Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-04-16
Civil War Stories
Battle of BalI,s Bluff.

- a. NO4I1iCl DeIW0en the nOfIQ anu
inc south over forty years ago is by
no means confined to the survivors
thereof, but it seems to grow and ex-
pand III the hearts of the young gen
GRAFTON, who love to read of the NOV
ing armies, the historic battles, the
SURFING scenes, the capture of cities
ana fortresseS, and all the other Incl
dentS of the momentOus conhict.
IFere have been many contributors
TO war literature, but do not remem-
Der TO have seen in print the incident
Which follows and which occurred back
III 1861. 1t was an event that cast
a profound gloom over the country 1T
that time, not only because Of the de-
feat of the federal forces and the death
OF gallant officer, but because of the
disappointment which it caused to the
hopes that had been raised through
the growth and Improvement OF the
army. The story was told to me by
an officer who was prominent par
t1c1pant IN the affair, but who is too
modest to let me make his name pub
lie. 1t is plain statement of facts
and is as follows:
Balls Bluff is the name of part of
the bank of the Potomac river on the
Virginia side, each of Leesburg. OPP
posite the bluff and about one hundred
yards distant is Harrisons island, a
long tract containing about forty acres
and about $50 yards broad. Between
this and the Virginia shore the river
runs with a rapid current. Between
the island and the Maryland shore
the river is about 200 yards wide and
not so rapid. A short distance above
the upper end of the island there was
then ferry across the Potomac, called
Conrad's ferry, and about an equal dis
lance below the island was Edwards
ferry. The two hostile armies had for
some months held the opposite banks
of the river at this point. It was here
that the confederates had contempla led
an Eruption into Maryland to attack
Washington. Gen. Banks held the
Maryland side of the river from Great
Falls to Edwards ferry. From that
point to Conrads ferry was stationed
the division Of Gen. Stone, with head
quarters at Poolesville; then came the
force Of Col. Lander and then that of
Col. Geary. On the Virginia side Of
the river the principal Confederate
posts were Dranesville and LeesburS.
AS it was considered desirable to as
certain the strength Of the enemy at
Dranesville, Gen. Mcclellan ordered
Gen. Mccall to make a reconnaissance
in that direction. This was executed
on the 10Th of October, 1861, and Nc
Call returned to his former position
on the Goth, reporting no enemy n
Dranesville nor within four miles of
Leesburg. Gen. Stone at Poolesville
was ordered to make a demonstration
and sent Germans brigade to Edwards
ferry; attachments Of the Fifteenth
and Twentieth Massachusetts to Har-
rison's island, and section of a
Rhode Island battery and the Call
fornia and New York regiments under
Col. Baker to Conrads' ferry. A feint
was then made to cross the river by
Germans corps in plain view OF the
enemy.
Shortly after a. m. on the Dist
Col. Deyens, with five companies Of
the Fifteenth Massachusetts, accom-
panied by Col. Lee with a detachment
of the Twentieth Massachusetts,
crossed from Harrison's island to the
Virginia side and took position on lhe
Ton of Balls Bluff, which here rises
abruptly some $50 feet from the river.
At the same time, in order to attract
attention from Col. Devens, Gen. Store
directed German to send two companies
of the First Minnesota across the river
and throw out a squad of cavalry on
the Leesburg road. In the meantime,
Gen. Stone, having received report
from Col. Devens that no enemy was
| to be seen, ordered a battalion or the
| Fifteenth Massachusetts to cross and
| nrotect the flank Of Col. Devens, and
| Col. Baker to be ready with his brigade
! m oct as reinforcement if necc's-
| sary. About a. N. of the list C7l.
| Devens who had pushed forward t.
ward Leesburg, encountered Confeder-
ate infantry and cavalry, and fell back
! in good order to the bluff. He had
only about $50 men under his co1-
mand, and reported for further orde-'
He was directed by Gen. Stone to "e-
main where he was and was promised
| roinforcements. While waiting for
these he was attacked about noon ny
the enemy. who, concealed in the sur
rounding woods, poured in a deadly
| fro from their guns upon the small
federal force in an open field OF abo it
| six acres.
Portions of the First California, tie
Twentieth Massachusetts and some
companies of the New York (Tam-
MANY regiment, and battery of TO If
GINS had now crossed the river. and
at . 80 D. m the firing was vely brisk
| At 4 o'clock Col Baker, who had now
| assumed command, formed his line for
action The Fifteenth and Twentieth
\ fhn riUht the