American Battlefield Trust.
Battle of Ball's Bluff, Virginia fought October 21, 1861.
1. The Battle of Ball's Bluff was the result of a "slight demonstration."
On the Virginia side of the Potomac River, Confederates, commanded by Col. Nathan "Shanks" Evans, numbered less than 3,000. he began worrying that his position would be flanked by Federals. Opposing him was Brigadier general Charles P. Stone's Corps of Observation.
On October 16, Evans to abandon his position at Leesburg. When Stone reported this, Union commander McClellan ordered McCall's troops to advance immediately, then had second thoughts and rescinded the order. Instead, he ordered Stone to make a "slight demonstration" toward Evans to see what the enemy intentions were.
In the meantime, Confederate General Beauregard had ordered Evans to return to Leesburg.
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2. Union troops crossed the Potomac River based on faulty intelligence.
After Stone's "slight demonstration" failed to get any reaction from Evans, Stone ordered a reconnaissance party to cross the river at Ball's Bluff to gain further information on the Confederate positions.
--Old Secesh
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