New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-05
THE BATTLE OF BALLS BLUFF,
MEDICATION OF COLONEL BAKER
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.

subject Of the late battle at Balls Bluff Virginia has
been forwarded TO us from Washington. 1t will ex-
plain itself;
Letter from Mr. Geo. Viises to LieUtC Gel. Col6rrn.
| W.sHIsgros Oct. 81, 1861.
| COL CoLBuRS-Dedr SIR Having failed 10 ilhd
you in last evening, aud the orderly at your door
having Just informed ne tht You could not oe seen
by any one to-day take the liberty OF sendiDg yon
the iuclosed note from Dr. Baker in relation to his
| brotLer, the late Col. Baker.
prefer this couIse rather than wait day longer
TO hand it TO you in person, as the matter on "Gop
the Litter treats il deemed If importance by Col'
Bakers friends, and as DR. Baker desires TO return
10 bis regiment 1T Poolsville as as possible.
| You viii therefore very much oblise me u you
viii send me reply on the subject matter OF Tie
Doctors note as soon your duties viii permit, or
| forward me an indication OF time when inay na'e
the pleasure Of personal interview.
Very truly, your obsdens sers,rrtS
| Eiikwood's Hotel
p. S.-You viii find in Monday evenings Star
the most prominent articles which Dr.. Bakers
note refers TO. C W.
Litter from DR.. Baker TO Lieut..Co'. Col6ara.
| WAsHIsGTos, Oct. 30, 1861.
| LIEUT.. Col. CoLBURS-Sir: IL has been re-
pestedly stated by The Star Of this city backed by
| The authority Of your nsme, that the disastrous
result Of the late battle at Balls Bluff direct
consequence Of "the disobedience of orders by my
brother, Col. Baker, who commanded III that action
| The Star hes also stated, on the zane alleged
authority that Gen. Stone placed at the command OF
| Col. Baker $50 men; that he gave Col. BAKER
| orders not to advance beyond Harrison'e Island
unlefs his means Of transportation TO and f'o we're
ample; and that Col. Baker moved forward, when
on the Virginia eide, leaving no guard keeping up
10 communication with tie rear, aud fending out no
scents. As there statements have probably never
met your eye, d copy Of them Will Ce shown 10 you
BY my friend, Mr. George Wilkes. and he will soy
for me that will feel Obliged you will return, by
Dole sueh Reputation Of your name IN the premises
as will enable me promptly to arrest the SANDER.
1t IT, perhaps not OF place In this connection for
ne TO remind you that Col. Bakers fret order from
Gen. Stone was received at 2 o'clock, a. m, On
Monday, and that tie entire number Of the troops
placed at bis command was lees than 800; thai
bling required 10 move st O'clock he had no time
10 creote of transportation and consequently,
the best he could DO 10 avail him,en at once oil
such mefns ar be found at hand
The order from Gen. Stone was "to advance the
California battalion $50 mem in csse Of heavy hng
In front or 20 retire the troops under the command
of Cols Lee ard Devens" then the Virginia eide.
Under this order, Col Baker commenced moving his
California battalion across Conrsds ferry, and
while on Harrison bland with hut portion Oh his
force he beard The indication that the Massachusetts
companies were engaged, and were probably SINKING
under the overwhelming forces Of tie enemy, which
a subsequent order informed him could he Drooeh'
| against them. -
You, Sir. ss n soldier, can tell whss should have
been a soldiers duty uu1-T such exigeuoy; and
can also Judge hat would have been the verdict of
the country, and has Generai had be permitted tbese
gallant men 10 perish without an effort for their
rescue.
am proud TO cay that my brother was not the
man 10 wait for bic "DiOic brigade twbich could
not have been crossed in many hoursl, under such
pressing circumstances. And for myself, let ne
state that heavily as suffer by his death, have
regrets that lie pershed in rushing to The side u his
beleaguered troops In their dire extremity. :,
afa IA ~ ful al HaE1
no scouts, and keeping no communication with the
shore by which The Star, under It's assumed
authority, seeks TO deprecate the conduct Of my
brother need not be exposed 10 yOu IN face OF the
ell known fact that the battle wss fought near the
river bank and that the communication with the
stream not interrupted for q moment daring the
fight. Feeling warranted In believing that the
natural concern / have IN the reputation of my
departed brother will induce you TO enable lie 10
have, Is coon ne possible, your name Withdrawn
from tie injurious attacss upon bis memory,
am, very respectfully, ysur ob.diest servant;
Surgeon csllornis Rssim,pt U. g. Volunteer,
Letter from Lieuf.. Col. Cobsrn 10 Mr. Geo. Wilkes
Mr.. GEORGE WuKEs--Srs have Just this mo-
ment received your letter. inelosing Que from Dr.
Baker. Had known that you were here, should
have YOU at tho time.
If agreeable TO you, win meet you at the Kirk
wood House at o'clcek tbi. evening: have never
read the articles referred 10 in The Star.
Very repeatedly, your obL 'e,yt ,o, .,,.,,
Lieut..Colone and Aid d. Camp.
At the appointed hour Lieut.. Col. Coburn, &C
companed by eut'-Col. Hudscn, slso Of the regu-
lars, and aid to Gen. Mcclellan, called on slr.
Wilkes, and after long interview, tie parties sep
arated on the understanding that Lieut. Col. CObnrn
should explain his real position in the premises In
letter 70 be addressed 10 DIR. Baker The following
day.
Later from Li,pt..Co ColJVrn 10 Dr.. Bale.
WAsHise1Os, ID. c., Nov. ], 1851.
A c. BAxxn, M D., Su9e0n California RsSL, u. S. oia
SIR: Yonr communication Of the 3Oth nit. has
been received. had not any OF the articles IN
The Star referred TO by you. j sincerely regret
that my name shonld ia any manner be connected
with any statement which may In any way give
pain 10 any friend Of Col. Baker. On my return
from Edwards Ferry made the following state
nents 20 psnOns connected with the press, including
the editor Of The Star. This statement was made
from information received from Gen. Stone aud
others ut Edwardr's Ferry:
| Gen. Stone gave Col. Baker about 900 men,
composed Of bis own brigade, the 18th and Goth
Massachusetts, and Tammaay Regiment, together
with more artillery than the enemy supposed 70
have Col. Baker was directed TO use his own dis
creton about crossing his force or Withdrawing the
troops already over, and charged not to cross the
river on any account unless the means OF trnsporta
ton was sufficient 10 his entire force; to send
ont scouts TO the front and on the TANKS 10 aseer
tain the strength and position Of the enemy, and, If
he desired TO bis command 70 be sure and Keep
open his communication, 20 tbat he could recfota IL
IL necessary; not TO engage the enomy unless he
could get his troops in strong position, with supe-
rjor numbers. Gen. Stone supposed that Col. Bakers
command was all or nearly all over before the heavy
firing commenced, and wbs very much surprised
when he went 10 the right, after Col. Bakers DEATH
and found that only about ], 200 men had crossed
lie found also, that no was In charge Of thc
ferry, and that the boats were swamped
(isn Stone informed Col Baker whiie with him