Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-01-22
TIE BATTLE OF BALLS BLUFF.

In the Federal House of Representatives, recent
ly, Mr.. Conkling, a Black Republican member from
New York, called the attention of the House to
resolution which had been adopted at All early part
Of the session. in reference to the late battle of Balls
Bluff, near Leesburg. He argued the necessity of
inquiry into the causes which led to the signal de-
feat of the Yankees in that battle during which he
gave the following vivid description of the battle
which will interest the reader. Mr.. e. said:
Baker received orders at o'clock in the morn
ing and Immediately commenced his progress with.
out wharf to land at a rope hawser to stretch
across the river to hasten their crossing Neither
rope, hawser or axe had been provided. Such were
the combination of circumstances against him, that
it was not until eleven o'clock that they began to
cross. Then the rebel fire commenced the slaugh.
ter Of the detachment first landed and the boats on
their side began to pull to the island, with the
bleeding and the slain, and the hospital then began
to fill with the dying and the dead. But still the
crossing went on, till seven thousand five hundred
men, according to Stone, were thrown over. But
of these not more than eight hundred ever saw the
field. They had to climb the mud of the bluff,
dragging their dismounted arms after them, before
they could reach the field, which they could not
but suppose would open to them fair fight if not
a scene of victory. But this difficult ascent led
them to no field of fair equal war, but to real
slaughter pen-tO mere trap, to horrible Col
gotha. Tie position of the enemy was screened
from view or aim by thick growth of timber and
to this burial ground, as the boats one by one
brought them over, went up the devoted and the
doomed trcadng those tracks to the lions den, all
pointing in one direction and showing no returning
footprints. Behind them rolled the river, deep and
broad, and which they were to pass. Before them,
and surrounding them every side, gared their
skulking and sheltered foe Into the deadly trap
they went too few to remain and too many to come
back. II there had been more of them they might
have held their position, and dispensed with means
for crossing the river. If fewer, they might have
escaped in the boats but their being seventeen
hundred there nothing for them but to stay
and perish. Noby did they fulfil their destiny
Their desperate stubbornness their calm 'front.' their
heroic courage, served only to gid with tints Of
glory the bloody picture Of their murder: Their
movements had been steatbily watched from the
first. The feast of death had been prepared for
them, and the number desired to be present and to
partake of it had been calculated. When the DOOM
ed number had been drfted over the bloody revelry
began. In an hour, less than an hour, the dead
ly fire Of unseen foes hedged them in on every side,
and they melted away before it The fight was lost
before it had begun. 1t was mere sacrifice Of
brave men. From the first there was not even the
slightest hope of escape or promise of victory. 1t
was only wonder that any escaped. The charge
and daring of the Light Brigade, described by the
poet is alone applicable to the devoted heroism OF
these men on the fatal battle field of Balls Bluff
This was:
IN rio IF