Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-30
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ORfiIeial Report OF Captain John ID. I'm.
BOdens OF The siNtaunIOa ArfIIIePy.D
MASAsa.s Jrser1Oa, Va, Jualy p. 1851.

MANASSAS JuEcToz, Va, Junly p, 1861.
Brlgadier-General W. II. WHITING. commando
the Third Brigade Of the Army of the Shenlr
d9ah:
submit the following summary report Of tn
part taken in the engagement of yesterday, by tn
battery of the Brigade-the Staunton Artillery
under my command. The battery arrived at Cam
Walker, below the Junction, at half past clever
| o'clock the night before the battle with men an,
horses greatly fatigued by forced march of thirt,
two miles, commenced at dsy-break, over an ex,
tremely rough and steep, billy road. Having had
but four hours sleep, and that on the ground with
ont shelter, on rainy night, since the preceding
| wednesday night, at Winchester, and no food on
Saturday, except breakfast which was kindly fur.
nlshed US by some ladies at Salem in FauQuier nv
men were SC tired on getting into camp that they
threw themselves upon the ground to snatch fe "
| hours rest.
A little after sunrise on Sunday morning the
lamentabe Gen Bee sent for me to his quarters and
informed me Of the approach of the enemy and that
ne was ordered 70 the Stone Bridge with his brig
| ade and battery not so much exhausted as mine
and asked me if we would stand that?1 ! replied
| NOT If we can help it." lie then ordered me to
put the battery in motion immediately and let nv
wagons remain. and bring our rations and forage
after us to the field In about 20 minutes we were in
motion, very much stimulated by cannonade which
had then opened so near Camp Walker that one of
the balls came whiZzing over US just we started
After a rapid march of about five miles we met
nearer route. General Bee, in person. then
joined the battery, and rode with US abctt
mile and selected the ground we were to
occupy. and remained till after the firing com
menced on both sides. To lis cOnsummate
judgment in choosing our ground, we are indie bted
for our almost miraculous escape from utter de-
structiOn. We were placed on the slope of hill
facing to the West, with q slight depression or
ravne running almost parallel with the base of the
hill. We came "intO battery" and numbered in
QeDPpSslOn hair t1ma hell bryo
the ground to our front five or six feet high Our
position commanded beautiful open farm which
rose gently from the valley in ront of us back to
the woods about 500 yards distant In the edge of
these woods a heavy column of the enemy was
marching to the southwark while we were descend
ing the hill to position. At the moment we
wheeled into line, observed one of their batteries
OF SIX guns do the thing, and they numbered
simultaneously with U.s. We Immediately loaded
with sperical case shot, with the fuse cut Tor 400
yards. General Bee ordered me not to fire till thew
opened on me, as he had sent the Fourth Alabama
Regiment, Colonel Jones, across the valley to our
right to occupy p piece Of woods about 500 yards
nearer the enemy, and he wished this Regiment to-
gether with QUE 6-pOUnder they had along with !
them, TO get fairly in position before we fred He
had hardly uttered the order. however when the |
enemys battery-siX long rifle l0-pOunder PARROT
captured by our troOps-within |
lou yards OF our first position opened on US with
tI0ngated cylindrical shells. They passed A few
fset over our heads and very near the General and
his Staff in our rear and exploded near the top of
The hill We instantly returned the compliment /
General Bee then directed me 70 hold nv position /
Ill further orders, and observe the enemy's move /
nents towards cur left and report to him anything
might discover of Importance. This was the last
lime my gallant, heroic General ever spoke to me-
seeing US fairly engaged, he rode off to take
charge of his regiment. The firing of both
batteries now became very rapld-they at first over
hot US and burst their shells in our rear but at
very round improved their aim and shortened their
use. In about fifteen minutes we received our
irst injury. A shell passed between two OF our
runs snd exploded amongst the caissons manelng
he arm OF private J. J. Points with fragment in |
most shocking manner. / ordered him to be car
iAd off the field 70 the surgeon a, nnre We was
cRrcely gone when another shell exploded at the
anne place and killed horse. About this time the
nemy began TO fire too low. striking the knoll in
ur 'front.' from ten TO twenty steps, from which the
icochet was sufficient to carry the proecties over
g; they discovered this, and again began TO fire !
yer us. After we had been engaged for perhaps a
alf hour, the enemy brought another battery If
our guns into position about 400 yards south Of the
rst, and little nearer to Us, ard commenced a
cry brisk fire upon US. A shell from this last bat
cry plunged into cur midst, instantly killing
horse and nearly cutting of the leg Cf private ".
