Battle of Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861

Battle of Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861. . , The Battle of Ball's Bluff was the result of a mistake. The previous evening, Capt. Chase Philbrick, Co. H, 15th Massachusetts Regiment, led a small reconnaissance patrol across the Potomac River to determine the results of some earlier Confederate troop movements. Philbrick spotted what he thought was an enemy camp south of the Jackson farmhouse and reported this news. The "camp," in fat, was a row of trees mistaken for tents., On orders from Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone, Col. Charles Devens crossed a 300-man force from the 15th Mass to raise his "camp" but soon discovered the mistake. Devens remained in the woods near the Jackson house and sent word to General Stone that there was no camp. His decision to stay led to the battle. On hearing of the mistake about the camp, Stone sent Devens the remainder of his regiment with orders to reconnoiter closer to Leesburg. He also ordered Col. Edward D. Baker, a U.S. senator and close friend of President Lincoln, to take command of the force at Ball's Bluff, evaluate the situation, and use his own discretion about whether to advance more men across the river or retire those already there., Unknown either to Stone or Baker, Devens' original raiding party had already engaged Confederate pickets and by 8:00 a.m. Devens' regiment was actively fighting with soldiers from Company K of the 17th Mississippi Regiment. The fighting thus began without Stone's knowledge. Throughout the day, both sides gradually reinforced and the fighting moved from near the Jackson house to the field in front of the Bluff. Thus, a small reconnaissance became a battle.,

Casualties: , Union: , Number of Soldiers: 1720 , Killed: 223 , Wounded: 226 , Captured: 553, Confederate: , Number of Soldiers: 1709 , Killed: 36 , Wounded: 264 , Captured: 3