Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-08-22

south and get behind the enemy. Col.
Heintzelman's s division was to follow Hun
ter's as far as the turning off place to the
lower ford. where he was to cross after the
enemy should have been driven ont by
Hunters division. the Fifth division
Miles to be in reserve on the Centre
Vile ridge.
had felt anxious about the road from
Manassas by Blackbarn's Ford to Centre
vile. along this ridge. fearing that while
we should be in force to the front, and en-
deavoring to turn the enemy's position. we
ourselves should be turned by him by this
road; for if he should once obtain possess
ion Of this ridge. which overlooks all the
country to the west to the foot Of the spurs
Of the Blue Ridge. we should have been
irretrievably cut off and destroyed. / had.
therefore. directed this point to be held in
force. and sent an engineer to extemporize
some field works to strengthen the posi-
tion.
The Fourth Division (Runyon's) had
not been brought to the front further than
to guard onr communications by way OF
Vienna and the Orange anil Alexandria
Railroad. His advanced regiment was
about miles in the rear of Centreville.
The divisions were ordered to march at
half past o'clock, a. m, so as to arrive
on the ground early in the day. and thus
avoid the heat which is to be expected at
this season. There was delay in the frs,
division getting out of its camp on the
road. and the other divisions were. in con
sequence. two or three hours behind the
time appointed-a great misfortune. as
events turned out. The wood road lead
ing from the Warrenton turnpike to the
upper ford was much longer than we
counted on. the general direction of the
stream being oblique to the road, and we
having the obtuse angle on our side.
General Tyler commenced with his ar
tillery at half-past 6 a. m. but the enemy
did not reply. and after some time it be-
came question whether re was in force in
our front. and il he did not himself intend
to make an attack. and make it by Black
burns Ford. After firing several times,
and obtaining no response, l held one of
Heintzelman's brigades in reserve in case
we shoald have to send any troops bacl,
to reinforce Miles division. The other
brigades moved forward as directed in the
general orders. On reaching the ford. at
Sudley's Spring, ! found part Of the lead
ing brigade of Hunters division Burn
side's) had crossed, but the men were
slow in getting over. stopping to drink.
AT this time the clouds of dust from the
direction of Manassas indicated the imme
diatc approach of large force. and fear
ing it might come down on the head of the
column before the division could all get
over and sustain it. orders wero sent to
the heads Of regiments to break from the
column and come forward separately as
fast as possible. Orders were sent by an
officer to the reserve brigade of Heintzel
mans division to come by a nearer road
across the fields. an aid de- camp was sent
to Brig. Gen. Tyler TO direct him to press
forward his attack. as large bodies of the
enemy were passing in front of him to at
tack the division which had crossed over.
The ground between the stream and the
road running from Sudley's Spring south,
and over which Burnside's brigade march
ed, was for about a mile from the ford
thickly wooded. while on the right of the
road for about the same distance the coun-
try was divided between fields and woods.
About mile from the road the country
on both sides Ct the road is open. and for
nearlya mile further large rolling fields
extend down to the Wafrenton turnpike,
which crosses what became the field of bat
tie through the valley of small water
caurse. tributary Of Bull Run.
Shortly after the leading regiment ofthc
first brigade reached this open space. and
while others and the second brigade were
crossing to the front and right. the enemy
opened his fire. beginning with artillery,
and following il up with infantry. The
lea'ling brigade Burnside's) had to sus-
tain this shock for q short time without
support, and did it well. The battalion
Of regular infantry was sent to sustain it.
and shortly afterward the other corps of
Porter's Brigade. and a regiment detached
from Heintzelman's division to the left,
forced the enemy back far enough to al
low Sherman's and Keycs's Brigades, OF
Tyler's division, to cross from their posi-
tion on the Warrenton road. These drove
the right Of the enemy. understood TO
have been commanded by Beauregard,
from the front of the ield, and out OF the
detached woods. and down to tho road.
and across it up to the slopes on the other
side. While this was going on. Heintzel-
mans division was moving down the field
to the stream. and up the road beyond, =
Beyond che Warrenton road, and to the
left of Sudley's Spring. is hill with a
farm house on it. Behind this hill the
enemy had. carly in the day, some of his
most annoying batteries planted. Across
tie road from the hill was another hill, or
rather elevated ridge. or table land. eas .fs
The hottest part of the contest was for
the possession Of the hill. with house on
it. The force engaged here was Heintzel-
mans Division, Wilcox's aud Howard's s
Brigades on the right. supported by part
Of Porter's Brigade. end the Cavalry un-
der Palmer. and Franklin's Brigade of
Heintzeiman's Division. Shermsn's Brig
ade of Tyler's Division in the centre and
mp on the road, while Keyes's Brigade OF
Tylsr's Division was on the left. attacking
tho batteries near the Stone Bridge. Tie
Rhode IaaAd Battery OF Burnside Brig
sde also participated i'd the attack by its
fire from the north Of the turnpike. The
enemy WAS understood to have been co IN IN.
manded by j. +. Johnston. Ricketts,
Battery. whicifd9d such effective service.