Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-09-13

the picked light artillery Of the Federal regular AZ
: my, company HE,n Sd artillery, under Capt Ayers
with an armament, their own chief of artillery
{ admits, Of two l0-pounder Parrot rifle guns two
t l2-pounder howitzers and two 6-pounder pieces
aided by two 20-pounder Parrott rifle guns of com.
pany &C." 9th artillery under Lieutenant Benjamin
Thus matched they drove their veteran adversares
from the field giving confidence in, and promises Of
the coming efficiency of that brilliant arm of our
} service.
Having thus related the main or general results
and events of the action of Bull Run In conclusion
it is proper to signaze Of those who contrib
uted most to the satisfactory results of that day.
Thanks are due to Brigadier Generals Bonham
and Ewell, and to Col. Cooke and the officers un-
der them for the ability shown in conducting and
executing the retrograde movements on Bull Rum
directed in my orders of the 9Th July--movements
on which hung the fortunes of this army.
/ Brigadier General Longstreet, who commanded
immediately the troops engaged at Blackburn s
Ford on tho 2Sth equalled my confident expecta-
tons, by his presence at the right place at the right
moment among his men, by the exhibition OF char
acteristic coolness and by his words of encourage
ment to the men of his command, lie inspired
confidence and spirit that contributed largely to the
success of our arms on that day.
Col. Early brought his brigade into position, and
subsequently into action, with judgement and at the
proper moment He displayed capacity for COM
mand and personal gallantry.
COL Moore, commanding the lst Virginia volun-
teers, was severely wounded at the head of bis re-
giment, the command of which subsequently de-
volyed upon Maj. Skinner Lieut.. Col Fry having
been obliged to leave the field in consequence of
sun-stroke
An accomplished, promising officer, Maj. Carter
H. Harrison, llth regiment Virginia volunteers, was
lost to the service. While leading two companies
of his regiment against the enemy, he fell, twice
shot. mortally wounded
Brigader General Longstreet, while finding on
all sides alaerty ardor and intelligence, mentions
his special obligations to Colonels Moore Garland
and Corse commanding severally regiments of his
brigade, and to their field officers Lieut.. Cols Fry,
Funston and Munford, and Majors Brent and Skin
ner of whom he says: "They displayed more cool
ness and energy than is usual among veterans of
the old service" Gen. Longstreet also mentions
the conduct of Capt. Marye, of the 18th Virginia
Volunteers, as especially gallant on one occasion in
advance of the ford.
The regiments of Earlys brigade were command
ed by Col Harry. Hays and Lieut.. Coils. Williams
and Harrison; who handled their commands in ac-
ton with satisfactory coolness and Skill supported
by the field officers, Lieut.. Col De Choissul and Ma
jor Penn, of the 7th Louisiana, and Major Patton,
of the 7th Virginia Volunteers.
! The SKILL the conduct, and the soderly qualities
of the Washington Artillery engaged, all that
could be desired. The officers aud men attached
to the seven pieces already specified won for their
battalion distinction which, feel assured, will nev-
er be tarnished and which will ever serve to urge
them and their corps high endeayer Lieut. Squires
worihily commander of the battery necessarily
absent from the immediate field, under orders in the
sphere of his duties but the fruits Of his discipline
zeal, instruction and capacity artillery COM
mauder, were present, aud must rebound to his
reputation. %
On the left, at Mitchells ford while no serious
engagement occurred the conduct of all was emf
nently satisfactory to the general officers in com
mand.
1t is due, however, to Colonel J. l.. Kemper Vir-
glnia forces, to express my sense OF the value of
his services in the preparation for the execution of
the retreat from Fairfax Courthouse, on Bull Run
Called from the head of his regiment, by what ap-
peared to me imperative need of service, TO take
charge of the superior duties of the Quarter
Department, with the advance at that critical juno
ture, he accepted the responsibilities involved, and
Was eminently efficient.
For further information touching officers and in
dividuals of the First Brigade and the details of
the retrograde movement have TO refer particular
ly to the report of Brigader General Bonham here
! with.
1t is proper here to state that while from the out
set it had been determined, the approach of the
enemy in force, to fall back and fight him on the
line of Bull Run; yet the position occupied by Gen.
Ewells brigade, if necessary, could have been main
tanned against largely superior force. This was
especially the with the position of the 5th Ala
bama Volunteers, Rhodes, which that excellent Off
Ger had made capable of a resoute, protracted de-
fence against heavy odds. Accordingly, on the
morning of the 7th ultimo when the enemy ap-
peared before that position they were checked and
held at bay with some confessed loss, in skirmsh
in advance of the works, in which Major Morgan
and Captain Shelly, 5th Regiment Alabama Volun-
teers acted with intelligent galantry and the post
was only abandoned under general but specific i'm
perative orders, in conformity with long-conceiv-
ed, established plan of action and battle.
>, Capt. e. P. Alexander Confederate States Engin-
eors, fltunately Joined my headquarters in time to
introduce the system of new field signals, which,
under his skilfull management, rendered me the
m st imp rt mt service preceding and during the en-
Igagement.
? The medical officers serving with tie regiments
engaged were at their proper posts and discharged
their duties with satisfactory skill and zeal; and on
one occasion at least under an annoying fire, when
Surgeon Cullen, lst Regiment Virginia Volunteers
was obliged to remove our wounded from the hos
pital, which had become the special target of the
enemy's rifle guns, Notwithstanding il sur
mounted by theusual yellow hospital flag, but which
however, hope, for the sake Of past associations
was ignorantly mistaken for Confederate flag. The
name of each individual medical officer cannot
= mention.
i On the day of the engagement was attended by
my volunteer Aides-de-Camp, Coils. Preston, Man
ming, Chestnut Miles Chisholm, and Hayward, o.
South Carolina, to all of whom am greatly indebt
ed for manifold essential services in the prelimina
ry arrangements for the occupation and maintenance
Of the line of Bull Run.
Col, Thomas Jordan, A. Ajutant General; Captain
a @. H. Smith, Asst Ajutant General; Col. s. Jones
Chief of Artillery and Ordnance; Surgeon Thoma.
H. Williams, Medical Director, and Asst Surgeon
+ Brolie Medical PNrveyor, of the general staff at
tached to the Army of the Potomac, were neccessa
rly engaged, severaly, with their responsible duties
y at my headquarters at Camp Pckens which they
dischared with an energy and intelligence for which
| have to tender my sincere thanks.
MeSsrs. Mclean, Wilcoxen, Kincheloe and Braw
ner, citizens Of this immediate vicinity, 1t is thei
n due to say have placed me and the country under
great obligation for the information relative to thi
:, lragion which has enabled me to avail myself o
"a its defensive features and resources. They wer,
flu"d ever ready to give me their time withou