BALL'S BLUFF, OR, LEESBURG HEIGHTS, is the name given to a part of the bank of the Potomac River, on the Virginia side, east of Leesburg and opposite Harrison's Island. The height of the bluff is variable, in some parts being one hundred and fifty feet. It is steep, with brush, trees, rocks, and logs on its front, and at the point of ascent was, on the day of the battle there, rendered soft and muddy by the passage of the troops. Opposite the bluff and about one hundred yards distant is Harrison's Island, a long narrow tract of four hundred acres, between which and the Virginia shore the river runs with a rapid current. On the other side of the island, which is one hundred and fifty yards broad, the distance to the Maryland shore is two hundred yards, and the stream not quite so rapid. At the head of the island passes Conrad's Ferry from the Maryland to the Virginia shore. Six miles below is Edwards' Ferry, which is on the direct road from Poolesville to Leesburg. On the opposite banks of the Potomac the hostile forces of the North and South had confronted each other for many months. The distance thus occupied extended from Great Falls up the river beyond Harper's Ferry. It was here that the Confederate Government contemplated an advance into the State of Mary land, and an opportunity to flank the force on the Virginia shore opposite Washington, placed for the defence of that city. The Federal Government, anticipating such intentions, had stationed a strong force to prevent them. This was in several divisions: the first under General Banks was stationed from Great Falls nearly to Edwards' Ferry. From that point to Conrad's Ferry was the division under General Stone; next was Colonel Lander's force and that of Colonel Geary. The principal points occupied by the Confederate troops on the Virginia borders of the Potomac were Dranes ville, Leesburg, and Charlestown. It became an object to learn with what strength the former of these positions was then held. For this purpose a reconnoissance was ordered by the Commander-in-Chief, General McClellan, to be made toward Dranesville, and the duty was assigned to General McCall, who was in command of a division on the extreme right of the force beyond the Potomac opposite Washington. These orders were successfully executed on the 19th of October, and on the forenoon of the 20th he returned to his former position, in compliance with orders received the afternoon previous. At the same time notice was given to General Stone of this movement on the part of General McCall in the following despatch: To Brigadier-General Stone, Poolesville: General McClellan desires me to inform you that General McCall occupied Dranesville yesterday, and is still there. Will send out heavy reconnoissances to day in all directions from that point. The General desires that you keep a good look-out upon Leesburg to see if this movement has the effect to drive them away. Perhaps a slight demonstration on your part would have the effect to move them. A. V. COLBURN, Assistant Adjutant-General. Later in the day General Stone replied to this despatch as follows: OCTOBER 20, 1861. To Major-General McClellan: Made a feint of crossing at this place this afternoon, and at the same time started a reconnoitring party toward Leesburg from Harrison's Island. The enemy's pickets retired to intrenchments. Report of reI have means connoitring party not yet received. ten minutes at each of two points. River falling slowly. of crossing one hundred and twenty-five men once in C. P. STONE, Brigadier-General. On communicating General Stone's report of the battle to the Secretary of War, General McClellan, in a note, said: "My despatch did not contemplate the making an attack upon the enemy or the crossing of the river in force by any portion of General Stone's command." Immediately upon the receipt of these instructions, General Stone went to Edwards' gry with General Gorman's brigade, the Seventh Michigan, two troops of the Van Alen cavalry, and the Putnam Rangers. This was at one o'clock P.M. At the same time he ordered four companies of the Fifteenth Massachusetts to proceed to Harrison's Island, under Colonel Devens, who already had one company on the island. To Conrad's Ferry above, which was in his department, he also ordered Colonel Lee with a battalion of the Massachusetts Twentieth, a section of the Rhode Island battery, and the Tammany Regiment. These three movements of troops were ordered-one to Edwards' Ferry, one to Harrison's Island, and one to Conrad's Ferry above. General Stone says that at this time General McCall's movement on Dranesville had evidently attracted the attention of the enemy, as a regiment appeared from the direction' of Leesburg, and took shelter behind a hill about one mile and a half from his position at Edwards' Ferry. This day is Sunday, and at half-past four P. M. Van Alen's battery of two twelve-pound Parrott guns opens with shell upon the Confederate force upon the Virginia side. Their