Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan “Shanks” Evans stopped a badly coordinated attempt by Union forces under Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone to cross the Potomac at Harrison’s Island and capture Leesburg. A timely Confederate counterattack drove the Federals over the bluff and into the river. More than 700 Federals were captured. Col. Edward D. Baker (a U.S. Senator) was killed. This Union rout had severe political ramifications in Washington and led to the establishment of the Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Ball's Bluff was a Confederate Victory.
Union Forces: 2,000
Confederate Forces: 1,600
Total: 3,600
Killed/Wounded/Captured:
Union Forces: 1002
Confederate Forces: 155
Total: 1157
Map of Harrison's Landing (Ball's Bluff)
This cemetery is the third smallest National Cemetery in the U.S. The 25 graves contain 54 Union dead from the battle.
Federal firing line at the 2010 Ball's Bluff reenactment
Cheers
Mac