Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-21
THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
Official Report of Colonel Heintzolman

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70 Capt. j. b, F'H Asst Adjutmt General:
SfR: In obedience to instructions re.
ceivcd on the Goth inst. the division un-
der my command was under arms, in light
marching order, with two days cooked
Iialous in their haversocks, and commen
jced the march at half past two A. NJ, on
the 2lst, tho brigade Of Colonel Franklin
leading, followed by those Of Colonels
Wilcox and Howard. At Centrevillo we
found the road filled with troops, and
were detained three hours toallow the
divisions OF zen. Tyler and Col Hunter to
pass. followed with my division imme-
diately in the rear of the latter.
Between two and three miles beyond
CentreviIle we left the Warrenton turn
! pike, turning into country road on the
! right. Captain Wright accompanied tie
!! cad Of Colonel Hunters column, with
directions 10 stop at a road which turned
into the left to a ford across Bull Run,
about half way between the point where
/ we TUNED Off from the turnpike and Sud
ley's Springs, at which latter point Colo,
! mel Hunters division was TO cross. No
such road was found to exist, and about
eleven A. NJ, we found ourselves at Sud
ley 5 Springs, about ten miles from Cen
treviIle, with the brigade OF Col. duntcr's S
division still on our side of the run. Be-
fore reaching this point the battle had
commenced. We could see the smoke
rising on our left from two points, mile
or more apart. rwo clouds of dust we're
seen, showing the advance Of troops from
the direction Of Manassas.
AT DudIey's Spi lngs, while waiting the
passage Of the troops OF the division in our
front, | ordered forward the FIST brigade
TO fill their cantccns. Before this was acs
complrhcd the leading regiments Of Col
Hunters division became engaged. Sen.
! Mcdowell, who, accompanied by his staff,
! he'd 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 frcm outhanking them
Capt. Wright led forward the Minnesota
regiment to the left Of the road, which
crossed the run at tlls point. Mai. Me-
Dowcll led the Eleventh. Massachusetts up
the roLd ! accompanied this regiment,
leaving orders for the remainder 10 follow
with the exception OF Arnold's battery,
which, supported by the First Michigan
was posted littIe below he ororsing Of
the run as reserve.
At n little moie than mile from the
ford we came upon the battle ii Id. Rick
elt's battery was posted on a hill to the
right OF Hunters division, and to the right
of the road. After firing about twenty
minutes at u battery Of the enemy, placed
just beyond the crest Of hill, on their
entrance left, the distance being considers
ed too great, it was moycd forward to with
in about | 600 feet Of the euemy's battery.
Here the battery was exposed to heavy
fire cf musketry, which soon disabled IT,.
franklin brigade was posted on the right
of woods, near the centre OF our line and
on ground rising towards the enemy's 10
situn.
In the meantime I sent orders for the
Zouayes to u owe forward to support Rick
ett's battery on the right. As soon as they
came up, led them forward against an
Alabama regiment, partly concealed in a
clump Of small pines in an old he.i. At
tie first fire, they broke, and the greater
portion of them fled to rear, keeping
desultory fire over the heads of their COM
rades in font at the same time they
weIe charged by a company of Secession
cavalry on heir rcar,who came by road
through two strips Of woods on our eXN
lreme right The fire Of the Louaves kill
ed four and wounded one dispensing
them. Tie discontinue Of this cavalry
was completed by fire from Capt. Col
lum's company OF United States cavalry,
which killed and wounded several men.
| Col. Farnham, with some of his officers
and men, behaved CALAMITY; but the res
gilnent of IOuaves, rs a regiment, did not
appear again or the field. Many Of the
men joined other regiments, and did good
service as skirmishers.
then led up the Minnesota regir ent,
which was also rerulsed, but retired in
tolerably good order. 1t did good service
! in the woods on our left flank, and was
among the last to retire, going off the field
with the Third United States Infantry
( Next was led forward the First Michigan.
which was also repulsed, and retired in
considerable confusion. They we're raj.
! lied and helped to hold the woods on our
/ right. The Brooklyn Fourteenth then
appeared on the ground, coming forward
: in gallant style. led them forward to
| the left where the Alabama regiment had
been posted at the carly part OF the action,
but had Eow disappeared, but soon came
IN sight of the line Of the enemy drawn
up beyond the clunp of trees. Soon after
the firing commenced the regiment broke
ana ran. considered it useless to attempt
to rally them. The want of discipline IN
these regiments was sogreat that the most
of the men would run from fifty TO seven
hundred yards to the rear and continue
to fre-fortunately for the brave ones--
very high in the pir, and compelling those
in front TO retreat.
Daring this time Ricketts, battery had
been taken and retaken three times by us,
but was finally lost, most of the horses
having been killed, Capt. Rickets being
wounded, and First Lieutenant d. Ramsey
killed. Lieut., Kirby behaved very gall
/ lantly,and succeeded in carrying Off one
caisson. Before this time heavy reinforce.
ments OF the enemy were distinctly seen
| approaching by two roads, extending and
ouinanking us on the right Col. Stew,
/ arts brigade came on the field at this time,
having been detached by the general as
reserve nj the point where we left the