explosion can be distinctly heard. Seven are thrown within ten minutes, and no response comes across the water. direction given to the shells is varied so as to find out the location of the force, which is supposed to be concealed in a thick wood to the southwest, on the hill. At five o'clock P. M. the battery in charge of Lieut. Frink, a quarter of a mile from the ferry, also opens with shell, and the two batteries keep up the fire with rapidity. Just as the sun is going down the First Minnesota and Second New York come down over the hill and take the road to the ferry. The sun sets gloriously, his rays reflecting from the thousands of bayonets which line the road. The Gen. Gorman is ordered to deploy his forces in view of the enemy, making a feint to cross the river with a view of trying what effect the movement may have upon the enemy. The troops evince by their cheering that they are all ready, and determined to fight gallantly when the opportunity is presented. Three flat-boats are ordered, and at the same time shell and spherical-case shot are thrown into the place of the enemy's concealment. Elsewhere all around the air is perfectly still, and the close of the pleasant Sabbath is impressively beautiful, while the view of the Virginia hills is almost enchanting. Soon something resembling the sound of a drum corps is distinctly heard, and the shelling and the launching of the boats induces the quick retirement of the Confederate force. Three boat-loads of thirty-five men each from the First Minnesota crossed and recrossed the river, each trip occupying about six or seven minutes. At dusk Gen. Gorman's brigade and the Seventh Michigan returned to camp. The other forces at Harrison's Island and Conrad's Ferry remained in position. Here the movement should have stopped. The orders of Gen. McClellan had been obeyed, and their object had been accomplished. The subsequent orders were not authorized by any superior authority to Gen. Stone, and the responsibility for their consequences must rest upon him. Had a brilliant achievement ensued, the honor of it would likewise have belonged to him. Previous to one o'clock P. M. four companies of the Massachusetts Fifteenth, as above stated, had been ordered to Harrison's Island, which had for some time been guarded by one company of the same regiment. At night Col. Devens ordered Capt. Philbrick of Company H, and Quartermaster Howe of his staff, with a detachment of twenty men, to cross from Harrison's Island to the Virginia shore, and follow a bridle path which had been discovered, to the vicinity of Leesburg, and report what was seen. The party executed the order by approaching within three-fourths of a mile of Leesburg, and returned to the starting-point by 10 o'clock at night, after having discovered, as they supposed, a small Confederate camp one mile from Leesburg. There appeared to be about thirty tents. No pickets were out any distance, and the party approached within twenty-five rods without being challenged. Upon receiving this report, Gen. Stone instantly ordered Col. Devens to cross over with four companies to the Virginia shore, and march silently under cover of night to the position of the camp, and to attack and destroy it at daybreak, pursue the enemy lodged there as far as would be prudent, and return immediately to the island his return to be covered by a company of the Massachusetts Twentieth, to be posted over the landing-place. Col. Devens was ordered to make close observation of the position, strength, and movements of the enemy, and, in the event of there being no enemy there visible, to hold on in a secure position until he could be strengthened sufficiently to make a valuable reconnoissance. At this time orders were sent to Col. Baker to send the First California Regiment to Conrad's Ferry, to arrive there at sunrise, and to have the remainder of his brigade ready to move early. Lieut.-Col. Wood, of the Fifteenth Massachu setts, was also ordered to move with a battalion to the river bank opposite Harrison's Island by daybreak. Two mounted howitzers, in charge of Lieut. French, of Ricketts' battery, were ordered to the tow-path of the canal opposite Harrison's Island. Col. Devens, in pursuance of his orders, crossed the river and advanced to the point indicated, while one company of the Massachusetts Twentieth, of one hundred men, took position at the landing-place on the bluff, to cover the return of Col. Devens, as ordered. Upon arrival at the point indicated as the position of the enemy's camp, Col. Devens found that the scouts had been deceived by the uncertain light, and had mistaken openings in the trees for a row of tents. He found, however, a wood in which he concealed his force, and proceeded to examine the space between that and Leesburg, sending back at the same time a report that thus far he could see no enemy.. In order to distract the attention of the enemy, during this movement of Col. Devens, and also to make a reconnoissance in the direction