Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-08-03
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OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL. RICHARDSON, ACT
ING BRIGADIER GENERAL, 10 GEN. TYLER.

- Near Arlington, July rs, 1s0t.J
GeneTal-I have the honor to submit the fol-
owing report as to the operations Of nv brig
lde 10 front OF the enemy at Bull Run, on Sun. |
lay, July 81. On the night Of the 20sh of July |
was summoned 10 attend meeting of COM
nsnders of brigades, at the headquarters of the !
officer in the field, General Nc
Dowell, and, in common with the other com
msnders of brigades, was instructed what was
expected Of my particular command on the fol-
lowing dsy--that lie, ! was to defend the posi- !
ton which / then occupied in front Of the en-
emy, called the Blackburn Ford, and about one
mile in bis front, where we had been for the
lsst three days. 4 was also ordered to consider
myself under the command of Colonel D. S.
Miles, o. S. Army, who was to command his
own brigade at Centreville as well as my own
and that of Colonel Davies, midway betw cen
was then called the reserve. 1sat
Attached to my brigade was the field battery
Of Major Hunt, United States Army, aud also
the rifed battery of ten Founders, under Lieut..
Green, United States Army. l was to open
fire on the enemy for the purpose of making a
diversion, not before, but soon after hearing the
report of General Tyler's oannonade on my
right, to carry out whioh purpose made the
following disposition of the brigade: The two
batteries placed upon the ridge of the hill, in
view of the enemy; the Third Michigan infantry
on the left Of the road in line Of battle. Still
further, elk hundred yards to the left, on com.
manding hill, had placed the day before two
companies Of the First Massachusetts, regiment,
for the purpose of occupying log barn and
frame barn, which companies pushed pickets
still further to our left, for the security of that
point, which l considered good position for
artillery. In ravine, halfway between the
two positions, placed also company of the
First Massachusetts regiment, which pushed
pickets down the ravine TO its front; and on the
extreme right of all placed the balance of the
Massachusetts, regiment, in line of battle with
two companies OF that regiment pushed four
hundred yards to the right and front, which two
companies again threw pickets in advance.-
The New York and Second Michigan regiments
I placed in the road, five numbered yards in the
rear of the line, as reserve. #5.
Soon after making these arrangements, which
did on hearing the report of artillery on our
right, Col. Davies's brigade made its appear.
ance, with him at his head, and, inquiring of me
the date of my commission, found that he rank
ed me by two days, and he assumed the com
mand. That officer wished good position fol
artillery to open, and l Immediately proposed
the position on our left, near the leg house
from which good view of large stone house
called by the people Of the country the enemy
headquarters, might be obtained. Col. Davies
brought up with him the rifed twenty-pounde
battery of Lieut.. Benjamin, and ordered it Il
open fire Immediately. He directed alec Hunt
battery to his assistance, and ordered Green't
battery to open it's fire at the same time. Th'
enemy appeared to have Withdrawn his gun
from that position, as be returned no FIRE, or b,
might have been reserviDg his fire for the las
attack. An hours cannonadiDg, however
brought in view column of the enemy's intan
try, which observed with my glass, Of at leas
twenty-five numbered men, and soon two otbe
bodies of men, of at least q regiment each, VIII
now occupied the lines on the other side OF tn
run, which lines now appeared full to overflow
ing. sH. .. j ur1 tc o.
Supposing now that they intended to make
push across our front in column, or would or
deavor to turn our left, about ii A. M. l bega
to fortify my position by throwing up an earthe
parspet for three guns, with embrssures ecr0s
the road, snG commenced an absttis of timber
| by telling trees, pointing outwards, between th
battery and the log house to the left. ADor
this time the enemy on the opposite side or
peared to be falling back in confusion from ou
| right attack, which continued for some time
aud then the tide changed, and they seemed :
be returning in large masses. AT the iDtervs
between these two extremes, / was ordered b.
Col. S. d. Miles to throw forward my skirmish
ers and feel the enemy, and accordingly tw
companies of the Third Michigan Regimen
we're sent forward and down the ravine to cove
our front and advance. These were supporte
by Capt. Brutchschmeider's light infantry bal
talon, which also advanced down the ravint
accompanied by Lieut.. Prime, corps of Unite
states Engineers, who went for che purpose
ascertaining the enemy's position--he volur
teering his seryices for that particular pul
pose. Col. Davies also threw forward con
pany of skirmishers on bis right. The enemy
skirmishers were in force in the woods in from
and GOV cred themselves with trees and rife pit
which had been thrown up before. Our tu
advance companies were driven back, the en-
my pursued, and were in turn driven back
the spherical case shot of Green's batter
and ordered back the light infantry, and all
the two companies, TO their former position
The company in front of Col. Davies's COZ
; mand retired about the same time. By Eve
M. had the battery and the abattis near
completed, making my defenses as secure
the short time aud few implements used won
allow. No enemy appeared in force in my fro
with disposition to assault, but about this tin
heavy column of infantry appeared to the |,
of Col. Davies, in q ravine, moving up to {
attack. This brigade opened heavy fire up
them and gallantly drove them back, as he
formed me afterWard. During this firin
which was shortly after Eve O'Clock, receiy
orders from Col. Miles, through one of
staff, to retreat upon Centreville, and endeay
to hold that position. 1 Immediately collect
| together my brigade, and put 1t in motion
/, the road toward Centreville, and was at I
l head Of the Second Michigan Regiment, in rs
of the brigade, when staff officer proposed
me to throw my regiment in line, face tow,
the enemy, between the house occupied {
night before by Hunts battery and the Uni
and Centreyille road, upon which road /
enemy was supposed to be advancing. / b
gained position near the desired point, whe
!. was met by Col. Davies, who informed me Il
"a he had beaten the enemy handsomely 10 fro
! | told him l had been ordered back to Gent
= vile BY Col. Miles; that the rest of my brigs
9 had gone on, and that had been directed
4 60 to that point with my regiment, for the p
pose of facing the enemy there, which ! h
done, and Col. Davies went, as / supposed,
his brigade. Soon after this was met b
staff officer Of Gen. McDowell's, who told
to put my brigade in position on the left Of
road from Centreville to Blackburn's ford,
/, stretching towards the Union and Centrey
4 road, facing the enemy. Other troops had .
fallen back 70 this point--distant about q n
! from Centreville--and at about ak o'cl
4 P, M. Captain Alexander, of the Corps of
gineers, directed me, by order Of Gen, Med
ell, to take the general arrangement of
troops at that point in my own hands, he I
\. [gesting as q good line Of defense betwee
piece of woods on the right and one on the
- the line facing equally towards the enemy,
.o were supposed to be coming either on the Un
=. or the Blackburn road. ] Immediately forf
:. that line as best could Of the regiments n,
ed eat the position, plscing the men 10 the ravil