Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-17
GENERAL rYLERs OFFICIAL REPORT.

| But not knight asleep
GENERAL TYLER'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
| RsADQuARTERs FIksr Division.
| DsPAsrNxSr n Z. Va,
| LII. .r WAsHISGTos, July %. ls5l.
GxsIs.I In obedience TO order No. ~ datsd Centre
vile July 20 Sherman Schencks and Reyes brgades.
OF this 5ylsiou Richardson's brigade having been left
10 troGt Of Blackburn kordmoyed hslpss. two A.
on the 2lt inst 70 threaten the passage Of the War
rentOn turnpike bridge, on Bull ruD arrived ID front
of the bridge with Scheucks aud Shermans brigade.
aud Ayers and Carlsles batteries about N keyes
brigade having been halted by order 70 watch the
road coming up from Manassas aud about two miles from
the Run After Ianinog the position, and posting Sher
maus and rchencks brgades aud artillery. tired the
hrst gun half past Si A. ~ agreed upon, to show
that in position As my orders were to threaten
the passage Of the brdge caused Sebencks brigade ~
be formed into line its lett resting 10 the direction Of the
bridge ard the battery which the enemy bad established
20 sweep the bridge and It's approach, 10 threaten
both. Shermsns brigade posed to the right OF the
Warenton turnpike, TO be in position TO sustain
Schenek TO move across Bull Kun IN the direction oi
| Hunters column.
The thirty FOUNDER gun attached to the Carlisle bat
tery was posted the Warrenton turnpike, with Ayers
battery considerably in its rear, CaIli;les battery was
posted on the left Of Shermsas brigade Ia this posi-
ton awaited the appearance OF Hunters and Renize
man columns ordered, until such time as the sp'
poseh TO the bridge should be carried and the bridge
rebuilt by Capt. Alexander, OF the engineers who had
on the spot the necessary structure for that purpose.
Soou after getting iuto position we discovered that
the eucmy had heavy battery, with infantry in sup.
po, commanding both the road and bridge approaches
| on which both Ayers and Carlisle at ffefent times
tried the ofsct OF their guns without SUGGEST ald
careiul examination Of the banks OF Bul! Run satisfy
ing me that they Eere imprac'cabe for the purpose Of
.st.nery these batteries had 10 remain comparative
ly ussl, ;, until such time Hunters column might
clear the approach by a movement on the opposite
| taLk During this period OF waiting the thirty.
| FOUNDER was occasionally used with considerable
sfa. sgairst bodies Of Infantry and cavalry, which
could DO seen from time to time moving Ia the d'.
o..0a Of Hunt RS cOiumn, aud out OF the range Of or
binary guns Using high Tree an observatory, We
could constantly the operations OF Hunters and
6ein Eelmans column from the ne they crossed Bull
Rum and through Of my staff Lieut.. ORouke, OF tie
engiu ers promptly notified as to any change in
the progress OF their columns up the time when " ap
reared that the hes6s Of both arrested and the
emmy seemed TO be moving heavy reinforcenents to
support their troops At this tlmh ordered Col Sher
nau with his br gade TO ctoss Bull uo, and TO support
10. Two columns already In scOn. Colonel Sherman as
poears BY his reports crossed the without oppos
Ion aud after encountering party Of the enemy dying
before Hunters forces found General Mcdowell and
ceiyed his orders to Join In the pursuit The Subsequent
operations OF this gade and It's able commander hav!rs
been under your own eye and direction shall not fol-
Its movements any further but refer YOU TO Colonel
| ,.
50 soon as discovered that Hunters division had
teen arrested ordered up Keys brigade, which arrived
us, as the ls OF Shermans MAS crossing the run, and
having satisfied myself that the enemy bad not the ioIos
ror the purpose TO cross Bull Run ordered Keyes br
zada 10 follow SheTmaD accompanying the move 10 per
500 ss II must necessarily place me on the lett Of
our line and In the best possible position, when Ws
should have driven the enemy a. 10 join Scheneks br
sade ard the batteries left on the opposite SIDE.
ordered Col keyss incline the head OF his column
tte 10 ia. tight OF the line OF march take by Sherman
brigade 10 avoid the are Of battery which the enemy
had opened This movement sheltered the men TO
considerable degree and resulted in closing on the real
Of shermsns brigade; and reaching the high ground
ordered Colonel Keyes 10 form into line on the left o
| sheruaaus brigade which doGe with great stesdi
ness and regularly. After waiting few moments The
ne was ordered to advance, and into coLict on
s right with the enemys cavalry and infantry, which
after some struggles it drove back, until the fpr
Their march OF the brigade was arrested BY severe lire
| Of artillery and LfIntry, sheltered by some building.
