The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-28
WHOLE NO. 9l79.
THE REBELLION.
Important from Western
Virginia. !
Defeat Of the Rebels by Cen
Kelly at Romney.
Additional Particulars or the
Eight at Ball's BLUM.
rE ORIGIN OF THE RECONNAISSANCE.
IEAPORTANT FROM MISSOURI.
Brilliant Charge Of Major Sea-
goyne at Springfield.
Division OF the Rebel Army
OF the Potomac.
INTERESTING FROM HATTERAS INLET
The Union Movement in North
Carolina.
IMPORTANT FROM the SOUTH.
Circular Of the Rebel Secretary
Of the Treasury.
Proceedings Of the Southern Com
mercial Convention.
Interesting Details Of the Capture
Of the Steamer salvor.
&C., &C., &c.
Proceedings Of the Southern Com
mereial Convention.
Interesting Details Of the Capture
Of the Steamer salvor.
&C., &C., Sc.
WASHINGTON, Oct. q, 1851.
THE BATTLE AT BALLS BLUFF.

y WASHINGTON, Oct. q, 1851.
THE BATTLE AT BALLS BLUFF.
The disaster at Balls Bluffs SO Called is evidently not
fully understood. and the public very naturally de-
srous of knowing where lies the responsibility. Some
have charged upon General Mccall, who moved up to
Drainesvle within twelve miles Of Lecsbnrg on Satur-
day before the hght which took place Monday last
Others charge IL upon General Stone, and others upon
General Tho facts they viii be verified by the
official record, am authorized to say, are follows
When General Mcclellan ordered Generel Mccall to make
reconnaissance Dranesvle he elegraphed Gen. Stone
that he expected certain demonstrations which he was
about to make in the vicinity Of Ieesburg would
the enemy to eyacuate that place. and he Stone) was
requested keep sharp lookout upon the rebels and
watch their every movement Neither in this order nor
any other did General Mcclellan direct General Stone
70 tho river with force, or to order any Of his
subordinate officers to give battle under any
The advance Of General Mccall to Dranes
vile drove in the rebel pickets this side of
Leesburg, and caused their outposts to strike
their tents and retire to Leesburg General
Mccall learned that the enemy about eight thousand
strong that place. and had to believe that If he
remained at Drainesvile attempt would be made TO
cut him of by force Of rebels moving up from Centre
vile. Consequently having completed his reconnaissance,
he returned, according to orders from Gen. Mcclellan
his former position at Langeys. On Monday, about
Stone Of the gallant cavalry reconnaissance under
Major Mix, Of tho Van Allen cavalry regiment, oppo-
site Conradis Ferry. Immediately afterwards news
came from General Stone that Colonel Devens and a
large portion Of the Massachusetts Fifteenth regiment
had crossed, and about engaged the enemy ana
that General Baker about TO with thou
sand These reports satisfied General Mcclellan that
General stone had anticipated the supposition that the
rebels would evacuao Lecsburg and that he tono)
moving TO occupy it. This the first information
that General Mcclellan had Of General stones
across the river The next despatch announced that
General Baker ana was engaging the enemy
that or behaving splendidly, and that the
enemys left wing had been driven back. The next dcs
patch announced that Baker had been killed at
the head of his column and that repulsed
by superior numbers Of the enemy.
The moment Gen. Mcclellan learned that Gen. Stone
had ordered portion OF his force cross the river
and thai they kely 10 b. engaged with the enemy,
that they would have river behind them and
enemy front, be ordered General Bnks divi
sion to the support OF General stones column and also
telegraphedt station above the Chain Bridge directing
orderly to be sent immediately to enera Mccall who
then supposed to be at Drainsve instrucng him
in that vicinity aud annoy the euemy's il
le attempted to attack General stones column This
wes Of no avail, az, unfortunately, General Nc
Cali hid returned to Langlcys It is due to
General Mccall to say that doing this he vio-
lated no order but acted strictly in ac-
cardanco with his instructions lie was only more
taiy in his return than he would otherwise have bcen
had no feared flank movement OF the enemy. Gen
Mcclellan then ordered him his mon and be ready
IA reurn soo possible Drainesviic 1t was soon
oscci taned h1wever through dispatches from General
Stone that il world avail nothing order Gen. Mccall TO
Drain srllle again, ae 1t would be OF no service
General Stone, whose force rocrossing the Poto-
mac nna returning to Maryland. Tho death of
Colonel Baker throw pan the whole affair dur.
ing tho night, and IL not until the morning Of
Tuesday that information coaid be obtain at neadquar
satisfactory nature the true state Of affairs
General Mcclellan Immediately ordereda cartiage and,
accompanied by Of his STAG, Colonel Coburn, pro-
coetc the rooeratons TO Investigate in person
fhe Of the reBalse ana its On his arrival
he asc, anei that Gcneval Banks he'd resolved
abe river with Ais colun ard drive the enemy back lie
had already thrown abs1t FIVE thousand into vir
gnia without aBy DEMONSTRATION being male by the
rebels. General Mcclellan, finding tie facilities for
crossing the river very limited, and having no desire
10 make Ieesburg important point, ordered Gen.
Banks 70 return 10 lis former camp Daynsstown The
subsequent movenaan; OF the enemy has shown tie
shrewdness Of this order Gener's Banks Stone
would have bccn fur frcm centre iiving the enemy
an easy opportunity to cut them or uness Cen McCel
Ian Withdrew agc body Of his troops from active duty
sse eNhcro to support them Upon tho return of GEN
Mcclellan and COL coburn to hcalluarters on THURSDAY
last from consultation with Generals Banks and ston,
and the principal actors In the aght at Bats