Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-08-16
THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
General NcDowel's Official Report.
llrApQuARrERs DEPARTMENT NoRrH-)
EAsrrRN VIRGINIA, Arlington Va.

lowing report OF the battle Of the 2lst OF July
near Manassas, Virginia. Il has been DELAYED ull
this time from the inability of the subordinate
commanders to get earlier true account of the
state of the commands
Ia my communication to you Of the Goth ult, |
stated il ~ mv intention TO move that afternoon
aud drive the enemy from the east side of Bull Run,
go o.. Go enable the engineers to make sufficient
iv accurate reconnaissance TO Justify our future
movements Later in the day they had obtained
enough information Of the passage across the
stream GO dispense with this reconnaissance, and it
was decided 10 move without delay. IL bad been
my intention to move the several columns out ON
the road few miles ON the evening OF the 2Uth, 50
that they would have a shorter march ia the morn
iuc but deferred TO those who had the greatest
distance go go, and who preferred starting early
iu ihcmoruing. and making but one move.
ON the evening Of the 2Uth ult., my command
was mostly at on near Ccntcvillo. The enemy
was at on near Manassas, distant from Ccntrc,illc
about seven miles to the southwest. Ccnrcvillc
is o village of few houses, mostly on The west
side of a ridge running nearly north and south
Ihe road from Cmtrcyillc TO Manassas junction
was along tlis ridge, and crosses Bull Run about
three miles from the former place The Warren
ton turnpike, which runs nearly east and west,
goes oycrthi, ridge through the village, and cross
es Bull Run about four miles from H. Bull Run
having course between the crossing from north
west To southeast The first division Clylcrs)
was Stationed ON the north side of the Nurrcnton
turnpike, and on the eastern slope Of the Centre
vile ridge, two hrigades ON the same road, and a
milo anda half in advance, TO the west OF thcridgc
aud One brigade on the road from Centrcvle to
Manassas where 10 crosses Bull Run nt Black
burns Ford whore General Tyler had the engage
meut of the 18th ult The second divisions
(llmtrrs) was on the Warpnton turnpike, one
mile east of Ccntrcville The third division
turnDclmaus) was on a road known as the Old
Buddocz road which comes into Ccntr.yillc
q nN.. "a. half
the village. Inc fifth division (MilesD was on
the same road with the third division, and between
10 and CcntrcNillc. A map which is herewith,
ina,kcd A, will show these positions better than
can describe them.
On Friday night train Of Subsistence arrived,
and on Saturday lis contents were ordered to he
issued Go the command, and the men required to
have three days iations in their havcrsacks On
saturday orders were issued Tor the available force
10 march. As reported to You in my letter OF the
18th ult., my personal reconnaissance of the roads
10 the south had shown that it was not practicable
TO earn! out the Original plan OF turning the enc
nay position ON their right. The affair of the D
lStA 40 Biackhum's Ford showed that hc was too
strong at that point for us 10 force passage there
without great loss, and ii we did that it would
bring us iu front of his strong position at Manas-
els, which was not desired Our information wa.
tna' thc stone bridge, over which the Narrcntoi
road CROSSED l}all Run. to the west OF CcutrcyNe
road on iis lde of the stream inprdcd by he2yy>
,usl ai1effftYt " tit7cidfc, 10 turn
the extreme leii OF his position Reliable nlor-
nation was obtained ol an mdcicndcd ford about
three miles above the bridge there being another
ford between it mud the bridge which defend :
ed. To was therefore determined 10 take the road
To the upper ford. and after crossing to yet bchn1
Che forces guarding the lower ford and the bridge
aud after occupying the Wamvnton road east OF
the bridge 10 send out force to destroy the rail-
road at or near gainesville, and thus break up the
communication between the enemy forces ut Man
assas aud those M the valley of Virginia, befor
Winchester, which had been held in check by Ma
jor General Patterson.
Bngadicr General Tyler YVES directed to move
with three of his brigadce IA. Warcnton road, /
and commence commanding the enemys batteries, .
while Hunters division, moving after him, shoul,, /
after passing little stream called Cub run, turn,
TO the right and north, and move around TO the
upper iori and there turn south and get behind /
the enemy, Colonel IIeintzlcnan's division wa
60 follow Hunters far as the turning of place
90 the lower ford where he was 70 cross after ia, |
enemy should have been driven out by Hunter I
division. the Fifth division (Ailes's) to be in re.
serve ou the Centreye ridge
bad ielt anxious about the road from Manassas |
by blackburns Ford to Ccntrcylle along the ridge
fearing that whilst should be in force TO tho
front, aud endeavorng to turn the encrny's posi-
ton, we ourselves should be turned by him by
this roads iorh lac should once obtain possession
of this ridge, which oyerlooks all the country To
the west TO the foot Of the spurs of the Blue Ridge
we should have been irrctricyably cat of and do
Iroyod had, therefore, directed this point to
be held IN force, and sent an engineer 10 ex-
temPorize some field works to strengthen the POI
siuou.
The Fourth division (Ruuyon's) had not been
brought TO the front further than to guard our
communications by way OF Vienna and che Orange
and AlcNandria Railroad His advanced regi-
inent about seven miles in the rear of Centrcvillc.
The divisions were ordered 10 march at half
past two o'clock a. m, to arrive on the
ground early in the day, and Thus avoid the heat
which Is TO be expected at this season. There
was delay IN the first division getting out of its
camp on the road, and the other divisions were in
consequence between two and three hours behind
the time apponted-a great misfortune as events
turned out. The wood road leading from tho
Wanenton turnpike to the upper ford was mucl,
longer than we counted upon, the general drcc-
ton of the stream being ohque to the road and
we having the ohtusc angle on our side.
Gen. Tyler commenced with his artillery At half
past SIX a. NJ, but the enemy did not reply. and
after some time It became question whether ho
was ni any force IN our front, and il be did not
intend himself 10 make au attack, and make it b,
Blackburn Ford After firing several times and
obtaining NO response, / held one OF lIcintze-
mans bngadcs n reserve in case we should have
TO send any troops back to reinforce AIess diyi-
sion. The other brigades moved forward as di-
rccted in the general orders. On reaching the
ford, at Sudley's Spring, found part of the lead
ing brigade of Hunters division (l{urnsides) had
crossed, but the men slow in getting over
stopping TO drink. As at this time the clouds Of
dust from the direction of Manassas indicated the
immediate approach OF a large force, and fearing
Il might COME down on the head of the column be-
fore the division could all get over and sustain il.
orders were sent back to the heads of regiments
To break from the column and come forward separ-
ately as fast as possible. Orders were sent bs an
officer to the reserve brigade of llcint2elman's di-
VISION TO come 10y nearer road across the fields
anu an md-'lecamp was sent 30 Brgadior General
l!ler to direct HIM to press forward his attack as
large bodies OF the enemy were passing in front OF
hun TO attack the division which had crossed over
The ground between the stream aud the road lead
ing irom Sudley's Spring south, and over which
burnside brigade marched, was for about mile
IRON the ford tlickly wooded, whilst on the right
OF the road for about the same distance the conn.
Try was divided between fields and woods About
a mile from the road the country on both sides OF
the road is open, and for nearly mile further
large rolling fields extend down to the Warrcnton
turnpike which crosses what became the field O.
battle through the valley Of a small water course.
tributary Of Bull Run
shortly after the leading regiment Of the first
brigade reached this open space, and whilst 9th
SIs ana The second brigade were crossing to the