The areas around the Potomac River in Virginia and Maryland are littered with Civil War battlefields of skirmishes big and small. The biggest battlefields, where the greatest loss of life occurred are well known. Antietam (Sharpsburg), Bull Run (Manassas), and Gettysburg are well visited sites that marked turning points in the War.
However, skirmishes occurred constantly along the border states as forces crossed over the river and back again in order to conduct reconnaissance against the other side. Ball's Bluff is one of those "little" skirmishes. I'm saying "little" even though lives were lost here, not to diminish the ferocity of the fight or the loss of life, but because when you compare the casualties here to the casualties at Antietam, Bull Run, and Gettysburg, it pales in comparison.
Ball's Bluff was a battle that accidentally happened. The Northern forces that were sent over the Potomac towards Leesburg in order to check on enemy defenses mistakenly identified a low row of trees as an encampment. Word was sent back across the river, and while they awaited orders, their intrusion was discovered and a very nasty battle began.
It's hard to believe when you walk around this battlefield that it once was the scene of such horror and loss of life. The peaceful woods and meadows are deceptively quiet. Thanks to the hard work of preservationists back in the late 70's and early 80's, this little slice of history was spared from the developers bulldozers.
If you're ever in the Leesburg area of Virginia, you should take a quick stop by the battlefield and remember some of our country's haunting history. (The battle field itself is not all that far from Dulles Airport.)
However, skirmishes occurred constantly along the border states as forces crossed over the river and back again in order to conduct reconnaissance against the other side. Ball's Bluff is one of those "little" skirmishes. I'm saying "little" even though lives were lost here, not to diminish the ferocity of the fight or the loss of life, but because when you compare the casualties here to the casualties at Antietam, Bull Run, and Gettysburg, it pales in comparison.
Ball's Bluff was a battle that accidentally happened. The Northern forces that were sent over the Potomac towards Leesburg in order to check on enemy defenses mistakenly identified a low row of trees as an encampment. Word was sent back across the river, and while they awaited orders, their intrusion was discovered and a very nasty battle began.
It's hard to believe when you walk around this battlefield that it once was the scene of such horror and loss of life. The peaceful woods and meadows are deceptively quiet. Thanks to the hard work of preservationists back in the late 70's and early 80's, this little slice of history was spared from the developers bulldozers.
If you're ever in the Leesburg area of Virginia, you should take a quick stop by the battlefield and remember some of our country's haunting history. (The battle field itself is not all that far from Dulles Airport.)
I took a few pictures while we were roaming around. In the picture below, I am standing on the top of the bluff, looking across the treeline. The Potomac River is far below.
 |
| A view across the Potomac towards Middletown. |
 |
| Northern Artillery. |
 |
| The battlefield. |
 |
| The National Cemetery at Ball's Bluff. |
 |
| A view through the woods. |
 |
| The leaves are starting to change! |
No comments:
Post a Comment