The national Republican., 1861-08-14
Report IF Col. IIeintE.,rN
J. e. Fremont,
Mai lrr General Commanding.
IIENNlI NNTENS J1II.IU DTNT>TUN
DEPARTMENT n. T. VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT n. T. VIRGINIA
Washington, J"ly 81, 1861
To Capt. JAMES B. FEY, Assistant Ali't General |
SiH In obedience 10 Instructions received
on the 20th in'i0nt. the division under my
command was under arms, in light ma:ch'ng
order, with two dlys' cooked ruti0ns in their
haversacks. and commcnc Il the march II hall:
past Two A. VI. on the 2lst, The brigade Of Col
Franklin leading. followed by those of Coils.
Wilcox and Howard At Ccnr.vilc we found
the road lilled with troops. and were detained
three hours TO allow the divisions Of General
Tyler and Col. Hunter to pass. ! followed
With my division Immediately in the rear Of the
latter.
Between two and thre" mil'', beyond Ccatre
vile we lel the Warren'on turnpike turning
into u country road on 'hc right. Captain
Wright &C companird the head Of CJl. llurirrs
column. with directions to si"l, at 4 road which
turned 10 to the lett Ia ford across RuIl Run,
about half way between hs poiHi whcYt We
turned of from the ir.rnrik" arl Sudcy's
Springs. AT which latter point Col. Hunters
division was to cross. No such road was found
to exist. and about II 4 VI. we tOund our.
selves at Sudley. Springs, about ten miles
! from Centreville. with one brignd Gr Colonel
| Hunters division still On OlW side nt the IUn.
Before reaching this point the battle had com
menced. We could Fca the smoke riSing on
our left from Two points, q mile or more apart
Two clouds oi dust were seen, showing the Nd.
vance oil troops from the direction If Manassas
AT Sndley'S Springs. whilst waiting The pls-
sage Of the troops ul the div.iun in orr front.
ordered forward the first brigade 10 I'll their
cantccns. Before this WIS accomplished the
| leadiug regiments Of Col. Hunters division BE-
came engaged Gen. Mcdowell who accom-.
panied by his stan, hal passed ne short time
before sent back Captain Wright Of the cngi-
| n,,l Mai, Il,, all - 1 l., -. l.,
with orders " stu.l forward Two regiments to
prevent the enemy from oufianiing thcm
| Cant Wright led forward The Minnesota rcgi.
men, to the lrl' oi lh" road which crossed the
run al this point. NIGER Mcdowell led the
cluv nth Massachusetts up the road. | accom-
panied this regiment, leaving orders for the re-
mainder to follow, with the exception nf Ar
nold's battery, which snppoI cd by the first
Michigan was posted Il little below the cross
ing Of the run a. reserve
Alta little more than mile from the ford
We came upon The battlefield. Ricketts, battery
was posted on the hill 10 the right OF llunler's
division and TO the right OF the road Anrl
firing some twenty minutes at II battery Of he
Enemy, placed just beyond the crest Uf hill
OH their entrance left. the distance being G., II
,idered too great, II was moved forward to
within about 900 feet of the eneny's battery
Here the battery was exposed TO heavy fire
of musketry, which soon Disabled il. Franklin
brigade was posted on the right cf wood
, near the centre Of our line, and on ground
, rising towards the cnemy's position.
In the mean time sent orders for tue Xouaves
to move forward to support Rick'tt's battery
on the right AS soon as they came up | LED
them forward against ali Alabama regiment
partly concealed in Clump of small pines i,
!. an old isld. At the first fire they broke, ant
~ ~ the greater portion Of them fed to the rear
!. = keeping up desultcry firing over the head
% % OF their comrades in front, at the same tint
. . they were charged by q company of secession
3 cavalry on their. rear, who came by roa,
= through Two strips Of woods On our eXyem
y right. The fire Of the Louaves killed four au,
= wounded one, dispensing them, The discom
;s liture of this cavalry was completed. by lir
70 from Captain Collums company Of Unite
= States cavalry, which killed and wounded sey
y eral men. Colonel Farnbam, with some Of hi
- u officers and men, behaved gallantly; bu
20 the regiment of ZouPvcs, as regiment, d.
20 not appear again Oh the field. Many OF tn
IA men Joined other regiments, and did good SCI
~ vice us skrmisbers.
&c then led up the Minnesota regiment, " hic
was also repulscd, but retired In Ol-rably goo
order. 1t did good service iu the woods o
Il. our right flank, aLd was among the last 10 rt
tire, moving of the field with the third Unite
in States infantry. Next was led forward the fir
.o Michigan, which was ulsJ rcpulscd, and retire
M In considerable confusion. They were ralle,
he and helped 10 hold the woods on our righ
va The Brooklyn tonrtoentl then appeared on th
ground coming forward In gallant style
led them forward TO the lefi, where the Al
IL bRms regiment lad been posted in the ear
o. part Of the action but had now disappear
ch but soon came in sight Of the line OF tho enen
drawn up beyond the clunp Of trees Soc