W. J. Eckford to Company C, Thirteenth Regiment Miss. Vols, October 28, 1861

Fort Evans, near Leesburg, October 28, 1861.

GENERAL:

I have the honor to report that in obedience to your –

‘orders I left my encampment near Balls Mill, on Goose Creek, with my regiment, on Sunday morning, the 20th instant, at 5 o’clock, and –

encamped the following night on the Alexandria. turnpike road, near the Burnt Bridge over Goose Creek, about 4 miles east from Leesburg, with the Eighth Virginia Regiment, Colonel Hunton, on my right, and the Seventeenth Mississippi Regiment, Colonel Featherston, on my left.

Early on Monday morning the guns of the enemy opened upon us from their batteries on the Maryland side of the Potomae River, but without effect. At 8 o’clock I proceeded with my regiment to Fort Evans, and forthwith took position in the woods to the right of the ‘fort, where I could observe the movements of the enemy.

About 12 o’clock I dispatched Capt. L. D. Fletcher’s company (D) toreport to you at Fort Evans. I herewith inclose his report of the company’s movements that day. During the whole of the engagement it was in the thickest of the fight, rendering efficient service, and bearin itself with undaunted courage.

About 1.30 o’elock I was ordered by you to advance in the direction

of Edwards Ferry, and to ascertain the position;and number of the enemy. Imarched at once in that direction, and halted in a skirt of

woods near the Daily house, at the same time directing Captain Mc- —

Intosh to skirmish in the woods and near the river on the left, and Captain Eckford, with a platoon of his company, to skirmish on the right of that house, and report without delay the result of their observation. Both reported that the enemy were im force in large numbers on this side of the river and just beyond the Daily house. Iimmediately ordered the regiment to advance, and when near the house a number of shots were fired by the advance guard on both sides, killing 1 man of my regiment. The loss of the enemy not ascertained.

Perceiving that the object of the enemy was to outflank me on the right, and learning that. Colonels Burt and Featherston, with their respective commands, had been ordered in another direction, I formed my regiment on the right of the Edwards Ferry road, intending to commence the attack from the woods stretching along the Daily plantation and to the right of the house, at the same time directing Captain Diener to skirmish on the left and Captain [Wm. H.] Worthington on the right. :

At this moment I was ordered by you to hasten to the support of the

Eighth Virginia Regiment and the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Mississippi Regiments, which- were engaged with the enemy 2 miles from Edwards Ferry and near Conrad’s Ferry. I at once, and in doublequick time, started to their relief, leaving Captain Worthington’s com- –

pany to observe the movements of the enemy at Edwards Ferry, but before reaching the scene of action I received two peremptory orders from you to return to the vicinity of Fort Evans, which was aecordingly done, directing “the companies of Captains [Saml. J.] Randell, [D. R.] Mcintosh, and Worthington to remain in the rear, to prevent the advance of the enemy that night from Edwards Ferry.

I am satisfied that the presence of my command in position at Ed- –

_ Cm. XIV] BALLS BLUFF AND EDWARDS FERRY, VA. 355

EO wards Ferry prevented the advance of a large column of the enemy,

which was intended to re-enforce General Baker’s command near Coarad’s Ferry, then engaged in battle with our forces.

On Tuesday morning I was ordered by you to reconnoiter the enemy at Edwards Ferry, and attack him if in my judgment his numbers and position would warrant me in doing so. Reaching the ground I

occupied the day before, I ordered Captain Randell to skirmish on my left and Captain Eckford on my right. They reported that the enemy in very large numbers. were stationed, as on the preceding day, near the banks of theriver. From their movements, which eould be easily seen from my position, I supposed they were planting a battery at the

: . point of woods jutting out into the field to the right of the Daily house.

I determined to make the attack at that point, and accordingly ordered.

Captain Eckford to advance with his and Captain McElroy’s companies, to commence the engagement, and to charge and take the battery, if one ‘should be found there.

Taking the road leading to Kephart’s Mill, I halted the regiment in the woods to the right of the Daily plantation, and in a few minutes Captain Eckford commenced the attack upon several companies of pickets which were stationed along the field, charging upon and driving them in great disorder and confusion before his fire. I ordered the

regiment at once to advance, and the engagement in a moment became general. Under a heavy fire from the enemy’s batteries on both sides of the river and an incessant fire from his lines on this side the regiment continued to advance some 400 yards, firing as it advanced, drivA ing the enemy before it back to the river, and killing, so far as I have

been able to learn, 35 or 40 of their number. The enemy having been driven back behind his field works, and greatly outnumbering my com- – mand, having also artillery on both sides of the river, I did not deem it proper further to continue the assault, and hence withdrew the regiment to its position near Fort Evans, which I reached some time after dark. I herewith inclose Captain Eckford’s report. Every order I gave during both days was obeyed with promptness and alacrity, and the engagement on Tuesday was marked by the greatest pos- – sible zeal, courage, and enthusiasm on the part of both officers and men.* * * * * *

WILLIAM BARKSDALE, Colonel, Comdg. Thirteenth Regiment Mississippi Volunteers.

E General N. G. Evans, Headquarters, Leesburg.

Report of Capt. William J. Eckford, Thirteenth Mississippi Infantry, of action near Edwards Ferry.

CAMP NEAR FORT EVANS, October 26, 1861. Sin: I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 22d inst., obedient to orders, I proceeded with my company and Captain [K.] McElroy’s company (Q) to open the engagement with the enemy posted about Edwards Ferry, by attacking a battery supposed to be planted

— jn a point of woods on a ridge which made out from Goose Creek to Daily’s field, and in front of the left of the enemy’s line. Advancing

* For statement of casualties omitted see report No. 22, p. 353,

with the division by a narrow road which led through dense thickets . to the corner of Daily’s field, I examined the ground, and found it necessary to move some hundred yards to the right of the road, in order to . avoid being observed by the enemy’s pickets, who were posted in large numbers along a cross fence running from Daily’s house to the point of the ridge on which we were advancing. I accordingly filed the division ` by the right about 150 yards, crossed a small ravine, and filed by the left to the top of the ridge, where the line was formed, about 75 paces to the rear of the supposed position of the enemy’s battery.

At the signal to advance the division moved in excellent order, and with as much silence as practicable, through the dense undergrowth of pine which separated us from the point of attack to within 30. paees of the enemy’s pickets. Here the firing commenced on either side, when I ordered the charge, which was obeyed with the greatest enthusiasm and gallantry. The enemy fled in great confusion, and were pursued . into the open field, when I ordered the division to fall back and load under cover of the woods. The enemy’s battery had been removed from – the position taken in the morning, and their batteries stationed in the open field several hundred yards from the front of the division opened upon us with shell, when I gave the order to advance and form on the right of the regiment, which was done. During the charge of the regiment and division upon the enemy in the open field Lieut. H. C. Fluker and Private Asa Simmons, of Captain McElroy’s company (G), were mortally wounded. In the charge of the enemy some 30 are supposed to have been killed.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, `

Captain Company C, Thirteenth Regiment Miss. Vols.
Col. WILLIAM BARKSDALE, –
Thirteenth Regiment Mississippi Volunteers.
No. 25.
Report of Capt. L. D. Fletcher, Thirteenth Mississippi Infantry. —
LEESBURG, October 22, 1861.
SIR: I beg leave to submit the following report of the part my company took in the engagement on yesterday, the 21st, near this place: