The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-14
The Michigan First at Bull Run.

Roberts company III the lst r. giment and de-
scribes things as he sau them The reade. will
see how false is the assumption thas the New
York Zouaves fought more desperately than
c'hers. Mr.. Farrand declares that thew. the
Michigan LIST, and New York c9,h. We're min
gled together, and fought promiscuously ihro'
all the fercest Of the conflict. He was .O one Of
EN- and had two guns struck and ruined in
his hands.
No person could see all the battle; and thus
letter-writers disagree in many things but Mr.
f. states only what came under his own obser-
walton, and therefore reliance may be placed in
his record. He says Bull Run was several
miles from the field of battle.
Commencing with the attack he says: In the
first charge upon the masked battery. in line Of
battle the 69th New York were in front. then
the Zouaves and in the rear the lst Michigan.
Rising to the top of the hill. about thirty rods
from the rebels. we fired, intending to fall back
little and load as previously ordered. Just
then this order was cOuntermanded. and we
were ordered to rush on, unloaded. This new
order was imperfectly understood and pOr-
ton fell back; upon which all did the same.
but not more than two or three rods creatiD g
some disorder but We were in no sense driv-
en- back" After loading, we rushed forward,
crossed a road, deep ditch and fence, de-
scendng the hill, firing as We advanced. BY
the time we reached the foot of the hill-the
rebels having fallen back-ihe men of the three
regiments were mingled together, every man
trying to get in front, as though fighting on his
own hooks The din Of battle was so terrific
that no orders could be heard. Wewere in this
position nearly stationary perhaps half an hour.
We then changed. not to retreat, but to take
up a new position. more to the right, to get at
those who were firing at us from that quarter.
We were not followed by the enemy on the
left. We were in this vicinity, constantly en-
gagged, between four and five hours; though il
did not seem an hour.
Ricketts, battery of eight guns was stationed
On the right of our division and was taken by
the rebels. A portion of all three of the regi
ments, without any orders, rushed prOmiscu
ously to re,ake the battery. which was done
Here was some hand to hand fighting. The
horses were all killed, or had run away, and We
could not take OF the guns, till the rebels raj
lied with an increased force, and. after spiking
the guns, we fell back to our former position.
Facing again to the rebels L saw them falling
back, trying to draw away gun into which
had myself driven a spike but ere they had got
il many rods our bullets had made such havoc
that they abandoned it.
In few moments l saw two rebels advanc-
a flag. which be was in the act of planting by
the gun. The man standing next TO me and the
rebel riieman drew upon each other, and both
fell at the same moment, killed as believe, by
each Other. Al the same time / took DELHI
crate aim at the flag bearer, and be fell "a
fred.
BY the time i had reloaded, another rebel
was Selling the flag, and he too fell as l fired.
Two more fell at this point in similar manner
as fast as l could load. Twas some fifteen rods
comrades, though in other parts of the line 9th
ers were in advance.
At this moment the black horse cavalry made
its appearance Oblquely from the right-all
the while the masked battery, as well as in
fantry, was pouring upon us fearful fire OF
peared GOO strong. upon the full gailop car
bine in hand, our firing for the moment mostly
|ceased-each man reserving his charge to re
ceive them with suitable honors.
The horses of the cavalry were all black or
grey. Their front showed line of perhaps ten
rods. Our fire was reserved until the left OF
their front was within five or six rods of our
right, when we poured continuous volley at
them killing most of the horses in front and
many on their sides. AS they fell, pitching
their riders to the ground, those following fell
over them and from our bullets, and in FIVE
minutes we had sent them probably four thou
sand pills. and they lay piled upon each other.
a mangled, kicking, struggling. dying mass of
men and horses-a sight of horror, to which no
description could do Justice! Our aim was
mostly at the horses; and l doubt not many
more of the men were killed by the horses than
by our bullets.
The story that all this fighting was done
by the ZOuaves is false. The three regiments
were mingled together, and all fought equally
we'll. l here speak what l know, for / was d.
rectly in front of the cavalry. and nearly in the
centre. 1t was the general opinion that not
over half dozen of the cavalry escaped alive,
though there may have been more.
During this brief but horrible work the
masked battery and large bodies of infantry
were pouring their fire into our ranks. and our
men were falling on every hand. We again re
turned their fire, and soon after, Lieut.. Mauch
having been struck down, and two others as
sisted him back, and on returning, we found
our men still standing their ground.
Soon after this, flag of truce was raised BY
the rebels twenty or thirty rods in our front
and our fire slackened. Immediately the white
flag fell, and our colors were raised. We knew
not what TO make of it at the moment. unless
they were about TO surrender, but supposed af-
forwards the design was to lure US into a more
deadly range of their batteries. In few min
utes the rebel flag only was again flying in their
place. The contest ragged for time longer.
when the firing of the rebels ceased and we
supposed the victory was ours. The rebels
were seen to fall back. but very soon Johnsou's
army was seen approaching. We had fought
necessarily for four or FIVE hours. without food
or drink, almost exhausted at the beginning
our ranks were thinned and broken. we saw no