The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-30

COLONEL RICHARDSON'S OFFICIAL REPORT
TO GENERAL TYLER.

CAMP THH FOURTH BRIGADE or TYLER DivsIoEl
AND GENERAL MCDOWELL q CORPs,
NEAR ARLINGTON, July 25, 1861
ofnERA-I have the honor to submit the following re.
port to the operations Of my brigade in front of the
enemy at Bull run, on Sunday July 81 On the night Of
the Goth Of July was summoned TO attend meeting OF
commanders Of brgade at the headquarters Of the
manding officer in the Acld General Mcdowell and in
common with the other commanders OF brigades, was
instructed what was expected Of my particular command
on the following dayhat is was TO defend the position
which then occupied in front of the enemy called the
Blackburn ford and about mile his front, where
had been for the last three days also ordered
consider myself under the command OF Colonel H. s. Miles,
United States Army who to command his brigade
at Centrevlle well my and That OF Colonel Da
vies midway between the two these three brgadcs
stung what then called the Attached to
my brigade was the field battery Of Major Hunt, United
Army and also the rcd battery Of ten pounders
under Lieutenant Green, United States Army Twas to
open fire the enemy for the purpose Of making diver
sion not before, but after hearing the report Of
General Tyers cannonade my right carry which
purpose made the following disposition Of the brigade
The two batteries placed upon the ridge Of the hill
view Of tho enemy; the Third Michigan infantry the
left of tho road in line of battle Still further six hun
bred yards TO tho left commanding hill had placed
the day before two companies Of the First
regiment for the purpose Of occupying log barn and
frame barn. which companies pushed pickets still further
left for the security of that point which considered
good position for artillery In rayinc halfway between
the two positions placed also company of the First
Massachusetts regiment which pushed pickes down the
ravne to its front and the right OF all placed
the balance OF tho Massachusetts, regiment in line of bat
tc with two companies Of that regiment pushed -four hun
dred yards to the right and front which two companies
again threw pickets in advance. The New York and
Second Michigan regiments placed in the road five hun
ia
making these arrangements, which did on hearing tho
report Of artillery our right Colonel Davies brigade
made its appearance with him at its head and nqurng
of me the date of my commission found that he ranked
me by two days, and he assumed the command. That
officer wished good position for artillery to open, and
Immediately proposed the position our left, near
tho log house, from which a good view Of large
stone house, called by the people of the country
the cnemy's headquarters, might be obtained Colonel
Davies brought up with him tho rined twenty FOUNDER
battery Of Lieut. Benjamin and ordered it to open fire
Immediately. He directed also Hunts battery to his
ssance and ordered Green's battery TO open its fire
the time The enemy appeared to have withdrawn
his guns from that position he returned fire. he
might have been reservng his ro for the last attack
An hours cannonading, however, brought in view
coulin Of the enemy's infantry, which observed with
my glass, of at least twenty five hundred men, and
after two other bodies of men Of at least regiment
each who occupied the lines the other side of the
rum which lines now appeared full to overlooking Sup
posing that they intended TO make push
front in column would endeavor to turn left about
eleven A. NJ began to fortfy my position by throwing
up earthen parapet for three guns with embrasures
across the road and commenced an abattis OF timber by
Telling trees, pointing oatwards, between this battery and
the log house TO the left About this time the enemy on
the opposite side appeared to be falling back in confusion
from our right attack, which continued for time,
and then the tide changed and they seemed TO be return
ing In large masses At the interval between these two
extremes was ordered by Col. D. S. Miles to throw
forward my skrmshors and feel the enemy and accord
ingy two companies OF the Third Michigan regiment
sent forward and down the ravinc, to front
and advance These were supported by Capt. Brutch-
schmeiders light infantry battalion which also ad anced
down the ravne accompanied by Lieut. Prime, corps Of
United States Engineers who went for the purpose OF
asccraining the enemys pos!liOn-he volunteering his
services for that particular purpose. Col Davies also
threw forward company of ssirmishers his right
The enemy's skrmshers in force in the woods In
'front.' and covered themselves with trees and rife pits
which had been thrown up before. Our two advance
companies were driven back, the enemy pursued, and
in turn driven back by the spherical shot Of
Green's battery and ordered back the light infantry
and also the two companies to their former position The
company in front of Col Davies command retired about
the same time BY five p NJ. had the battery and tho
abatts nearly completed, making my defences
the short time and few implements used would allow
No enemy appeared in force in my front with dispo
sition to assault but about this time heavy column Of
infantry appeared to the left of Col Davies, in ravnc
moving up the attack This brigade opened heavy fire
upon them, and calamity drove them back, as he
Informed mo Afterwards. During this firing, which
was shortly after 1--WE O'Clock, I received orders
from Colonel Miles, through Of his staff TO retreat
upon Ccntrevllc, and endeavor TO hold that position
Immediately collected together my brigade and put il in
motion on the road towards Centrevle and was at the
head Of the Second Michigan regiment in Of the
brigade when staff officer proposed to me to throw my
regiment in line, face towards the enemy between the
house occupied the night before by Hunts battery and
the Union and Centrevo road upon which road tho
enemy supposed To be advancing had ganeda posi-
hon the desired point when met by Col Davies
who informed me that be had beaten the enemy handsome
ly in front told him had been ordered back to Centre
vile by Cosnel Miles, that the Of my brigade had
gone and that had been directed to go 10 that point
with my regiment for the purpose Of facing the enemy
there, which had done, and Colonel Davies went, as
to his brigade Soon after this was met by
staff officer of General McDoweils who told to put my
brigade in position the left OF the road from Centre
vile to Blackburn's ford and stretching towards the
Union and Ccntrevie road facing the enemy Other
troops had also fallen back to this pontdstsnt about
a mile from Centrevie-and at about six O'Clock p. NJ.
Captain Alexander of the Corps Of Engineers directed me-
by the order of General Mcdowell to take the general
rangement Of the troops at that point In my own hands
he suggesting good line Of defence between piece Of
woods on the right and one the loft the line facing
equally towards the enemy, who supposed TO be
coming either on the Union or the Blackburn road. Inne
datey formed that line best could Of the regiments
nearest the position, placing the in the ravines and
the artillery, much possible the hills in the
of the infantry Before Captain Alexander gave me this
last direction learned Colonel Miles had altered the
position Of regiments which had plnred before
especially the Third Michigan regiment, which had
dered to form close column by division, to remain as
reserve and await further orders from me- The officer
in command of the regiment at that time Lieutenant CO.
lionel Stevens Colonel Mcconnell being unwe but the
ground) Immediately executed that order and put his
regimen, in close column went to other part Of
the field and on returning found this regiment deployed
in line of battle, and in another position. Immediately
inquired of Colonel Stevens the reason of their position
beng altered He told me that Colonel Miles had directed
this movement. / asked him why? Colonel Stevens
replied, II do not know, but he had confidence in
Colonel Miles" inquired the reason why? Colonel
Stevens answered, "Because Colonel Miles is drunk
That closed the Colonel stevens back
with his regiment TO form close column by division
at first then reported to Captain Alexander that had
been nteriered with in my disposition Of the troops dur
ing the day, and could not carry out General McDowcls
orders long as was ntericred with by drunken
Captain Alexander then answered that General Mcdowell
now vested the whole disposition Of the troops with me-
and that I must use my own Judgment went to place
tnDth prh IN n "a M nv