The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-15

General Bcaurcgard's Official Report Of
tho Battle OF Bull Run, Fought July
Is, 1901. rr, -
uARTERs FIRST CoRPs, ARMY or TIE PoroMW,
MANAsSAs August, 1861.

IL, 1901. UrFfa
HEADQUARTERS FIRST coRps, Army or THE Porox,cl
MANASSAS August, 1861.
GgskRAL:-Wth tho general results Of the engageinent
between several brgadcs of my command and c9nslae
rabo force of the enemy, in the vicinity Of Mcel's anu
Blackburns fords, Bull run, the 1sh ult you wore
madc duly acquainted at the time by telegraph, But u
Ia my place TO submit in detail the operations Oi mat
0pportumely Informed Of ne determinations # c 'sny 10
advance Manassas advanced brGadcs on the night
of tho 10th of July, were made aware from these head
quarters, of the impending movements ana IA exact
accordance with my Instructions, copy OF which APP
of Pull run effected with complete during the
day and night Of the 18th u in face Of and In immediate
proximity 20 largely superior force, despite c planned
sosi eed Effort 10 cut OF the retreat Of Bonhom LrigoJc
first a, Germantown and snssq sly a. Cretiic whence
he withdrew by my direction, after midnight without
collision although enveope1 three sides by their lines
2s nopenen had he Intended effect o. deceisg the enemy
a. 20 my abe'for purposes and led Aim 10 anticipate
As prescribed in the first second sections Of the
paper herewith marked a., on the morning OF the 18th
of july my troops resting on Bull run from Union Mills
ford TO the stone Bridge, distance of eight miles,
posted IA rollows:-
Ewcs brigade occupied position in the vicinity Of
Union NILS ford II consisted OF Rodes Fifth aud Sebes
Sixth regiments OF Aabaina and Seymour's Sixth reei
ment of Louisiana Volunteers, with four veponnder
howitzcrs OF Waltons battery, and Htrrs0ns Green's
and Cables companies of Virginia cavalry.
d. H. Jones brigade was IN position IN rear OF McLeans
Burts Seventeenth and FeatherstOnes Eighteenth reg
rnents Of Mississippi Volunteers, with two brass six
FOUNDER guns Of Walton's battery, and company OF
cavalry
Iongstrcet's brigade covered Blackburns ford, and
consisted of Moors FIRST Gaands Eleventh and Corsss
six ponder brass guns of walton's battery
tonham's brigade held the approaches to Mitchel's
FORD. u was composed of kershaw's second, Williams
Third Bacons Seventh and Cashs Eighth regiments Of
South Carolina Volunteers of Shields and Del Kempers
batteries, and of Ford's Bedfords Payncs Balls, Wick
mans ana PowePs companies Of Virginia cavalry under
Col. RadfoTl
Cookies brigade held the fords below ard in thc vicinity
or hs Stone Bridge aud consisted of Withers Eghteen
Ia. r. ~
twenty eighth regiments, with latham's battery and
one company OF cavalry
Bridge crossing with Soans Fourth regiment South Caro-
lima Volunteers. Wheats Special battalion Louisiana vo
iuneers four six FOUNDER guns and two companies Vir
gnia cavalry
Eary's brigade, consisting of Kemper's Seventh (sx
companes) Early's Twenty fourth regiment Virginia
Volunteers Hays Seventh regiment Louisiana VGlun-
teers, and three rded pieces OF Watons battery Lieu
tenant sques al first were held in position in of
and as support to Ewcs Brigade, until after the de
veopmen OF the enemy in heavy off nsive force front
OF Mitche'is and Backburns orls when it was placed
In the rear OF and nearly equdisant between Mceans
Backburns and Mciclls 1ords.
