Chas. P. Stone, November 2, 1861

/ Poolesville, November 2, 1861. GENERAL: On the 23d October, at about 10.30 o’clock a. m., I received the special order of which the inclosed is a copy at the hands of Col. A. V. Colburn, assistant adjutant-general. In obedience thereto I immediately crossed the river at Edwards Ferry and assumed command of the troops then on the Virginia side, which I found,to be as follows, viz: General Abercrombie’s brigade, of General Banks’ division; General Gorman’s brigade, of my division; 130 Van Alen Cavalry [Third New York], under Majors Mix and Lewis;*7 companies Seventh Michigan Volunteers, Colonel Grosvenor ; 2 companies Twelfth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Palfrey; the Andrew Sharpshooters ;* the rifle company of Boston Tiger Zouaves, Captain – Wass, and a section of Ricketts’ battery (howitzers), under Sergt. Hart.

I immediately placed General Gorman in charge of the operations at the ferry, the Seventh Michigan Volunteers being detailed to guard the landing and man the boats. STE

Having seen the landing place properly guarded, I dispatched Lieutenant Pierce, Van Alen Cavalry, with a small party, to scout up Goose Creek to the bridge and across that along the Georgetown road to the vicinity of Frankville, causing him to be cautiously followed by a party of 15 marksmen from the picket at the bridge, and while awaiting his report made a rapid visit to each separate command, and to the right, – front, and left of the positions held by our troops. I caused the right of the line, the Monroe house, to be strengthened by 2 companies, and . pointed out to the commanding officer (Captain Wass) the best method of quickly strengthening his position by slight intrenchments, extended the line of pickets to the river bank, and then proceeded far enough to . the left and front to get a view of Leesburg from the Tuscarora Valley, without seeing anything of the enemy. – l i

While engaged in this examination I was suddenly informed that the enemy were advancing in force on the right. Although this information was delivered in a confused manner, I deemed it but prudent to prepare – for action, and immediately ordered the troops to form, having the artil-

* Or first company Massachusetts Sharpshooters, attached to Fifteenth Massachu- – setts Infantry. . :

. Cmar. XIV] — BALL’S BLUFF AND EDWARDS FERRY, VA.

.— lery in the center, in front of the first bluff from the river, with the detachment of the Twentieth Massachusetts and a company of First Minhesota in support; the cavalry and Sixteenth Indiana Volunteers on

the right, with the Thirtieth Pennsylvania in reserve ; and the Thirtyfourth New York Volunteers, Second New York State Militia, and First Minnesota on the left. The Andrew Sharpshooters were placed alon ga

fence running from the Monroe house on the right to the wooded hill near the bridge on the left, which wooded hill was strengthened to 12 companies of infantry from the various regiments, all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Lucas. These arrangements were rapidly made, but on sifting the information I was satisfied no advance had been made by the enemy, and allowed the troops to leave the lines, holding themselves in readiness to resume them at a moment’s notice. The scouting party towards Frankville returned, Lieutenant Pierce reporting that he had proceeded to à point near that village without meeting any of the enemy, but that from the first house of it a cavalry

. picket was seen. I immediately ordered a strong infantry picket to be

stationed in the wood on the Frankville road at an advantageous point described by Lieutenant Pierce, with a cavalry patrol beyond it to wateh that road, and on the right sent out infantry pickets to occupy the woods in front of the Monroe house, watch the Leesburg road, and indicate by their firing any approach of the enemy in that direction. Iat the same time reported to the major-general commanding the amount of re-enforcements which I deemed sufficient for holding the position.

At this time a new report was brought to me that the enemy were advaneing in two heavy columns, one on the right and the other on the left. This report, although indistinct, came through official channels, and the line was again formed and report made to the major-general eommanding,in order that re-enforcements might be in readiness to . move over promptly to our supportin case of attack. As it was impossible to ascertain to what extent the enemy had been re-enforced, and Colonel Woodbury, Engineer Corps, having just then arrived and reported for duty, I sent him with an escort of cavalry to the left front to reconnoiter, while I proceeded to the right to see that all was secure

Orders were sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Lucas to hold the wood and bridge on the left until the last moment, and if driven by overwhelming numbers from that position, to fall back along the left bank of Goose Creek and take up a position in rear of the Thirty-fourth New York Volunteers. Colonel Lucas was also directed to follow the advice of Colonel Woodbury in rapidly strengthening his position by means of

` his axes.

