Bailey’s Crossroads- August 28th-September 2nd

Near the end of August Longstreet’s advanced forces were at Munson’s Hill with the Union near Hunter’s Chapel (intersection of South Glebe Road and the Columbia Pike). The area in between including Bailey’s Crossroads was a no man’s land with frequent skirmishing between pickets. On August 28th Brigadier General Israel Richardson sent Captain Louis Dillman with 250 men of the 2nd Michigan to Bailey’s Crossroads. Dillman would report “On Thursday, August 28, in compliance with your order of same date, I left Hunter’s Chapel with a detachment of 250 men from the Second Michigan Regiment for Bailey’s Crossroads, to occupy and hold the same against the encroachments of the enemy’s forces in that vicinity. I reached the Crossroads at 11 A.M. and at once threw out pickets. The rebel pickets opened their fire at once, and kept it up until about 10 P.M., ceasing at that time until daylight next morning, when it was again opened by them quite briskly along the whole line, but with no return from our pickets. Emboldened by our silence, a detachment of about 80 men was sent out from their camp, apparently with the intention of driving in pickets on the right of my line, thus cutting off all communication with the headquarters of the regiment. In this sally they were partially successful. The pickets were driven from their posts, but, rallying, and being supported by a detachment of 40 skirmishers hurriedly thrown out, under Captain Humphrey, the rebels were checked and driven back, with a loss of 6 or 8 killed and wounded. The firing was kept up from both sides through the day with considerable effect from our side, the enemy carrying off some twelve men killed and wounded. Dankness closed the firing, to be reopened at daylight the next (Sunday) morning. It commenced on the left, and gradually worked along to the right until the whole line was warmly engaged. The firing continued through the day with but little intermission. The enemy were seen to carry a number off the field. Our loss was 1 wounded-a private in Company G. He has since died from the effect of the wound. Sunday but little firing, except morning and evening. Monday the same. Two privates of Company D- J. Austin and P. F. Walworth- straying from camp, passed through the enemy’s lines and up to within some forty rods of the rear of their earthwork on Munson’s Hill. Seeing two rebels near, they watched their chance, each picked his man, fired, and brought him to the ground. They returned safely to camp. They report seeing about 500 men around the works. There were not tents in sight, but some twelve or fifteen wagons and two pieces of artillery were lying on the busy looking over their maps and charts.

On the 30th the 3rd Michigan became involved in the fighting. Major Stephen Chaplin would report “the enemy was observed to send off from the top of the hill lying north of Bailey’s Crossroads two companies of infantry, who numbered about 200 men, who were marched in the direction of our pickets, stationed northeast of Bailey’s Crossroads for Bailey’s Crossroads. I found that Captain Dillman was acquainted with the movement of the enemy. A few moments after my arrival about 100 of the enemy attacked our pickets on the right side of the road, and occupying the Bailey outhouse and premises adjoining. An attack was also made on our line of pickets, extending as far as the first house on the direct road from Arlington Mill to Bailey’s Crossroads. The pickets returned to fire and retreated back on Captain Dillman’s command and upon the reserve stationed half way from Arlington Mill to Bailey’s Crossroads. I directed Captain Dillman to march one company of his men on the table-land to his right to a point opposite the enemy in the woods and deploy them as skirmishers, advance them across the road, and engaged the enemy on their flank, while I brought up and engaged the enemy’s front with the reserve stationed half way to the mill, under command of Lieutenant Morris, and also with a portion of Captain Judd’s command, stationed near Arlington Mill. The order was executed, and the enemy retreated before the skirmishers, and would not and did not wait an engagement. Our pickets were reestablished, and the forces of both sides are again in the same position they respectively occupied this morning. Our loss none killed; wounded, 1 or 2 slightly. The enemy were observed to carry off 3 of their own men, who were either killed or wounded. Throughout the whole of this affair both officers and men behaved with great coolness and bravery, and I think the retreat was timely.

The pictures below were taken on the Leesburg Pike- on the left looking away from Bailey’s Crossroads and on the right looking toward Bailey’s Crossroads.

Ball’s Crossroads- August 27-28

The Ball’s Crossroads Skirmish was one of the largest military engagements to take place in Arlington during the Civil War. Based on newspaper accounts, the skirmish involved over 1,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. The fighting took place in Four Mile Run valley, and Upton’s Hill, near today’s Bluemont Park, and close to the Ashlawn Elementary school.

