The National tribune., 1893-02-16
BALLS BLUEF.
Had Col. Devens Been in Command Their
Would Have Been No Disaster.

Had Col. Devens Been in Command There
Would Have Been No Disaster.
TN your issue of Nov. II, 1892. under the
head of picket Shots" find the follow
ing: "Ball's Bluf.-E. w. Jenkins, of Co.
F, Goth Mass, Pawtucket. r. J., reads Com
rade Goodheart's article on Balls Bluff in the
issue of Sept. Is. Instead of Lieut.-Col. Fred.
Lander taking command after the death of Col.
Baker, the writer always understood that COL
Devens did so. Instead of Gen. Stone being
the scapegoat the writer thinks Stone put all
the blame on Baker"
Neither comrade is correct. After the death
of Col. Baker, Col. Cogswell, of the 42d N. Y,
assumed command and retained it through the
day.
/ will not attempt to place the responsibility
for the original movement, but do place the
responsibility for the result of that days work
ON Col. Cogswell. 1t was about sunset. The
18th Mass. was in line of battle, as formed
under the direction of Col. Baker, when be first
reached the field with skirmishers protecting
its right flank and extending back to the river.
We had held the position throughout the after
moons fighting, which had practically ceased,
and do not think man in the regi ment had
the slightest impression that we were whipped.
For reasons best known to himself. Col. Cog5-
we'll decided to cut his way through to Ed
wards Ferry, and make connections with the
larger force which had there crossed to the
Virginia shore during the day.
As the 18th Mass. held the right of the line,
he ordered it to lead in the new movement.
Our skirmishers were called in and the regi-
ment was faced and marched by the left flank.
We had gone hardly distance greater than
the front of the regiment when the enemy
(who had watched the entire movement) made
charge on our line. Col Devens gave the
orders to halt. face to the front and open fire,
which orders were executed in such way that
= folfh ,o1 xhatr
of battle. 1t was at this time that the fatal
order of Col. Cogswell was given to fall back
to the river. Col Devehs. knowing that the
execution of the order meant disaster, re-
quested that the order be repeated in the
presence of his Major, which was done, and
the regiment fell back and down the bluff to
the river. Then Col. Devens told his men to
throw their guns into the river and take care
of themselves as best they could.
1t is generally conceded by those who were
there that had our line of battle been kept
intact half an hour longer say until after dark,
the movement of recrossng the river could
have been commenced, and by daylight of the
next morning all could have been landed on
Harrison's Island, if not on the Maryland
shore, and thereby have saved our great loss
in prisoners, as we'll as many lives, for think
our loss in killed, after the retreat, and those
drowned in attempting to swim the river, was
nearly equal to our loss during the afternoon.
/ think the public generally have the i'm.
preston that our forces were overwhelmingly
beaten and actually driven into the river,
which is far from true.
1 will close with the words of q gallant |
officer who heard the order of Col. Cogswell |
repeated to Col. Devens: II have always be- !
lieved that had the command of the field |
deyolved on Col. Devens, we would have held |
our position and won the battle, and there |
would have been no Balls Bluff Disaster
CHARLES 81. EAGER, Captain, 18th Mass, Bel
mont, Mass