Smyrna times., 1861-10-31
The Disastrous Battle at Balls BlufF

The Disastrous Battle at Balls Bluff.
We are at length getting near the truth Of
the disastrous affair at Balls Bluff, which,. ac
cordlng TO the number engaged, seems 10 have
oeen even worse in its results than the Bull
Kun affair, with this exception that our troops
exhibited the greatest bravery and coolness in
IN the last engagement. The casualties 10 our
men in the battle of Balls Buff, which amount
to $50, of whom there were 70 killed. l4l
wounded and 402 missing. The officers and
men behaved with extraordinary COURAGE. and
after exhausting their ammunition threw their
arms into the river. to prevent their falling in.
to the hands of the enemy.
The whole number ofour force in the battle
of Balls Bluff was 1876. Bakers regiment
lost 337 in killed, wounded and missing. The
rebels lost Col. HauOn. killed early in the
fight.
The following account from the National
InteHig encer is perhaps the most accurate
account given:
In one respect the engagement on Monday
az Harrlson's Island by Gen. Bakers brigade Of
MAJOR General Stones advance. was among the
most remarkable in the worlds annals of battles.
Of sixteen hundred men engaged, who held
out nine hours against an Overwhelming ferce
OF the enemy, little more than half have re.
turned to their camps on the Maryland shore.
On rare occasions in the history of battles has
such per centage Of loss been witnessed. Ii
abundantly attests the cool courage and daring
OF the troops, and will stand the Therm DvIg
Of this war.
The enemy were in possession Of the Virgin
ia shore, and fully advised of Gen. Stones in.
tended movement.
Gen. Baker received the order for his move
ment on Sunday. The same evenine. Cant
Philbrick and Lieut.. Howe, Of Col. Deyens'
10th Massachusetts, with twenty men, crossed
the river at the point above indicated, and
made thorough reconnaissance to within n
mile and half of Leesburg, and returned, re-
porting that no enemy had been seen. All
through that night, by facilities for transport
Tar toe incomplete and unmIiitary for the pur.
pose, General Baker was throwing over his
force and at daybreak the first line was form
ed at Balls Bluff, about eighty feet above the
river. Offering on the top an area of several
hundred acres. surrounded by trees, save in
the angle to the Southwest, where a clearing
and corn field. with the corn in the shocks.
opened out to the main road.
The force ofGeneral Baker was about ZOO
strong, made up OF broken regiments
The first attack of the enemy was made
about six O'Clock, from rude rifle pits in the
cornheld. This was met by gallant charge
Of the Massachusetts 18th, who drove the enc
my from their cOverts at the point of the bayo.
net. After sharp work for some three hours
along the whole front of the little line, the
enemy being kept in check with the three
pieces OF artillery, they themselves using only
rifles and cavalry carbines IN the action, a lull
took place, during which il appears, from the
very mlsapprehension Gen. Stone had designed
to create, the rebels were drawing their whole
force from above and below to strengthen the
centre Of their line, which they believed 10
be threatened by The head of our main column.
While our troops were eating their dinner.
about 2. M the rebel firing re- commenced.
at short rifle range, from a line extending on
three sides about our battle front, from among
the tree tops, many OF which were foil of sharp.
shooters. From this time till nghIfal the fight
knew no cessation. We cannot write its de-
tails; they press upon US from every hand, and
the account would possess well. nigh the mel.
ancholy and tragic interest of "LoveweIl's
Fight"
About o'clock Gen. Baker fell, pierced bv
four mortal wounds. The rebel sharpshooter,
picked out the officers with unerring AIM
Only one captain in the Massachusetts, F,f
teenlh, Captain Phllbrck, returned to their
camp; the other six with five leutenanls. are
mssing-Ssveral known TO be killed The
entire loss set down as " missing" to Col De.
ven's regiment is three hundred and thrrty one
men-nearly half their number in the field
As evening came on, Col. Coggswell, sue
ceeding to the command at the death of Gen.
Baker, gave order to form in column and cut
their way down the river bank to Edwards
Ferry, with the hope of reaching Gen. Stones
command. At this juncture Ammunition gave
out on the left Of the line the weary troops
there waVered, but were sustained by the centre |
and right though hopeless Of SUCCESS against
such odds. An order was then given TO re-
treat across the river to Harrison's Island, and |
Col. Devens deployed his Fifteenth as skirm-
ishers, to cover the retreat down the bluff.
Here commences the saddest feature of the |
fight. The means Of transport were inadequate
even when the crossing was regular and in |
order, and failed utterly at the rush that took
place. The scOw was overloaded and swamp.
ed. throwing it's burden into the stream. Many
were drowned; many were shot while swim |
ming the stream; many were taken prisoners
on. the bank; aud, on the evidence of several
officers, many efIh wounded were bayonetcd
wiIhoaI mercy. TAey Tetreatsd to Harrison's