The Battle at Ball's Bluff

The Battle at Ball's Bluff. . , On the night of October 20, 1861, a small Federal scouting party crossed the Potomac River from Maryland and made its way to the crest of a sheer cliff known as Ball's Bluff. The scouts found the bluffs undefended and continued up this path toward Leesburg. From a nearby hilltop, the scouts saw in the dim light what they took to be an unguarded Confederate camp. Report was sent back to the Federal commander, General Charles P. Stone, who quickly ordered the camp be destroyed. , The following morning, five companies of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry led by Colonel Charles Devens marched up this path on a mission to destroy the rebel camp and return to Maryland. The "camp" however, did not exist. In the dark, the scouts had mistaken a line of haystacks for rows of enemy tents. By the time the scouting party's error had been realized, the Union men had been observed by real Confederates., At about seven in the morning of October 21, the battle of Ball's Bluff began when a company of the 17th Mississippi clashed with the 15th Massachusetts just east of the present day bypass Route 15., General Stone remained in Maryland at Edward's Ferry and put Colonel Edward D. Baker, senator from Oregon and friend of President Lincoln, in command at Ball's Bluff. Confederate forces were led by Colonel Nathan G. Evans who directed his command from a fort named for him on nearby Edward's Ferry Road., By midmorning, Evans had committed four more companies of Mississippi infantry and three troops of Virginia cavalry to the Ball's Bluff fight. Devens' men were forced back to a woodline just west of the present parking lot. A little before noon, the 8th Virginia Infantry joined the battle. At about one p.m., the Confederate line, now 700 strong attacked and drove Devens' 15th Massachusetts east toward the Federal reserve position located along the bluff., To follow the interpretive loop trail and to view more exhibits, continue on the gravel path and turn left at the sign. Other exhibits can be found by continuing straight on the gravel path to the cemetery. The length of the loop trail is 3/4 mile.