James B. Fry, A. A. G to E.D. Townsend, July 15, 1861

Richmond, Va., July 15, 1861.

Brig. Gen. J. B. MAGRUDER, Commanding, &e., Yorktown, Va.:

GENERAL: I have had the gratification of receiving your letter of the 13th instant, containing Major Hood’s report of his brilliant skirmish with the enemy on the 12th instant, and of submitting it to the President. Will you express to Major Hood and the gallant. men who were engaged in the affair the pleasure which their conduct has given both myself and the President.

Respectfully, R. BE. LEE, General, Commanding.

Breer a. Cuar. IX.] RECONNAISSANCES FROM ALEXANDRIA, VA. 299

JULY 14, 1861.—Reconnaissances from Alexandria, Va. Report of Col. Thomas A. Davies, Sixteenth New York Infantry.

Hpqrs. SECOND BRIGADE, FirrH DIvIston, Alexandria, Va., July 14, 1861.

Sir: In pursuance of your verbal order of yesterday, I made a reconnaissance on the Fairfax road, seven miles out, and on the Richmond road about ten miles, and on the Mount Vernon road as far as Mount Vernon. The pickets on the Fairfax road captured a newly-painted ambulance, containing a set of harness and two bags of buckwheat. On the curtain on the inside was distinctly written in pencil, “John Hughes, Fairfax.”

The picket on the Richmond road saw three horsemen, who, by a dexterous turn, evaded a shot from the picket. The picket on the Mount Vernon road, in its diligence, discovered on the premises of one John A. Washington, formerly a resident and still an occupant of a large estate near Mount Vernon, what was supposed to amount to eight thousand pounds of bacon and seventy-five barrels of fish. The officer in charge of the picket was informed that these provisions were to be sent for to-night (July 14) by some person who was to convey them and the negroes on the plantation to the Southern Army. On this representation he took into possession three horses, and the negroes harnessed up one four-mule team to a wagon and one two-mule team to a wagon, and got in to the number of ten, of their own accord, and drove to my camp. Deeming the transaction of sufficient consequence to merit my individual attention, and supposing that I might capture the force sent to convey these provisions away, Il immediately ordered out three companies of the Sixteenth Regiment, and, taking the two teams referred to and two others, proceeded to capture the provisions and bring them to camp. On arriving at the plantation, I proceeded to make inquiry and ascertain if such an amount of provisions was really upon the place. ‘I could not find anything like the quantity of bacon—not more than sufficient, in my judgment, to carry on the operations of the plantation, whatever might have been there in the morning; but I found twenty-five barrels more fish (one hundred in all) than were at first represented. On looking the whole matter over, whatever may be my individual views as to the contiscation of the property of rebels, who are using it and its income to overthrow the Government, I consider that the case was not sufficiently plain to authorize me to retain the mule-teams, or seize upon the fish aud bacon, although their owner is well known to be an officer high in rank in the rebel army and now in active command.

As to the negroes, there being no law or orders directing me either to cause them to remain at home or to prevent them from volunteering to do team duty in my brigade, I shall allow them to remain until otherwise directed. I, however, have placed a guard over the provisions, the mules, and the wagons on the estate, and shall await your orders. for their disposition.

THOS. A. DAVIES, Colonel, Comdg. 2d Brig., 5th Div., Troops N. EB. Army Virginia.

To Colonel MILEs,

Comdg. 5th Div. Troops, Dep’t of Northeastern Virginia.

Colonel Davies has been instructed to immediately withdraw his pickets to within a proper distance in front of his brigade, to respect

OPERATIONS IN MD., “PA., VA., AND W. VA. (Cuar. IX.

private property, and to send back to the farm the negroes his troops drought away. »

D. S. MILES, Colonel Second Infantry, Commanding Fifth Division.

JULY 16-22, 1861—The Bull Run, or Manassas, Campaign, Virginia.

July 16, 1861.—Advance of the Union Army. 17, 1861.—Skirmish at Fairfax Court-Honuse.

Skirmish at Vienna. Confederate Army retires to line of Bull Run.

18, 1861.—Action at Blackburn’s Ford.

Skirmish at Mitchell’s Ford.

18-21, 1861.—Confederate forces under General Johnston re-enforce General

21, 1861.—Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas. 21, 22, 1861.—Retreat of the Union Army.

. Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell, commanding U. S. forces, of operations, July 1620, with orders for movements, and return of troops.

. Col. Orlando B. Willcox, First Michigan Infantry, commanding Second Brigade,

Third Division, of skirmish at Fairfax Court-House.

. Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler, Connecticut Militia, commanding First Division, of

action at Blackburn’s Ford.

. Col. Israel B. Richardson, Second Michigan Infantry, commanding Fourth

Brigade, First Division, of action at Blackburn’s Ford.

. Organization of the Union Army, July 21, 1861.

Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. Army, commanding United States forces. Maj. John G. Barnard, U. S. Corps of Engineers, Chief of Engineers. Capt. Daniel P. Woodbury, U. S. Corps of Engineers.

. Lieut. Frederick E. Prime, U. 8. Corps of Engineers. . Capt. Henry F. Clarke, commissary of subsistence, U. §. Army, of the subsistence of the Army from July 15 to 21.

. Lieut. George Bell, acting commissary of subsistence, U. 8. Army, of the subsistence of the Army from July 16 to 22.

2. Lieut. James Curtis, acting commissary of subsistence, U.S. Army, of the subsistence of the Army from July 16 to 22.

3. Lieut. John P. Hawkins, acting commissary of subsistence, U.S. Army, of the

subsistence of the Army from July 16 to 22.

. Surg. William S. King, U. S. Army, Medical Director.

5. Maj. William F. Barry, Fifth U.S. Artillery, Chief of Artillery.

. Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler, Cennecticut Militia, commanding First Division.

. Col. Erasmus D. Keyes, Eleventh U. 8. Infantry, commanding First Brigade,

First Division.

Col. Charles D. Jameson, Second Maine Infantry.

Brig. Gen. Robert C. Schenck, U. S. Army, commanding Second Brigade, First Division.

Capt. J. H. Carlisle, Second U. S. Artillery.

Lieut. John M. Wilson, Second U. S. Artillery.

* Relating specially to the battle of Bull Run, when not otherwise indicated. ~~

ied ; ~ Cuar. 1X.] THE BULL RUN CAMPAIGN. 301

22. 23. 24, . Col. William T. Sherman, Thirteenth U. S: Infantry, commanding Third BrigLieut. Stephen C. Lyford, First U. 8. Dragoons. Lieut, Edward B. Hill, First U. 8. Artillery. Lieut. William D, Fuller, Third U. 8. Artillery.

ade, First Division.

3. Capt. James Kelly, Sixty-ninth New York Militia. . Capt. Romeyn B. Ayres, Fifth U.S. Artillery. . Col. Israel B. Richardson, Second Michigan Infantry, commanding Fourth

Brigade, First Division.

. Bvt. Maj. Henry J. Hunt, Second U.S. Artillery.

. Lieut. John Edwards, Third U. 8. Artillery,

. Col, David Hunter, Third U. 8. Cavalry, commanding Second Division.

. Col. Andrew Porter, Sixteenth U. 8S. Infantry, commanding Second: Division

and First Brigade, Second Division.

. Col. George Lyons, Eighth New York Militia.

. Maj. J. J. Bartlett, Twenty-seventh New York Infantry.

. Maj. George Sykes, Fourteenth U. S. Infantry, commanding battalion. Maj. John G. Reynolds, U. S. Marine Corps, commanding battalion.

. Maj. Innis N. Palmer, Second U. 8. Cavalry, commanding battalion.

. Capt, Charles Griffin, Fifth U.S. Artillery.

. Col. Ambrose E. Burnside, First Rhode Island Infantry, commanding Second

Brigade, Second Division.

. Maj. Joseph P. Balch, First Rhode Island Infantry.

. Lieut. Col. Frank Wheaton, Second Rhode Island Infantry.

. Lieut, Col. Frank 8. Fiske, Second New Hampshire Infantry.

. Col. Samuel P. Heintzelman, Seventeenth U. 8. Infantry, commanding Third

, Col. William B. Franklin, Twelfth U. 8. Infantry, commanding First Brigade,

Third Division.

5. Lieut. Edmund Kirby, First U. 8S. Artillery. . Col. O. B. Willcox, First Michigan Infantry, commanding Second Brigade,

Third Division.

. Col. J. H. Hobart Ward, Thirty-eighth New York Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, Third Division.

. Maj. Alonzo F. Bidwell, First Michigan Infantry.

