HHS Students Tour Ball's Bluff Civil War Battlefield

Kim Bernard Holien, author of "Battle at Ball's Bluff", Civil War Reinactor Lee Phillips and Herndon High School legend Peter Coles with US/Va History students at Ball's Bluff Battlefield in Leesburg, Virginia. It was on this field on October 21st, 1861 that the Union suffered a humiliating defeat coming shortly after the defeat at Manassas. While a small battle compared to some of the others during the Civil War, this battle and its participants would figure prominently in American history for years to come.

Mr. Holien makes some introductory remarks about the battle.

Students review one of the many battle description exhibits

Battlefield artist Alexander Huneke sketches a portion of the battlefield.

Mr. Phillips, ready to present his musket and uniform demonstration.

Mr. Phillips fires toward Maryland. But if you run out of ammunition...

...you better be ready to charge with your bayonet.

Kara and Karen observe the demonstration.

Sung Hoon Cho and Puneet-paul Kalra lay a wreath honoring the Union dead at Ball's Bluff National Cemetery. The ribbons read "For those who fought to save a nation and free a people."

As part of the wreath laying ceremony, future rabbi Josh Renne prepared and read a prayer.

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Students hiking down to the Potomac River.

Things were much more pleasant for these Union supporters on March 26, 2003 than they were for those fighting for the Union on October 21, 1861.

Mr. Holien points out the precarious position Union troops found themselves in on that fateful October day.

"Forward-March!" Back up the bluffs. But be observant! You just might run into a...

...SNAKE!!!! Luckily just a Garden snake. Not nearly as scary as the Black snakes and Copperheads that frequent this battlefield.

At the gate of the Ball's Bluff National Cemetery, Mr. Holien participated in a question and answer session with the students.

Garrett Beck (R) During the Civil War many people thought the Union would defeat the South in a short time and would suffer few casualties during the war. Do you think that this is how the American people think the current war with Iraq will go? Answer: I think they do, but you can never be sure what will take place in a war.

You need to understand that history is like the Potomac River down there. It is always flowing and changing. We may think things are stable but they really never are.

Karen Villa (R What made you so interested in the battle of Ball's Bluff in particular? Answer: I was assigned to research this battle as part of my master's degree program and I ended up writing the first book on the battle.

Griffen O'Brien (L) People say that they wear or fly the Confederate flag as a sign of Southern heritage. Other people get offended as they think the Confederate flag represents slavery. Do you feel that those people are justified in being offended at the Confederate flag? Answer: If the Confederate flag is part of historical displays it is just part of the mosaic of the history of our nation and I don't think people should be offended. If however a KKK person is flying the flag then they are making a political statement and one could easily be offended at that.

Andrew Radder (R) Clinton Hatcher was unable to carry a gun in this battle because of his religious beliefs, that is because he was a Quaker. But in his letter to his sister Mary Anna Sibert on May 29, 1861 he clearly states his violent feelings towards abolitionists. Can you comment on this? Answer: Hatcher was tired of Northerners being critical of the South and his home state of Virginia in particular so he wanted to participate in the war which is why ended up being a flag carrier and ended up getting shot and killed here.

Natalie Markin If the Union soldiers had different weapons would the outcome of this battle be different? Answer: Yes, the Union had old muskets that were dangerous. The blast from those muskets was so powerful it could send the soldiers on their backs. The Union did not have enough muskets so they had to get more from Europe.

Josh Renne During the Civil War the Union was fighting to preserve their nation. Today in Iraq it seems as though the Iraqi's are doing the same thing. What are your thoughts on this?

Mr. Holien, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Coles.

Karen and Vanessa show our appreciation to Mr. Phillips and Mr. Holien for a wonderful morning at Ball's Bluff Battlefield.