126 BALL’S BLUFF AND THE ARREST OF GENERAL STONE.

upon the skirmishers in frontby a body of cavalry. Thefire of the enemy was reso-lutely returned by the regi-ment, which maintained itsground with entire determi-nation. Reenforcements notyet having arrived, and theattempts of the enemy to out-flank us being very vigorous,I directed the regiment toretire about 00 paces into anopen space in the wood, andprepare to receive any attackthat might be made, while Icalled in my skirmishers.When this was done I re-turned to the bluff, whereColonel Baker had alreadyarrived. This was at 2 :15p. M. He directed me to formmy regiment at the right ofthe position he proposed tooccupy, which was done byeight companies, the center and left being composed of a detachment of the 20th Massachu-setts , numbering about 300 men, under command of Colonel Lee. A battalion of the CaliforniaRegiment, numbering about 000 men, Lieutenant-Colonel Wistar commanding; 2 howitzers,commanded by Lieutenant French , and a 6-pounder, commanded by Lieutenant Bramhall,were planted in front, supported by Company D, Captain Studley, and Company F, CaptainSloan, of the 15th Massachusetts .”

Himself remaining with Glorman at Edwards Ferry to direct the crossingthere, General Stone placed Colonel E. D. Baker, of the 71st PennsylvaniaRegiment (also called the “ 1st California, ” in compliment to Colonel Baker),in command of the movement by Harrison’s Island and Ball’s Bluff, underthe following orders:

Headquarters Corps op Observation, Edwards Ferry, October 21st—11:50.— ColonelE. D. Baker, Commanding Brigade . Colonel : I am informed that the force of the enemyis about 4000, all told. If you can push them, you may do so as far as to have a strong posi-tion near Leesburg , if you can keep them before you, avoiding their batteries. If they passLeesburg and take the Gun Spring road you will not follow far, but seize the first good positionto cover that road. Their design is to draw us on, if they are obliged to retreat, as far asGoose Creek, where they can be reenforced from Manassas and have a strong position. Report

THE OPPOSING FORCES AT BALL’S BLUFF, VA.—OCTOBER 21ST, 1861.

Union Forces: Colonel Edward D. Baker 1 (k); Colonel Confederate Forces: Brigadier-General Nathan G.Milton Cogswell (w and c): 15th Mass., Col. Charles Evans: 17th Miss., Col. W. S. Featlierston; 18tli Miss.,Devens; 20th Mass., Col. William R. Lee (c); 42d New Col. E. R. Burt (m w), Lieut.-Coi. Thomas M. Griffin;York (called “Tammany regiment”), Col. Milton Cogs- 8th Va. , Col. Eppa Hunton; Co. D, 13tli Miss., Capt.well; 71stPa. (alsocalled 1st California), Lieut-Col. Isaac L. D. Fletcher; Va. Cavalry (3 co’s), Col. Walter H.J. Wistar (w). Artillery: B, 1st R. I. (one gun), Lieut . Jenifer.

Walter M. Bramhall (W); I, 1st U. S. (two guns), Lieut . The Confederate loss was 33 killed, 115 wounded, andFrank 8. French . 1 missing =149.

The casualties in the Union forces were 49 killed, 158 wounded, and 714 captured or missing=921.

^ Colonel Balter received the appointment of Brigadier-General, U. 8. Volunteers, August Gtli, 1861, to rank from May17th, 1861. This he declined, August 31st, 1861. On September 21st, 1861, lie was appointed Major-General, TJ. S.Volunteers, hut at the date of his death he had neither accepted nor declined the appointment. General McClellan wasthen the only other officer in the Army of the Potomac holding that rank.— Editoks.

OCT. 21 i T 1861.

UNION

CONFEDERATE

St >