Battle of Ballf's Bluff, The

In the fall of 1861, General McClellan ordered his subordinate, Charles Pomeroy Stone, to make a demonstration on the west bank of the Potomac River, 35 miles from Washington, D.C., to see if the Confederates might react. A patrol had mistakenly reported a rebel camp ripe for raiding, so Stone, in turn, ordered Colonel Devens to advance on the supposed camp. Having done so, Devens found nothing of the kind. Confused, he settled his men in a defensive position and awaited new orders. Stone decided to send the remainder of the 15th Massachusetts across the river so that he might conduct a reconnaissance in force around Leesburg, VA.

Colonel (also U.S. Senator) Edward Dickinson Baker was charged with the operation. He crossed the river with his men. While a body of U.S. cavalry created a diversion near Edward’s Ferry, Union troops engaged a segment of 17th Mississippi Infantry. Baker immediately ordered as many men as possible to cross and support Devens. Although the Union troops on the east side of the river outnumbered the rebels more than four to one, Baker did not take into account that he could only transport 30 to 35 men across the river at any one time. Thus the Union soldiers could only trickle into battle while Rebel reinforcements poured onto the field. Ultimately, the army strength on both sides grew to approximately 1700 men.