Ten Facts About Battle of Ball's Bluff-- Part 2: Crossing the Potomac Based on Faulty Intelligence

Trying to find out what the Confederates were up to, Charles Stone ordered a reconnaissance party across the river.  A company advanced about a mile and discovered what they believed to be was an abandoned Confederate camp.  It's commander, Captain Chase Philbrick,  returned to his superiors with the news.  Stone then ordered a 300-man raiding party to advance under the command of Colonel Charles Devens with orders to attack the camp.

When dawn broke on October 21st, it was found that the "camp" was actually just a line of trees.  Receiving further orders to wait for reinforcements and then make a move toward Leesburg, about this time, the Union force  encountered pickets from the 17th Mississippi and a skirmish began.

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#3   Inexperience, difficult terrain and a shortage of boats led to a military disaster.

What began as an attempt to raid an abandoned Confederate camp ended in an embarrassing Union defeat.  Not only was the raid based on faulty intelligence, but communication between Union officers at the scene was inefficient.

The terrain at Ball's Bluff itself presented quite a challenge.  It is made up of steep, wooded  bluffs bordering the Potomac River.  The Federals on the south side of the river found themselves with their backs to the river and it impossible to gain ground.

A further problem was that only four small boats were available on  Harrison's Island (in the river) caused reinforcements to arrive slowly and in inadequate numbers.

--Old Secesh