Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-14
THE BULLS RUN BATTLE.
General vTcDoweII's Omeial Report
of The Enlargement.

Washington, ID. c.:
COLONEL II have the honor to submit
the following report of the battle of the 2lst
of July, near Manassas. Virginia. 1t has
been delayed till this time from the inability
of the subordinate commanders to get earlier
a true account Of the state of their CON-
mands.
ult., stated il as my intention to move that
afternoon, and drive the enemy from the east
side of Bulls Ran, so as to enable the engi-
neers to make sufficiently accurate recon-
noissauce to Justify our future movements.
Later in the day they had obtained enough
information of the passage across the stream
to dispense with this reconnaissance, and it
was decided to move without delay. 1t had
been my intention to move the several col
umns out on the road few miles on the
evening of the goth, so that they would have
a shorter march in the morning; but defer
red to those who bad the greatest distance to
go, and who preferred starting early in the
morning, and making but one move.
On the evening of the 10Th uit.. my COM
mand was mostly at or near Centreville- The
enemy was at or near Manassas, distant from
Centreville about seven miles to the SOUTH
west Centreville is village of few hous-
es, mostly on the west side Of a ridge rum
ming nearly north and south. The road from
Centreville to Manassas Junction was along
this ridge, and crosses Bulls Run about
three miles from the former place. The War
renton Turnpike, which runs nearly east and
west, goes over this ridge, through the viii
lage, and crosses Bulls Run about four miles
from it, Bulls Run having course between
the crossing from northwest to southeast
The first division (Tyler's) was stationed on
the north side of the Warrenton Turnpike,
and on the eastern slope of the Centreville
ridge, two brigades, on the same road, and q
mile and half in advance TO the west of the
ridge, and one brigade on the road from Cen
treville to Manassas, where it crosses Bulls
Run at Blackbu-n's Ford, where Gen. Tyler
had the engagement of the 18th ult. The
second division (Hunter's) was on the War
renton Turnpike, one mile east of Centre
Vile The third division (HeintZelman' 50
was sn a road known as the Old Braddock
road, which comes into CentreVilIe from the
southeast about mile and half from the
village. The fifth division (Miles') was on
the same road witt the third division and
between it and Centreville. map, which is
herewith, marked A, will show these posi-
tons better than | can describe them.
On Friday night train of subsistence ar
rived, and on Saturday its contents were or
dered to be issued to the command, and the
men required to have three days rations in
their haversaeks. On Saturday, orders were
issued for the available force to march. AS
reported to you in my letter of the 18th ult.,
my personal reconnaissance of the roads to
the south had showed that it was not practi-
cable to carry out the original plan of turn
ing the enemy's position on their right. The
affair OF the 18th at Blackburn's Ford showed
he was too strong at that point for us to
force passage there without great loss, and
if we did. that it would bring US in front of
his strong position at Manassas, which was
,of 1acira A nrrr info IL.
stone bridge, over which the Warrenton road
crossed Bulls Run, to the west of Centreville,
was defended by a battery in position. and
the road on bis side of the stream impeded by
a heavy abattis. The alternative, therefore,
was to turn the extreme left of his position
Reliable information was obtained of an I'M
defended ford about three miles above the
bridge, there being another ford between it
and the bridge, which was defended. 1t was
therefore determined to take the road to the
upper ford, and, after crossing, to get behind
the forces guarding the lower ford and the
bridge, and after occupying the Warrington
road east of the bridge, to send out force
to destroy the railroad at or near Gainesville,
and thus brake up the communication between
the enemySs forces at Manassas and those in
the valley of Virginia, before Winchester.
which had been held in check by Major Gen
eral Patterson.
Brig. Gen. Tyler was directed to move with
three of his brigades On the Warrenton road.
and commence cannonading the enemy's bat
teries, while Hunters division, moving after
him, should, after passing little stream call
ed Cub Run, turn to the right and north. and
move around to the upper ford, and there
turn south and get behind the enemy. Col
HeintZelman's division was to follow Hun
ter's as far as the turning off place to the
lower ford, where he was to cross after the
enemy had been driven out by Hunters divi-
sion, the Fifth division-Miles-to be in re-
serve on the Centreviiie ridge.
had felt anxious about the road from Ma.
nassas by Blackburu's Ford to CentreyilIe
along the ridge, fearing that whilst We should
be in force to the front, and endeayoring to
turn the enemys position, we ourselves
should be turned by him by this road for If
he should once obtain possession of this ridge,
which overlooks all the country to the west
to the foot of the spurs of the Blue Ridge, we
should have been irretrievably cut off and
destroyed. l had, therefore, directed this
point to be held in force, and sent an engi-
neer to extemporise some field works to
strengthen the position.
The Fourth division (Runyan's) had not
been brought to the front further than to
guard our communications by way of Wen
IA and the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
His advanced regiment was about seven
miles in the rear of CentreVille.
The divisions were ordered to march at
haff-past two O'Clock A. NJ, so as to arrive
on the ground early in the day. and thus
avoid the heat which is to be expected at
this season. There was delay in the first di-
vision getting out of its camp on the road,
and the other divisions were ih consequence
two and three hours behind the time appoint
ed-a great misfortune as events turned out
The wood road leading from the Warrenton
turnpike to the upper ford was much longer
than we counted Upon, the general direction
of the stream being Obiique TO the road, and
we having the obtuse angle on our side.
Gen. Tyler commenced with bis artillery
at halt-past six A. NJ, but the enemy did not
reply, and after some time it became ques-
ton whether be was in any force in our front,
and if he did not intend himself to make an
attack, and make it by Blackbarn's Ford.
After firing several times. aud obtaining no
response, held one of Heintzelman's brig
AIDES in reserve in case we should have to
send any troops back to reinforce Miles di-
vision. The other brigades moved forward
as directed in the general orders. On reach
ing the ford, at Sudley's Spring, found part
of the leading brigade of Hunters division
(Burnside's) had crossed, but the men were
slow in getting over, stopping to drink. As
at this time the clouds of dust from the di-
rection of Manassas indicated the Immediate
approach of a large force, and fearing 1t
might come down on the head of the column
before the division could get over and sus-
tain it, orders were sent back to the heads of
regiments to break from the column, and
come forward separately as fast as possible.
Orders were sent by an officer to the reserve
brigade of HeintZelman's division to come by
a nearer road across the fields, and an aid de
camp was sent to Brigadier-General Tyler TO
direct him to press forward his attack, as
large bodies OF the enemy were passing in
froat of him to attack the division which had
crossed over. The ground between the
stream and the road leading from Sudley's
Spring south, and over which Burnside's
brigade marched W as for about mile thickly
wooded, whilst on the right OF the road for
the same distance, the country was divided
between fields and woods. About mile