|
| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic) |
Ball’s Bluff Masked Battery
...held to the bluff without room to retire.
|
| | | | 
By Craig Swain, June 21, 2007 | |
| | | 1. Ball's Bluff Masked Battery Marker | | |
Inscription. Two hundred yards to your right are the remains of a small earthwork that may have been part of a masked (concealed) battery which played an important role in the Battle of Ball’s Bluff on October 21, 1861. The battery commanded the road from Edwards Ferry on the Potomac River to the town of Leesburg. Union Gen. Charles P. Stone, seeking to reconnoiter Confederate defenses near Leesburg, sent forces commanded by Col. Edward D. Baker across the Potomac about a mile north at Ball’s Bluff. Baker, a U.S. Senator with little military experience, deployed his troops poorly and soon came under heavy attack by the Confederates, commanded by Col. Nathan P. “Shanks” Evans.
Whoever controlled the roadway behind you could control the flow of reinforcements to the battlefield from both Edwards Ferry and Confederate Fort Evans. As the battle began, Stone, then at Edwards Ferry, sent 35 cavalrymen of the 3rd New York Cavalry under Maj. John Mix to scout the road between the ferry and Leesburg. Having learned of the masked battery, Stone ordered Mix to reconnoiter the terrain around it to discover Confederate troop dispositions and to study routes “for the passage of troops,” then withdrew. Just east of here, Mix’s detachment took fire from elements of Col. William Barksdale’s 13th Mississippi Infantry. The Confederates | | | | 
By Craig Swain, June 21, 2007 | |
| | | 2. Detail of Map | | The map has superimposed modern highway numbers over the older, Civil War era, road network. | | |
held the road for the rest of the day, reinforced their troops facing Baker, and contributed to the defeat of the Union soldiers atop Ball’s Bluff.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 39° 6.838′ N, 77° 31.594′ W. Marker is in Leesburg, Virginia, in Loudoun County. Marker is at the intersection of Edward’s Ferry Road and Battlefield Parkway North East, on the left when traveling east on Edward’s Ferry Road. Click for map. At the entrance to the Edward’s Landing sub-division. Marker is in this post office area: Leesburg VA 20176, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. A different marker also named Ball’s Bluff Masked Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Two-Chambered Granary (approx. 0.9 miles away); Well House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Carriage House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ice House (approx. 0.9 miles away); 17th Mississippi Infantry (approx. 1.1 miles away); 18th Mississippi Infantry (approx. 1.1 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Leesburg.
More about this marker. | | | | 
By Craig Swain, June 21, 2007 | |
| | | 3. Corner of Edwards Ferry and Battlefield Parkway | | The other earthwork section depicted on the marker are located behind the modern stone retaining wall. T-51, a state marker with the same title, can be seen just down Edwards Ferry Road on the left. In the winter of 1861-62, Confederate artillery units occupied winter encampments in what is today a wood lot behind the marker. | | |
Marker includes a newspaper drawing depicting the Federal retreat from Ball’s Bluff with the caption, “U.S. soldiers attempt to swim the Potomac while fleeing Ball’s Bluff.”
A portrait of Col. Edward D. Baker carries the caption, “the noted orator and Senator took the field and was undone by the challenges he faced. The sight of Baker’s body being carried from the battle demoralized the Union troops.”
Regarding Ball’s Bluff Masked Battery. This marker is one of a set along the Balls Bluff Battlefield walking trail. See the Balls Bluff Virtual Tour by Markers link below for details on each stop.
Also see . . .
1. Biography of Col. Edward D. Baker. (Submitted on July 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Official Reports of the Battle. (Submitted on July 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Biography of Col. William Barksdale. (Submitted on July 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
4. Ball's Bluff Regional Park. (Submitted on July 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
5. Balls Bluff Battlefield Virtual Tour by Marker. Over twenty markers detail the action at Balls Bluff and related sites. Please use the Click to map all markers shown on this page option at the bottom of the page to view a map of the marker locations. The hybrid view offers an excellent overlook of the park. (Submitted on November 11, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
| | | | 
By Craig Swain, June 22, 2007 | |
| | | 4. Entrance to Edward's Landing | | The earthwork remains of the masked battery are located behind the entrance sign. The heavy undergrowth obscures the area, and much of the works are on private land. | | |
Additional comments.
1. Long Reaching Impact of Ball's Bluff
While the battle was rather small compared to other Civil War battles in the east, Ball's Bluff had great effect on the course of the war. First, the defeat was felt in the White House, as President Abraham Lincoln was rather close to Baker. Second, as result of the loss of a prominent member of Congress, that body convened a committee to study the conduct of the war. Intended to root out the causes of the string of defeats up to that time, the proceedings were highly politicized. As late as 1865, Gen. U.S. Grant had many of his orders reviewed by the committee with a deal of scrutiny. The committee effectively ended Gen. Charles Stone's career as direct result of the inquiry into Ball's Bluff (and he was one of few Federal officers charged with treason during the war). Lastly, the defeat served to solidify Gen. George B. McClellan's position as head of Union Armies in the East, a hold retained until after the Battle of Antietam. — Submitted July 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. |
| | | | 
By Craig Swain, October 15, 2007 | |
| | | 5. Section of the Earthworks | | Edwards Ferry Road cuts through a portion of the earthworks. One can glimpse a profile of the works on the north side of the road. | | |
| | | | | 
By Craig Swain | |
| | | 6. Ball’s Bluff Masked Battery | | The masked battery itself stands across Edwards Ferry Road, about 200 yards east of the marker location. The site is private property, but easily seen from the road. | | |
|
| Credits. This page originally submitted on July 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 882 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. Submitted on July 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. Submitted on October 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. Submitted on January 31, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page. | | Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print |
|
Subscribe
— Privacy Policy
— Terms of Use
— About Us
— Contact Us
HMdb.org