Brownlow's weekly Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1861-1861, 1861-09-07
FHs BULLS RUN BATTLE
General McDowsll's oiicial Report Of
the Engagemenk

y
! Lleufesaat Colonel e. u. Towasehd, Assistaas
4gisssaf Geagal. Headquarters u tse Army,
/ Hoshagsos, ID. c.:
/ CoLoxKL :--i have the honor 70 submit the
| following report Of the battle OF the 2Ist sf
July, near Manassas, Virginia. Il has been
/ delayed till this time from the inability Of the
subordinate commanders te get earlier trne
account Of the state of their eomnsnAs.
In my communication 30 yon Of 4he 2oth
alt, stated it as my inseniion to move that
afternoon, and drive the enemy from the east
| side OF Balls Run, so as to enable the engi.
neers to makea sufficiently accurate recon-
neisSsace 10 justify eur future movements.
| Later IN the day they bad obtained enough
/ information of ihe passage across the stream
! 10 dispense with the reconnaissance, aud IL
! was decided 10 move without delay. Il had
been my iatention TO move the several col.
nmns out on the road few miles on the even-
ing Of she Goth, so that they would have n
shorter march 10 the morning; but deferred
70 these who had the greatest distance 10 go,
and whs preferred starting early 10 the Morn
sne, aud make bat oas move.
On the evening" Of the 20th ult my command
was mostly at or neat Oentregtlles The eaemy
was At or near Manassas, distant ffom Centre
vile sbsat seven miles 60 the southwest. Gen.
treville Is n village of few houses, mostly
on the west side OF ridge Running nearly
north and south. The road from 0entrevllle
70 Manassas Junction was along this ridge,
and crosses BuHs Run about three miles from
the former place. The Warrenlon TaFRpike,
which runs nearly east aud west, goes over
this ridge, through the village, and crosses
Bulls Rsn about four miles from il, Bulls
Run having course between the crossing
FROM northwest 20 southwest. The FIRST d.
vision tTyler's) was stationed GA the north
side Of the warenton Turnpike, and sH the
eastern slope OF the Cenheville ridge, two
brigades, on the same road, and q mile and a
halt 10 advance to the west Of the ridge, and
eas brigade on the road from CenireEiIls to
Manassas. where. R crosses Balfs Ran at
Blsekburn's Ford, wkefe ten. Tyler had the
eheagement Of The 18th alt Tue second di-
vision tHanter's) was on the Warrenton Turn-
pike, cue mile east Of 0entreyilie. The third
division ilieintEelmansl was on aroad known
as the Ola Braddcck road, which comes into
Centresille from the southwest about mile
and halt from the village. The afth diyis-
ion (Miles'1 was on the same road wita the
third division, and between Il and Gentrevile
A nap, which IL hssewith, marked A, will
show these positions better than I can des-
crioe them.
On Friday night train of subsistence ar
rived, and on Saturday its contents were or
dered 20 Ice issued TO the command, and the
men required TO have three days ratious 10
their hayerEacks. On Saturday, orders were
issued for the available force to march. As
reported to yon in my letter of the 10th ult,
my personal reconnaissance of the roads TO
the sonth had showed that Il was not practi-
cable TO carry out the original plan OF turn
ing the enemy'R position on their right. The
affair Of the 18th at Blaekburn's Ford showed
be was too strong at that poinz for us to force
a passage there without great loss, and IL we
did, that il would bring us 10 front of bis
strong position at Manassas, which was not
desired Our information was that the stone
bridge, over which she WaTreuton road eros
sed Balls Run, to the west of Centreville,
was defended by battery In position, and the
road on his side Of the stream impeded by
heavy abattis. The alternative, therefore,
was TO turn the extreme left of his posison.
Reliable information was obtained of an un-
defended ford about three miles above the
bridge, there being another ford between IL
and the bridge, which was defended. IL WAS
therefore determined TO take the road to the
upper ford, and, after crossing, to get behind
the fsrces guarding the lower ford and the
bridge, and after occupying the Warrington
road east Of the bridge, 70 send out force 70
destroy the railroad az or near CentreyiIlt,
aud thus break up the communication between
the enemy's force NJ Manassas and those In
the valley Of Virginia, before Winchester,
which had been held Ia cheek by Major Gen.
eral Patterson.
Brig. Gen Tyler was directed 10 move With
three Of his brigades en the Warrenton road,
and commence cannonadiHg the enemy's bat
teries, while Hunters division, moving after
him, should, after passing little stream call
ed Cub Run, turn TO the right and north, and
move around % the upper ford, and there
turz south and gef Behind the enemy. Col.
HeintEelman's division was to follow Hum
ter's as far as the turning OF place to the low
eF ford, where be was 70 cross afte. the enemy
had been driven out by Hunters division, the
the Fifth diyision-Miles'--to be Ia reserve on
the Centreviils ridge.
had felt anxious about the road from Ma
rassas by Blackbarn's Ford 10 CentreViile |
along the ridge, fearing that whilst we should |
be In force TO the front, and endeavoring 10
ttIrn the enemy's position, We ourselves should |
be turned by him by this road for If he !
should once obtain possession of this ridge, |
which oyeFlooks all the country TO the west |
to the foot of the spurs the Blue Ridge, we |
should have been iTretfievably cut OF end |
destroyed. had, therefore, directed this |
point 70 be be- SEN force, and sent an epgi- |
neer TO extenEs6rise some feid wofks % |
stfengthen the Position.
The FOURTH division tRHDyaa's) had notneen |
brought 10 the front further than to gaard /
auf feemmnnicnfions ID way Of Vienna and |
the Orange and Alexandria Railreed. Ills |
advahee regiment was aboai seven miles 10 |
The scar Of Centfeyisis.
The divisions were srdsted 10 march at +
half-paat iNo c clock a. ~, so rs to arrive on |