Battery History: Balls Bluff , Virginia

October 12, 1861 

Following the union defeat at Bull Run, the Battery moved to Poolville MD. Union pickets along the Potomac River had noticed enemy troop movements near a house on the Virginia side. In an effort to disperse what was believed to be a gathering force, it was decided a small group of troops would cross the Potomac to seek out the enemy.

Capt. Thomas Vaughn

On October 20th the battery was divided. Lieut. Raymond Perry had gone to Washington on personal business his section, the right, was left under Lieut. Adams at Monocacy, Maryland. The center section under Lieut. Horace Bloodgood had gone to Edwards ferry. The remaining section of two guns and all the caissons under Capt. Thomas Vaughn remained in the camp at Poolesville. Vaughn had been given orders to prepare for light marching, and was informed of the possible enemy movements on the opposite side of the river.

On the 21st Capt. Vaughn was ordered to Conrad's Ferry with the left section. Upon arriving he found the landing crowded with infantry all of Col. Edward Baker's Brigades waiting to be taken across the Potomac River. The Capt. left Sgt. Maj. Ernest Staples in charge and went to Edwards Ferry to bring up the center section. While gone Staples moved to the landing,  upon arriving and having no commissioned officer, the section was placed under Lieut. Walter Bramhall of the Sixth New York battery. They were then ordered to prepare to cross to clear the way for the infantry. Harrison's Island sat in the middle of the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. The only means of crossing to the island was by a scow or canal boat attached to a rope, which had been stretched between the island and the Maryland shore. Sgt. Silas Tucker and his men had dismounted their gun and placed it in the scow. It was just large enough for one gun the detachment and horses. Lieut. Bramhall and Sgt. Tucker with their gun and men crossed to the island, as Sgt. Charles Adams had his gun dismounted and made ready for embarkation, and upon return of the scow was placed on board and crossed to the island. As soon as Tucker's gun reached the island it was mounted, hitched and crossed to the other side, again the gun was dismounted and placed into another scow. The river between Harrison's island and Virginia was narrow and the water flowed rapidly, making it far more difficult to reach the other side. However after much effort and exertion the gun landed and was remounted, now another problem lay ahead. The gun stood on a muddy clay bank under a steep wooded bluff about 70 feet high. With the help of the infantry, and after much exertion, Lieut. Bramhall managed to get the gun, one limber, seven horses and 14 men to the top of the bluff. The gun was placed in a position, inline, and to the left of Col. Baker's regiment the 71st Pennsylvania. Immediately the gun and crew came under fire from skirmishers and sharpshooters hidden in the woods. Bramhall was wounded at the first fire and soon all the artillerymen were shot down. The gun was served by Col. Baker, and some of his other officers for a short time. In total the gun had only been fired between six to eight times. All of the horses were killed; the gun and limber were captured along with three men. Sgt. Tucker had been shot through the leg and later died. Five other than were also wounded, but managed to recross the Potomac to the Maryland side and were sent to hospital. Merrit Tillinghast a driver managed to escape down the bluff, and with several others dove into the river. Weighed down by their clothing they were swept past the island into the wide river, swimming for the Maryland side they landed half a mile below the island, and arrived in camp at next day completely exhausted.

Pvt. Merrit Tillinghast

Sgt. Adams gun, which was to follow, did not cross the riverfor a half-hour after the first gun. Having crossed the island and loaded his gun and horses, was preparing to shove off when officer rode down the bluff. He called out "For God's sake send over the infantry, we want infantry! Can't use artillery, but sent over infantry." In the confusion that followed some of the artillery horses fell from one of the scow's leaving both to the infantry. Sgt. Adams remounted his gun and took up a position overlooking the place of crossing. Capt. Vaughn arrived and ordered the gun moved near a house on the center of the island and prepared for action. There the gun remained until after dark, it was then that some of the wounded from the lost gun reached the island, where several blankets were taken from the horses and given to them. Under a flag of truce Capt. Vaughn and a squad of men, crossed the river to bury the dead. Sgt. Adams and his men remained on the island until the night of the 22nd, when under the direction of  Capt. Vaughn, returned to the Maryland side and rejoined the center section near the canal on Maryland side of the Potomac. The Battery had lost three men captured, one probably drowned, four missing, four wounded. Material losses were one gun, and limber, and seven horses.

Although forces were of nearly even size, the Confederates had spotted the movement of the union troops and their river crossing earlier in the day. Using the forest and the topography of the countryside they masked there movements. Forming a half circle around the union forces at which time, had not yet completely crossed the river in adequate force. In addition the limited number of boats for crossing slowed arrival of reinforcements, and later would hamper the retreat. Caught between the enemy and the steep bluff many soldiers fled to the boats, some trying to swim the rapid moving Potomac River. Weighed down by their uniforms and equipments many drowned. Many of the fleeing soldiers, were shot by the Confederates atop the bluff, while trying to swim across the river. Many of the bodies of union soldiers washed down the Potomac to Washington D.C.