of Leesburg from Edwards' Ferry, Gen. Stone now directed Gen. Gorman' to throw across the river at Edwards' Ferry two companies of the First Minnesota, under cover of a fire from Ricketts' battery, and send out a party of thirtyone Van Alen cavalry under Major Mix, with orders to advance along the Leesburg road westwardly until they should come to the vicinity of a battery which was known to be on that road, and then turn to the left and examine the heights between that and Goose Creek, and see if any of the enemy were posted in the vicinity, find out their numbers as nearly as possible, their disposition, examine the country with reference to the passage of troops to the Leesburg and Georgetown turnpike, and return rapidly to cover behind the skirmishers of the Minnesota First. This reconnoissance was most gallantly conducted, and the party proceeded along the Leesburg road nearly two miles from the ferry; and when near the position of the hidden battery came suddenly upon a Mississippi regiment, about thirty-five yards distant, received its fire and returned it with their pistols. The fire of the enemy killed one horse, but Lieut. Gouraud seized the dismounted man, and, drawing him on his horse behind him, carried him unhurt from the field. One private of the Fourth Virginia cavalry was brought off by the party a prisoner, who, being well mounted and armed, his mount replaced the one lost by the fire of the enemy. While this was going on, Gen. Stone received the report of Col. Devens that no enemy could be seen. On the reception of this information, he immediately ordered a non-commissioned officer and ten cavalry to join Col. Devens, for the purpose of scouring the country near him while he was engaged in his reconnoissance, and to give due notice of the approach of any force. At the same time Col. Ward was ordered, with his battalion of the Massachusetts Fifteenth, to cross over and move half a mile to the right of the landingplace of Col. Devens, and in a strong position to watch and protect the flank of the latter on his return, and secure a good crossing more favorable than the first and connected by a good road with Leesburg. Neither of these orders were carried out to their full extent, for which no reason has been given. The squad of cavalry crossed over to the Virginia side, but were sent back without having left the shore to go inland; thus Col. Devens was deprived of the means of obtaining warning of the approach of any hostile force. The battalion under Col. Ward was detained on the bluff instead of being directed to the right. At an early hour, Col. Baker, in pursuance of the orders sent at ten o'clock at night, arrived at Conrad's Ferry with the First California Regiment. Leaving his regiment he went to Edwards' Ferry below, and reported to Gen. Stone that his regiment was at Conrad's Ferry, and the three other regiments of his brigade were ready to march. The orders now given to Col. Baker are thus related in the words of Gen. Stone: "I directed him to Harrison's Island to assume the command, and in a full conversation explained to him the position as it then stood. I told him that Gen. McCall had advanced his troops to Dranesville, and that I was extremely desirous of ascertaining the exact position and force of the enemy in our front, and of exploring as far as it was safe on the right toward Leesburg, and on the left toward the Leesburg and Gum Spring road. I also informed Col. Baker that Gen. Gorman, opposite Edwards' Ferry, should be reinforced, and that I would make every effort to push Gorman's troops carefully forward to discover the best line from that ferry to the Leesburg and Gum Spring road already mentioned; and the position of the breastworks and hidden battery, which prevented the movement of troops directly from the left to right, were also pointed out to him. The means of transportation across, of the sufficiency of which he (Baker) was to be judge, was detailed, and authority given him to make use of the guns of a section each of Vaughan's and Bunting's batteries, together with French's mountain howitzers, all the troops of his Brigade and the Tammany Regiment, beside the Nineteenth and part of the Twentieth Regiments of Massachusetts Volunteers; and I left it to his discretión, after viewing the ground, to retire from the Virginia shore under the cover of his guns and the fire of the large infantry force, or to pass over reinforcements in case he found it practicable and the position on the other side favorable. I stated that I wished no advance made unless the enemy were of inferior force, and under no circumstance to pass beyond Leesburg, or a strong position between it and Goose Creek, on the Gum Spring, i. e., the Manassas road. Col. Baker was cautioned in reference to passing artillery across the river, and I beg ged if he did do so to see it well supported by good infantry. I pointed out to him the position of some bluffs on this side of the river, from which artillery could