Civil War Sesquicentennial: 42nd New York Fights Well in Union Disaster at Balls Bluff on Oct. 21, 1861

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Union troops retreat from Balls Bluff on Oct. 21, 1861

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (10/19/2011)(readMedia)-- The Battle of Balls Bluff, fought on Oct. 21, 1861 in Loudoun County, Virginia, was a disaster for the Union and for New York Civil War Soldiers.

The one-day fight cost the 42nd New York Volunteer Infantry 133 dead, wounded and missing: including its commander Col. Milton Cogswell who was captured by the Confederates.

In the total scope of the war, the battle, often called the Battle of Leesburg, was minor: there were just about 1,700 men on each side. But the problems the battle highlighted-poor communications, misunderstandings between officers, poor logistics and poor planning -and the fact that a United States Senator was killed in action, meant the small battle got a lot of attention.

The original plan by Union Brigadier General Charles Stone called for his forces-- which included the 42nd New York, the 2nd New York State Militia Regiment, the 34th New York Infantry, the 9th New York Volunteer Infantry, and the 3rd New York Cavalry –to make a quick dash across the river and raid a Confederate camp there.

The scouting party of Union troops who had crossed the river as evening fell on October 20, 1861 had reported finding the camp. Later it turned out the unit commander, in the darkness, had mistaken a row of pine trees for tents.

Shortly after midnight Soldiers of the 20th Massachusetts crossed from Harrison Island in the middle of the Potomac River to the Virginia shore near Leesburg. The 2nd New York State Militia was also directed to send eight men and two cannon to the shore near the island to offer support.

At six in the morning the Massachusetts Soldiers approached the "camp" only to find out their mistake. Determined to get some benefit of the crossing the Union commander on the ground decided to move towards nearby Leesburg to see if he could find any Confederate Forces.

At the same time 30 troopers from the 3rd New York Cavalry crossed the river to assist in the reconnaissance.

The Union troops ran into Confederate opposition, and sent back word for reinforcements as they faced growing Confederate numbers. But the lack of boats meant that only a few Union Soldiers at a time could move across the river.

As the Confederate forces pushed the union troops back towards the Potomac River Col Edward D. Baker, who commanded the 1st California Infantry (Californian in name only since most of the troops were from the east) and was a United States Senator from California, took command on the field. He called for additional Union help and Soldiers from the 42nd New York began crossing the river.

The 42nd New York was known as the Tammany Regiment. The unit had been raised by the Tammany Hall political organization which dominated Democratic politics in New York City's. Many of the officers were Tammny politicians but its commander, Col. Milton Cogswell, was a United States Army veteran of the Indian wars.

The 42nd crossed the river and climbed the heights only to find the Union troops in trouble. The Union force had been pushed back to the river and at 5 p.m. Col. Baker was killed. Col. Cogswell, the commander of the 42nd took charge.

He ordered the four union regiments to prepare to attack towards Edwards Ferry to the north of Balls Bluff where the Union troops would be able to recross the river in good order. However, confusion led to the 42nd New York and some Massachusetts troops launching the attack too early and in the wrong direction. It was repulsed and Cogswell now decided he had no choice but to retreat back the way the troops had come.

Two companies of the 42nd New York had just arrived on the battlefield and Cogswell organized those few men in to a rear guard to cover the retreat of the four regiments back across the river as Union Soldiers, panicked because there were too few boats, jumped into the river and started swimming for the Maryland side. Many drowned.

The two New York Companies fought hard and prevented the Confederates from catching more Union troops. But eventually the defense fell apart. A newspaper article at the time related some of the incidents that followed, among then the death of Capt. Garety of Company K, 42nd New York:

"After our ranks had been broken by the constant and terrific fire of the enemy, every man fought on his own hook. Capt. Garety, seizing the musket of a fallen Soldier, posted himself behind a tree, and with an aim as cool and deliberate as if firing at a target at home, made a number of Secessionists "bite the dust." His ambush was at last discovered, when three or four shots were directed at him."

"The leaden messengers performed their mission but too unerringly, and the brave Garety fell. But so enraged were the Rebels at the havoc he had created in their ranks, that they visited their vengeance on his inanimate corpse. A cavalry man rode up and with a blow from his sword nearly severed his head from his body, while the latter was pierced with a score of bayonets."

Another 42nd New York Soldier saved himself with stealth:

"The most miraculous and amusing escape was that of Daniel Ferry-a private in Company A. He feigned himself dead. After the battle was over, while still occupying the recumbent position among the slain, two or three Rebel marauders came along, rifled his pockets of some $20, and cut the buttons from his coat. One of them then proposed to tickle his ribs with their bayonets, but the others protested, saying he was dead enough already."

"After they were gone, Ferry made rapid tracks for the river. They discovered him and fired upon him, inflicting a slight buckshot wound in the back. Bidding them defiance, and telling them they dare not fight us even handed, he swam for the island, which he reached in safety, and he is now in camp rapidly recovering from his injuries."

But not every officer gave the "Tammany Regiment" much credit for their efforts. Col. Edward Hinks, Commander of the 19th Massachusetts was especially critical.

"I have to report that the remnant of the Tammany regiment, under command of Major Bon, deserted post in the entrenchments on the Island at an early hour in the forenoon of the 22d, and passed to the Maryland shore, in disobedience of orders, while I was engaged in arranging for the removal of the wounded and of the burial of the dead," Hincks wrote in his official report. "I cannot close this report with justice to our troops, who fought valiantly, without commenting upon the causes which led to their defeat and complete rout," he added.

The battle was a clear Union defeat.

The northern forces lost 49 killed, 168 wounded , and more than 700 missing or captured. It was later determined that almost 100 of the missing men had drowned trying to cross the river. The Confederate troops lost 36 killed, 117 wounded, and two Soldiers missing or captured.

The northern press and politicians were outraged that the Union had once again lost a battle, and were also upset because Baker had been a well-liked and respected member of Congress. As a result of the battle, Congress formed the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War which spent the rest of the Civil War conducting investigations into why Union generals were not winning battles.

The Tammy Regiment recovered from the battle, recruited new troops, and went on to distinguish itself during the rest of the Civil War. The regiment took part in 36 battles and engagements and distinguished itself at Antietam and Gettysburg.

More than 500,000 New Yorkers enlisted in the Army and Navy during the four years of the Civil War and 53,114 New Yorkers died.

Throughout the period of the Civil War Sesquicentennial observance, the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs will produce short articles about New York's Civil War experience researched by the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.

For more information, go the NewYork State Military Museum Civil War Timeline Website at http://dmna.state.ny.us/civilwar