Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-08-22
THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
GEN. .McDOwELL'S OFFICIAL REPORT
OF THE ENGAGEMENT.

ARLrseTcS, Va, August 4, 1861. !
Lieutenant. Colonel f.. d. Townsend. As
sistant AJiufam General, Headquarters
efMe Army. Washington. ID. C.
COLONEL: ! have the honor TO submit.
the following report of the battle Of the
2lst of July. near Manassas. Virginia
1t has been delayed until this time from
the inability of the subordinate comman-
ders 10 get earlier true account of the
state of their commands.
In my communication to you Of the 10Th
olt.. l stated it as my intention to move
that afternoon. and drive the enemy from
the east side of Bull Run, so as to enable
the engineers to make sufficiently accu-
rate reconnaissance to Justify our future
movements. Later in the cay they had
obtained enough information Of the pas
sa-e across :he stream to dispense with
.nfs reconnaissance. and it was decided
without delay. 1t had been my intention
to move the several columns out on the
road few miles on the evening of the
Goth, so that they would have shorter
march in the morning: but / deferred to
those who had the greatest distance to go.
and who preferred starting early in the
morning. and making but one move.
On the evening of the goth ult., my
command was mostly at or near Center
vile. The enemy was at or near Manas-
sas. distant from Ccntrevilc about seven
miles to the southwest. Centreville is a
village of few houses. mostly on the
west side of ridge running nearly north
and south. The road from Centreville to
Manassas Junction was along this ridge.
and crosses Bull Run about three miles
from the former place. The Warrenton
Turnpike. which runs nearly east and west.
goes over this ridge through the village.
and crosses Bull Run having course be-
tween the crossing from northwest to
southeast. TIE first division (Tylcr's J
was stationed on the north side of the
Warrenton Turnpike. and on tho east slope
of the Centreville ridge: two brigades on
the same road, and mile and half in
advance. to the west of :he ridge. and one
brigade ON the road from Centrevillc to
Manassas. where it crosses Ball Run, at
Blackburn's Ford, where Gen. Tyler had
the engagement on the 18th ult. The
second division Hunter's) was on the
Warrentons Turnpike. one mile east oi
Centreville. The third division (Heintz-
,-elman's) was on road known as the Old
Braddock Road. which comes into Centre
vile from the southeast, about mile and
half from the village. The fifth divis.
ion (Miles's) was on the same road with
the third division. and between it and Cen.
treville. A map which.is herewith, mark
ed A. will show these positions better than
can describe them. s.l. sssaa
On Friday night train. of subsistence
arrived. and on Saturday its contents were
ordered to beissued to the command. and
the men required to- have three days ra-
tions in their haversacks. On Saturday
orders wore issued for the available force
to march, As reported to you in my let.
ter OF the 18th nlt.. my personal reconnoi-
sance Of the roads TO the south had shown
that it was not practicable to. carry out the
original plan of turning the enemy's po-
sition on their right. The affair of the
18th at Blackbnrn's Ford showed he was
too strong atthat point for us to, force a
passagethere without great. loss, and il
did that it would bring us in. front of
his, strong position at Manassas. which
was not desied. Our g information was
that the stone bridge. o~er which the
Warrenton road crossed Bnll Run. toathe
west of Centreville,l wss defended by a
battery IN. position. and the road on ,sthis
side OF the stream was impeded by b heavy
absttis. The alternative was, therefore, TO