Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-24
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE ENGAGE.
MENT AT BALLS BLUFF.
A HARD FOUGHT BATTLE.

DroIoued-Eight ComntSsionsd Offers
Rtkted-Cois. CogsiceH and Ward taken
Prisoners-TRs Federal Troops an Posses-
sion ofthe Right Bank ofthe R,Uer.
ASSOCIATED PRESS pEsPATsHl
PooLEsvILty, Oct a3-The following report of
the battle of Balls Bluff, midway between Con-
rad p and Edwardss ferries, and opposite Harri-
sons Island which occurred on Monday, has been
CLEANED from authentic sources.
On Sunday night Col Devens, Of the 18th Mas
sachusetts regiment, who had for some time
guarded Harfison's Island with one company or
dered Capt. Philbrick, of company H, and Quar-
termaser Howe, of his staff, with detac hment Of
twenty men, to scout the Virginia shore in the
direction of Leesburg
The party crossed from the island to the shore
and executed the order by approaching within
three-fourths OF q mile of Leesburg, returning to
their starting point by 10 O'Clock at night, after
discovering, as they supposed, small rebel camp
one mile from Leesburg.
On reporting the result to Col. Devens, the lat.
ter, with about 800 men, pushed forward by dfec-
ton Of Gen. Stone to the same locality, with or
ders to destroy the camp and return.
At daybreak Col. Devens. who remained with
his command concealed, sent back word that no
enemy was In sight.
Capt. Philbrick's company then took an ad.
vanced position, when the remaining companies
Were concealed as a reserve In case Of an attack
on the advance
When about mile and half from the river
and 500 yards in advance Of Col. Devens' reserve
Capt. Philbrick accompanied by Col Devens In
person, attacked and drove back a company of
Mississippi rifemen. and then fell back to the re-
body Of rebel cavalry In the skirnish Cant
r had difficulty in getting near enough to tue
enemy for his smooth-bore guns to have much
eject, whilst the enemy used long range rifles
against our forces. At daylight, and the same
hour that Col DeveDs' command left the shore
Col. Lee, Of the Goth Massac husets sent over one
company or his regiment, which remained on the
shore to cover the return of Col. Devens.
rats paA 10
forced during the morning by three hundred
more Of his regiment, under Lieut. Col Ward
About one O'Clock he was attacked by consider
able force OF riaemen, who attempted to outfank
him Fearing they might be successful, and after
resisting them for some time, Col Devens slowly
retreated in perfect order to the river where Gen
Baker had arrived with battalion of the Cali
fornia Regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col
Wistat.
Gen. Baker, then took command first compli-
menting Col. Devens for his successful resistance
to superior force, and giving bis comma nd now
less than 600 men, the right Of the line of battle
The centre and left wing being formed Of abont
three hundred Of the Massachusetts regiment
under Col Lee, and the California battalion about
DUO ,o in nj number, under L. Cob Wistar, Two
and one piece Of the New York battery, com,
manded by 1t. Bramball, were In front OF the
centre just previous to the commencement of the
action.
The attack was commenced by the enemv on
our right, which was soon directed more besvilv
to centre and left For about two hours the battle
ragged te'rifcally with complete shower Of
ieedeh nall Three several times the left of the
line made an advance, but were as often CON-
PEELED to retire. The right was better protected
and held their position. An order came from
zen Baker to throw two companies Of the Fiji
teentn massachusetts to the centre, which was
immediately executed This produced the i'm.
preston that the battle was going against us, but
caused no confusion or dismay The left was
hard pressed, but remained firm
4 Int hfa
Baker was killed. While In the act Of pushing
cannon forward, with his shoulder to the wheel
ne was pierced by six balls. He was evidently
the OBJECT OF the enemy's sharpshooters.
AFTER this there was cessation of the q re for
few minutes, during which Col Cogswell of the
Tamrnany regiment, arrived with two com panies,
and ne being the senior officer, the command de-
VOWED on him. In short time 1t became evident
TO Col Cogswel that the day was lost, and he
thought II best to cut his way through TO Ed
wards Ferry, where Gen. German was In charge.
throwing over reinforcements. by direction Of
Gen Stone, who in sig ht of the battle heId AT
Edwards Ferry, directing the general move
ments. An order was now issued to transfer the
Fifteenth Massachusetts regiment from the ri Q bt
battalion drill.
Col Cogswell soon became satisfied of the iul-
possibility Of reaching Edwards Ferry an 4e-
sired, and gave an order to fall back towards the
stances would permit
They reached the river bank about twenty min
utes before nightfall. Here the 18th Massachu
se.u regiment deployed az skirmishers along the
shore The only means Of conveyance to the
Island was very large boat, capable Of CARVING
about forty persons, which was overcrowded and
swamPed, and also one Of smaller dimensions
The troops remaining on the shore made des-
perate resistance, and 1t is believed the enemy
took comparatively few prisoners In consequence
those who could swim plunged into the water I
those carrying their arms who could, and Others
throwing them into the river to prevent them
falling into the enemy's hands Some escaped
by avaling themselves OF the darkness of the
heavily wooded banks, but several are known to
have been drowned in the waters Of the Potomac
The behavior Of our troops before a superior
number Of the enemy was marked as nobly brave
and daring. Near the close of the action and
after the day was irretrevably lost, the two re-
ment made desperate charge, but were met by a
terrific IRE OF the enemy. 1t is probable that a
secession officer was mistaken for one of our com
manders who appeared in front and gave the or.
The brave Lieut.. Bramhall, Of the New York
9Th Battery, lost one Of his guns and himself was
wounded severely but not fatally.
The gallant Lieut. French, Of the Howitzer,s
battery, fired with his own hands four shots after
the day was lost and his men scattered He was
shot In the left breast and ankle, but not MORALLY
wounded.
On reaching the island, which he did by
throwing his sword and revolver into the river
and swimming across, Col Devens at once posted
thirty OF his men TO prevent any Of the enemy
from attempt at pursuit. This force was subse.
quently au mented by the arrival of three other
companies from the Maryland shore, under Col
Hincks, Of the 10Th Massac husetts. Col. Devens
received slight confusion in the breast from a
musket ball
The following is a list of the killed and
wounded.
Killed .-Commissioned officers of the Massa-
chusetts Fifteenth-Capt. lockwood, company
A; Capt SimOns, company b; Capt. Bruman,
supposed killed,) company G; Capt Studley,
company ID, Second Lieut. GrOut, Second Lieut.
Vassal, company 4; Capt Gatchell, company (
Wounded, same regiment Col Ward
leg amPutated; Capt. Sloan, company F, slig htly;
Capt. Freehand, company 6; First Lieut. He!den,
company 6, and Capt. Philbrick, company H ,
slightly.
Col. Lee, of the Massac husetts Twentieth. and
Col; Cogswell, Of the Tammany regiment, are
probably prisoners
Lieut. Col. Wistar, Of the California regiment
ID supposed to be MORALLY wounded
As an instance Of the weight and concentration
OF the enemy's fire, the clothing and equipments
OF Quarternaster Howe, Of the Fifteenth Massa
chusetts, bore the marks Of four distinct ride
shots-one ball passing through the crown of his
cap, ana another fattening on the plate of his
belt, yet he escaped uninjured.
Most OF the wounded have been Convened 70
their respective encampment hospitals The
enemy's forces were very large, and their posi-.
fiDnR w aele ctad fpor far