Ball’s Bluff was one of those battles in the Civil War that should never have been fought. By October of 1861 the Union had suffered two major defeats, in the east the Battle of First Bull Run or First Manassas on July 21, 1861, and in the west the Battle of Wilson’s Creek on August 10, 1861. In the aftermath of the Bull Run debacle George McClellan, as a result of his perceived successes in West Virginia (largely the accomplishments of others) was now the commander of the Army of the Potomac. On the opposite side of the Potomac commanding Confederate forces was Joe Johnston with the majority of his army near Centreville and an attachment in the Leesburg area under Colonel Nathan “Shanks” Evans. Across the river from Evans in Poolesville, Maryland was Brigadier General George P. Stone and his Corps of Observation. A map of the area is shown below.

Early in October Stone was reinforced by the California Brigade under Colonel Edward Baker. Colonel Baker was a Senator from the state of Oregon and a close personal friend of President Lincoln. The Lincolns named one of their children after him (Edward Baker Lincoln). Although Stone was Baker’s commanding officer it would be a relationship he would have to manage carefully.

McClellan was under intense pressure to try and accomplish something before the two armies went into their winter camps. On October 9th he ordered Brigadier General George McCall to cross the Potomac with his 12,000-man division and set up camp in Langley, VA, 25 miles east of Leesburg. On his own authority on the evening of the 16th Evans becoming increasingly concerned that his 2800-man brigade might be attacked left Leesburg and moved south about eight miles to establish a new defensive line along Goose Creek. The next day McClellan ordered McCall to advance to Dranesville, 12 miles from Leesburg, and to probe toward the town to try and determine if Evans’ withdrawal was genuine or if he was trying to set a trap. On the 19th Evans returned to Leesburg after receiving a communication from his superior officer P.G.T. Beauregard that stated that he wished to be informed of the reasons that influenced Evans to take up his present position, as you omit to inform me. That evening McClellan went to Dranesville to confer with McCall and this resulted in McCall completing his maps in the area the next day and then returning to Langley on the 21st. On the 20th McClellan in an order to Stone states that “Perhaps a slight demonstration on your part would have the effect to move them” however, he did not inform Stone that he had ordered McCall back to Langley. Stone was under the impression that McCall was within supporting distance when in reality he would be heading in the opposite direction.

That afternoon Stone moved two companies of the 1st MN down river 3 miles where they briefly crossed the Potomac River at Edwards Ferry and positioned other small groups at various points upriver. Evans did not respond to the bait as he recognized this for what it was, a feint. Stone then sent a small reconnaissance patrol of about 20 men across the river at Ball’s Bluff under the command of the inexperienced Captain Chase Philbrick to determine if his troop movements had any effect. Philbrick may have been chosen because he was already on Harrison’s Island and had been on patrol in the area a couple of days before. Philbrick and his men ascended the 110-foot-high bluff and reported back that there was a small enemy camp with no pickets. It was after dark and in the moonlight Philbrick mistook a line of trees for enemy tents! Despite the fact that no troops or campfires were seen, Philbrick did not investigate further.

Stone ordered Colonel Charles Devens of the 15th MA to stage a pre-dawn attack with 300 of his men on October 21st. He was instructed to raid the camp and return to his present position on the Maryland side of the river, unless he shall see a position 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. Devens, a man with no combat experience, was ordered to lead 300 green troops in the dark across a swiftly running river into an area that he knew nothing about! As a diversion 30 men of Major Dix’s 3rd NY Cavalry were ordered to cross the Potomac at Edward’s Ferry and then withdraw.

Devens crossed the river and by about 6:30AM realized that there was no enemy camp as he advanced near the Jackson house. He had been followed across the river by just over 100 men from the 20th MA under Colonel William R. Lee who were to remain near the bluff. At that point rather than returning, Devens asked for Stone’s approval to continue the reconnaissance southwest towards Leesburg. Devens men were discovered by Confederate pickets who sent riders back to notify Colonel Evans. At 8:00AM about 40 men of Captain Duff’s 17th MS ran into Company H of the 15th MA and fighting began near the Jackson house. The first of three skirmishes. One Union soldier was killed, nine were wounded and three captured. Three Confederate soldiers were wounded and both sides withdrew.

Between 9:00-10:00AM Colonel Baker visited General Stone’s headquarters and was ordered to take command of all forces on Ball’s Bluff and either advance more troops or withdraw, as he deemed appropriate. At this point Stone and Baker did not know that fighting had begun and still viewed the mission as a reconnaissance. Baker arrived on the Maryland shore opposite Harrison’s Island, while traveling there he learned that Devens was engaged. Rather than going to Ball’s Bluff he spent nearly four hours trying to gather more boats to support his forces (which were needed), before crossing over to Harrison’s Island, and then to the bluff on the Virginia side. No commanding officer was named for the Union force on the battlefield in his absence.

After a delay, sometime between 9:00-11:00 AM Lt. Colonel Jenifer’s VA Cavalry and two companies of the 18th MS (and possibly one company of the 13th MS) arrived to support Duff near the Jackson house. During that time the remainder of the 15th MA (350 men) arrived to support Devens, and a second skirmish occurred in the area of the Jackson house (shown below on private property- picture taken from street- 39.1306113, -77.5363239).

Sometime between 12:00-1:00 PM nine companies of the 8th VA (about 400 men) arrived near the Jackson house from Burnt Bridge and skirmishing with the 15th MA intensified. By 2:00PM after having received no orders from Colonel Edward Baker, Colonel Devens withdrew the 15th MA to the bluff. The 8th VA cautiously followed and deployed at the top of the slope along the line of today’s parking lot facing the bluff. After personally supervising the deployment of additional boats from approximately 10:00AM-2:00PM Colonel Baker crossed the river and arrived on the field about the same time that Devens returned, and the battle was on. To fortify their defenses the Federals had dragged two mountain howitzers and one James rifle field piece to the top of the bluff (shown below).

Several key decisions resulted in the battle that should have never been fought. First, McClellan ordered a demonstration to determine what Evans was doing by withdrawing from and returning to Leesburg. He failed to alert Stone that McCall would not only be unavailable to support him but would be moving away from the battlefield. Second, Stone sent the inexperienced Captain Philbrick on a scouting mission and he misidentified a line of maple trees as a Confederate camp. Third, Stone placed Colonel Devens in charge of the reconnaissance giving discretionary orders to a man who had never led soldiers in combat. Fourth, when Devens realized there was no Rebel camp he decided not to return but rather advance further. Fifth, by the time Devens realized he had a problem he had retreated to a place where his back was to a 110-foot high cliff. It would only get worse from there.

Next- The Battle of Ball’s Bluff- October 21, 1861

Sources

Corralled Along the Potomac by Rod Soodalter. America’s Civil War November 2016.

A Table Full of Civilians by James A. Morgan III. Civil War Times June 2006.

A Little Short of Boats The Battles of Balls Bluff and Edwards Ferry October 21-22, 1861 by James A. Morgan III.

Ball’s Bluff A Small Battle and It’s Long Shadow by Byron Farwell.

Ball’s Bluff A Very Nice Little Military Chance by James A. Morgan III. America’s Civil War November 2005.