettrR near enough to the enemy for his
smooth bore guns to have much effect, whereas
the others used long range rifles on our forces
At daylight and at the same hour that Colonel
Deverss command left the shore TO m Ike the
advance, Colonel Lee, of the Twentieth Massa.
chusetts, sent over one company Of his regi
ment which remained on the shore, TO cover
the return of Devens.
Colonel Devens maintained his ground, and
was reinforced during the morning by three
hundred more of his regiment under Lieutenant
Colonel Ward.
About one O'Clock, he was attacked by a
considerable force Of rifemen, who attempted
to ou,hank him. Fearing they might be snc.
cessful, and after resisting them for some time,
Colonel Devens slowly retreated in perfect
order to the river, where General Baker had
arrived with battalion of the California reg.
iment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Wat.
SON.
Colonel Baker then took command first com.
plmenting Colonel Devens for his successful
resistance to a superior force, and giving his
| command, now less than six hundred men, the
| right Of the line of battle, the central and left
wing being formed Of about three hundred Of
| the Massachusetts Twentieth, under Colonel
| Lee, and the California battalion about five
hundred in number under Lieutenant Colonel
| Wistar. Two mountain howitzers, commanded
by Lieutenant French, and one piece Of the
New York battery commanded by Lieutenant
Bramhall, were in front of the centre, just pre-.
vious to the commencement of the action.
The attack was commenced by the enemy on
our right, but was soon directed more heavily
to the centre and left. For about two hours
the battle ragged terrifcally-a complete
shower Of leaden hail. Three several times
the left of the line made an advance, but were
| compelled to retire as often. The right WAS
| better protected and held their position.
An order came from Colonel Baker to throw
two companies of the Fifteenth Massachusetts
to the centre, which was Immediately execu.
ted. This produced the impression that the
battle was going against us, but caused no con.
fusion or dismay. The left was hard pressed,
| but remained firm.
| About this time the news.spread that Colonel
Baker was killed. While in the act Of pushing
cannon forward with his shoulder to the
wheel, he was pierced by six balls. Any one of
three ofthem would have made mortal wound.
| He was evidently the object OF the enemy Is
sharpshooters. After this there was Il cessa.
tion of fire for few minutes, during which
Colonel Cogswell, of the Tammany regiment,
arrived with two companies, and he being the
senior officer, the command devolved on him.
| In n short time 1t became evident to Colonel
Cosswell that the day was lost, and he thought
it best to cut his way through to Edwards
Ferry, where General German was In charge
throwing over reinforcements, by direction OF
General Stone, who was within sight of the bat.
tle.feld, at Edwards Ferry, directing the gen.
eral movements. An order was now issued to
transfer the Fifteenth Massachusetts from the
| right to the left, which was executed RS calmly
as at battalion drill.
| Colonel Cogswel soon became satisfied of the
impossibity of reaching Edwards Ferry, us
desired, and gave an order to fall back toward
the river, which was executed AS well as the
circumstances would permit. They reached
the river bank about twenty minutes before
nightfall. Here the Fifteenth deployed as
skirmishers along the shore. The only means
of conveyance to the island, was boat OF
small dimensions, and large one, capable oi
carrying about forty persons, which was over.
crowded and swamped.
The troops remaining on the shore made a
desperate resistance, and it is believed tina,
the enemy took comparatively few prisoners
in consequence. Those who could swim plunged
into the water, those carrying their arms who
could, and others throwing them into the river
to prevent their falling into the enemy g hands
Some escaped by availing themselves of the
darkness and the heavily. banks, bu
several are known to have been drowned IL
the waters Of the Potomac.
The behavior of our troops before superior
number of the enemy was marked as nobly
brave and enduring.
Near the close of the action, and after tn,
day was considered irretrievably lost, the tw,
recently arrived companies of the Tammany
regiment made desperate charge, but were
met with terrific fire by the enemy. 1t II
probable that IA secession officer WAS mistakel
| for ono nf our commanders who anDnared IN