act with effect on the other; and leaving the matter of crossing more troops or retiring what where already over to his discretion, gave him entire control of operations on the right. This gallant and energetic officer left me about nine A. M., or half-past nine, and galloped off quickly to his command." The following orders have been received as true copies of the orders given to Col. Baker, the originals of which were found in his hat after his death. The first is of such date as to have been delivered to him on Sunday night, and the second was delivered to him on the battle-field by Col. Coggswell, who, perceiving that it had no bearing upon the then condition of affairs, said so to Col. Baker, who put it in his hat without reading. Some other order, it may be presumed, preceded these two. H. Q. CORPS OF [Here the bullet struck and a word is missing.] EDWARDS' FERRY, October 21, 1861. Colonel E. D. Baker, Com. of Brigade: } COLONEL: In case of heavy firing in front of Harrison's Island, you will advance the California Regiment of your brigade, or retire the regiments under Colonels by blood] Virginia side of the river, at your discretion Lee and Devens, now on the [almost rendered illegible assuming command on arrival. Very respectfully, Colonel, your most obt. servt., CHAS. P. STONE, Brig.-Gen. Commanding. ered on the battle-field by Col. Coggswell, who The second order which follows, was delivsaid to Col. Baker, in reply to a question what it meant, "All right, go ahead." Thereupon Col. Baker put it in his hat without reading. An hour afterward he fell: HEAD-QUARTERS CORPS OF OBSERVATION, E. D. Baker, Commanding Brigade: COLONEL: I am informed that the force of the enemy is about four thousand, all told. If you can push them, you may do so as far as to have a strong position near Leesburg, if you can keep them before you, avoiding their batteries. If they pass Leesburg and take the Gum Springs road, you will not follow far, but seize the first good position to cover that road. Their design is to draw us on, if they are obliged to retreat, as far as Goose Creek, where they can be reinforced from Manassas, and have a strong position. Report frequently, so that when they are pushed, Gorman can come up on their flank. Yours respectfully and truly, CHARLES P. STONE, Brigadier-General Commanding. The following are the copies said to have been made by General Beauregard's order and sent to General Stone, of the orders given to Devens and Baker at Ball's Bluff and found on the field by the Confederates. HEAD-QUARTERS CORPS OF OBSERVATION, POOLESVILLE, October 20, 1861-about 11 A. M. S COLONEL: You will please send orders to the canal to have the two new flat-boats now there, opposite the island, transferred at once to the river, and will at 2 o'clock P. M. have the island reinforced by all of your regiments now on duty at the canal and at the New York battery. The pickets will be replaced by the companies of the Nineteenth Massachusetts there. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHARLES P. STONE, Brigadier-General. Col. CHARLES DEVENS, Commanding Fifteenth Regiment Mass. Vols. A true copy: WM. R. HYSLOP, Lieut. and A. D. C. HEAD-QUARTERS CORPS OF OBSERVATION, POOLESVILLE, Oct. 20, 1861-10§ P. M. SPECIAL ORDERS, NO. -. Colonel Devens will land opposite Harrison's Island with four companies of his regiment, and proceed to surprise the camp of the enemy discovered by Captain Philbrick in the direction of Leesburg. The landing and march will be effected with silence and rapidity. Colonel Lee, Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteers, will immediately after Colonel Devens' departure occupy Harrison's Island with four companies of his regiment, and will cause the four-oared boat to be taken across the island to the point of departure of Colonel Devens. One company will be thrown across to occupy the heights on the Virginia shore, after Colonel Devens' departure to cover his return. Two mountain howitzers will be taken silently up the tow-path, and carried to the opposite side of the island, under the orders of Colonel Lee. Colonel Devens will attack the camp of the enemy at daybreak, and having routed, will pursue as far as he deems prudent, and will destroy the camp, if practicable, before returning. He will make all the observations possible on the country, will under all circumstances keep his command well in hand, and not sacrifice this to any supposed advantage of rapid pursuit. Having accomplished this duty, Colonel Devens will return to his present position, unless he shall see one on the Virginia side, near the river, which he can undoubtedly hold until reinforced, and one which can be successfully held against largely superior numbers. In such case he will hold on and report. CHARLES P. STONE, Brigadier-General. Great care will be used by Colonel Devens to pre vent any unnecessary injury of private property, and any officer or soldier straggling from the command for curiosity or plunder