. Lieut. Col. Addison Farnsworth, Thirty-eighth New York Infantry. ° . Capt. Richard Arnold, Fifth U. 8. Artillery.

. Col, Oliver O. Howard, Third Maine Infantry, commanding Third Brigade,.

Third Division.

. Maj. Henry G. Staples, Third Maine Infantry.

. Col. Hiram G. Berry, Fourth Maine Infantry.

. Col. Mark H. Dunnell, Fifth Maine Infantry.

. Col. Henry Whiting, Second Vermont Infantry.

. Col. Dixon §. Miles, Second U. 8. Infantry, commanding Fifth Division. Col. Louis Blenker, Eighth New York Infantry, commanding First Brigade,.

Fifth Division,

. Col. Thomas A. Davies, Sixteenth New York Infantry, commanding Second

Brigade, Fifth Division.

. Lieut. Col. Samuel Marsh, Sixteenth New York Infantry.

. Col, Calvin E. Pratt, Thirty-first New York Infantry.

. Lieut. Oliver D, Greene, Second U. S. Artillery.

2. Col. William R. Montgomery, First New Jersey Infantry:

. Findings of the Court of Inquiry on conduct of Colonel Miles,

4. General G. T. Beauregard, commanding Confederate Army of the Potomac, of

operations from July 17 to 20.

‘No. 65. Col. Thomas Jordan, Assistant Adjutant-General, Confederate forces, of operations July 18 and 19. _No. 66. Brig. Gen. M. L. Bonham, C. 8. Army, commanding First Brigade, of retreat from Fairfax Court-House and skirmish at Mitchell’s Ford. No. 67. Col. J. B. Kershaw, Second South Carolina Infantry, of retreat from Fairfax Court-House and skirmish at Mitchell’s Ford. No. 68. Co]. J. H. Williams, Third South Carolina Infantry, of retreat from Fairfax Court-House and skirmish at Mitchell’s Ford. ‘No. 69. Col. Thomas G. Bacon, Seventh South Carolina Infantry, of skirmish at Mitchell’s Ford. No. 70. Lieut. Col. John W. Henagan, Eighth South Carolina Infantry, of operations July 17 and 18. No. 71. Col. E. B. C. Cash, Eighth South Carolina Infantry, of operations July 18 and 19. No, 72. Col. R.C. W. Radford, Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry, of operations of cavalry brigade from July 17 to 20. No. 73. Capt. Del. Kemper, Alexandria Light Artillery, of retreat from Fairfax CourtHouse and skirmish at Mitchell’s Ford. No. 74. Col. R. E. Rodes, Fifth Alabama Infantry, of skirmish at Fairfax Court-House. No. 75. Brig. Gen. David R. Jones, C.S. Army, of operations at McLean’s Ford. 6. Brig. Gen. James Longstreet, C.S. Army, of action at Blackburn’s Ford. 7. Col. Jubal A. Early, Twenty-fourth Virginia Infantry, of action at Blackburn’s Ford. No. 78. Maj. John B. Walton, Washington Artillery, of operations July 18. No. 79. Lieut.C. W. Squires, Washington Artillery, of action at Blackburn’s Ford. No. 80. Organization of the Confederate forces combined at the battle of Manassas. No. 81. General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding Confederate Armies of the Shenandoah and of the Potomac, of operations from May 23 to July 22, with order of battle. – No. 82. Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, C. §. Army, commanding First Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah. No. 83. Col. J. E. B. Stuart, First Virginia Cavalry. No. 84. General G. T. Beauregard, C. S. Army, commanding First Corps, Army of the Potomac, with resulting correspondence. No. 85. Maj. John B. Walton, Washington Artillery. No. 86. Brig. Gen. M. L. Bonham, C. §. Army, commanding First Brigade, First Corps. No. 87. Col. W. W. Kirkland, Eleventh North Carolina Infantry. No. 88. Col. J. B. Kershaw, Second South Carolina Infantry. No. 89. Col. J. H. Williams, Third South Carolina Infantry. No. 90. Col. Thomas G. Bacon, Seventh South Carolina Infantry (including action at Mitchell’s Ford). No. 91. Col, E. B. C. Cash, Lighth South Carolina Infantry. No. 92. Col. R. C. W. Radford, Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry. No. 93. Lieut. Col. T. T. Munford, Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry, commanding squadron. No. 94. Capt. Del. Kemper, Alexandria Light Artillery. No. 95. Brig. Gen. Richard 8. Ewell, C. 8. Army, commanding Second Brigade, First Corps. No. 96. Brig. Gen. Dayid R. Jones, C. 8. Army, commanding Third Brigade, First Corps. No. 97. Col. W. S. Featherston, Seventeenth Mississippi Infantry. No, 98. Col. E. R. Burt, Eighteenth Mississippi Infantry. No. 99. Col. M. Jenkins, Fifth South Carolina Infantry. No. 100. Brig. Gen. James Longstreet, C. S. Army, commanding Fourth Brigade, First. Corps.

