the other’s presence. Baker went to see Stone, who briefed him on the situation and the availabili of boats. He was not to advance unless the enemy’s force was inf rior to his own. In writing, Sto put him in overall command of what he thought was a reconnaissance mission and gave Baker the discretion to cross more troops to withdraw those already there. By the time Baker arrived at Harrison Island, the 20th Mass. with their howitzers were on the bluff. Instead of going into the field to evaluate the situation, Baker spent the next three or fo hours expediting the men crossing the river with the few boats He didn’t reach the skirmishing until after 2 p.m. West Pointer Col. Milton Cogswell, 42nd NY, was appalled by the chaos that greeted him when he reached the Potomac. Worse, the Federals were positioned in an open field with hea woods on both sides, facing hill with their backs to a steep bluf above a bottlenecked river cross ing. Cogswell informed Baker that his line was defective and
could easily be overrun by the enemy. Baker ignored Cogswell’s suggestions and ordered him to “take charge of the artillery,” squandering the opportunity to drive forward. During the argument, C.S. Col
Leaders series of the 1880s. two engineer regiments at Atl themselves, to the point of r the caption, “the First Misso
Eppa Hunton, 8th Va., repositioned his line. In the process, quarter of the 8th Virginia unde Lt. Col. Tebbs’s fell all the ba way to Leesburg. Evans previously told a messenger, “Tell Hunto
to hold his ground till every d_ man falls.” Now Evans sent in th 18th and 17th Miss. “… The bullets flew about ver thick, and I saw many of my men fall all about me... Col. Baker came down near me and cheered on the men ... he was shot. He got up again and then fell, stru by eight balls,” recounted Capt. Caspar Crowninshield, 20th Mass. Without a designated a replac ment, the Federal force fell in array. Under fire, Capt. William Bartlett, 20th Mass. led his men down the bluff. “The water was full of human beings, struggling with each other and the water, the surface of which looked like a pond when it rains, from the withering volleys that the enemy were pouring down from the top of the bank.” Bartlett encouraged those who could swim to do so. The others he led upriver where they found a skiff that could hold five men Using a rotation system, he was able to save eighty men and three officers from being taken prisoners.
The battle cost the Federals 223 soldiers’ lives, 226 wounded, and another 553 taken prisoner. The northern public’s outcry resulted in a Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War that would cause
hese kinds of scenes, viewers lo tures taken at Battery K is the
Col. Bushrod W. Frobel, assistan ee street battery.” In his diary hing in front of it. Federal tro
enchments, repeatin s, and telegraphed the first American graphed. Mathew d Timothy O’Sulliva iconic photographs CHARLESTON theater. George N. ranked
escribing around the pi images depict a var ery, them in the “Burn
close-ups The history of Civi (1890)22, by John1864 Jo
listing has Forts Sumter and Mo second-in-command. For this
ired by Gen. as some lesser-known & Peale, Osborn & Durb to t Jack Melton accompani
ta, Barnard scenes and the history settings: that portio
been made in 1860-’61 (1876) by ince then Charleston bookPhotographs we have ert N. Rosen and Richa
liance upon the writin 1914) and Emma Edwards As a contribut Photographs: C from the casua
Carolina residents ad Mail a check t storical Publications 20 Folly Road, Suite 2
conflict between the politicians and generals. After a good night’s sleep, Bartlett woke to discover he was the highest-ranking officer in camp. Taking a page from
McClellan’s playbook, the future general “… thought it best to have a dress parade as usual, bot to let the men see that everythin was not broken up, and to cheer them with the music. It had a ver good effect.”
Sources: ✤ Morgan III, James A. A Short of Boats: The Bat Ball’s Bluff & Edwards October 21–22, 1861: Sa Beatie, 2011 ✤ Gottfried, Bradley M. M of First Bull Run: An A the First Bull Run (Man Campaign, including the of Ball’s Bluff, June – 1861: Savas Beatie, 200 ✤ Francis William Memoir of William Franc Bartlett: Houghton, Mif Company, 1878 ✤ Bruce, George Anson. Th tieth regiment of Massa volunteer infantry, 186 Houghton, Mifflin and c ny, 1906
photographs of historical interes from the 1850’s to the present. H articles can be found on Facebook and Pinterest.
se and other works. rticipants, such as 910). erature, 100 Significant Civil Wa e War offers rewards for all read serious student.