will be instantly shot. CHARLES P. STONE, Brigadier-General. A true copy: WM. R. HYSLOP, Lieut. and A. D. C. The following is given as the last order to Col. Baker. It could never have reached him. It shows what report he sent to Gen Stone, and indicates under what orders he was acting: HEAD-QUARTERS CORPS OF OBSERVATION, EDWARDS' FERRY, Oct. 21-3.45 P. M. Colonel E. D. Baker, Commanding Right Wing: COLONEL Yours of 2.30 is received. I am glad you find your position tenable. If satisfied with it, hold on, and don't let the troops get fatigued or starved while waiting. Please detail plenty of officers to attend to the food of the men. Do you need more artillery than the eight pieces now at your disposition? Respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. P. STONE, Brig.-Gen. Com'g. A true copy. In the morning a skirmish took place between the command of Col. Lee, of the Massachusetts Twentieth, who had been ordered to cover Col. Devens' retreat, and about one hundred Mississippi riflemen. Col. Devens then fell back in good order on Col. Lee's position. Presently he again advanced, his men behaving admirably, fighting, retiring, and advancing in perfect order, and exhibiting every proof of high courage and good discipline. Had the cavalry scouting party sent to him in the morning been with him, then he could have had timely warning of the approach of the superior force which afterward overwhelmed his regiment. Between twelve and one P. M. the enemy appeared in force in front of Col. Devens, and a sharp skirmish ensued, and was maintained for some time by the Fifteenth Massachusetts, unsupported; and finding he would be outflanked, Col. Devens retired a short distance, and took up a position near the wood, half a mile in front of Col. Lee, where he remained until two o'clock, when he again fell back, with the approval of Col. Baker, and took his place with the portions of the Twentieth Massachusetts and First California which had arrived. The movement of troops now to the Virginia side was constant-until 700 of the Fifteenth and three companies of the Twentieth Massachusetts, the First California battalion, and some companies of the Tammany Regiment had crossed, and four pieces of artillery. At one o'clock the order had been given to the right battery detached from the New York Ninth to report to Gen. Baker at the Maryland side of the Potomac, opposite Harrison's Island. In half an hour the four pieces arrived at the spot, in command of Lieut. Bramhall. At this time but little firing was heard upon the opposite shore, and that only desultory. At about half-past two P. M., however, the firing of musketry suddenly became very brisk, accompanied by occasional discharges of artillery. At this time Col. Baker, who had been actively engaged in superintending the despatch of reinforcements, crossed himself, accompanied by but one officer, Major Young, of his command, leaving word to forward the artillery with all despatch. The means provided for this purpose consisted of two scows, manned by poles, and which, owing to the swiftness of the current, consumed a great deal of time in the trip from the mainland to the island. Lieut. Bramhall thus describes the crossing in his report: "I took command, and ordered the immediate embarkation of the pieces. I crossed with the first piece, (which happened to be a Rhode Island piece,) accompanied by Col. Coggswell, of the Tammany Regiment, arriving upon the island after a half hour's hard labor to keep the boat from floating down the stream. We ascended the steep bank, made soft and sloppy by the passage of the troops, and at a rapid gait crossed the island to the second crossing. At this point we found only a scow, on which we did not dare to cross the piece and the horses together, and thus lost further time by being obliged to make two crossings. Upon arriving on the Virginia shore we were compelled to dismount the piece and carriage, and haul the former up by the prolonge, the infantry assisting in carrying the parts of the latter to a point about thirty feet up a precipitous ascent, rendered almost impassable with soft mud, where we remounted the piece, and, hitching up the horses, dragged it through a perfect thicket up to the open ground above, where the fighting was going on. "During all this time the firing had continued with great briskness, and that the enemy's fire was very effectual was evident from the large number of wounded and dead who were being borne to the boats. But a few moments previous to coming into position the firing had ceased, and when I arrived I found that our men were resting, many with arms stacked in front of them. The ground upon which was such of the fight as I engaged in was an open space, forming a parallelogram, enclosed entirely in woods. Our men were disposed in a semicircle, the right and left termini of which rested upon the woods, with, as near as I could discern, skirmishers thrown out upon each flank, while the convexity of our lines