The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-08-21


report OF the recent battle near Manassas:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NoRTHEAsTERNl
VIRGINIA,
ARLINGTON, Va, August 4, 1861.
lieutenant Caloael t. D. Toacnsend, assistant
Adjmant- General, Headquarters Of the Arny,
Washington, d. G.
Colonel have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing report Of. the battle of the 3lst Of July,
near Manassas, Virginia. 1t has been delayed
until this time from the inability Of the subor
dinate commanders to get earlier true account
Of the state Of their commands.
In my communication to you Of the goth ult,
stated 1t as my intention to move that after
noon and drive the enemy from the east side Of
Bull Run, so as to enable the engineers to make
a sufficiently accurate reconnaissance to justify
our future movements. Later in the day they
had obtained enough information Of the passage
across the stream to dispense with this recon-
noisance and was decidad to move without
delay. 1t had been my intention to move the
several columns out on the road lew miles on
the evening of the 20 h, so that they would
have shorter march in the morning; but de
erred to those who had the greatest distance
to go, and who preferred starting early In the
morning, and making but one move.
On the evening OF the goth ultimo, my com
mand was mostly at or near Centrevile. The
enemy was at or near Manassas, distant from
Centreve about seven miles to the southwest.
Centreve is a village of few houses. mostly
on the west side OF ridge running nearly north
and south. The road frem Centreville to Ma
nassas Junction was along this ridge, and cross.
es Bull Run about three miles frcm the lormer
place. The Warrenton turnpike, which runs
nearly east and west, goes over this ridge thro'
the village, and crosses Bull Run about four
miles from it, Bull Run having course between
the crossing from northwest to southeast. The
first division (Tyler's) was stationed on the
north side OF the Warrenton turnpike, and on
the northern slope Of the Centreville ridge, two
brgades on the same road, and mile and q
half in advance, to the west Of the ridge, and
one brigade on the road from Centrevie to Ma,
nassas, where i: crosses Bull Run at Blackburns IS
Ford, where General Tyler had the engage
ment Of the 18th ultimo. The Second division
| (1unters) was on the Warren on turnpike,
one mile east of Centrevllle. The third dfvis
| ion (Heint tzelman's) was on a road known as
the Old Braddock road, which comes into Cen
| treville from the southeast, about mile and a
hall from the village. I he fifth division (Mies)
was on the same road with the third division,
and between it and Centreville. A map which
is herewith marked A, will show these positions
better than can describe them.
On Friday night a train of subsistence arri
we'd, and on Saturday its contents were ordered
to be issued to the command, and the men re-
qnired to have three days rations in their hav
ersacks On Saturday orders were issued fol
available force to march. AS reported to you
in my letter Of the 18th ultimo, my personal
/ reconnoi ,auce OF the roads 10 the South had
shown that il was not practicable to carry out
the original plan OF turning the enemy's position
on their right. The affair Of the 18Th at Black.
burns Ford showed he was too strong at that
point to force passage there without greai
loss. and ir we did that it would bring us In
front of his strong position at Manassas, which
was not desired Our information was that
the Stone bridge, over which the Warrentor
road crossed Bull Run, to the west OF Centre
vile. was defended by battery in position
and the road on this side Of the stream impe
ded by heavy abattis. The alternative was
there iore to turn the extreme lett OF his posi-
ton, Reliable information was obtained OF an
undelended ford about three miles above The
bridge, there being another ford between it ano
the bridge. which was defended. 1t was there
fore determined to take the road to the upper
ford, and after crossing to get behind the forces
guarding the ford and the bridge, and after oc
cupying the Wanenton road east Of the bridge
to send cut force to destroy the railroad at o.
near Gainesville and thus break up the com
munication between the enemy's iorces at Ma
nassas and those in tn. valley Of Virginia, be
fore Winchester, which had been held IN checl
by Major General Patterson.
Brigadier General Tyler was directed Il
move with three Of his brigades on the Warren
ton road, and commence cannonsding the en-