Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-07
Approaching Anniversary Of That
Disastrous Battle.
bow GEN. BAKER WENT TO His DEATH
The Eighth Virginia. Regiment to
Celebrate the Day.
A HOP ELE S. FIG 1T

tober 81, that being the anniversary of the
battle of Balls Bluff. one of the most SAN
culinary encounters OF the war.
In all the thirty-four years since the bat
tie was fought there has not been a re-
urion of the survivors Of the engagement
and 1t is proposed to have the coming
event celebrated at Leesburg on the date
named.
The battle of Balls Bluff presented some
remarkable features, and the variance of
statements made by the generals COM
handing on both sides have almost pre-
cluded the possibility of obtaining facts
upon which to base statement of what
were the losses on either side. The imme-
date commander of the forces engaged on
the Union side was Col. e. d. Baker. Unit
ed States Senator from Oregon, VINO, being
ambitious to win the grade and title of
major general in the army, as the first steL,
enlisted a regiment of Californians anu
took command of them. He was killed at
Balls Bluff, his first and only battle, ana
his men were routed with the loss. as
stated In official papers. Of more than haiI
the entire force engaged.
A Hidden Foe.
The battle was also remarkable from the
fact that though the conflict ragged nearly
all day. the federal forces did not, except
once see those whom they were hghtins,
and this was during the last half hour OF
ePSA
the disaster at Bull Run, the excitement
throughout the country was intense and
Gen. Charles P. Stone. the Union division
commander, was so severely criticised, ana
his responsibility in not sending reinforce
ments to Col. Baker regarded as so great
that he was not only relieved from COM
mand, but was arrested by order OF the
Secretary of the War, and conveyed un-
der guard to Fort Lafayette, where ne
was kept in close confinement for more
than six months. when he was released
with as much suddenness as he mad been
arrested. without word of explanation.
Gen. Stone was very emphatic IN his state
ments to the War Department that he was
not to blame for the disaster, and mass
of correspondence followed. but Gen. Stone
received no satisfaction. and ne was not
restored to his rank in the army.
The official reports Of the battle, as now
on file in the War Department, agree sub
stantially in the following account of the
fight. In obedience to an order from Gen.
Stone the first battalion of the California
regiment, Bakers brigade, under the COM
mand of Liuet Col. Wistar, left Camp OBJ
servation, near the mouth OF he Monoc-
acy, at am, and reached Conrad's Ferry
at sunrise.
Crossing the River.
The battalion stacked arms, and Capt
Francis G. Young of Gen. Bakers staff
proceeded to Edwards Ferry, five miles
distant, and reported to Gen. Stone for
orders. Lieut.. Howe Of tho fifteenth Mas
sachusetts arrived there at the same time,
and reported that he had crossed the river
at Harrison's Island during the night and
secuted the country in the direction OF
Leesburg and found no enemy.
Gen. Stone thereupon directed Capt.
Young to return to Lieut.. Col. Wissar, with
until perchance, he should hear heavy
firing in front, and in that event to cross
to the Virginia shore at Harrison's Island.
At this time the summit Of the bluff
tha oil
was occupied by six companies of the ff-
teenth Massachusetts. Col. Devens; de-
tachment of the twelfth Massachusetts,
Col. Lee, and two companies of the Tam
many regiment; also by two small how
itzers of the Rhode Island battery on the
island. -iaT >. ar~a-
These forces had crossed during the
night preceding and on the return OF Capt.
Young to Col. Wistar, irregular firing OF
musketry was heard from the bluff op-
posite the island. Shortly afterwards Col.
Baker arrived with the other officers OF
his staff, and in little while Gen. Stone
dispatched to him from Edwards Ferry an
order In writing that in the event OF hear
ing firing in the direction of Harrison's
Island he should at once advance the Cali
fornia regiment or retire the Union forces
from the Virginia side of the river at his
discretion, and to assume the command on
reaching the Virginia side. Col. Baker i'm
mediately sent for three regiments and
squadron of cavalry from his brigade and
for Col Cogswell and the rest Of the Tam
many regiment.
Not Boats Enough.
Proceeding to the crossing at Harrison's
Island the Union forces found the means
of transportation to consist Of two nat
boats of the capacity of twenty-five to
forty men, and a small skiff. which would
carry but three or four. The river was
swollen, and the current rapid. and there
was much labor and delay in making use
of tha 70 found
In the canal, mile distant, and being
lowed down to the crossing, was with much
difficulty. got into the Potomac. Col Baker
Immediately crossed with many men as
could be got into the boats, to the island,
and reaching the opposite side of the Is
land found one flat boat and a small me-
tallic boat. He then crossed to the Vfr-
ginia shore without delay, with Adjutant
General Harvey. sending staff officer back
with order for Col. Cogswell to bring
over the artillery. 1t was now pm. and
Col. CoeSwell coming over from the Mary
land side with two pieces of artillery, with
their horses and men, these and two how
itzers of the Rhode Island battery were
carried to the Virginia side. The bank was
of miry clay. and the heights almost pre-
cpitous, with fallen trees and rocks. making
1t very difficult to get up the artillery. Ar
irving by circuitous routes on the summit.
the Union forces found an open field of six
acres, covered with wild grass, scrub oak
and locust trees, and forming a segment
of circle, the arc of which was surround
ed with trees.
Col. Baker appraised Col. Devens that he
had been placed in command, and learned
that the fifteenth Massachusetts, after hav-
ing advanced for a mile In the direction of
Leesburg, had been attacked, and fallen
back to the position which they then occu-
ped. just in the woods on the right. The
other forces were lying under the brow Of
the hill, and, with the exception of an oc-
casonal rifle shot, all was quiet, and no
sight of an enemy. The two howitzers and
one piece of artillery were drawn by the
men out into the open field, pointing to the
woods In front, the artillery horses not be-
ing brought up the steep
The Rebel Yell.
After quarter of an hour had passed,
the enemy making no sign, two companies
of the California battalion-A and D-were
sent out from the left as skirmshers
through the wood. They had advanced but
q few rods when. with yell, tremendous
volley of rifle shots from the concealed en-
envy drove them back. and from that mo-
ment up to the fall of Col. Baker there was
no cessation of heavy firing from the en-
envy in the woods. The reinforcements
from the island came up slowly, and it was
evident to all that unless aid in force
reached those in action from the left they
would be driven into the river as the in
creas;ng yells and firing Of the enemy in
dicated their larger number and nearer ap-