No. 101. No. 102. No. 103. No. 104, No. 105. No. 106. No. 107. No. 108. No. 109.

No. 111. No. 112. No. 113. * No. 114. No. 115. No. 116. No. 117. No. 118. No. 119.

Sui IxX] = THE BULL RUN. CAMPAIGN. 303

Col. M. D. Corse, Seventeenth Virginia Infantry.

Col. Eppa Hunton, Eighth Virginia Infantry.

Col. R. E. Withers, Eighteenth Virginia Infantry.

Col. Robert T. Preston, Twenty-eighth Virginia Infantry.

Col. William Smith, Forty-ninth Virginia Infantry.

Capt. John §. Langhorne, Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry.

Capt. H. G. Latham, commanding section of artillery.

Capt. Arthur L. Rogers, Loudoun Artillery.

Col. Jubal A. Early, Twenty-fourth Virginia Infantry, commanding Sixth Brigade, First Corps.

Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans, C. S. Army, commanding Seventh Brigade, First Corps.

Col. J. B. E. Sloan, Fourth South Carolina Infantry.

Capt. W. R. Terry, commanding troop of cavalry.

Capt. George 8. Davidson, commanding section of artillery.

Capt. John D, Alexander, commanding Campbell Rangers.

Brig. Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes, C. 8. Army, commanding reserve brigade.

Col. Wade Hampton, commanding Hampton (South Carolina) Legion.

Field return of First Corps, Confederate Army of the Potomac, July 21, 1861.

Troops of the First Corps engaged in the battle of Manassas.

Troops of the ‘Army of the Shenandoah,” or Second Corps, engaged in the battle of Manassas.

Strength of the Union Army, as estimated by the Confederates.

Casualties in the Confederate Army of the Potomac.

Return of captures and abstract of prisoners.

Capt. John F, Lay, commanding squadron of cavalry, of operations July 18 and 21.

Capt. Edgar Whitehead, Radford Rangers, of pursuit on July 22.

Congratulatory proclamation of Generals Johnston and Beauregard.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell, commanding U. 8. forces, of operations from July 16 to 20, 1861, with orders for movements and a return

of troops. GENERAL wet Hpgrs. Dep’r N. HE, VIRGINIA, No. 17. Arlington, July 16, 1861. The troops will march to the front this afternoon in the following

order :

1, The brigades of the First Division (Tyler’s) will leave their camps in light marching order, and go as far as Vienna, the Fourth Brigade (Richardson’s) taking the road across the Chain Bridge, and by way of Langley’s, Louisville, and Old Court-House; the others by the Georgetown turnpike and Leesburg Stone roads. The order of march of the several brigades to be arranged by the division commander.

2. The Second Division (Hunter’s) will leave their camps in light marching order, and go on the Columbia turnpike as far as the Little

River

turnpike, but not to cross it, the Second Brigade (Burnside’s)

3. The Third Division (Heintzelman’s) will leave their camps in light marching order, and go on the old Fairfax Court-House road, south of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, as far as the Accotink, or the Pohick, if he finds it convenient; the brigades to march in the order the division commander may direct.

4, The Fifth Division (Miles’) will proceed in light marching order, by the Little River turnpike as far as Annandale, or to the point where the road leads to the left to go into the old Braddock road (so called), which runs between the Little River turnpike and the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.

5. The brigades of the several divisions will be put in march in time to reach their respective destinations by dark.

6. The reserve will be held in readiness to march at the shortest notice, and will, on and after the 17th instant, keep constantly a supply of cooked rations on hand for two days.

7. Brigadier-General Runyon, commanding the reserve, will have command of all the troops not on the march to the front, including those in the fortifications and camps. He will, to-morrow, send two regiments up the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to aid the railroad managers in rebuilding it in the shortest possible time, the commanding officers to conform to the plans of the principal ‘managers.

