Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-08-02
The First Fight at Bulls Run--Inter-
estins Details of the Conflict,

eSt1nS Details OF the Conflict
A correspondent of the n. 7. Herald give
full and exciting account of the fight witt
the rebel batteries at Bulls Run on Thursda
18th. The National troops consisted of poi
t ions of all the regiments composing Colone
Richardson's brigade, viz: The First Massa
chusetts, Second and Third Michigan, an,
Twelfth New York.
At IL O'Clock on Thursday morning, Ger
Tyler proceeded TO make reconnaissance il
force, with Capt Ayres' Qate Sherman's) BAT
terry, four companies Of cavalry, and Col
Richardson's brigade, composed as above sta
ted. Advancing up the road to Bulls RuI
for about two miles, the column came to al
opening, after passing through a long stretcl
of timber, when sight was caught of stron,
body of the enemy. Gen. Tyler immediatel,
ordered Capt. Ayres' battery to advance an,
open -or,--them, which they did from a com
manding elevation.
Eight shells had been thrown, wfea sudden
ly u volley was fired upon US from hiddei
battery, about mile down the road Som
of the enemy's grapeshct struck among tn,
cavalry, that had in the meantime been draw
up in body on hill, killing two horses and
wounding two of the troopers. Two more
shots were then fred by the rebels, to which
our rihed pieces responded with about fft,
shot and shell, directed wherever trace oi
the enemy was visible. Two of Parrots ri
fed twenty Founders then came up, and imme
diately joined in the action. The Parrot gur
is made of trimmed wrought iron, with rife
bore With single pound of powder they
throw shell Of twenty pounds two and 1
half miles.
The enemy having retreated into the woods
our batteries stopped firing, and the Second
Michigan was ordered to deploy as skirmish
ers on the left of the road, and advance into
the woods. They gallantly moved on, and
having entered the timber, they had hardly
been out Of sight five minutes when lively
exchange Of musket shots took place fol
few minutes. Suddenly succession o
whole volleys, evidently discharged by large
bodies Of men. were fred.
The remainder of Col Richardson's brig
ade was then ordered ahead. The three regi
ments advanced toward the woods, and drew
up in battle array in front and on the right
of the timber. Meantime, the exchange O
musket shots continued in the liveliest style
in the woods. Companies G and II of tht
First Massachusetts Regiment, and some com
panies of the Twelfth New York Volunteers
were then also ordered into the timbers; and
at the same time the cavalry and two howit
zers advanced to the edge of the woods, the
firing in the timber being kept up in the in
terval.
Our howitzers then threw some grapcsho
into the timber, when at once a terrific serie:
Of vollcys of musketry was poured out from
the woods upon the troops outside. AT the
same time battery commenced playing upor
us from an elevation in the rear Shot oi
every description few about US for some min
utes like hail but it being, fortunately, aim
ed too high, hardly any one was struck out
side the woods.
A retreat was now ordered, when infantry
cavalry and artillery fell back behind our bat
terry OH the hill. The Twelfth New York anC
portion of the First Massachusetts broke
ranks and scattered in different directions, il
their hasty retreat for some distance through
the woods in the rear Of the battery. The re
mainder Of the brigade formed behind tbt
battery.
AT this juncture, Col Sherman's Thirt
brigade, headed by the Sixty-Ninth New
York regiment, appeared. Our battery agaiI
opened, and kept up raking fire for nearly
an hour, which was vigorously replied to by the
enemy. Their balls and shells struck the
houses in front of which the battery was sta
toned, several times, and raked the woods II
the rear for nearly a mile. Some o
their shot were picked up, and proved to b,
from Ilotchkiss' rifle cannon. After can
nonade of about an hour retreat was order
ed, and our entire force fell back to Cenrte
vile.
Onr troops fought under great disadvan
tage. Not one rebel ventured out of tht
woods during the action. The affair was no
an attack, but merely reconnaissance to dis
cover the position and strength of the enemy
The strength of the force on our side actu
ally engaged, was not more than eight hun
dred men, consisting Of detachments of thret
companies, each from the First Massachusetts
Twelfth New York Volunteers and Sccont
Michigan. This small force made almost thr
entire fight, with about five thousand mon
| t hat being the estimated number of the rebels
1t is stated that the battery of the rebels wa
finely secreted. The small Union forc
against them stood the fire for nearly thret
| hours
Col Cowdin's horse was struck by sPen
ball, disabling him. The Colonel dismounteI
and, with sword in hand, went to the head o
the three companies detailed from his regimen
and led them on gallantly. My infOrman
says that Colonel Cowdin and his men behav
ed with great GOODNESS and bravery. Those
who witnessed their movements speak in th'
highest praise of the gallantry of our men,
The fire Of the rebels is spoken of as being
equal to that of the regulars.
Gen. Beauregard commanded at the rebe
discovered, and General McDowell's conpli
ments were sent to it in the shape of one o
james projectiles from rifed cannon.
Capt Ayres' (Iate of Sherman's) battery
earned new laurels during the affair. Its fir
was sustaided with wonderful precision anC
rnpidity The brave condnct of Capt. Ayre
and Lieuts. Rausom, Lorain, Dresser AM
N9yes was the theme of universal RraiS
among the staff officers.
While the two howitzers were in the wood
discharging grape shot at the enemy, pr
FllG WIS hllCu anu blCuL. LOlalH SS'SiS',
W 'unded in the leg by rife shots. Lieut. Lo
rams horse was also killed almost simultane
ously. During the last hours firing from tn
hill another private and several horses wer
killed by balls. The two Parrot guns wer
likewise splendidly served, under Lieuts. Ben
jamin and Babbit.
RESULT OF THE LNTE BATTLES IN WESTERN VII
1 GINA.
W. ,.;,,o holou, N ,.,,co nit M tiOn of tln MN