BALL’S BLUFF AND THE ARREST OF GENERAL STONE.

125,

Devens, commanding the 15th Massachusetts Regiment, afterwards major-general of volunteers, and, under President Hayes , attorney-general of theUnited States :

“About 12 o’clock Sunday night, October 20th, I crossed the Potomac by your [Stone’s] orderfrom Harrison’s Island to the Virginia shore with five companies, numbering about 300 men, ofmy regiment, with the intention of taking a rebel camp, reported by scouts to be situated at thedistance of about a mile from the river, of destroying the same, of observing the country around,and of returning to the river, or of waiting and reporting if I thought myself able to remain forreenforcements, or if I found a position capable of being defended against a largely superiorforce. Having only three boats, which together conveyed about thirty men, it was nearly 4o’clock when all the force was transferred to the opposite shore. "VVe passed down the riverabout sixty rods by a path discovered by the scouts, and then up the bluff known as Ball’s Bluff,where we found an open field surrounded by wmods. At this point we halted until daybreak,being joined here by a company of one hundred men from the 20th Massachusetts , accompaniedby Colonel Lee, who were to protect our return.

“At daybreak we pushed forward our reconnoissance toward Leesburg to the distance of abouta mile from the river, to a spot supposed to be the site of the rebel encampment, but found onpassing through the woods that the scouts had been deceived by a line of trees on the brow ofthe slope, the opening through which presented, in an uncertain light, somewhat the appearanceof a line of tents. Leaving the detachment in the woods, I proceeded with Captain Philbrickand two or three scouts across the slope and along the other line of it, observing Leesburg ,which was in full view, and the country about it, as carefully as possible, and seeing but fourtents of the enemy. My force being well concealed by the woods, and having no reason to believemy presence was discovered, and no large number of the enemy’s tents being in sight, I deter-mined not to return at once, but to report to yourself, which I did, by directing QuartermasterHowe to repair at once to Edwards Ferry to state these facts, and to say that in my opinion Icould remain until I was reenforced.

“ The means of transportation between the island and the Virginia shore had been strength-ened, I knew, at daybreak, by a large boat, which would convey 60 or 70 men at once, and asthe boat could cross and recross every ten minutes, I had no reason to suppose there would beany difficulty in sending over 500 men in an hour, as it was known there were two large boatsbetween the island and the Maryland shore, which would convey to the island all the troops thatcould be conveyed from it to the Virginia shore.

“ Mr. Howe left me with his instructions at about 6: 30 a. m. . . .1 was rejoined at 8 A. M.by Quartermaster Howe, who reported to me that I was to remain where I was, and would bereenforced, and that Lieutenant-Colonel Ward would proceed to Smart’s Mill | with thex'emainder of the regiment, that a communication should be kept up between us, and that 10cavalry would report to me for the purpose of reconnoitering. For some reason they neverappeared or reported to me, but I have since learned they came as far as the bluff. \ If theyhad reported to me, they could have rendered excellent service. I directed Quartermaster Howeto return at once and report the skirmish that had taken place. . . .

“At about 10 o’clock Quartermaster Howe returned and stated that he had reported the skir-mish of the morning, and that Colonel Baker would shortly arrive with his brigade and takecommand. Between 9 and 11 o’clock I was joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Ward with the remain-der of my regiment, making in all, a force of 625 men, with 28 officers, from my regiment, asreported to me by the adjutant, many of the men of the regiment being at this time on otherduty.

“About 12 o’clock it was reported to me a force was gathering on my left, and about 12: 30o’clock a strong attack was made on my left by a body of infantry concealed in the woods, and

| According to General Stone, he directed “fivecompanies to be thrown into a strong mill on theright of Ball’s Bluff. Colonel Baker allowed thesecompanies to be directed to the front.”— Editors.

\ According to General Stone, he “ sent cavalry

scouts to be thrown out in advance of the infan-try on the right. Colonel Baker allowed thiscavalry to return without scouting, and did notreplace it although he had plenty at his dispo-sition,”— Editors.