While on my way up to Fall In! I decided to check out the Balls Bluff Battlefield as I just read about it in passing while learning more about Antietam. I spent some time reading plaques and walking the trails on a beautiful autumn day.
The trails were well marked and if you strung a few together you could get a decent hike. The ground is very hilly and in some areas quite steep so watch your step! This battlefield is a regional park inside the NOVA Parks (Northern Virginia) system.
Despite being a regional park the signs are consistent with other National Battlefields and they provide a very detailed account of the forces and the movements of the troops at the battle.
The park has informational signs on the timeline of the battle and individual regiments.
The view of the Potomac from the top of Balls Bluff and from the bottom. Pretty soon I was across the Potomac and on my way to Fall In!
Balls Bluff National Cemetery is located at this Battlefield as well. 54 Union soldiers are interred here, all but one of them are unknown. There is also a marker for Colonel Edward Baker, a close friend of President Lincoln, who was killed in action at this location.
This is a terrific battlefield. It’s small size and plentiful signs make it so you can easily learn everything you need to know about the battle in an afternoon. If you are local the paths are very nice and are a terrific place to get some outside time in. I would love to go back and spend a little more time, but even with the need to beat the traffic forcing me to leave after only a little over an hour I got to see a lot of what I wanted. If you are in the area, or just driving through, I highly recommend a stop!
-Wachtmeister
The Wachtmeister's Patrol 