Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-08-02
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The Hattie OF nun Run.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF anNERAL soHbsok.

10 Brig. Gen. TYLER, Commanding First Di-
General: l have the honor to submit this re-
'ort OF the movements and service of my brig
lde In the battle at Bull Run, off the Gaines.
7ille road, on the 2lst inst. ~. % 3 soofzliiv
Leaving my camp, one mile south of Centre
7ille, at ~ O'Clock A. M. of that day, march.
ID at the head of your division, as ordered, with
my command in column, In the following or
Ter: the First Regiment of Ohio Volunteers,
Col. tMcCook; the Second Ohio, Lieut. Col.
Mason; the Second New York State Militia,
Col Tompkins; and Capt Carlisle's Battery of
Light ARTILLERY, six (6) brass guns. To Capt
Carlisle's command was also attached the large
Parrott gun, 30-pounder, under direction Of
Lieut.. Haines, Of the artillery corps. o5.el.la
Proceeding slowly and carefully, preceded
BY five companies Of administers Of the FIRST and
Second Ohio, which threw out on either side
Of the road, we approached the bridge over
Bull Run, beyond which the rebels were under.
stood to be posted and entrenched, and to with
in distance of perhaps three-fourtbs Of mile
OF their batteries, on the other eide Of the
stream. 1. 1l,--Eo gr -its lJ sE8
In obedience to your command, on first iiscov-
cry of the presence of the enemy,s infantry
forming into line on the hill. side beyond the
Run, l deployed my three regiments of infantry
to the left Of the road, and formed them in line
OF battle in front Of his right. Thus my com
mand was constituted the left wing Of our divis.
ion, Col. Sherman's brigade coming up and TAX.
ing position to the right Of the road. - e. ~ s
After the fre had been opened by discharge
OF the large Parrott gun from the center In the
direction of the enemy's work, I moved my ex-
tended line gradually forward at intervals, TAX
I'D anka AC "a koA
force sheltered partly in hollow covered by
ridge and wood In front, and partly by the edge
Of the timber lying between US and the run.
Here we lay, In pursuance of your orders, for
perhaps two and o half or three hours, with no
evidence of our nearness to the enemy except
the occasional firing of musketry by our Skin
mishers in the wood in front, answered by the
muskets or rifles of the enemy, to whom our
presence and position were thus indicated, with
a view to distract his attention from the ap-
proach of Col. Hunters force from above and
In bis rear. At this time received your no.
tice and order, announcing that Hunter was
heard from-that he had crossed, and was COM
ing down about two miles above US, and direct
ing that If saw any signs of a stampede of the
enemy in front, should make dash with the
two Ohio regiments, keeping the New York
regiment In reserve. For this movement ] i'm
mediately formed and prepared. ,4I ~
Soon after, and when, by the firing of artil.
lery and musketry in front at the right, it ap-
peared that the rebels were actively engaged In
their position by our forces on the other side oi
the stream, received your order to extend my
line still further to the left, sending forward
Col. McCook's regiment to feel the battery OF
the enemy, which was ascertsined to be on the
hill covering the ford, half o mile below the
bridge, and supporting him with my two other
regiments. This was Immediately done. Col.
McCook advanced in that direction along the
road, which we found to be narrow track
through pine wood, thick and close with un.
dergrowth, and fanked on either side by ambus.
eades OF ush-work, which were now, however
abandoned. Reaching the head Of this narrow
road, where it opened upon the stream, Col
McCook found the battery to be strong earth
work Immediately opposite, mounted with at
least four heavy guns, and commanding tht
outlet from the wood. An open space OF low
ground lay between, with cornfeld to the left
the direct distance across the enemy's battery
being $50 yards. al saUl
Behind the battery, and supporting it, wert
discovered some four regiments of the rebe
troops, while riAe-pts were seen directly in from
Of it. The First Regiment was there deployed
to the left in the edge of the woods and into the
oornfeld; one company, Captain Kells's, being
thrown forward towards the Run, up to within,
perhaps, twenty yards of the battery. While
lowed by the Second New York, towards the
head Of the road, In supporting distance from
the First Ohio, Lieut.. Col. Mason's Regiment
fling also to the left. Receiving Col. McCook's
report of the battery, and that 10 would be i'm
possible to turn II with any force we had, i'm
nedistely dispatched message to the center
10 bring up some pieces of artillery to engage
the enemy from the head of the road. In th,
meantime the enemy, discovering our presene,
and position in the woods, and evidently havinf
the exact range of the road we were occupying
opened on us with heavy fire of shells AM
round and grape shot. aJ 90 1..- b3i99au
To avoid the effects of thisas much as possi
ble,I ordered the men to fall back into tn
woods on each side of the road, and wa
presently reinforced by two guns of Ayres'
battery, under Lieutenant Ransom, which pass
ed to the head of the road. A brisk can
nonading was then opened, but avery unequa
one, on account Of the superior force and meta
Of the enemy. While this continued, left m
horse and passed through the wood, and re
mained some time by our guns, to be satisae
whether we were making any impression upo
the enemy's work. soon found that Ii wa
not thus to be carried, and such also was th
opinion of the officer in charge OF the guns
Retiring, found that the most of my two reg
iments In the rear had fallen back out of rang
Of the hot and constant fire of the enemy's car
non, against which they had nothing to oppose
The suffering from this FIRE was principally wit
the Second New York, as they were in the lin
where most Of the shell and shot fell that pas
ed over the heads Of the Second Ohio. ~
Taking with me two companies of the Secon
Ohio, which were yet in the woods maintainin
their position, returned, to cover and brin
away Ransom's guns. It was Just at this plac
and point of time that you visited yourself tn
position we were leaving. must not omit I
speak with commendation of the admirabl
manner in which these guns Of ours were handle
and served by the officers and men having ther
in charge. And may, notice the fact, also
that as we were Withdrawing from this point W
saw another heavy train Of the enemy's gun
arrive, and move up the stream on the, othe
side Of their battery with which We, had bee
engaged, along what supposed to be the foa
from Manassas, towards where the battle va
raging with our troops on the right. ~
My three regiments being all called in, the
retired and rested in good order, at the cente
Of the front, near the turnpike. Here was Il
formed BY Col. MeCook that you had crosse
the Run above, with other portions of our d
vision, and left with him an order for me to Z,
main with my infantry In that position, suppor
ing Csrlisle's battery, which was posted clos
to the road on the right. This wss one P. n
Capt. Carlisle, while we thus rested, was pla,
ing with much apparent effect upon the enemy
work across the Run, with his two riAed piece
as was also Lieut.. Haines with the large na
rott gun, Soon after, having successive an
cheering reports, confirmed BY what we coul
observe, OF the success Of our army on the 9th,
side of the Run, ! discovered that bodies Of u
enemy were m in motion. probably retresting''