The following is taken from the New York Times:

From Colonel H. C. Hoffman, Colonel of the Twenty-third New-York Regiment, gives a correct version of the skirmish on the 28th inst. (current month) near Ball’s Cross Roads: The detachment was sent for picket duty, consisting of five companies, three from the Eleventh Wisconsin State Militia Regiment and two from the Twenty-third New-York Volunteers. The skirmish took place about one mile in advance of the Cross Roads, just this side of the railroad, between the enemy and two companies of the Twenty-third New York (I and K) and a part of one company of the Twelfth New York, who had not been relieved. The attack was made by about five hundred rebels. For a few moments the fire was rapid on both sides. The companies under the command of Captain Todd and Captain Dingleday, of the Twenty-third New York Regiment, conducted themselves heroically, returning the enemy’s fire, which evidently told upon them severely, and repulsed them, and after the Rebels had retreated, fell back to the Cross Road in good order, after which the pickets were again advanced to their original postion, and there remained. Too much credit cannot be given to the oficers and men, as each man behaved splendidly. Our loss was one man killed and two wounded, of Captain Dingleday’s company, from Elmira, N. Y. It is supposed the rebels lost about fifteen men. The detachment was under command of Lieutenant Colonel Cram, Twenty-third New York.

The skirmish was also covered in the Regimental history of the 23rd NY. “The following extract from a letter written at the time, by Captain William W. Dingleday, will give the particulars more correctly than one could at this late date: Arlington Heights, September 1st, 1861. FRIEND Dumars: Sufficient has transpired of late to furnish an item for the letter I promised you. You have no doubt heard, ere this, of the skirmich which took place a few days ago, one mile west of Ball’s Cross Roads and about three miles from our camp. On the 27th inst., Companies A, F. and D, of our regiment, in connection with three companies of the Fourteenth New York State Militia, were ordered out to form a reserve for our pickets, under command of our gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Crane. Company A was stationed one mile and a half to the right, on Hall’s Hill, Companies D and F nearly opposite each other- the former near a fence at the edge of a piece of woods, the latter in the road, partly concealed in a ditch. Scouts were sent out beyond the line of pickets, as information had been received on our arrival that things looked rather suspicious in front. Between the hours of two and four p.m. the scouts and pickets came in double quick, with the intelligence that a large body of rebels were about to attack us. Shots had already been freely exchanged. Colonel Crane, having positive orders not to bring on an engagement west of the cross-roads, but to retire and hold the latter at all hazards, ordered us to retreat. The order was reluctantly obeyed, not, however, without causing some of the “gray backs,” who were too indiscreet, to repent of their folly. We fell back a few rods to the next fence, when it was discovered that the rebels were trying to outflank us. The firing then commenced in good earnest. The entertainment was brief but exceedingly interesting, and, after a short time, it was evident that the rebels were more anxious to retreat than our own men. We have to lament the loss, in this engagement, of one who was very dear to and a great favorite with us all. Thomas Carroll was shot through the heart. He enlisted as a private, but through his worth and exemplary conduct was promoted to corporal. Elias Algair received a bad wound in the neck and also had a part of the middle finger of his left hand shot off. Several others were slightly wounded. Company D, being protected by the woods, sustained no injury. In the evening, a section of a rifled battery was placed in position in the road to give the rebs a warm reception should they pay us a visit after dark. All remained quiet until morning, when they commenced throwing shot and shell in the direction of Hall’s Hill, where Company A was stationed. That company was also ordered to fall back. Occasionally, they would send a shell at us, without, however, doing any damage. The occasion brought Generals McDowell, Keyes, and Wadsworth promptly to the spot, who, after learning the details of the affair complimented Colonel Crane and his command very flatteringly. We learned today from a lady whose residence is near where the conflict took place, that the rebels acknowledge a loss of eleven killed and many wounded. From her statement, they outnumbered us two to one, but were all under the influence of liquor, which proved a serious diadvantage to them. All is quiet now, however, and peace reigns again in Israel.”

Sources

War of the Rebellion: Serial 005 Page 0119 Chapter XIV. Skirmishes near Bailey’s Corners, Va. Ohio State University

The Forgotten War: Skirmishes Between the Lines Around Bailey’s Crossroads. All Not So Quiet Along the Potomac

Camp Fires of the 23rd. Sketches of the Camp Life, Marches and Battles of the 23rd Regiment, N.Y.V., During the Term of Two Years Service to the United States by Pound Sterling (William Maxson).