skirted the cliff overhanging the river. The ground sloped from a point about forty yards from the cliff sufficiently to afford a very tolerable cover for our men.' The field was about seventy-five yards in breadth by two hundred in length. At the distant front and down the right and left, a thick dark forest skirted its sides. Behind, the bluff fell steeply off to the river. A winding spur of the field extended a few rods into the woods on the left, half way between the opposing lines. Directly on the left, and near where a crooked path led the Federal force to the fight, a ravine fell slightly off, its opposite bank ascending to the thicket of woods which thus totally surrounded the field. About four o'clock P. M., Col. Baker formed his line for action. At this time no enemy was anywhere visible in rank, but from the woods in the extreme front a galling irregular fire poured out upon his men. They were then ranged, in no very exact order, from right to left, the wings partially covered by the thicket-portions of the centre lying close to the edge of the hill-while others boldly stepped forward, delivered their fire at the woods, returned to load, and advance again and again. The men of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts were placed on the right, the Californians on the left, while the artillery, with the Tammany companies, were posted in the centre. A quick consultation was held. Intimations of a large hostile force near were received. No retreat could be effected in safety. The fire was growing hot. A retrograde movement would only bring seventeen hundred men to the river's brink, with two boats, capable of carrying sixty persons each, to transport them over a swift channel, while it would cause a rush of the enemy upon them. Their only hope was in maintaining their ground until troops by the Edwards' Ferry could force a way to their aid. The enemy had evidently concentrated here under the apprehension that the principal attack would come from this quarter. The battle now commenced in earnest on the left, and was brought on by pushing two companies forward to feel the enemy in the wood. They advanced half the distance, and were met by a murderous fire from the enemy, which was followed by a terrific volley along their whole front. They still kept their cover, but the bullets rattled against the whole Federal line, which gave a quick reply. Instantly both ends of the field were clouded in smoke, and the contest raged hotly for an hour. Feeling their strength, the enemy pressed down the sides of the field, and the fight grew close until Col. Baker fell while cheering his men, and by his own example sustaining them in the obstinate resistance they were making. The command soon devolved on Col. Coggswell, who saw that the day was lost, and that the time for retreat had come. The enemy pursued to the edge of the bluff, over the landing-place, and poured in a heavy fire as the Federal force were endeavoring to cross to the island. The retreat was rapid, but according to orders. The men formed near the river, maintaining for nearly half an hour the hopeless contest rather than surrender. The smaller boat had disappeared, no one knew where. The larger boat, rapidly and too heavily loaded, swamped at fifteen feet from the shore, and nothing was left to the soldiers but to swim, surrender, or die. With a devotion worthy of the cause they were serving, officers and men, while quarter was being offered to such as would lay down their arms, stripped themselves of their swords and muskets and hurled them out into the river to prevent them falling into the hands of the foe, and saved themselves as they could, by swimming, floating on logs, and concealing themselves in the bushes of the forest, and to make their way up and down the river bank to a place of crossing. The fate of the piece of artillery which had been so effective, is thus described by Lieut. Bramhall, who commanded it: "Finding that the battle was lost to us, and with but one man left to aid me, (Booth, of the California regiment,) and growing weak and stiff from my wounds, of which I received three, none dangerous, I caused the piece to be drawn down to the edge of the cliff, whence it was afterward thrown down, lodging in the rocks and logs, with which the descent was cumbered, and, assisted by two privates of the Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment, made my way to the boat and over to the island. Here I found my own section and the other piece belonging to the Rhode Island section, one of which I had had; and leaving directions to command the ford at the upper end of the island with two pieces, and to hold the other in reserve to act where circumstances might require aid to cover the retreat of our own infantry, I crossed to the mainland. I had first despatched a messenger for Lieut. Clark, of our battery, who soon after arrived and took command. The only projectile with which the ammunition chest was provided was the James |