Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-24
Full Account of the Battle Of Balls
Bluff, near Edwards Ferry.
LIST Of KILLED AND WOUNDED OFFICERS OF
THE MASSACHUSETTS, FIFTEENTH.

PooLEsvILLE Oct 22.-The following re
port of the battle of Balls Bluff, midway
between Conrads and Edwards Ferries, and
opposite Harrison's Island, which occurred
yesterday has been CLEANED from authentic
sources -
On Sunday night Col. Devens of the fiji
teenth Massachusetts, who had for some time
guarded Harrison Island with ore company,
ordered Capt. Philbrick of company and
Quartermaster Howe of his staff, with de-
tachment Of twenty men, to scout the Virginia
shore in the direction of Leesburg. They
crossed from the island to the shore, and exc.
cuted the order by approaching within three
fourths of mile Of Leesburg, returning to
their starting point about len O'Clock at night,
having discovered as they supposed a small
camp one mile or more from Leesburg
On their reporting to Col Devens, the latter
with about three hundred men, pushed for
ward by direction OF Gep, Stone, ;hto the
same locality, with orders to destroy the camp
at day breal, aud return Col. pevens vent,
and remaining there With his command con
cealel, sent back word that no enemy IN
sight Capt Phbricll's company ,as ng ain
advanced position, while the remaining
panies were concealed as a reserve IL case o.
an attack on the advance, when about a'.e
and a half from the river and fire NJ ell
yards in advance of Col. nevei.s reserve,
Phii6fieI, accompanied by Col, Devens IN
person attacked and dr0Ye hac company
of Mississippi rflemen, and aer fell hack
to the reserve con 'eaied ip The r, on ne p
pearance of botg y. 'rebel csssy,. In-toe
skirmsh Phiibrick had difficulty in getti
near enough t0the enemy for his smo9h bore
guns tdhaVe much effect, whereas the Others
used long range rifles on Oh, forces
AT daylight, and at the same hour that Col.
Derens conmaad left the shore 10 make the
advance, Col Lee OF ,he twentieth GIassa,
chuselts Hregiment sent over one com.
pany of :. his regiment, which remained
on the shore to cover the return Of Devens.
Col. Devens mainta ned his gro nd, and was
reinforced during the morning by three hun
bred more Of his regiment, ftttr Lieut.. Co.
Ward. About one O'Clock liessNe. attacked by
a considerable force OF rifemen, no attempt
ed to oltflank him. Fyaringgth might be
successful, and after resisting them for some
time, Col. Devens slowly ytrestei in perfect
order 10 Tie liver, where Gen Baker had
arrived With abatiaIiQilo iathe California regi
meut, commanded byLieut. Col. W.star.
Gen Bake then took command, first con-
pmenting Col Dtyehs for his successful
resistance TO superior force. and giving his
command, now less than six hundred men,
the riglt OF the line of battle. The center
and left wing being formed OF about three
hundred OF the Massachusetts, twentieth, I'M
der Col. Lee, and the California battalion,
about 500 in number, under Lieut. Colonel
Wistar, Two mounted how Tiers commanded
by Lieut. French, and one piece of the New
York battery commanded by Lieut.. Bramiah,
were in front Of the center just prevo'.s to
the commencement OF the action. The attack
was commenced by the enemy ON our right,
but was soon directed more heavily 10 the
center and left. For about two hours the bat
tie ragged terrfcaliy. There was complete
shower of leaden hal. Three sevega tines
the left of the line made an advance but
were compelled to retire us often. Tie right
was better protected and held their position,
An order came from Gen. Baker to throw two
companies of the fifteenth Massachusetts to
the center, which was immediately exceeded.
This produced the impression that the b'ttle
was going against rs, but ctused no confusion
Or dismay. = Tae lett was hard pressed but re-
NAMED firm.
About this time the news spread that Gen.
Baker was killed. While in the act Of push
ing a cannon forward, with his shoulder to
the wheel, he was pierced by six bullets. He
was evidently the object of the enemy's sAaFp.
shooter. After this there was a cessation of
fire for few minutes, during which Colonel
Cogsweu OF the New York TamInany reg-
ment arrived with two companies, and he
being the senior officer, tile c0mmalal dev0lved'
on him In 4 short time it became evident
to Colonel CosswelI that :he day was lost,
aud he thought it best to cut his way
through to L lwards Ferry, where General
German was III charge, throwing ovenpein-
tOrceMeDtS D1 ultSCtOH VI dSH' otOilSS W.
was within sight OF the battle field, at Edwards
Ferry, directing the general movements.,s-.-.
An order WAS now issued to transfer ths
fifteenth Massachusetts, regiment from the
right to the left, which was executed as calmly
as a battalion drill. Col. COgswell soon be-
came satisfied of the impossibility of reaching
Edwards Ferry as desired, and gave an order
to tall back towards the river. which was exc
cuted as well as the circumstances would per,
nit They reacised the river bank about
twenty minutes before nightiall, here the
fifteenth deployed as skirmishers along the
shore.
The only means Of conveyance to the island
was large boat capable OF carrying about
forty persons which was over-crowded and
swamped, and also one OF smaller dimensions
The troops remaning on the shore made
desperate resistance, and ii is believed that the
enemy took comparatively few prisoners in
consequence. Those who could swim plunged
into the water those carrying their arms who
could, andsothers throwing them into the river
to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands
Some escaped by avaing themselves OF the
darkness and theheavily 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 poby