Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-07-25
WAR MOVEMENTS.
Advance of the Federal A rmy On Man.
assaS Junction.
OCCUPATION OF FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE
AND CENTREVILLE
Defeat of the Federals at Bulls Run.


18th, towards Manassas junction, and on til
same day, at L o'clock, occupied Fairfax Court
House meeting with no opposition from the Con
federates either on the march Or in taking posses
sion of the place. Trees had been felled across tn
road, and preparations made at one point for
battery, but there were no guns or troops OF
the route. The Confederates were drawn II,
beyond the town and battle was expected, bu
as the Federal forces pressed on they retreated
The cavalry followed them some miles TOWARD
Centreville, but the heat of the weather and tn,
previous long march prevented the infantry fol
lowing
On Thursday the Federal army was again pu
in progress and about noon of the same day ar.
rived at point in the road called Bulls Run
three miles from the Junction, where a severe
conflict ensued, the position being a naturally
strong one and the Confelerates having there
three batteries which commanded the approach
es from the right, left and centre. The action
is said to have continued for five hours The
subjoined account is derived from Federatseurces
and according to it the Federal forces met with a
defeat that will cause them appreciate the diff
culties which they will have to encounter while
on their march of subjugation
The following account of the battle at Bulls
Run is given by Honorablcs VIM. A. Richard
son, John A. McClernand of Ill.,, and John W.
Noel, of Missouri (all members of the House,
who were eye-witnesses of the battle, and aided
in several instances in bearing from the field
members of the New York 18th, who were
wounded II
The action commenced under the direction OF
Gen. Tyler, Of Connecticut, at half-past one
o'clock on Thursday afternoon at Bulls Run,
three miles from Centreville, between several
companies of skirmishers attached to the Massa-
chusetts First, and masked battery situated
on slight eminence. The skirmishers retreated
rapidly and were succeeded in the engagement
by Shermans battery and two companies of
regular cavalry, which after continuing the con-
test for sometime were supported by the New
York Twelfth, First Maine, Second Michigan,
First Massachusetts, and Wisconsin regiment,
when the battle was waged with great earnest
ness, continuing until five o'clock The Federal
troops were then drawn back in great confusion
beyond the range of the Confederate batteries,
here they bivouacked for the night
During the conflict the Michigan, Maine and
Wisconsin regiments held their ground with a
fortltude which, in view Of the CALLING fire to
which they were exposed, was most remarkable.
but the New York 18th, and the Massachusetts
1st regin ents retired in great disorder from the
field portion of them throwing away KNAPP
sacks, and even their arms in their flight. A
number of the members of the former regiments
openly asserted that their confused retreat was
the fault of their officers, who evincedF total
lack of courage, and were the first to flee.
After the retreat had been commenced, Cor
coran's New York Goth Qrish) and Cameron's
New York 10th (Scotch) regiments wele order
part in the action.
There were three batteries in all The first
to open fire which was the smallest, was situated
on the top of an eminence; the second and most
destructive, in ravine. The latter was totally
concealed from view by brushwood, etc., and it
was in attempting to take the first by assault
that the Federal troops stumbled upon it. The
battle occurred at point in the declivity of the
road, where it makes a turn, forming an obtuse
angle, and the third battery was so placed as to
enflade with its fire the approaches towards the
junction.
Much jealousy, it is stated by the same au-
thority, existed between the regular officers and
those of the volunteer corps, each appearing de-
sirous of shifting to the other side the response
bility of any movement not advised BY them
selves, and the jealousy, it is feared, will serious
ly affect the efficiency of the "grand army
Thus, Gen. Mcdowell expressly states that the
battle was not his own, but that of Gen. Tyler
The former officer said that he would not ad-
vance further until he had thoroughly and care
fully reconnoitcred the position of the batteries
their capabilities, etc. and the Inference derived
by my imformants from his remarks, is that he
deems his present force entirely insufficient to
carry the opposition before him. o..
One of the gentlemen mentioned at the conf
mencement of this account, gives it as his opin-
ion that Manassas junction cannot be carried
by $4,000 men in two months, and all agreed
in saying that the force under Beauresard has
been entirely moderated numerically. and that
their 6gting qualities are superior. Tie cheers
with which they rushed to the fight frequently
rang above the din Of the battle. Their num-
bers were not ascertained, but it is estimated at
upwards of 5000 South Carolinians, uu1er COM
mand of Gen. M. L. Bonham, of South Carolina.
Their Artillery was of the best kind A shot
from one of their batteries severed bopgh from
a tree quite miles distant, and but a few feet
from where the vehicle of two Congressman was
standing One ball fell directly in the midst of
a group of Congressman, among whom was
Owen Lovejoy, but injured no one, the members
scamperng in different directions, slpltering
among trees, &c.
1t is said to have been admirably ser'ed too,
as the heavy list of killed, and the disabling of
Sherman's battery, amply testfes.
There were a number of rifle pits also front
of the batteries, from which much execution was
done by expert rihemen.
The Congressman were greatly Impressed with
the extent and magnitude of the earthworks,
entertainments, &C., erected by the Confderates
from Alexandria to Centreville and bepnd.-
They were all of the most formidable and ex-
tensive character.
1t is thought by them that Manassas juno
ton is encircled by chain of batteries which
can only be penetrated by severe fighting. All
the entertainments evidence consummae skill
in their construction. The entire column under
Gen. Mcdowell fell back at o'clock onFhurs-
day evening, short distance from Cenreville,
where they encamped They were joind dur
tho ovon;no nv HeintZleman'S cOmmaLl. and