The crossing near Harrison’s Island teemed with activity as the sun rose on October 21. Col. Devens’ five companies of the 15th Massachusetts began crossing about midnight. With access to only three boats capable of collectively transporting only thirty men per trip, Devens’ entire force did not make it to the Virginia bank until 4:00 a.m. Once on Southern soil, Devens advanced to an open field, where he halted his men until Col. William Lee with his two companies of the 20th Massachusetts could arrive to provide support. As soon as it was light enough to see, Devens ordered his men to advance along the winding cart path. It did not take him long to discover that what Capt. Philbrick had thought were tents, in fact were only trees. According to Devens’ later testimony, “…at the head of the rise here was a single row of trees—I think of fruit trees…the light coming through between part of the branches of the trees gave very much the appearance of a row of tents.”
Leaving his men in the woods, Devens and Philbrick, together with a couple of scouts, quietly advanced to observe Leesburg. When they did not see any enemy, Devens sent an aide back to Gen. Stone informing him of the mistake and indicating he would remain in position until reinforced. Stone immediately ordered the remaining companies of the 15th Massachusetts across the river to Smart’s Mill, just north of the bluff to strengthen Devens for what now had become an expanded reconnaissance. Devens knew that a large boat, capable of carrying sixty to seventy men per trip, had been procured, so he was confident that at least 500 soldiers could be transported each hour.1
While Devens was discovering Phillbrick’s mistake, the feint at Edwards Ferry was underway as planned. Throwing out two companies of the 1st Minnesota as a skirmish line, Maj. John Mix approached the Leesburg Road with his troopers. Mix had two jobs. His first was to advance up the Edwards Ferry Road in order to draw Confederate attention to himself and away from the Ball’s Bluff raiding party, and his second was to reconnoiter toward Goose Creek. His was a very small force for such a dangerous mission. After proceeding about two miles along the Edwards Ferry Road, the Federal horsemen briefly engaged a group of Southern infantry, probably from the 13th Mississippi, and both sides opened fire with only about thirty yards separating them. Unsure of the size of the enemy force, and in accordance with his orders, Maj. Mix pulled his men back toward the ferry.2
About 8:00 a.m., meanwhile, Col. Devens learned that at least one company of Confederate infantry was on his right flank. The enemy was Company K of the 17th Mississippi, operating on picket duty near Smart’s Mill. When he learned of the crossing of 15th Massachusetts, the Southern company’s commander, Capt. William Duff, collected his men and moved between the Union force and Leesburg. What he did not know was that his forty men would soon be facing 300 Federals. When the two forces met each other, Devens advanced Company H under Philbrick to attack them, while Company A circled to the right to get into the rear of the Mississippians. Seeing Company H’s approach, and worried that he was outnumbered, Capt. Duff pulled his men back toward the road to draw the Federal attackers away from their supporting line. Duff’s men had been present at the Battle of Manassas and experienced some limited action there. Their yells to the Federals to halt were ignored. When the Bay Staters stepped within sixty yards, Duff ordered his men to open fire. The volley cut down a number of Federal troops.
Devens ordered Company G forward to reinforce Philbrick’s men on the front line. Before that company had moved far, however, Rebel cavalry was reported on its left. Fearing the troopers could cut off Philbrick’s men, Devens recalled them. Duff was also pulling his infantry back about this time. The little skirmish claimed one Federal soldier killed, nine wounded, and two missing; three Confederates fell wounded. Although it did not amount to much, the sharp little affair served notice to Col. Evans that Federals were moving inland from the river in some strength. The skirmish was also valuable for Devens, for it proved the enemy was aware of his presence and that he was now in a more vulnerable position.3