The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-14
THE BATTLE At BULL RUN.
THE FIRST MINNESOTA REGIMENT IN CTION
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL aORMAN no ACTING
BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANKLIN.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST MINNESOTA Rsesssr }

| OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL aORMAN TO ACTING
BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANKLIN.
| HEADQUARTERS FIRST MINNESOTA REGIMENT
WASHINGTON, D. G., July "a, 1851. !
Colonel FRANKLIN, Commanding First Brigade Colonel
Hentzel.uan Division, N T.. Virginia.
SIR have the honor to communicate Colonel Of the
First Minnesota regiment OF Volunteers the events CON
neced with the movements Of my command comprising
| part Of your brigade
On Tuesday morning, the 10th inst In obedience to
your order, took up the line of march, and on the
evening Of Thursday arrived at Centrevlle and
owouacked until Sunday morning. the 2lst in
slant, at hafpast two O'Clock, when we
again took UP line of march, obedience to your
orders to meet the enemy then known to be In large
force between Bull and Manassas station Virginia
Our march from Centrevile Bull run was not marked
by any extraordinary event, my regiment leading tho
advance of your brigade. On arriving at Bull run the
baltic began to rage with great warmth with the advance
column OF infantry and artillery Of another division both
being holly engaged Here Captain Wright, OF tho mill.
tary engineers, serving aid upon the staff
Colonel Hoint2eman, commanding our division in.
formed mo that my regiment needed to flank
the enemy upon tho extreme left whcrcupon moved
forward at quick" and double quick time until we ar
rived at an open field looking out upon the enomys lines
After holding this position short time Captain Wright
by direction ordered through woods to take
position tho front and centre of the enemy ne in
an open field where under the direct ro of the
enemy's batteries, formed in "ooumn by DIVISION"
After remaining in this position for ten minutes
received orders from both your aids and those Colonel
Hemtzeman to pass the whole front of the enemy line
nsuppor of Ricketts, battery and proceed the ex
IRENE right Of our line and the left of the enemy dis
lance Of about mile
This movement was effected at "quick" and "double
quick time, both by the infantry and artillery during
which march the threw from their shoulders their
haversacSs blankets and most Of their ocns TO fac
tate their eagerness to engage the enemy On arriving
at the point Indicated being the extreme left OF tho
my and the extreme right OF our line ani in advance Of
all other OF our troops, and whore informed official
~ that two other regiments had declined 10 charge
formed line of battle, right ing within few feet
Of the woods and the lett at and around Ricketts,
battery and upon the crest OF the hill, within afty
sixty feet of the enemys line OF infantry, with
whom we could have readily conversed in ordinary
tone Of voice. Immediately upon Ricketts, battery
ing into position and we in "line Of battle" Colonel
lielntzeman rode up between our lines and that
OF the enemy within pistol shot OF zach which circum
stance staggered my Judgment whether thosc in front
were friends or enemies 1t being equally manifest that
the enemy in the dilemma to our identity
But Few seconds however, undeceved both, they dis
playing the rebel and we the Union flag Instantly
blaze OF fire poured into the faces Of the combaent
each producing terrible destruction owing TO the
| proximity OF tho forces, which was followed by
volcy after vollcy in regular and irregular to
time, until Ricketts, battery disabled and out to
pieces, and large portion Of its officers and men had
fallen and until Companies II, !, X, c. those i'm
medately surrounding my regimentai flag so des
peratey cut to pieces 10 make II Of slaughter
house than an ual comb g. the enemy anlletly nun
bcring five guns TO besides being ntrenched in
the woods and behind ditche and pits plainly perceptb!e
and with batteries upon the enemys right endlading my
left flank and within three hundred and fifty yards direct
range. After effort TO obtain aid from the Fire Xouayes
then Immediately upon our left, two three different
ders camo to retire. M was manifest that the
was loo deadly ana unequal to be longer ustiaby
tanned. Whercupon gave the command 10 retire seeing
that the whole OF our forces We're seemingly retreat
| kvcry inch OF ground, however, strongly con
| tested by skrmishers, through the woods by the
fences and over the unduating ground, until had
retired some four hundred yards in reasonably good
der to point where the could procure water
then took regular aud orderly retreat such point
as some general officer might indicate thereafter.