standing on the heights above the road leading to Bd
Run The charge here ordered and the SECOND Maine
aud Third Connecticut regiments, which opposed
thls part of the enemys Tine pressed forward to the
top Of the hill until they reached the buildings which
| we're held by the enemy, drove them out, and for
| moment bad them III possession. ~ this point LndnF
the brigade under the fire Of stroug force behind
sstwoIls the order given to march By the lei
hak across al open tell until tie whole line was shel
tered by the right bank Of Bull Run, along which the
march vas conducted With view to turn the battery
Which he enemv had placed on the til below the point
a Which the Wsrrsntop turnpike crosses Bull Ru1
The march vas conducted foT considerable jisanc,
Glow the stone bridge causing tie enemy u retire
and giving Captain Alexander Al opportunity Il
pass The bridge cut cut the sbst,s which had beef
Glazed there and prepare the way tor Schencki
| BRIGADE and the two batteries TO pass over. Be
fore the contemplated movement could be made OIL
the enemy q battery il removed aud placed 10
position to threaten line; but before the correc
r.nge could be obtained Colonel Reyes carried hs br
gads by hank movement, around the base Of the hill
aud Was ON the point Of ascending 1t Ia time TO get
the battery when discovered that troops
the retreat and that unless rapid movement TO th,
rear Was made We should be cut of, and through ny
lid, Lieut. Upton Colone Keyes was ordered TO file tt
lihe right and Join the retreating column. The orde
executed without the least confusion, ard the bri
sade o,ned the retreating column In good order WleI
this junction Was made left Keyes' brigade aud rod
forward 10 ascertain the eoodfron Of ScheDck brigade
and the artillery left this ide of Bull Run, and
irving there found 4ye battery aud Lieutenant Hainee
| 30 FOUNDER waiting orders. ! Immediately orderet
Lieutenant HaGes to timber up aud move forward q
soon as possible. This was pfomty DONE and Ii,
piece was moved on towards Centrtyile ] then wen
INTO the wood where the ammunition wsgon Of tbi
piece had been placed out OF the reach Of hre
and found that the driver bad deserted and akeI
.vay part Of the horses, which made it impossible
20 move it, then returned to Ayres' battery whicl
found lmbered up and ordered it to move forwsrt
and cover the retreat, which was promptly done b,
its gallant officers and when the cavalry charge made
shortly aiterward they epused t promptly and euects
sly then collected guasd iaanly from the Secont
Maine regiment and put it under the command Of Colo
mel with orders TO sustain Captain Ayers dun,
the retreat which dIne calamity and successfully
until the battery reached Cenireyle Before ordering
Colonel Jameson to Ayers battery, sed to tb
rear 10 lind General scheaass brigade intending as
gas .resh to nave cover the retreat did not find
In the position In which had left IT, and supposed il hs
moved forward and joined the retrca,ing coamn. dit
not SEQ General Schenck again until Cub Qun, wher
he appeared active in rslyiug bis own or come othe
regiments General Sehenck reports shat the two Obi
regiments loft Bull Run after the cavalry charge, and ar
rived a. oentre'lle in good order.
In closing this report, 1t gives great pleasure to
press my admiration OF the manner In which COL keye
handled his brigade completely covering il BY ever,
possible accident Of the gcuod while changing his posi-
ions and leading brsvey and skifuly to the aitaei
At The right moment which the brigade responded Il
every instance In manner highly credtsble 10 isei
and satisfactory to It's commanding officers At tint
during the coraet this brigade dsorganzsd, and
was the last Oh the field and in good order. q.
Colonel Reyes ssys: The CALAMITY With Which th,
Second Maine and Third Connecticut regiments charge
up the hill upon the enemys artillery and infantry va
never In my opinion surpassed and the conduct OF %
lonels Jameson and Chatfsld In this Instance ans
throughout the day merits the highesi communication
Col Terry rendered great assist nee by his gaanry so
excellent conduct tiedtehshl Has;s, Acting Assisan
Adiutsnt Generals Luisnants Walter and Ely, render
"a ,,ant snA sHoctiva A izfaucan IL avsa MA