Battle of Ball's Bluff

October 21, 1861

by Bill Miller


Little Mac's Little Demonstration

Early in the war, the Union attempted to capture Leesburg, VA, by crossing the Potomac from Maryland using Harrison's Island. The crossing as very slow because the boats could or a small amount of troops. The bluffs on the Virginia side were 80 ft. high adding to the difficulty.

The attack was badly coordinated, leading the attack on the field was Col. William Raymond Lee. There was no Brigadier General on the battlefield for the Union during the attack, this added to the confusion on the Union side.

Confederates under the command of Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans counter attacked and routed the Union force towards the Potomac. Many men drowned trying to swim to safety under fire from the Confederates.

For the Union 700 men were captured and over 200 men were killed or wounded. Among them (the KIA, ed.) was U.S. Senator, Col. Edward Baker, who was a good friend of President Lincoln. Confederate casualties were light, 36 were killed and 117 wounded. The Union rout had severe political ramifications in Washington and led to the establishment of the Congressional joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.

This scenario begins with the first encounter as the Union was making its way across the Potomac to Virginia.

Mark Orders & Good Luck!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A SMALL BATTLE AND ITS LONG SHADOW by Byron Farwell.
OFFICIAL RECORDS, Series I, Volume 5 The National Historical Society.
Great Battles Magazine, July, 1991.
BUNGLED RIVER CROSSING by Matthew Phillips.
BATTLES AND LEADERS OF THE CIVIL WAR, Volume, 2. Thomas Yoseloff.

The Battle of Ball's Bluff October 21, 1861
A DRUM BEATS Scenario © 1996 Bill Miller
Order of Battle

CONFEDERATES Brig. Gen. Nathan Evans (+2) in command of 1,700 men.

    17th MS 500 men Avg RM
    18th MS 300 men Avg RM
    8th VA 400 men Avg RM
    13th MS (Co. D) /18th MS (2 Cos) 300 men Avg RM
    17th MS (Co. K) / 4 Co.s BALL'S VA CAVALRY 200 men Avg RM

LOCATION AT START

Unit : LOCATION
13th/18th MS : On board*
17th MS/BALL'S : On board

REINFORCEMENTS

UNITTURNLOCATION
8th VA7B*
18th MS20B*
17th MS21B*

UNION Col. William Raymond Lee (4) in command of 2000 men.

Col. Edward Baker (+1) US Senator takes command on turn 17 after crossing over

    15th MA 600 men Green RM
    20th MA 300 men Green RM
    42nd NY 500 men Green RM
    71st PA 6DO men Green RM
    (19th MA 700 men Green RM)
    1st US (1) 1 Sec Avg 12#MH 9Mountain Howitzer)
    1st RI Lt. 1 gun Green 6#SB

TURN & POINT OF ENTRY

UNITTURNLOCATION
15th MA (1/2)1On board
15th MA (2/2)2A*
71st PA9A
42nd NY13A
20th MA14A
All Artillery15A
19th MA See Reserves below

SPECIAL RULES

* Keep the position of the 13th/18th MS a secret (they're hidden behind the breastworks.) DO NOT place them on the board until engaged by the enemy or sighted.

* The 8th, 18th & 17th MS get hidden movement until engaged.

Note that the 17th MS / BALL'S VA CAVALRY are NOT hidden. Also, BALL'S VA CAVALRY are dismounted.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

UNION Rout the Confederates.
CONFEDERATES

  • Minor victory: Hold control of field.
  • Major victory: Hold field and rout the Union force.

SCENARIO LENGTH

The action starts at 1000 a.m. and continues until the victory condition is met or darkness falls on turn 40.

SPECIAL RULES

  • 15th MA has 1/2 its force on board. The other half arrives at the end of turn 2. You can combine these forces or use them separately.

  • Union regiments rout towards the river. If they don't rally at the river's edge, they become casualties.

  • Troops landing on shore must start in disorder (simulates the unloading of troops.)

  • Infantry& artillery must move along the shoreline to the ravine & make their way up the ravine in order to reach the battlefield. The Bluffs are 80+ feet high, too steep for artillery and infantry to climb.

    RESERVES

  • The 19th MA never did cross over from Harrison's Island, but if you choose to use them, they cross over on turn 19.

    Bill Miller's BALLS BLUFF scenario is from his new scenari( booklet called DRUM BEATS. It is available from him for $12.00 US postage paid. Please contact him via email (OPUSme@aol.com or mail enquiries ta:.
    Bill Miller 290 Ryders Lane, Milltown, NJ 08850

    Bill is an amateur Civil War Historian. He has visited 7 Civil War sites over the past few years and is an avid reader of books on the subject He enjoys playing miniatures, his favorites being the Civil War and WWII. He asks that everyone with an interest in the Civil War help preserve our Historical sites around the country. If you have any questions or comments about this scenario please feel free to contact him.

    Battle of Ball's Bluff: Large Map (slow: 180K)
    Battle of Ball's Bluff: Balsa Wood Transports

    Back to The Zouave Vol XII No. 1 Table of Contents
    Back to The Zouave List of Issues
    Back to Master Magazine List
    © Copyright 1998 The American Civil War Society

    This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
    Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com