Ten Facts About the Battle of Ball's Bluff-- Part 1: A 'Slight Demonstration'

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reported this, Union commander McClellan  ordered McCall's troops to advance immediately, then had second thoughts and rescinded the order.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

Battle of Ball's Bluff-- Part 3: The Commanders and Battle Itself

The commanders at the Battle of Ball's Bluff were Brigadier General Charles P. Stone for the Union and Colonel Nathan G. "Shanks" Evans for the Confederacy.

Neither one was actually present at the battle, however.  Evans was known as a hard-drinking man.  Stone had some 12,000  soldiers in his command.

The battle grew out of what was initially going to be a slight demonstration.  Evans was moving his troops around in response to Union movements.  The Union forces determined to have a reconnaissance in force.

Problems on both sides arose from inexperience, difficult terrain and shortage of boats led to a military disaster.  There were also steep bluffs.

The Union troops were starting to retreat down the bluff.  Some accounts had them jumping off the bluffs, but that is not true.  The big problem was that there was just a narrow road descending to the Potomac River and that led to a real mess.

--Old Secesh