, 1861-08-03

Col AachaFdaon and Col Miles,
The following from the official report of
Col Richardson, Of Michigan, commanding
the fourth brigade Of The first division, sets
forth rhe condition Of Col. Dixon 8. Miles, ..
8. L., On the field Of: Manassas: .-
Before Capt. Alexander gave me this last d-
rection, I learned that Col Miles had altered
| the position Of some regiments which had
| placed before, especially tho Third Michigan
colus1n By division, to remain as reserve,
! and await further orders from me. The of1.er
| in cs1nulaDd Of the regiment at that time,
| Lieutenant Colonel Stevens (CoI. Mcdonnell
| beirg unwell, but on the ground, Immediate
u e1ecuted that order, and pnt bis regiment
il close column. j
|, 1went t. some other part Of the field, and
on returning found this regiment deployed in
line Of battle, and In another position. I i'm
| 1uediately In quired Of Col Stevens the reason
that Col Miles had directed this movement.
1 aeked him why? Colonel Stevens replied,
II do not know, but he had no confidence in
Colonel Miles, Inquired the reason why ?.
Colonel Stevens anaHered, r" .Rsca,Lss Colonel
Niles is drtsak-" That closed the conversa
| lion. I sent Col Stevens back with his ressi-
ment, to form close column by division, as
at first, Ithen reported to Capt. Alexander
that had been interfered with in my diBposl-
ton Of the troops during the day, and could
u.
| ~ Eas interfered with by drunken man
Csptain Alexander then answered that Gen.
/ Mcdowell 3oW vested the whole d{spoeihon
:. Of the troops With me, and TINT must use
I my own jucEment. I Rent to. plaea smother
I battalion il Inc, and Was met BY Col Miles,
} | who ordered me to term that regiment 10
:; another direction. Z replied that I saould
I obey no zao1e o7defs nd8 hs might see fit t.
} siue me-" Colonel Niles then said, " Colonel
Richardson, Bhan put you in arreatn I told
him IS never should obey hig arrest, a1d that
he could never put me In that position Col
: Miles answered that he did not understaad
this. said nothing, aud went On with farshe,
cording tn the next diagram. As soon as ths
:, line OF battle WAS well formed, the enemJ'(
= cavalry made its appearance On the CeunEvIut
ard MANASSAS Tosa, and I ordered Lieut.. Ben
jsmin to open his rif1cd cannon upon them
which he did, aud the cavalry disappeared al
the troops encamped In Their present position
About 10 o'clock P. M, Gen. Mcdowell In
| formed ne that q retreat wRs resolved upon
that the troops mnst be started on the road II
Fairfax 80 soon as possible, and ordered me Il
q uoye Inst aud cover the retreat Of the arm
de go, and wonld stand BY him AZ long as an
>: man would. I left with my brigade at t@'
|, O'Clock L. n, after all the other regiments an
< batteries had retired. On reachiug EAtrfa
r found it abandoned by our troops. and COZ
:. cred the rear, bringing up ny brigade in goo
II order, the New York regiment in front, tbs
the Massachusetts regiment and the two Miel
II jgan regiments in rear Of the whole. Arrive
at Arlington at two O'Clock. ?. II. On Aonda
l. after the action. have the honor to be, ves
4 respectfully, Jonr obedient servant
|s /. B. RICHARDSON,
u Colonel Commanding Fourth Brigade.
Gen TYLER: Commandng First Division.