The Battle of Ball's Bluff-- Part 2: Famous People at the Battle

Presentation given to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting on May 10. 

This was the first major battle of the famed California Regiment, commanded by Col. Edward D. Baker.

Future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. survived an almost fatal wound received at this battle.

The grandsons of Paul Revere were also at the battle on the Union side and survived, but both were mortally wounded in later actions during the war.  They were Dr. Edward H. revere and Major Paul Revere.

The only sitting member of the U.S. Congress was killed at the battle, Edward D. Baker, who was born in England in 1811 and his family moved to Illinois.  In 1851, he went to California and in 1861, co-organized the California Brigade.

He was a good friend of the Lincolns who named their second son, Willie, for him.  After Baker's death, Willie wrote a poem about him.

At the time of the battle, both opposing armies were named the Army of the Potomac.  The Confederate one did not become the Army of Northern Virginia until after Lee took it over.

--Old Secesh