feel 1t duo TO my regiment to say that before leaving
the extreme right OF line the enemy attempted 10
make charge with body OF perhaps hve hundred ca
valry, who met by my command and part tho
Fire Louavos and rcpuscd with considerable loss to the
! enemy but without any to us.
am more than gratied Ia say that kept the larger
body Of my regiment together, and marched from the
field in order, and tie march and open space
where Colonel Hentzelman column left tho Centravile
and Manassas road in the morning. and passed to the
right, in conjunction with others, repused the
my's cavalry, who attempted Ia charge
Before leaving the field portion OF the right wing
owing TO the CONFORMATION OF the ground and intervening
woods became detached, under the command Lieu
tenant Colonel Miller, whose gaantry conspicuous
throughout the entire battle and who contested every
inch Of the ground with his forces thrown skrnis
in the woods and succeeded in occupying the original
ground the right after the ropusc OF body cavalry
deem worthy Of remark that during part OF the
gagemert my regiment that OF The enemy at some
points became ntermngcd rs scarcely to he able
distinguish friends from foes and my forces made
several prisoners, among whom was Lieutenant Col.
Boonc, Of Mississippi who is now in Washington and
fully recognizes his captors.
regard event of rare in the annals OF
history that regiment OF volunteers, not three
months in the service, marched up without ninclng
the mouth OF batteries of supported by thousands
OF infantry and opened and maintained fire until fifth
OF the whole regiment were killed, wounded, made
prisoners before retiring except for purposes ofadvanage
of position.
My heart is fun Of gratitude my officers men for
their gallant bearing throughout the whole OF this depe-
rate engagement, and to distinguish the merits
from another would he nvdious, and injustice might
done.
Major Dixie and my Adu,an bore themselves with cool
throughout. My chaplain, Roy. H. u. Neil, was
the field the whole time and the midst OF danger giving
aid and comfort to the wounded.
DR.. Stewart while the field, ordered the hos
nital by medical officer of the army; DIR. lie Bouier
continued with the regiment aud actually engaged in the
hght--ncither OF whom have been heard from since.
That have not unfairly upiustly TO the truth Of
history stated the facts in regard to the gallant con
duct OF my regiment. is fully proven by the appended
list Of killed and wounded showing forty killed one
hundred and seven wounded and thirty four missing;
the and companies TO which they belong in dota
will more fully appear in the accompanying lists and alb
stracts.
Among the incidents OF the engagement my command
took several prisoners, among whom was Lieutenant Colo
mel Boone of the Mississippi regiment taken personally
by Mr. Irvine, Of my regiments and said prisoners
confinement the Capitol az Washington city Mr. Irvine,
in company " th Hon Morton S Wilkinson United States
Senator from Minnesota visited him. when he promptly
recognized Mr. Irvine his captor and thanked him very
cordially fer his humane treatment and kindness to him
officially known, Lieutenant Colonel Boone OIL
Ger OF the highest rank taken in the battle.
The humble part which have performed officer
commanding Of the regiments Of your Brigade ind
viduay and otherwise is left to you and those
mandng the division. Respectfully,
W. A. GORMAN, Colonel First regiment Minnesota.
SUPPLEMENT TO The OFFICIAL, REPORT OF COLONEL
GoRMAN, OF TBE FIRST REGIMENT, MtNNosorA.
CAMP MINNESOTA, July &C. 1861.
The regmenta flag borne by my color bearer has
through folds ball. two grape shot and
bullets, and in the stall. The color guard
all wounded but the color bearer MORALLY The
pany flag OF Company was pisrced with five balls
and the spear head Please attach this 10 my
port. Very respectfully,
W. A. GORALAN Colonel First Regiment Minnesota.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY.
ARLINGTON, Va, July %, 1861.
Captain j. b. Fey, A. A. Genesai Headquarters Depart
ment n. T.. Virginia.
CArTAiY--Iaving becn appDnted by special orders No
Il Headquarters Department Northeastern Virginia ecu
trevie July 49, 1861 Chief Of Artillery Of the Corps
dArmee, commanded by pfigadier General Mcdowell
and having served in tba capacity during tho battle OF
the Zst inst, have The haaor 10 submit the following
! report: