Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-21
THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
Official Report of Colonel Heintzelman

b
HEADQUARTERS 81 DIV. DEPT n. f. Va, J
WASHINGTON, July 81, 1861 7
10 capt. u. B. Fry, asst Idjtttam General:
SIR: In obedience to instructions re.
ceived on the Goth inst, the division un-
der my co nmand was under arms, in light
marching order, with two days cook ed
rations in their haversacks, and cammen
ced the march ut half past two A. NJ. on
the 2lst, the brigade Of Colonel Frank lin
leading, followed by those of Colonels
Wilcox and IIoymd. At Centreville VIC
/ found the road filled with troops, and
were detained three hours TO allow the
divisions OF zen. Tyler and Col, Hunter to
pass. | followed with my division imme.
! diately in the rear of the latter.
Between two and three miles beyond
Centreville we left the Warrenton turn.
pike, turning into country road on the
right Captain Wright accompanied TIE
/ cad of Colonel Hunters column, with
! directions 10 stop at a road which turned
into the left to fore across Bull Run,
about half way between the point wheIe e
We turned off from the turnpike and Sud-
| ley's Springs, at which latter Point Colo
mel Hunters division was TO cross. No
such road was found to exist, and about
, eleven A, NJ, we found ourselves at Sud-
ley's Springs, about ten miles from Cen
treville, with the brigade of Col. dunters
division still on our side of the run. Be.
fore reaching this point the battle had
commenced. We could see the smoke
rising on our left from two points, a mile
or more apart. rwo clouds of dust we're
seen, showing the advance Of troops from
the direction of Manassas.
AT Dudley's Spiings, while waiting the
front, | ordered forward the FIST brigade
TO fill their cantcens. Before this was acs
complished the leading regiments of Col.
Hunters division became engaged. Sen.
Mcdowell, who, accompanied by his staff,
| had passed us n short time before, sent
back Capt, Wright, of the engineers, and
Major Mcdowell, one Of his aids, with
orders to send forward two regiments to
prevent the enemy frcm oulilanking them.
Capt. Wright led forward the Minnesota
regiment to the left of the road, which
crossed the run at ;li, point. Maj. Me-
Dowcll led the Eleventh. Massachusetts, up
the road | accompanied this regiment,
leaving orders for the remainder to follow
will. the exception OF Arnold's battery,
which, supported by the First Michigan,
was posted "A little below the crossing Of
the run as reserve.
At little moie than mile from the
ford we came upon the battle.h' Id. Rick
eits battery was posted on hill to the
right OF Hunters division, and to the right
OF the road. After firing about twenty
minutes at u battery Of the enemy, placed
just beyond the crest OF hill, on their
entrance left, the distance being consider,
cd too great it was moved forward to with
ia about 900 feet of the euemy's battery.
liele the battery was exposed TO a heavy
fire uf muskctry, which soon disabled it.
Frankln'S brigade was posted on the right
of II woods, near the centre of our line and
on ground rising towards the enemy's 20
sition.
In the meantime I sent orders for the
XOuay es to u owe forwarFto support Rick
ett's battery ON the right. As soon as they
came up led them forward against an
Alabama regiment, partly concealed in a
clump of small pines in an old field. AT
tie first fire, they broke, and the greater
portion Of them fed to rear, keeping Il
desullory fire over The heads Of their com4
radcs in font at the same time they
were charged by a company Of Secession
cavalry on heir rcarwho came by read
through two strips Of woods on our eXN
lrcme right. The fire Of the Zouaves kill.
cd four and wounded one, dispensing
them. The discontinue of this cavalry
was completed 10y a fire from Capt. Col
lum's company OF United States cavalry,
which killed and wounded several men.
Col. Farnham, with some Of his officers
and men, behaved calamity; but the res
rirnent of Zoulves, as regiment, did not
appear again or the field. Many OF the
men joined other regiments, and did good
service as Skirmishers.
/ then led up the Minnesota regiE ent,
which was also reTulsed, but retired IN
tolerably good order. 1t did good service
in the woods on our left flank, and was
among the last to retire, going oil the field
with the Third United States Infantry
( Next was led forward the First Michigan
which was also repulsed, and retired in
considerable confusion. They were raj
lied and helped to hold the woods on our
ripLt. The Brooklyn Fourteenth thrn
appeared on the ground, coming forward
, in gallant style. led them forward to
the left, where the Alabama regiment had
been posted at the early part OF the action,
but had row disappeared, but soon came
In sight of the line Of the enemy drawn
up beyond the clump of trees. Soon after
the firing commenced the regiment broke
ana ran. consi'leredit it useless to attempt
to rally them. The want OF discipline IN
these regiments was sogreat that the mos'
of The men would run from fifty to seven
hundred yards 10 the rear and continue
TO fre-fortunately for the brave ones
very high in the oir, and compelling those
| in front to retreat.
Daring this time Ricketts, battery hao
been taken and retaken three times 10y us
but was finally lost, most of the horses
having been killed, Capt. Rickets being
wounded, and First Lieu utenant d. Ramsey
killed. Lieut.. Kirby behaved very gall
lantly and succeeded in carrying OIL one
/ -. pofore this time heavy reinforce