Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/262

 254 Southern Historical Society Papers.

From the Times- Dispatch of April 22-29, May 6, 1906.

MEN OF VIRGINIA AT BALL'S BLUFF.

They Will Divide the Honors with the Brave Men from Mississippi Hunton Hero of the Day.

The Famous Eighth Virginia Infantry, the Cavalry and the

Richmond Howitzers The Numbers Engaged

on Both Sides in the Famous Fight.

Editor of the Times- Dispatch :

Sir, This paper on Ball's Bluff was partly prepared some weeks ago, but laid aside on account of an eye trouble, which pre- vented writing, and the examination requisite to accuracy. In the meantime Captain McNeily's account appeared, but as he writes from the standpoint of a Mississippian and I, from that of a Vir- ginian, there will be found enough variety of treatment to keep the interest of readers of war subjects and Virginia historic battles.

Respectfully,

R. W. HUNTER.

The proposed appropriation by Congress of $5,000 for the pur- chase of so much of the Ball's Bluff battlefield as may be necessary for the preservation of the National Cemetery there located, and for macadamising a road leading thereto from the Leesburg and Point of Rocks turnpike, recalls one of the most remarkable of the minor battles of the war, not only because of the laurels so gallantly won by the victorious Virginians and Mississippians, the disproportion of the enemy's loss to the number engaged on our side, the tragic character of the disaster which overtook the Federal invaders, but also because of its far-reaching effect in the derangement and check it caused to McClellan's whole plan of campaign. Apart from these larger results, the battle bristles with thrilling exploits, and incidents of the most sensational character, which invest it with an enduring interest to all students of the military and general history of our country.

The significance of battles cannot be gauged fairly by the number