New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-12
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY.

ARLINGTON, Va, July q, 1861.
Capt B. Fry. A A. General Headquarters Department n f.
CAPTAIS: Having been appointed, by special orders
No. n Headquarters Department NORTHEASTERN Nir-
ginia Centreve July 49, 1851. CLef Of Artillery Of
the Corps d Aruee commanded by Brig. Gen. Mellow
ell and having served in that capacity during the bat
tie OF the 2lst inst, have the honor 10 submit the
following report:
The Aftilery of the Corps dAr1nee consisted of the
following named batteries: Ricketts, Light Company
l. let ArteryD six I0-pouDder Parrot rife guns Hunts
Light Company NJ, I'd Ariltry) -four hight l2Pounders
Caihlse's Company f, ID Artillery, two james -
pounder rifle guns, two 6pounder guns; Tidball8
light Company A, I'd Artillery two o-pounder gms,
two i2-pounder hOwiizers; Green's Company g, 2d
Artillery four l0-pounders Parrot rifle guns ArnOlds
Company ID, I'd Artillery two l3-pounder Jamess
rife guns, two 6-pounder guns; Ayres's Light Com
pany E. Sd Artillery two lOpounder Parrot rifle guns
two l2pounder howitzers, two 6-pounder guns; Grif
fms Battery d. 5tb Artillery four lO-pOunder Par
rott rife guns, two l2pounder howitzen; Edwards
80 FOUNDER Parrot rifle guns. The I'd Regiment
Rhode Island Volunteers had with 1t battery OF Fix
l3pounder Jamess rifle guns; the 7lst Regiment New
York Militia. two Of Dahlgrens boat howitzes, and
the Sth Regiment New-York Militia a battery Of six
6pounder guns. The men Of this last named battery
having claimed their discharge the day before the
battle because their term Of service had expired the
battery was thrown out of service.
The whole force of artillery, Of all calbers, was
therefore ~ pieces of which 2S ried guns. All
of these batteries fully horsed and equipped with
the exception of the two howtzers Of the 7lst Regi-
ment New. York militia, which were without horses,
and drawn by drsg-ropes manned by detachments
from the regiment. Gen. McDowell's disposition for
the march from Centreville the morning Of the 2st
iust. placed Iidballs and Green's batteries Is peces)
In reserve with the division Of Col Miles TO remain at
Centeville; Hunt and Edwardss 10 pieces with the
brigade of Col. Richardson, at Blackburns Ford; and
Carsles Ayres's and the 30pounder (l pieces) with
the division of Gen. Tyler, at the Stone Bridge; Rick
etts Grifins. Arnold'g, the Rhode Island, and the
- hoft apia1
main column, which crossed Bull Run at Sudey Spring
AS the column came In presence OF the enemy
after crossing Bull Run, received from Gen. Mellow
ell in person. directions 10 superntend the posting OF
the batteries they severay d6bouched from the road
and arrived from the field. The Rhode Island battery
came first upon the ground and took up at gallop the
position assigned it. II was Immediately exposed
TO sharp fire from the enemys skirnisheIS m and
in the valley in its immediate front, and TO
a wellsustained fire Of shot and shell from the
batteries posted behind the crest Of the range
of bills about 900 yards distant. This battery
tanned, very gallant manner, the whole force Of
this fire for nearly half hour when the howIzers OF
the 7lst New-York Militia came up, and went into
battery on it's left. few minutes aferward, Griffin
about 500 yards to the left Of the Rhode Island and
York batteries. Ricketts, battery up in less
than half an hour afterward, and was posleq 70 the
left of and immediately adjoining Grifins. The enc
my's right, which had been wavering from the moment
throughout it's whole extent and retire steadily his
batteries limberng up rapidly, and at galop taking
up tUccesvely two positions further 10 his rear.
The feo troops on left, following up the enemys
right soon left batteries ar IN our rear that
their fire was over the heads Of our own men. there
fore directed the Rhode leland battery to about
500 wards in of it's first position accompanied
myself and saw II open IRE with increased effect upon
the enemys still retiring right Returning 10 the posi-
ton occupied by Ricketts, and Grins batteries re-
ceived an order from Gen. Mcdowell TO advance two
batteries to eminence, specially designated oy NM
about 500 yards in front Of the line previously occupied
by the enemy's batteries therefore ordered these
two batteries 10 move forward at once and as soon as
they were In notion for and secured supports
the llth Fire Zouaves) and the l4th Brookyn) New
York Regiments. j accompanied the former regiment
70 guide to ts proper position, and Col Heintzeiman
18th United States Infantry performed the same SER
vice for the 18th the right OF the llth. squadron
OF United States Cavalry under Capt. Colburn, LIST
Cavalry was subsequently ordered additional sup
port. Wei swere soon upon the ground designated,
and the two batteries at oncs opened a very
effective hre upon the eDemy's left. The new
troop Of the eDemy's cavalry, debouching from a
piece of woods close upon our right flank charged
down upon the Eew-York 1Ith. The Zouayes CATCH
ing sight of the cavalry a few moments before they
were upon them broke ranks 10 such degree that the
cavalry dashed through without doing them much
harm. The Zouaves gave them q scattering fire as
they passed, which emptied five saddles and killed
three horses few minutes afterward a regiment of
the enemys infantry, covered by high fence, pre-
seuied itself in line on the left and front OF the two
batteries at not more than 60 20 yards distance and
delivered voley full upon tic batteries and their
supports, Lieut.. Ramsay, lst Artillery, was kils&