The National tribune., 1883-10-11
ASHLAND, NEB.
SOMEBODY .BLUNDERED.
Some Further "Reminiscences OF Baker and Balls
pr,n
To the Editor NArIoNAL TRInUNE !:


To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
The account of the battle of Balls Bluff, by
General Gordon, published in your issue of
extant Yet an actor in that disastrous conflict
may be permitted to state some incidents not
seen or heard by everyone. Colonel Baker
seemed to be possessed with the idea that a
charge against cavalry must be made, and pass
ed along the line urging upon the men the abb
solute Importance of that maneuyer. When
Colonel Lee came on to the field, Colonel Baker
took him by both hands, saying joyfully: [
think more of your little finger than / do of
the whole of General Stone," whereas we all
know now, that if General Stones orders had
been obeyed a very different result would have
followed from the battle. 1t is one of the
heart-rending incidents of the war that this in
nocent officer should have been confined Ill
prison charged with disloyalty, when in fact,
the whole cause of his trouble was produced by
ambitious and incompetent officers. The ar
rest of General Stone was perfect surprise to
our most loyal and prudent officers, and it is no
wonder that he has turned his back upon the
Union and sought military employment in far
off Egypt.
When Colonel Baker asked Colonel Lee what
he thought of his line of battle, Colonel Lee at
once comprehended the situation, and immedi-
ately replied: There is no chance for us un-
less we can cut our way through to Edwards
Ferry" Suddenly ball struck our flagstaff
and killed soldier Colonel Baker said /:
I" There is a poor fellow killed with shot in
tended for me. Some of you men step out of
the ranks and bring that sharpshooter down
out of that tree" (pointingl My duty as cor
poral brought me on the left of the line, expos
ed to both front and flank fires. Our men were
killed SO rapidly that the order Lie down."
was passed along the line; so we loaded on our
backs and fired onour breasts, resting our
elbows in the grass. 1t must be taken into ac-
count that Smart's Stone Mill was but short
distance above this field, and would have been
an admirable fort for our troops, and at the
same time would have been supported by artil-
lery on the Maryland side, as was intimated in
General Stones order, viz. pointed out to
him the position of bluffs on the Maryland
side of the river, from which artillery could
act with effect on the Virginia side, as Smart's
Mill was in plain sight" But General Bakers
chosen field was entirely concealed by trees,
rocks and bushes, and absolutely cut off from
any sort of retreat or from any possibility of
re-enforcements.
A DARING ESCAPE.
This battle was the most provoking one of
the long and desperate war, and the strange
incidents connected with its management can
only be accounted for on the theory that the
first step being false and lacking in military
strategy, the second and last steps were the
natural result of insane desperation. When
at last the awful end was near, the order came
for every man to destroy his arms and try to
save himself. In the dusk of the evening ]
squeezed myself into a perpendicular cleft OF
the rocks on the bluffs, and knowing that if
was discovered the rebels could do no more than
shoot me, remained calm until the darkness OF
night favored my escape down the precipitous
bluff, about hundred feet in descent, TO the
waters of the Potomac, which had uprooted q tree
three feet in diameter. Throwing my arms into
the river at this point, I climbed up on to this
tree, lying nearly parallel with the Virginia
shore, and covered with men its whole length.
passed by the whole of them, and, requiring
something with which to balance myself,
| picked up piece of Lockwood about four feet
| in length and about the breadth of a hand. A
comrade, asking for this stick, was told he
/ might have it, but for some unaccouutable rea-
son would not take it. Just at this time the
moon arose, and firing was commenced upon
the men on the tree, and they were ordered to
| surrender. So the choice being to swim for it,
surrender, or be shot, chose the first. / let
myself down into the river, putting the stick
crosswise under my chin, but, finding that
was only floating down stream, made desper-
ate effort and opened my coat and put the end
| of the stick into the opening, to my breast, my
| chin resting on the stick, when | soon found
that was making progress towards the Mary
| land shore, which / reached about half mile
below the battlefield when | was challenged
Who comes there2p ] answered: Friend
with the countersign," and he then said: "Ad-
vance, friend, with the countersign." So
| advanced and gave the eountersign, when
recognized tho well known voice OF Sergeant L.
Nj. Murray. of the Fifteenth Massachusetts,
| who had gone into an old barn in the darkness
| of the night and taken an oyercoat out Of a
| large pile, not knowing whose it was, and put
it on rs protection against the cold. Asking
me where came from, / replied, " Oat of the
/ river" He Immediately took off the said coat
and told me to put it on, as there was danger
of my freezing. To my great surprise and as
| tonishment, found, the nextmorning. that Ser
| geant Murray had given me, uneonsciously, my
ownseoat, with nay name wrought inside OF the
/ back. Another strange incident may be worthy
of recital. Comrade L. W. Gilbert, of South
| Sudbury, Mass, relates that after swimming
the Potomac he was minus pair of pants, and
| that without knowing him, l took OF my own
pants and gave them to him, q his need being
| greater than mine" This act in the drama
| had entirely passed from my memory.
! Imust not omit the charge to the color-ser-
| geant by Colonel Ward before going up the
| bluff to the battlefield "The eolor-sergeant
Will reserve his FIRE for the protection of the
| eolors;" and he did, bringing them off the field
| with the marks of the shot on the staff and
many bullet holes through the flag. Colonel
| Ward himself lost q leg, and was afterwards
! killed on the field of Gettysburg glory
! enough for one family
| PRTEsTLEY YOUNG,
| Corporal, CO. d, 18th Reg't, Mass. Vols.
| WORCESTER, MASS.
| NEITHER BAKER NOR STONE TO BLAME
| To the Editor NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: