Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-12
THE RICHMOND WING.
THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL KERSHAW.

NlkhhAi Va, iooi'
General: have tho honor to submit report OF the
operations OF the troops under my command In the
gagement Stone Bridge, on the slst inst
About neon on that day, received On order to move
TO Lewis house. three miles distant 70 the support
of Col Jacksons brigade, then ergsged With the enemy,
with my regiment, that Of Col. Cash, and Captain
kempcf's battery These troops, with the exception oil
Captain Perrymuns company, Of my regiment, were at
once put the march, As We nesred the road, /: WAS
perceived that the passage u troops indicated 10 the
emy the North side Of Bull Run by clouds OF dust
haa attracted dangerous re OF ris cannon, and d.
reced the march across the helds captain Kemper
directed precede the column to Lewis and await my
| arrival.
Arrived in tho vicinity of Lewis, large number Of
our troops met returning In disorganized condi
tion ana giving the most untavorabe account OF Tho
aspect Of airs on the field Colonel Miss, Of General
egara's s@f met me, and, 10 hasten our march
informed me mat Hamptons Legion had just engaged
and the enemy had acquired decided advantage
Soon a!ier orders were received from Genera John
ston 10 the field the LETT OF Lewis Turning " the
left we passtd over hill through thicket OF woods
under ire oi aud shell if.m battery directly IN
the line OF our march, which wouaded several and killed
one OF our Emerging iron the wood into Al Old
field iaVne with rising ground III 'front.' form
Cd liue oil battle preparatory ~ entering the held at
point which seemed toindcate the left u the line oil
fire. which very heavy III front, and constantly ill.,
cressing, which Supposed be directed upon Hanp-
IONS Legion. Before Colonel Gas had got into posi-
lion on my left il was perceived aat the firing had
assed sti further to our lett AID fover,d the whole
Of my resiment rendering il necessary 10 move the
whole command IN that direction by Hank. This
had Just been made when lhe line oil 6re
made corresponding change rendering sill further
movement necessary to avoid what supposed 10 be the
line CT our troops IN front oil Us. therefore broke 70
right into column marched 10 the lett, and formed
right into line. When my regiment had formed the
men we're made lie down avoid the shower Of balls
which WAS passing over us, while Col Cash was con-
FORMING 10 the movement
AT this moment the head Of a regiment, marching by
flank, passed the right Of my regiment and party
over right wing, led by officer who usl said 10
Oe Gen. smith Immediately rode up 10 the ,ricer,
and desired hun 10 form Oh the left OF COL Cash. Before
could respond, he received ball In bis le breast or
shoulder and bis commenced firing 70 their front
and right into tho wood from which The shot came aud
formed hurriedly, in front Of my right wing.
COL Cash havirg to form Ia thick wood, had not yet
got into hue when staff officer gave him the valuable
information that road my let leading p,rpendcu
laIly tho front from my line, would brpg me into
h4Eking position upon the enemy. Desiril 10 avail my
self OF The position Immediately ordeIed my regiment
10 the 'front.' In lre obhqa ny 10 the LETT avoid the
regiment which had formed partly in front OF my right
and directed Col Cash 10 follow soon ~ possible
Toe lett my regiment rested on the road " which
have referred
Reaching II fence which skiried the road in front OF
u.s. which then found be in ful possession OF the
Ziuav of the enemy, l ordered charge, which was
responded by shout from the whole regiment They
swept through ,ne Tooo' o,Vhs Aau
nnu sS -. TsSiaS ,h hs,,.rv If .;x stes ra,d
'ue ne0' - e. ,,n,a;.,.Iv !, ION q, NV right
80. 49, go, ,o,n5 a.. 6,oi,iv.s r,Ili,d In =. hsId
".s 10 o 20 o.. ,aa hv h;cI wa LJ rectcd our
march, where formidable force appeared strongly posted
gu a commanding enneucc.
ey ,S So -s ~" Taa az Ill ~hch
P"n!, c.ePyo - - i,ino co.,, 10 tho
5 o., phs,,,. .onu.nx a., en-. ian VS. thru .n AT
men APP ia'. ~ - va NI IN -, ,,r IIo
u" V '" g {, 80, cal CT .;,;,, SEEMED
10 t"c nhe VI sN' et''!' W. ~, :ie' -,
prohp'p w Va Wv 80. ~, - ~ o., NIL ,ny
n'o 'o.i tuo WV sI.a 60 - ,hcir Lar AMI
is1"neNs ann,;,,n. c,a' "a, lsnt nm NV onr
u ,i'' Po ,;i 49, 80, Ji,n ~ and
Nno'e ha' uu'' .t Ls 49,, =, d. III ks,;r.
IN III. eorJ;,;on when Cant. Kemusr reported bis
80, nd was o,Jr,J nm M oue ted TO take posi-.
- Ia, - 80 "A =, No., aud N 4 "a ,non
h 6, of tho enemy over The heads of nv r. gimeut
~ ,Las p,rrn;r, q, o,or,,s ,ha orSsr he WAS "A.
Len rsoner Inv some of the fugitive )uay,s in our rear
"a t.,ial On. n,;n,,.s he, ,eI;svad nv The timely
u 81 80 Of onr oxn ,,ocr, snd Ma own address
-, toah, 49,, tis 100 "a Nod ,bsm in the
ue $3.50, han. ~ norrad ,os, d..,rnc,ive
,ho - 81 ,.s aarS tho GIlsd mn their
a. On raa,isrty s,o.dinass and nrr,i.on worthy
81 ~ Un;,ad g. peouara NJ vhirb.
'ne ane .As o''as.d 9cs crs ,hsy
!" - oe"e'eI nm ma ,t. ,.,p.J Do, .r.n S,;v,1
ofoAen a"u "a, ~ re I r. - NV. r. - r.n,a;n
rom 'ne ul' .uey ,e" oa' " w, So 49,.
hs"p,i W, l,,,'i ~ 'i'a ga I'M, Of b horsss
ing ose one AIeu, wv "ouuueu "u o'no VI ~, uo''e,
during Tue neat oi Tue nsase'ueh' '"Go oonp"n'
oil ha,Jianu.rS' u1uei ii1u'. ~ -" 'T
Por'eu 10 nie, anu 's'eu 'o' T. s.nI" "..eaI
them on my ieil Sheie 'ney ''n'u''e' themselves s
lanliy dornS the hsh~ r..
heanu'ne 'n' .u'uiy oo'up'eui ~ -,
elevated riugo III Hons anu " 'no HBu' VI u,'
half nile distant NO troops o. ours oelng Visible
eePt the FORCES ihmeolat~y uhuer my oS"u s',S
having received Nv olueI siuoe "a nS, "a
deemed prunent 70 rs'aH uy pos wv ;a"aa bos'
co"nanu 'or 'ns present "I'H'n 60. ~ 80 an
ever perceived regiment rom tne woou Uu
the iet OF ool Hisn' anu ~ ,ha to,cs.
up tue sope Vi '1e n'ii re1'n'y oeoup y Jyod.,si
Of the enemy, whom we had driven Gu rnmtua'ey
advanced my whole command, moving ny 'ee'nen' "
the right tink along the ROAD COL oash aavaho'ng ~
the field in line Arriving the face OF the lii towards
the enemy formed line OF battle TO the lett oil the
road. Here found Col Wiihers Virginia Regiment
Oh the bill TO the right Of the road TO whom eommu-
ncatod my purpose to form line and advance TO the at
tack, and asked bis cooperation to which lie immed'
atels acceded With Colonel Withers command iounu
also the remnant Of AampIons LEGION Shuer osP.an
Conner, assisted oy oaP1 vary oIpaai" - ~,
ed 70 me- ana was sNsenea " y W ~ $500
enlre nne was ~. go, "a ~ 60. min.
percepuoie ID Tue ine VI 'ne eneu 81 " ~
ntes they were In uli retrea, oy ,ne rear NIL
nink. tsen proposed 70 So' - 90, haw off and
wards the stone broge, WIN .e 60, whar, hs
forming 70 the rlgn. lh'1 oG'unn o nv, LIN,
rug III ADVANCE We maIeneu ca PI"h,so, ia.
detailed some o S n'sn W S'rons Tho xsrs
goou Ahu oo An.n =. voi,n,,sr nr;va,es each TO
aUns au'i ~ %d q ,Ss o. med ann. and turn Them
AAs eoase VI III c,n,,n smnse took cbargs of two
o,hs ND ;bsr connued 6ripe until ordered to d. ss
Nv on, Of onr gspsr,I o0ieers
" d;,sc,sJ INV march ,lorg the turnpike to Stone
Ridge vbs Col Whers turned 10 the right aud enter.
Cd ,bs wood He threw out skrnl,hing company who