Exhilaration and Anguish at Ball’s Bluff By MI Digital March 2, 2017February 13, 2022 By James A. Morgan and Ken Fleming The Battle of Ball’s Bluff was the result of a faulty reconnaissance report made by an inexperienced officer. On the evening Oct. 20, 1861, Capt. Chase PhiSubscribe or log in to read the rest of this content.