BALL'S BLUFF. 



51 



Massachusetts Fifteenth, to cross over and 

 move half a mile to the right of the landing- 

 place of Col. Devens, and in a strong position 

 to watch and protect the flank of the latter on 

 his return, and secure a good crossing more 

 favorable than the first and connected by a 

 good road with Leesburg. Neither of these 

 orders were carried out to their fall extent, for 

 which no reason has been given. The squad 

 of cavalry crossed over to the Virginia side, 

 but were sent back without having left the 

 shore to go inland ; thus Col. Devens was de- 

 prived of the means of obtaining warning of 

 the approach of any hostile force. The battal- 

 ion under Col. Ward was detained on the bluff 

 instead of being directed to the right. 



At an early hour, Col. Baker, in pursuance 

 of the orders sent at ten o'clock at night, arrived 

 at Conrad's Ferry with the First California 

 Regiment. Leaving his regiment he went to 

 Edwards' Ferry below, and reported to Gen. 

 Stone that his regiment was at Conrad's Ferry, 

 and the three other regiments of his brigade 

 were ready to march. 



The orders now given to Col. Baker are 

 thus related in the words of Gen. Stone : >% I 

 directed him to Harrison's Island to assume the 

 command, and in a full conversation explained 

 to him the position as it then stood. I told him 

 that Gen. McCall had advanced his troops to 

 Dranesville. and that I was extremely desirous 

 of ascertaining the exact, position and force of 

 the enemy in our front, and of exploring as far 

 as it was safe on the right toward Leesburg, 

 and on the left toward the Leesburg and Gum 

 Spring road. I also informed Col. Baker that 

 Gen. Gorman, opposite Edwards' Ferry, should 

 be reinforced, and that I would make every 

 effort to push Gorman's troops carefully for- 

 ward to discover the best line from that ferry 

 to the Leesburg and Gum Spring road already 

 mentioned ; and the position of the breastworks 

 and hidden battery, which prevented the move- 

 ment of troops directly from the left to right, 

 were also pointed out to him. The means of 

 transportation across, of the sufficiency of 

 which he (Baker) was to be judge, was detailed, 

 and authority given him to make use of the 

 guns of a section each of Yaughan's and Bunt- 

 ing's batteries, together with French's moun- 

 tain howitzers, all the troops of his Brigade and 

 the Tammany Regiment, beside the Nineteenth 

 and part of the Twentieth Regiments of Massa- 

 chusetts Volunteers ; and I left it to his discre- 

 tion, after viewing the ground, to retire from 

 the Virginia shore under the cover of his guns 

 and the fire of the large infantry force, or to pass 

 over reinforcements in case he found it practi- 

 cable and the position on the other side favor- 

 able. I stated that I wished no advance made 

 unless the enemy were of inferior force, and 

 under no circumstance to pass beyond Lees- 

 burg, or a strong position between if and Goose 

 Creek, on the Gum Spring, i. <.. the Manassas 

 road. Col. Baker was cautioned in reference 

 to passing artillery across the river, and I beg- 



ged if he did do so to see it well supported by 

 good infantry. I pointed out to him the po- 

 sition of some bluffs on this side of the river, 

 from which artillery could act with effect on 

 the other ; and leaving the matter of crossing 

 more troops or retiring what where already 

 over to his discretion, gave him entire control 

 of operations on the right. This gallant and 

 energetic officer left me about nine A. M., or 

 half-past nine, and galloped off quickly to his 

 command." 



The following orders have been received as true 

 copies of the orders given to Col. Baker, the 

 originals of which were found in his hat after 

 his death. The first is of such date as to have 

 been delivered to him on Sunday night, and the 

 second was delivered to him on the battle-field 

 by Col. Coggswell, who, perceiving that it had 

 no bearing upon the then condition of affairs, 

 said so to Col. Baker, who put it in his hat 

 without reading. Some other order, it may 

 be presumed, preceded these two. 



H. Q. CORPS OF [Here the ballet struck and a word J. 

 is missing.] EDWARDS' FEBEY, October 21, 1S6L J 

 Colonel E. D. Baker, Com. of Brigade : 



COLOKEL : In case of heavy firing in front of Harri- 

 son's Island, you will advance the California Regiment 

 of your brigade, or retire the regiments under Colonels 

 Lee and Devens, now on the [almost rendered illegible 

 by bloodj Virginia side of the river, at your discretion 

 assuming command on arrival. 



Verv respectfullv, Colonel, vour most obt servt., 

 " CHAS. P. "&TOXE, Brig.-Gen. Commanding. 



The second order which follows, was deliv- 

 ered on the battle-field by CoL Coggswell, who 

 said to Col. Baker, in reply to a question what 

 it meant, "All right, go ahead." Thereupon 

 Col. Baker put it in his hat without reading. 

 An hour afterward he fell : 



HEAJ>-<jrABTER8 OfcBPS OF OBSERVATION, ) 



EDWARDS' FERRY, October 22 11.50. $ 

 E. D. Balctr, Commanding Brigade : 



COLOXEL : I am informed that the force of the enemy 

 is about four thousand, all told. If you can push them", 

 you may do so as far as to have a strong position near 

 Leesburg, if you can keep them before yon, avoiding 

 their batteries. If they pass Leesburg "and take the 

 Gum Springs road, you will not follow far, but seize 

 the first good position to cover that road. 



Their design is to draw us on, if they are obliged to 

 retreat, as far as Goose Creek, where tfiey can be rein- 

 forced from Manassas, and have a strong' position. 



Report frequently, so that when they are pushed, 

 Gorman can come up on their flank. 



Yours respectfully and trulv, 



CHARLES P: STOXE, 

 Brigadier-General Commanding. 



The following are the copies said to have 

 been made by General Beauregard's order and 

 sent to General Stone, of the orders given to 

 Devens and Baker at Ball's Bluff and found on 

 the field by the Confederates. 



HEAD-<jrAETERS CoEPS OF OBSERVATION, > 



POOLESVILLE, October 20, 1S61 about 11 A. x. f 

 COLOSEL : You will please send orders to the canal to 

 have the two new flat-boats now there, opposite the 

 island, transferred at once to the river, and will at 2 

 o'clock p. M. have the island reinforced bv all of your 

 regiments now on duty at the canal and at the New 