8. Brigadier-General Runyon will guard the Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad as far as the present camps of the Ohio Volunteers, and the Orange and Alexandria Railroad as far as it is or may be repaired.

9. The regiment now in Fort Corcoran, the Twenty-eighth New York; the Twenty-fifth New York, at Roach’s; the Twenty-first New York, at Fort Runyon, and the Seventeenth New York, at Fort Ellsworth, will not be removed from their present stations except in 4n emergency.

IJ. On the morning of the 17th the troops will resume their march after daylight in time to reach Fairfax Court-House (the Third Division, Sangster’s) by 8 o’clock a. m.

1. Brigadier-General Tyler will direct his march so as to intercept the enemy’s communication between Fairfax Court-House and Centreville, moving to the right or the left of Germantown, as he may find most practicable. On reaching the Centreville turnpike he will direct the march of his leading brigade either upon Centreville or Fairfax CourtHouse, as the indication of the enemy may require. The Second Brigade will move on the road in the direction not taken by the First. The rear brigades will be disposed of by the division commander as circumstances may require. Should he deem it best, a brigade may be sent on Fairfax Court-House direct from Flint Hill.

2. The Second Division (Hunter’s) will (after the road shall be cleared of the Fifth Division) move on the direct road to Fairfax Court-House by the Little River turnpike.

3. The Fifth Division (Miles’) will turn off from the Little River turnpike and gain the old Braddock road, which it will follow to its intersection with the road from Fairfax Court-House to Fairfax Station, where it will turn to the right and move on the Court-House.

4, The Third Division (Heintzelman’s) will move by the best and shortest of the roads to the south of the railroad till he reaches the railroad at Sangster’s. He will, according to thie indications he may find, turn his Second and Third Brigades to the right, to go to Fairfax Station or to the front to support the First Brigade. He may find it necessary to guard the road coming up from Wolf Run Shoals and the one leading to Yates’ Ford.

Ill. The enemy is represented to be in force at Centreville, Germantown, Fairfax Court-House, and Fairfax Station, and at intermediate places, and on the road towards Wolf Run Shoals. He has been obstructing, as far as possible, the roads leading to Fairfax Court-House, and is believed on several of these to have thrown up breastworks and planted cannon. It is therefore probable the movements above ordered.

Nhs ie wi fe ry per ; “ ¢ ; ir 1X.) ‘THE BULL RUN CAMPAIGN. 305

may lead to an engagement, and everything must be done with a view

to this result.

The three following things will not be pardonable in any commander: 1st. To come upon a battery or breastwork without a knowledge of its position. 2d. To be surprised. 3d. To fall back. Advance guards, with vedettes well in front and flankers and vigilance, will guard against the first and second.

The columns are so strong and well provided that, though they may be for a time checked, they should not be overthrown. Hach is provided with intrenching tools and axes, and if the country affords facilities for obstructing our march, it also gives equal facilities for sustaining

ourselves in any position we obtain.

Troops will march without their tents, and wagons will only be taken with them for ammunition, the medical department, and for intrenching tools. A small baggage train for each brigade, to take the camp-kettles, mess-pans, and mess kits, and the smallest allowance of personal baggage of the officers and men, will follow the divisions the day after they march. ‘This train will consist of from twelve to fifteen wagons.

A subsistence train will follow at a day’s interval the First Division from Fort Corcoran and Vienna.

The national color must be kept continually displayed, and, if possible, small national colors should be placed on the cannon of the batteries.

Division commanders will see that the axmen and engineers at the

_ head of the columns (and men of the ordnance guard) are well provided

A See Pet Ri : 4

and in condition to work efficiently. When there are no ax-slings, the

_. axes will be carried and the muskets will be slung.

Department headquarters will be with the Second Division, on the Little River turnpike. Division commanders will communicate with them by every opportunity.

By command of Brigadier-General McDowell:

FArRPFAXx Court-HovuskE, July 17, 1861.
Lieut. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdgqrs. of the Army, Washington:
We have occupied Fairfax Court-House, and driven the enemy towards
Centreville and Manassas. We have an officer and three men slightly
wounded. The enemy’s flight was so precipitate that he left in our hands
a quantity of flour, fresh beef, intrenching tools, hospital furniture, and