Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-06


of July. 1851.
of Bull Run, (which preceded the more gen
eral action at Manassa,) on the 18th july
has been received at the War Department.
The report of the battle of the 2lst is ex
pected to follow soon
HEADQUARTERS 1sT CORPS ARaY OF THE !
Potomac, MANAssA, August 1861.
General With the general results of the
engagement between several brigades of 10,
command and considerable force of tn
enemy, in the vicinity of Mitcheli's ant
Blackburn's Fords of Bull Run, on the 18tl
ultimo, you were made duly acquainted a
the time by telegraph. but it is my piac,
now to submit in detail the operations of tha
day.
Opportunity informed of the determination
of the enemy to advance on Manassa, my ad
vanced brigades, on the night of the 10th O.
July, were made aware from these headquart
ers of the impending movement, and in exact
accordance with my Instructions copy OF
which is appended, marked ga" their with.
drawal within the lines of Bull Run was eff
fected with complete success during the day
and night of the 18th ultimo in face of, and
in immediate proximity to, largely superior
force, despite well planned, well executed
effort to cut off the retreat of Bonham's bri.
gade-first at Germantown, and subsequent.
ly at Centreville, whence he withdrew by nv
direction, after midnight, without collision
although developed on three sides by their
lines. This movement had the intended effect
OF deceiVlng the enemy, as to my Interior pur.
poses, and led him to anticipate an unresjst.
ed passage of Bull Run.
As prescribed. in the first and second Sec
tons of the paper herewith, marked "a, -
on the morning of the 18th of July, my
troops resting on Bull Run, fl om Union Mills
Ford TO the Stone Bridge, distance of about
eight miles; were posted as follows:
Ewell's Brigade occupied position in vi
cinity of Union Mills Ford. 1t consisted of
Rodes' 9th and Seibel's 9th Regiments. of
Alabama, and Seymour's 9Th Regiment of
Louisiana Volunteers, with four 12-pouuder
Howitzers, of Walton's Battery, and Harri-
sons, Green's and Cabell's Company of Vir-
ginia Cavalry.
d. r. Jones' Brigade was in position in
rear of McLean's Ford, and consisted of
Jenkins 5th South Carolina, and Bunt,s
18th and Fethertone's 18th Regiments of Mis-
sissippi Volunteers, with two brass 6-pound-
er guns of Walton's Battery, and one com
pany of Cavalry.
Ford, aud consisted of Moore's First. Gar
lands Eleventh and Cose's 18th Regiments
Virginia Volunteers, with two s-pounder
brass guns of Walton's Battery.
Bonham's Brigade held the approaches to
MItchell's Ford; it was composed of Ker-
shaw's I'd, Williams Sd, Bacon's 9TH and
Cash's 9Th Regiments South Carolina Volun-
teers; OF Shields and Del. Kemper's Batter
les, and of Floods, Radford's, Payne's, Balls,
Wickman's and Powell's Companies of Vir-
ginia cavalry, under Col Radford
- d. l. u
in vicinity of the Stone Bridge, and consist
ed of Wither's 18th, Lieut.. Col. Strange's
18th, and r. T. Preston's 18th Regiments,
with Latham's Battery and one company of
Cavalry, Virginia Volunteers.
Evans held my left flank aud protected the
Stone Bridge crossing, with Sloane's 4th Reg
iment South Carolina volunteers, Wheats
special Battalion, Louisiana volunteers, four
6-pounder guns, and two companies of Vir-
GINA Cavalry.
Early's Brigade, consisting of Kemper's
9TH, Early's 24th Regiment of Virginia Vol
unteers, Hays 9TH Regiment Louisiana Vol
unteers and three rife pieces of Walton's
Battery. Lieutenants Squires', at first, were
held in position in the rear of, and as a SUD-
port to, Ewell's Brigade, until after the de-
velopment of the enemy, in heavy offensive
force, in front of Mitchell's and Blackburn's
Fords, when it was placed in rear of, and
nearly equi-distant between McLean's, Black
burns, and Mitehelps Fords.
Pending the development of the enemys
purpose, about ten (l0) o'clock, A. NJ, l es-
tablished my headquarters at a central point,
McLean's farmhouse, near to McLean's and
Blackburn's FOrds, where two six-pounders
of Walton's Battery were in reserve; but,
during the engagement, L took
post to the left of my reserve.
Of the tODOpranhical features 0f tho c0un-
try thus occupied, it must suffice to say that
Bull Run is a small stream, running, in this
locality, nearly from West to East, to its con-
fiuence with the OccOquan river, about
twelve II from the Potomac, and draining a
scope of country from it's source
in Bull Run Mountain, to short distance of
the Potomac at Occoquan. At this season,
rapidly and frequently swollen by the sum-
mer rains until unfordable. The banks for
the most part are rocky and steep, but
abound in long used fords. The country on
either side much broken, and thicky wooded,
becomes gently rolling and open as it recedes
from the stream. On the Northern side the
ground is much the highest and commands
the other bank completely. Roads traverse
and intersect the surrounding country in al
most every direction. Finally, at Mitchell's
Ford the stream is about equi-distant between
apart.
On the morning of the 18th, finding that
the enemy was assuming threatening atti-
tude, In addition to the regiments, whose po-
sitiOns have been already stated, ordered
up from Camp Pickens, as reserve, in rear
of BOnham's Brigade, the effective men of
of Kelley's Eighth Regiment Lou
siana Volunteers and Kirkland's Eleventh
Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, which
having arrived the night before en- route tor
had halted in view of the ex-
isting necessities of the service. Subsequent
ly, the latter was placed in position to the !
left of Bonham's Brigade.
Appearing in heavy force in front of Bon
ANS position, the enemy, about meridian,
opened fire with several 20-pounder rife guns
rom hill, over one and a hatf miles from
Bull Run. At the same time Kemper, sup
ported by two companies of light infantry,
occupied ridge on the left of the Contre-
Vile road, about six hundred yards in adj
vance of the Ford, with two six-pounder
smoothly guns. At first the firing of the en-
,my was at random, but by half past II P.
~, be had obtained the range of our posi-
ion, and poured into the Brigade heavy
hower of shot, but without injury to US in
men, horses or guns. From the distance,
however, our guns could not reply with eff
ect, and we did not attempt it, patiently
waiting more opportune moment.
Meanwhile light battery was pushed for
ward By the enemy, whereupon Kemper
brew only six solid shot, with the effect of
irving back both the Battery and its sup
porting force. This is understood to have
,een Ayres' Battery, and the damage must
AVE been considerable to have obliged such
| retrograde movement on the part OF that
,fficer.
The purposes of Kemper's position having
low been fully served, his pieces and support
we're withdrawn across Mitchell's Ford, to a
POINT previously designated, and which COM
handed the direct approaches to the ford.
About half-past IL O'Clock, A. NJ, the enc
ny was also discovered by the pickets of
.ongstreet's Brigade advancing in strong
columns of infantry, with artillery and cav
dry, on BIackburn's Ford.
At meridian the pickets fell back, silently,
before the advancing fire across the ford,
ghich-as well as the entire southern bank
Of the stream. for the whole front of Long