National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-14
THE LATE COL. BAKER.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF
RAILS RLUEE.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF
BALLS BLUFF.
A correspondent Of the WGShingtoniGn thus
rIyes his recolIections OF the battle in which the
gallant Baker fsii. It was called out by former
letter ascriblng tho death Of Baker personally 10
Col. Burt:
I noticed an article in your paper, headed
sWho Killed Col. Baker az the Battle of Balls
Bluff" I have also noticed It in other papers.
Now, ''who killed Col. Baker, 1 cannot say, with
certainty, but that he died at the head OF his CON-
mand, whilst calamity doing his duty, have no
doubt, and could wish that q monument might
be raised over the grave Of every one, on either
side, who died like him, In front OF their COM
mands. Concerning the circumstances which your
correspondent speaks of have this to say: When
saw Col. Burt's regiment It was formed, except
one company, in the edge Of the woods on the
west side OF the Balls Bluff field on the extreme
south end Of the field. Col. Burt said to me that
had one company out on his right, as hankers,
and asked me to find them, and have them formed
on the right of his line, which did. Col. Burt
then moved HIS regiment in line OF battle across
the field toward tho little neck Of woods that fol-
lows the raYine which was m our immediate front.
There was no charge, for there was nothing Visi-
bic to charge. The colonel halted his regiment
few yards beyond tho large poplar tree Tor q lew
moments.
There was not, at that time, soldier to be seen;
Mt least saw none, anu SOlOuSl oNIh AnO As
were side by side, and the only ones mounted, and
uIm mistake not, Colonel Burt was on o bay horse.
Colonel Burt ordered his men forward. They
had proceeded but short distance, when the
enemy, not & hundred yards on-who had been
living on the ground, concealed from our view by
the little enbankment at the edge OF the woods,
formed, no doubt, by blowing many years ago
opened one Of the most, If not the most, destruc-
tive fires upon the 18th that It has ever been my
IN vi arad n mn "a a
regiment, from this fire, WAS thinned to shadow.
1t was from this fire that We sustained more than
one half Of the loss Of that ever-memorable day.
And never since man met man in deadly conflict
did regiment act more heroieally. saw not
Btep back by o single man, except by the many
who fell wounded and dying. Colonel Burt and
myself were in the rear of the regiment about
i've steps.
COL Burt said to me, "Go tell Col. Jenifer that
An wounded, and shall have to leave the field"
asked him If he was badly wounded, to which he
replied, "Yes." Two of his men were holding him
on his horse, one on either side, when I galloped
back 20 inform Col. Jenifer. That was the last
time my eyes ever saw the gallant Col. B. am
certain he did not kill Col. Baker at that time,
and believe that was the first time Col. B.'sregi-
ment had been engaged during the day, at least
on that part OF the field, and the last time Col.
Burt ever raised his arm for the cause he loved
90 well, and for which he died. When returned,
which was q short time after, found the 18th oc-
cupying the grounds held by the Federal troops
when left the field. The 9Th Virginia was on
their left and connected with the 18th. That
brave soldier, gentleman and scholar, Col. Eppa
Hunton, afterwards Gen. Huntcn, ordered the
commanding officer of the 18th, Il think he ad-
dressed him as Major,) to forward his regiment
that the enemy still occupied the Bluff The
Major replied that he did not know the grounds.
Col Hunton said, 81 will lead you" The Major re-
piled, 81 can lead my own men 1 want guide.''
The Colonel turned to me and said, won't you
guide them?" moved in front Of the regiment
and told them to follow me, I knew the grounds.
The 18th had moved but few yards when the
enemy from the Bluff opened fire. Tho 18th re-
turned It, and can assure you I felt no ways
comfortable between the two. But soon the 18th
charged and drove the enemy over the Bluff,
many OF them performing several evolutions down
the Bluff greatly to the discontinue OF their skin
and bones and, Indeed, some kept on across JOr-
dan. We captured few prisoners and some
pieces OF artillery. That was the closing scene of
that eventful day.
But, Mr.. Editor, cannot let this opportunity
pass without saying something of that regiment
which stood second to none in the best army that
ever drew the sword in the defence Of constitu- |
tional rights, the Stk Virginia-and mean no
disparagement to any other troops-For oil filled
their measure to the brim. But upon the 8th fell
the bruut Of that days fighting, and how hero
icAlly they bore it history will tell, under the i'm
menss odds with which they were contending.
Once or twice their ranks were shaken-Once, In
deed, thought all was lost, for had the sth
given way at that time the balance Of our troops
would have been fanked, and of necessity COM |
PEELED to fall back; but by the pure manly hero
ism OF Colonel Hunton, assisted by his subOrdi- |
nate officers, whose courage must fill one Of the |
brightest pages OF the history the heroes of this
war, their ranks were closed again, and drove !!
the invaders back to the bluff, not without the |
sacrifice Of IRany Of the best sons OF Loudoun.
HaPpears to me that It must have been q sweet !
satisfaction to them to know, as they had to die,
that they were watering with their LIES blood |
the proud old county that gave them birth. !
- : -. 4 W.