The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-23

l
We give below as much Of this report as
we have room for. We are gradually get
ting at the truth OF matters as they occurred
+ ct the unfortunate battle OF Bull Run. The
official reports Of the battle differ widely
from first accounts by letter writer's.
The report Of Col. Heintzleman will add
to the already enviable reputation of the
Minnesota First. While the much praised
zouaves, after the first repulse, @did not
appear again on the feld"- the First Mich>
igan ssretiring in considerable confusion"
our own Regiment, though repulsed, 4re-
tired. in good order, did good service in the
woods, and was among the last to retire,
moving off the field with the Third United
States Infantry"
In q word, the Minnesota First proved
themselves MEN. We are proud of them.
The division under Colonel Heintzelman
commenced the march at hall past two 4. N
on the 2lst, the brigade of Colonel Franklin
leading, followed by those of Colonies Viii.
cox and Howard. At Centrevills they
found the road filled with troops, and were
detained three hours to allow the divisions
of Gen. Tyler and Colonel Hunter to pass.
The report continues SIS ia
Between two and three miles beyond Gen.
treville we left the Warrenton turnpike, turning
into country road on the right. Captain
4 nio he haad of Gnl 70
column. with directions to stop at q road which
turned in to the left to q ford across Bull Run,
about half way between the point where we
turned off from the turnpike and Sudley's
Springs, at which latter point Colonel Hunters
division was to cross. No such road was found
to exist, and about eleven A. NJ, we found our
selves at Sudey's Springs about ten miles
from Centreville, with one brigade of Colonel
Hunters division still on our side Of the Run.
Before reaching this point the battle had COM
menced. We cauld see the smoke rising on
our left from two points, a Elile or more apart.
Two clouds of dust were seen, showing the
advance of troops from the direction of Man
assas.
At Sudley's Springs. whilst waiting the pas
sage of the troops of the Division in our front,
| ordered forward the First Brigade to fill their
canteens. Before this was accomplished, the
leading regiments of Col. Hunters division
| became engaged. Gen. Mcdowell, who, ac-
companied by his staff, had passed us short
time before, sent back Capt. Wright of the
engineers, and Major Mcdowell, one of his aids,
with orders to send forward two regiments to
prevent the enemy from outlankiDg them.
Capt. Wright led forward the Minnesota regi
ment TO the left of the road, which crossed the
| run at this point. Major Mcdowell left the
| Eleventh Massachusetts, up the road. accom-
4 panied this regiment, leaving orders for the
remainder to follow, with the exception of
| Arnold's battery, which, supported by the First
Michigan, was posted a little below the cross
ing of the Run as a reserve.
i At little more than mile from the ford
| we came upon the battle field. Ricketts, bat
| terry was posted on hill to the right of Hum
ter's division and to the right OF the road. AT.
/ ter firing some twenty minutes at a battery of
/ the enemy, placed just beyond the crest of a
| hill. on their entrance left the distance being
considered too great, it was moved forwsrd to
within about 1000 feet of the enemy's battery.
| Here the battery was exposed to heavy fire
of musketry, which soon disabled it. Frank
Inns brigade was placed on the right of the
woods, near the centre of our line and on
i ground rising towards the enemy's position.
In the meantime / sent orders for the Zou.
ayes to move forward to support Ricketts, bat
terry on TIE right. As s0on as they came up
/ led them forward against an Alabama regi.
ment, partly concealed in clump OF small
pines in an old field. At the first fire they
broke and the greater portion of them fled to
the rear, keeping up q desultory firing over
the heads of their comrades in front at the
/ same time they were charged by a company of
Secession cavalry on their rear, who came by
rood through two strips of woods on our ex-
treme right. The fire of the Zouayes killed
four and wounded one, dispensing them. The
| discontinue of this cavalry was completed by
fire from Capt. Collunfs company of United
| States Cavalry, which killed and wounded sew
eral men. Col Farnham, with some of his of.
fcers and men, behaved gallantly; but the re-
giment of Zouaves, as a regiment, did not APP
pear again on the field. Many of the men
| joined other regiments and did good service as
skirmishers.
then led up the Minnesota regiment, which
was also repdlsed but retired in good order.
| 1t did good service in the woods on our right
| flank. and was among tho last to retire moving
| off the field with the Third United States / :
fantry Nextswas led forward the First Mich
| igan. which was also repulsed, and retired In
| considerable confusion. They were rallied
| and helped to shold the woods on our right.
The Brooklyn Fourteenth then appeared on
| the ground, coming forward in gallant style. 1
| led them forward to the left where the Aaba-
ma regiment had been posted in the early part
| OF the action, but had now disappeared, but
/ soon came in sight of the line of the enemy
| drawn up beyond the clump of trees. Soon
/ after the firing commenced the regiment broke
and ran. i considered it useless to attempt to
rally them. The want of discipline in these
regiments was SO great. that the most OF the
| men would run from fifty to seven hundred
| yards in the rear, and continue to ire-fortu-
| nately for the brave ones-yery high in the air
and compelling those in front 10 retreat.
| Materials FOL, SO 900 Men. e
n