The battle of Leesburg or Ball's Bluff was fought on October 21^st, 1861. The location was in Virginia on the Potomac River some thirty-five miles upriver from Washington, near Leesburg, Virginia.

The Union force of 1,720 men engaged in this small battle lost 49 killed, 158 wounded, 553 taken prisoner, and 171 men missing or drowned. Out of 1,709 Confederate soldiers, 36 were killed, 117 were wounded, and 2 were taken prisoner.

Due to the victory the Confederate commander, Col. "Shank" Evans was promoted to Brigadier General from the date of the battle. Those on the Union side were not as pleased. The aftereffect of this small battle were felt in Washington, as a Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War by Congress was convened to determine what had happened at Ball's Bluff. General Charles Stone, the Union commander, was accused of treason without a writ of habeas corpus and thrown in dungeons in forts in New York City for 189 days.

the War Between the States Leesburg Ball's Bluff 21st October, 1861

This marker is located on the battle of Leesburg or Ball's Bluff battlefield park. This photograph and the photo below show the cleared area in the center of the field in which the Confederate soldiers advanced over to attack the Federal soldiers.

Col. Edward D. Baker was the commander of the 71stPa. Infantry, the highest-ranking officer killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff, a senator from Oregon and close friend and political ally of President Lincoln.

The Federal troops panicked in this area and many of the Federal troops were injured, killed, or missing (presumed drowned) as they leapt into the Potomac River.

Wildcat Mountain, Kentucky :
first Federal victory in Kentucky

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