!. Sders, just below the knee He was immed-
tely taken to the surgeon. A few minute after
Yards another shell did its work BY wOunding 2rd
lieut.. A W. CARRIER so severely in the wrist that |
'dered him off the field for surgical aid. We now !
al ten guns at work upon US, with artillery to
d US for more than an hour, except l believe |
lree rounds fired by the gun with the Alabama !
egiment 1t ceased its fire, l have heard, because |
e horses ran off with the timber and left the gun
ithout ammunition. During this time the en-, m g
fantry was assembling behind, between ami 70 | ,
e right Jour left Of their batteries 10 immense
lmbers, but beyond our reach as we could only
e their bayOnets the top Of the hill Two or J
ree times they ventured in sight. when the Ala
smians turned them back on their left by a well :
rected fire, and we gave them few shot and /;
tells on their right with the same result as they .
vsriably dropped back over the hill when we :
red at them, as almost every shot made gap in :
cir ranks. =
After we had been engaged for, suppcre nearly
70 hours detachment 0; some other battery 1.-THE il
ew Orleans Washington Battalion, belieYe,) Of I
70 guns, formed upon our right and commenced a G
ell directed fire, much to our aid and relief. My o
en- by this time were so overcome that half of them
ll'upon the ground completely exhausted. The guns
ere so hot thatit was dangerous to load them il
e was temporarily spiked by the printing wire
ngiDg in it, the vent having become foul. My
ans were cut to pieces, five of the horses were
led out Of one single piece, and other teams par
lily destroyed. that alone, we could not much I
nger have replied TO the enemy batteries brisk il
as was necessary. n
We were now serving the guns with diminished 81
Hartman and ImbOden working o
them privates. to relieve the privates ; the 81
tier had the hsndspike in his hand directing his o
ece when one of its rings shot Of of the | c.
all by piece of she'll After friends on p
g right commenced firing, the enemy advanced a p
ird battery Of four pieces down the hill directly
front of and about six hundred yards distance fl
Dm US, upon which we opened fire Immediately Il
crippled of their gunsby cutting off It's ira fl
mpelling them to dismOunt ard send the piece
ray without its carriage While this last battery o.
Is forming il our front. vast column of thOus- j
ds of infantry marched down IN close order, ,
out two hundred yards to its right. did not -
en- know where the several regiments of our brig
e were posted. We keard firing upon our right ,
d left, but too far of to protect from sud =
n charge, as we were in the middle of open r
Id and not a single company of Infantry visible al
US on the right. left or rear. At the moment the
emy's main column came down the hill. we OBJ 70
rived the head of another column advancing down
valley from our left and therefore concealed by N
lill, and not over $50 or 400 yards distant At D
st took them for friends, and ordered the ne Sc
to fire on them. To ascertain rtainIy who q
ey were, sprang upon my horse and gallOped TO -
top of the hill TO our left, when had e. u
d better view. There were two regiments of "
I'm. They halted about two hundred yards in
mt of their own battery the hill side, wheeled
% line with their backs towards US, and fired
LEY, apparently at their battery This deceived 10
and shouted to my men to fire upon the bat az a.
" that these were friends who would charge tn
4 take it in a moment Fortunately my order va
s not heard not Obeyed by all the gunne for
ne of them commenced firing into this line, which IN
ought them 10 the rightab and they cOmmenc III
advancing towards US, when their uniform dis
sed truly their character. l instantly ordered -
second section of my battery to timber up and !"
ne on the hill where | was intending to open on ag
m with canister. Anticipating this movement,
intending make the hill TO the left too hot for OF
or seeing me out there alone, where could OBJ X
We their movements and report them, their near
battery directed and FREQ all their guns
me az once but without hitting me OF my
-se l galloped back to my guns and found In
It the two guns on our right had left the field, ds
| we were alone again. My order to timber .
second section was understood as applying q, a6
whole battery, so that the drivers lad equalizc
teams sufficiently to move all the guns and cais th
IS, and the pieces were all limbered. On riding til
ck a short distance, where could see over the al
again, discovered the enemy approaching rap 70
:, and 80 that dou5ted our ability to save j
battery but BY very rapid movement up the al
vine we avoided the shells of the three batteries
It were row directed at us, sufficient to escape s.
III three guns and all the caissons. The fourth m
D, think, was struck under the axle by ex-
ding shell as it broke right in the middle, and IN