The National tribune., 1907-07-18

| battle on Virginia soil. AS he outrani<-
| cd DevenS he ASSUMED command of the
whole force. Stone also sent over three
guns, the taking over of which under
such unusual difficulties was a sad
diminution of the strength of the COM
batants. As finally arrayed the strength
of the Union forces at Balls Bluff was:
ETammany, 42d n. Y............ $50
l5th Mass. s.....-.. ....-...... ooS
| 10th Mass. ....... ........... 3lS
| IOtdl i,'pl
The Confederate Force.
There is the usual uncertainty as to
the strength of the Confederates COM
manded by Col. Evans which consisted
of the Sth Va, 18th. 18th and 18th
/ Miss. Col. Evans officially states his
numbers at 1,109, which is clearly an
underestimate, since his report was
made much of to further the impress
sion in the South of the immense su-
periority of the Confederate to the
Union soldiers upon the field of battle.
Col Baker reached the field between l
and o'clock, and began forming his
men around the field. They were at a
manifest disadvantage, since the enemy
could attack them from the woods
which concealed the movement. As
| Evans could now see the entire Union
force. he commenced savage attack
on the right of our line. which was
bravely met, with the 18th Miss. re-
pulsed. The attack drifted off towards
| the center and left, and was continued
with the greatest desperation for two
hours, with heavy loss on both sides.
Evans handled his men well, and they
adhered to the attack with the greatest
steadfastness. Col Baker exposed him
self freely. and was on every part OF
the line, animating and encouraging his
men until he fell shot thru the head.
some time between 4 and ) o'clock. The
command then devolved upon Col. Cogs-
well, 42d n. Y, who saw that the day
was lost, and tried to eXtricate his men
| by n movement toward the left which
would take them to Edwards Ferry,
| three miles below. AS this began, the
retirement from the right was thrown
into confusion by party of the 8th
Va, and at the same time fresh Mis-
sissippi regiment advanced upon the
left, checking the movement in that di-
| rection. The whole line at once crum-
bled into confusion, with the men rush.
| ing back to the edge of the bluff and
| scrambling down as best they could
1 while their triumphant enemies stood
on the crest and shot them down n
will.
Col Cogswell gathered some frag-
ments of the regiments on the bluff, and
maintained an obstinate defense to COW
er the passage of the wounded across
the rapid current. He was Joined by
two companies of his own regiment ILL.,
der Capts. Gerety and O'Meara, who
gallantly forced their way over. cheer
ing as they clambered up the bluff. and
rushing out TO the front. 1t WAS all in
vain, however, and Col. Cogswell, who
had been wounded in the hand. at las,
/ gave the order to surrender, telling his
men to throw their arms over the bluff
into the river.
The boats were at once crowded he
yond their capacity, and were sunk by
overlooking, and the merciless rain OF
shots from the bluff. Many were
drowned in trying to swim the river,
only a few making their escape by
stealing down thru the brushwood along
the ledge at the foot of the elf. Dark
ness came to- aid The remnant; to es-
cape. Out of the 1901 men who crossed
the Potomac scarcely 500 :.ecrosSed the
stream. They had Jeff behind 225 dead,
250 wounded, more than 500 prisoners
an. thr; guns, .a
OF the 625 men the 18th Mass. took.
IL men and two officers We're killed, 81
wounded and 227 captured. Lieut.-Col.
| Putnam lost Il leg.
The Goth Mass. lost two-thirds OF
those engaged-15 killed. "A wounded
and 135 missing. Among the captured
We're Col. Lee. Maj. Revere and Adju-
| tant PierSon.
Lieut.. Oliver Wendell Holmes, now
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,
was wounded.
The 42d n. Y. lost nine killed, 10
wounded and 1S5 missing.
The 1st Cal. t71st Pa.) lost 13 killed,
40 wounded and 228 captured.
Col. Evans reported his loss at 155
18th Miss.
Col. Bakers Orders
/ In the bitter denunciation following
this sickening catastrophe even the dead
Col. Baker did not escape condemnation
for rashness and disregard of orders
The following orders found in his ha,
after death deeply stained with his
blood. are the foundation for this
charge:
Edwards Ferry, Oct %; 1850.
Col. +. ID. Baker, Commander of Bri-
| gade-
Colonel: In case of heavy firing in
4 front of HarrisonS Island you will ad-
vance the California regiment of your
brigade or retire the regiments under
Coils. Lee and Devens, now on the (al-
most rendered illegible with blood Viz
ginia side of the river, at your discre-
ton, assuming command on arrival.
Very respectfully, Colonel, your
most obedient servant,
"Chas p Stone,
"Brigadier-General Commanding"
The second order was received on the
battlefield, by the hand of Col. COgs-
well, an hour before the death of Col
Baker, who had put it in his hat with
out reading it. 1t is as follows:
headquarters Corps of Observation
Edwards Ferry, Oct. II: 1850.
"E. ID. Baker. Commanding Brigade.
Colonel: 1 am informed that tht
force of the enemy is about 1000, al
told. If you can push them you MAJ
do so as far as to have strong postior
near Leesburg, if you can keep their
before you, avoiding their batteries. l
they pass Leesburg and take the Gun
Spring road, you will not follow far
but seize the first good position to covel
that road.
Their desire is to draw us on, If the,
are obliged to retreat, as far as Goose
Creek, where they can be reinforce.
from Manassas and have strong posi-
ton. ,,.
Report freauer.tly. so that when the,
are pushed Gprman can come up OF
their flank. -
Yours respectfully and truly.
"Chas. P. Stone
"Brigadier-GeHeraI Commanding"
These orders show the most astonish
ing misunderstanding of the position
on the part ofleyery one. The only pal
liation for Stone is his belief that Nc
Calls heavy force. advancing from
Dranesvi!le directly upon Leesbur:s
| ha 70 4,