The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-11-07

ne Ball,s BluR Actiou--sohiciM Re.
vort of Gen. stone, Commanding the
Oivisien.
NRw YoRK, Oct. 3o.-The Tribune
Of this morning has the official report
Of Gen. Stone, commanding the action
at Balls Bluff. II was sent to the
War Department yesterday, and in it
occurs the following:
"Col Baker having arrived at Con.
RAIDS Ferry with the lst California
regiment at an early hour, proceeded
to Edwards ferry, and reported to me
in person, stating that bis regiment at
the former place, and three other regi
ments Of his brigade, were ready L"
march. ] directed him to'Harrison'
Island to assume command, and IN
full conversation explained to him the
position as it then. stood. L told him
that Gen. Mccall had advanced his
troops to Draincsville, and l was cx-
tremely DESTROYS of ascertaining tn.
exact position and; force of the enemy
in our front, and exploring as far as it
was safe, on the right toward the
UeesbnrS and Gum Spring road.
also informed Colonel Baker that Gen.
German, opposite Edwards Ferry,
should be reinforced, and that / would
make an effort to push Germans troops
carefully forward to discover the best
line from the Ferry to the Leeshurg
and Gum Spring road, already men,
toned, and the position of the breast.
works and hidden batteries which pre-
vented the movement of troops directly
from the left to the right, were also
pointed ont to him. The means of
transportation across, of the sufficiency
of which he (Baker) was to be Judge,
was detailed, and authority given him to
make use of the guns of section each
of Vaughan's and Bunting's batteries,
together with French's mountain how
itzers, all the troops of his brigade and
the Tammany regiment, besides the
29th and part of the goth regiments OF
Massachusetts volunteers, and left it to
his direction, after viewing the ground
to retire from the Virginia shore unde,
cover of his guns and the fire of his
large infantry force, or to pass our re-
Inducements i'm case he found it prac
ticable, and the position on the other
side favorable. / stated that / wished
no advance made unless the enemy
were of inferior force, and under NJ
circumstances topass beyond Leesbnrg,
or strong position bet~e cen it and
Goose Greek, on the Gum Spring road.
Col. Baker was cautioned in reference
TO passing artillery across the river
and 1 begged, if he did, to be wei
supported by good infantry. The
General pointed out to him the position
Of some bluffs on this side o. the river,
from which artillery could act with
effect on the other, and leaving the
matter of crossing more troops. or re
firing what were already over, to hi.
discretion. gave him entire control q
operations on the right. Alter Col
Devens's second advance, Col. Baker
went to the field in person, and it is a
matter of regret to me that he left nc
record of what officers and men he left
charged with the care of the boats
and insuring the regular passage OF
troops. If any were charged with this
duty, it was not performed, for tho
reinforcements, as they arrived, found
no one in command of the boats, and
great delay was thus occasioned. Ha6
one officer and company remained a
each landing, guarding the boats, thei
full capacity would have been made
seryiceable, and sufficient men wouiC
have been passed on to secure success
The forwarding of artillery before it
supporting force of infantry, also i'm
peded the rapid assembling of an i'm
posing force on the Virginia shore
If the infantry force had first crossed
difference of 1000 men would hav
been made in the infantry line at tn
time of attack, probably enough to hav
given us the victory.
[Signed] CHAs. p. STONE,
Brig. Gen. Commanding