The reconnaissance proved there was no near approach of the enemy, and all arrangements were made for holding the position for the night

and receiving and posting re-enforcements, when I received from the

major-general commanding, shortly after dark, orders to retire the whole force to the Maryland side of the river. Previously to the receipt of – this order I had sent General Gorman to the Maryland side to facilitate the passage of the re-enforcements, and he was now charged with the duty of superintending the debarkation of our troops there and forwarding the empty boats with regularity and dispatch. , The holding of the

right of the line during the embarkation was intrusted to Brigadier-General Abercrombie; the holding of the left to Colonel Dana, First Minnesota Volunteers. The advanced pickets and cavalry scouts were kept out and additional fires lighted, and while the Indiana Sixteenth, under

` the orders of General Abercrombie, held the line of the bluff on the right,

yo y { 5 and the First Minnesota Volunteers, under Colonel Dana, the same line on the left, the regiments between the bluff and the river were silently withdrawn and transferred to the boats as they arrived. Next, the regiments outside the line of the bluff were withdrawn, the artillery with its support, the Andrew Sharpshooters, and (as fast as flat-boats could be secured) the cavalry with their horses. Finally, when none remained excepting the outlying pickets and the two regiments, sufficient boats were secured along the bank to receive at once all that remained, and the pickets were rapidly withdrawn by the left and right and marched to the boats. The delicate and responsible duty of calling in these pickets was admirably performed by Capt. Charles Stewart, assistant

adjutant-general, and Lieutenant Gourand, Van Alen Cavalry. I should —

also mention in this connection Brigade-Surgeon Bryant, of Lander’s

brigade, who accompanied me through the day, making all necessary .

arrangements for his department, and at night performed most valuable service in transmitting with rapidity and exactitude many of my orders.

The pickets having been recalled and placed on the boats, the Sixteenth Indiana and First Minnesota were withdrawn from the bluff,

formed on the river bank, and embarked, and. at about 4 o’clock a. m. –

on the 24th the last boat containing troops pushed from the Virginia ` shore, not an accident having occurred in the entire operation. Having seen what appeared to be the last of the command safely afloat, I was

pulled in a row-boat, under charge of Captain Williams, Seventh Michigan Regiment, up and down the river to inspect the shore opposite the lines which we had occupied, and being satisfied that not a man or horse had been left behind, I crossed the river and reported at headquarters near Edwards Ferry. y

I beg leave to record my high sense of the bearing of the troops, and especially of the First Minnesota Volunteers and the Sixteenth Indiana, whose steadiness and eoolness could not have been greater had they been the first instead of the last to leave the ground. General Abererombie and Colonel Dana were indefatigable in their labors, and displayed the same coolness and self-possession which they have long since shown in other campaigns, and which heré insured the quiet and successful embarkation of all. Colonel Grosvenor, Seventh Michigan Volunteers, remained long after his regiment had passed over, aiding in the embarkation. Colonel Patrick, Thirtieth Pennsylvania, crossed with the main body of his regiment, and returned to await the calling in of the pickets, because one of his companies was on that duty, and he would not leave the Virginia shore until the last of his men had crossed.

Dr. James S. Mackie, of the State Department, who had rendered me ‘ most valuable service as volunteer aide-de-camp for several days previous, placed me under renewed obligations by his active and intelligent —

services on this night. Maj. John Mix, Van Alen Cavalry, again proved

himself a most valuable officer. Although he had been almost contin- ,

ually in the saddle for thé preceding forty-eight hours, his labors were

through the night incessant and effective. General Gorman speaks highly of the services of Lieutenant Foote, quartermaster Second New York State Militia, in managing the boats; and I am informed that Quartermaster Goff, of the Van Alen Cavalry, was peculiarly active and useful in the same service.

I have the honor to be, general, respectfully, your obedient servant, ;