Pending the development of the enemy's purpose
about ten O'Clock A. VI. established my headq Mt
central point, Mel can farm house. to Mel 7ans
and BlackbGrns ords where two six Founders Of Wal
tom battery were in reserves but subsequently, during
the engagement took post to the left Of my
Oh The Typographical features OF the country thus oocu
piel, IL must suffice to that Bull l. small stream
running in this locality nearly from west to east TO its
confluence with the Occoquan river about twelve miles
from the Potomac, and draining considerable scope OF
country from its source IN Bull mountain TO short
distance OF tho Potomac, al Occoquan At this ha
bitualy low aud sluggish, it is however rapidly and fire.
quenty swollen BY the summer raus until unfordabe.
The banks for the part are rocky and steep but
abound in long used fords The country either side
much broken and thickly wooded becomes gently
rolling and open it recceds from the stream On the
northern side the ground is much the highest aud
mands the other bank completely. Roads traverse and
interseot the surrounding country in almost every drec
ton Finally at Mtches ford the stream is about oQui
distant between Cenreye and Manassas six miles
apart
On the morning OF the 18TH finding that the enemy was
assuming threatening attitude in addition TO the rcgi
ments whose positions have been already stated ordered
up from Camp Pickens us reserve in rear of RoaEams
brigade, the effective men of six companies of Key's
Eighth regiment Louisiana volunteers and Krkand's
Eleventh regiment North Carolina volunteers, which
having arrived the night before On route for Winchester
had halted in view OF the existing necessities Of the
vice. Subsequently the latter placed in position
the left of Bonhams liz gadc.
Appearing In heavy force in front OF Donham'J position,
tho enemy about meridian opened tire with several TWEEN
~ FOUNDER riaed guns, from hill over and half
miles from Bull run. AT the same time kempcr, sup.
ported by two companies OF light infantry, occupied
ridge the left of the Cenrcvic road about six hun
dred yards in advance of the ford with two six FOUNDER
(smooth) guns. AT first the firing of the at
random; but by hafpast twelve 7. r. he had obtained
the range of our position and poured into the brigade
shower OF shot, but without injury to US in horses
or guns. E1mMe distance, ho,ceer, guns could not
reply Nth effect, and Ce did moi daeap, patiently agoR
eng a more GfTof1,ne moment.
Meanwhile light battery was pushed forward by the
enemy, whcrcupon Kempcr threw only six solid shot
with the effect Of driving back both the battery and
supporting force This Is understood to have been Ayres
battery and the damage must have been considerable
obliged such retrograde movement on the part of
that officer.
The purposes of kemper's position having now been
fully served, his pieces and support were withdrawn
across Mchells ford 10 point previously designated
and which commanded direct approaches 10 tho ford
About half past eleven A. NJ. the enemy was also dis
covered by the pckets of Iongsrees brigade advancing
in strong columns Of infantry with artillery aud cavalry
on Backburns ford.
AT meridian the pckcts fell back silently before the nd.
vancng foe the ford which well the entire
southern bank Of the stream for the whole front Of Long
streets brigade covered at the waters edge by an
extended line OF skirmishes while two six Founders OF
waltons battery under Lieutenant Garnett advau
tageousy placed to command the direct approach the
ford but with orders to retire to the
handed BY the enemy.
The northern bank Of the stream in front Of Long.
streets position rises with steep slope least Aty feet
above the level Of the water leaving narrow bcre in
front Of the ford of twenty yards This ridge formed
for them admirable natural parapet behind which
they could, and did, approach under shelter in heavy
force within less than hundred yards Of our skris
ers. The Southern shore was aln6 a plain rai.Sd hui
few feet above the water for several hundred wards
then rising with very gradual gentle slope and updu
latng back to Manassas On the Immediate bank there
fringe Of trees but with little IL any underground
shelter while on the other shore there were timber
and much thick brush and covering The ground in roar
skrmshers and occuped nv our mr. ile,v yne an
old fold extending along the stream about one ,ne and
Immediately back for about ha;f niIe IN hnrdar az
ali ofd