Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-03


two companies Of light troops, in order TO give
the enelny's advancing column 4 few shots Dc
fore retiring to the position assigned THOSE
pieces behind the Run.
The Eleventh North Carolina Volunteers
Col. Kirkland, and the Eighth Louisiana Bat
talon, Col. Kelly, reported to me during Inc
morning. The former having been kept ior =
while in reserve, was placed on the extrenle
left. The latter was held in reserve IN rear VI
the centre Of my position.
At about IL NJ, the enemy, following up
his Of the day previous, opened u
heavy cannonalc on my position, which was
kept up most OF the day, throwing Shell ana
shot into every portion of my command out'
fortunately, without injury to the troops.
As the range of his guns and the weight Of his
metal were greater than my own, Capt. KEN
ner's two pieces, with the two supporting COM
panies, were withdrawn to their position IN
rear of the Run, but not until some effective
shots had been made at the enemy.
In the course of 4 few hours the enemy at
tackled the position Of Gen. Longstrcet, at
B~lackburn's Ford, q short distance to my right
from which he was most CALAMITY repulsea'-
He then began to show his troops in some force
in my front. By your leave | ordered Col.
kcrshaw, with four companies Of his regiment
and one piece Of kemper's Battery, to move
forward to Eemper's Hill, and open his hire
upon hat force. 1t was promptly and gallant
ly ex~scutcd-three or four effective shots being
thrown into the grove near Buffers house, 40,
ing some execution, and scattering the enemy
in every direction. ~.
I cannot too highly commend the conduct
and bearing Ct al the officers and men UNDER
ny command. Everything that chsracterlzes
n gallant people, prepared to perish before a
superior force, if necessary, Tor the defence OF
their homes, was exhibited by them, through
out the trying and fatiguirg operations OF the
18th and 18th Of July.
Enclosed send the reports Of officers under
nv command, so far as received.
AIN, sir, very respectfully,
Your nbedient servant,
ISigucdl NJ. L. BoNHAM,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
To Brigadier General e. 7. BEAUREdARp, com
handing Army Of the Potomac, July 18TH
and olst, 1861.
Captain Delaware kemper's Report.
AgTrlLrRI Quarters. ADVANCED FORCES, 1sr BRIGADE,
1ST COKPs hNMr or TIE POTOMAC, =
rIgSyI, 95,h July, 1861.
RrcApIgR. GENERAL BoSuAu, Commanding lst
Brigade, &C.:
General-On the morning Of Wednesday,
the 18th inst, while in camp at Fairfax Z. H.,
about : a. ~, | received information from
you of the approach Of the enemy, and a reitc-
ration Of orders previously given in regard to
the disposition Of my guns. Two were at once
placed in battery in front Of Colonel Williams
Regiment, on the Alexandria turnpike, and
two in front of Col. Kershaw's position, on
the Falls Church road. At s o'clock the enc.
my came 10 sight on the Flint Hill road. and
orders wero received to fall back. In c~oplunc-
ton with Col. Kershaw's Regiment and Capt.
Wickham's troop, J enjoyed the privilege of
covering this retreat, the rear guard being I'M
der Col. Kershaw's command, 10 whose report
I beg to refer for any additional Details
The enemy seemed not disposed to press US
| closely, and We reached Centrcvillc without
incident worthy Of note about II NJ, and
rested until midnight, when the march was re-
sumed to Bull Run. We arrived at MltchelIs
Ford Il littlc before daybreak OH the morning
Of the 18th. Two Of my guns were posted on
the hill in front Of the trenches at MltcheAs
Ford-,he others in the trenches. AT j. NJ,
CThurday, 1Sth,) the enemy opened lire from
one or more rified guns in front OF our posi-
ton, at distance Of one and IL hall miles,
This firing was completely at random until l24
o'clock, when they attained the range oil my
position. and fired many rounds of case and
solid shot at us, but without injury TO us,
while a light battery moved up towards u.s.
| then opened fire upon the latter, firing six
solid shot, and had the satisfaction of driving
back the battery and its supports. / have
since understood that this was Sherman's bat
terry, and that the amount Of damage done
them was considerable. We at once retired to
the trenches, in obedience to your orders.
Late in the evening, about 4 o'clock, was
ordered to accompany, with one gun, Colonel
Kcrshaw's Regiment to the hill which we had
formerly occupied in front Of MitchelrS Ford,
for the purpose Of driving a body of infantry
and cavalry from the coYcr Of the hills beyond.
Two solid shot and three spherical case having
accomplished this object to Col. kcrshaw's
satisfaction, we returned to our respective po'
sitions in and behind the trenches. We we're
inactive listeners 10 the heavy firing on our
right, and about dusk were ordered TO move
with Col. kershaw's Regiment to the left Of
the entertainments.
am glad to be able to add that no member
Of my command suffered any injury during
these operations.
Respectfully, General,
Your obedicnt scrv't,
(Signed) DEL. kEMpER,
Captain commanding Battery of Light .Artille
lery from Alexandria.
CliIiciaIj CLIFTON II. SMITH,
Capt. and A. A.. G..
Repori Of II Battle OF HIackburn's Ford
Col. TuoNAs JORDAN, \. a. GENERAL:
SIR:-I have the honor to report that in ODE
diencc to the orders Of the General Command
ing, | took my position at this Ford on the I'll
instant. my Brigade being composed o
the lst, llth and nth Regiments of Virgins
Volunteers. My line Of defence being
quite extended, | threw out a line
of skirmishers to the waters edge, coz
ering my entire front, holding strong
reserves in readiness to defend, with the bayo
net, any point that might be violently at
tackled. Al half after II o'clock, A.. NJ, or
the 18th, my pickcts reported the enemy ad
vancing upon the Ford in heavy columns Of
infantry, and a strong artillery force. At IL
". the pickets retired, without firing. Ny
artillery-two pieceS-waS placed in a COME
nient position, with orders to retire the momcn1
it was asccrtained that our pieces were com
manded by those Of the enemy. The first sho'
from his battery discovered the advantage Of
his position, aid our artillery was properly
Withdrawn. y fire from the artillery Of the
enemy was kept up about half an hour, 9her
their infantry WAS advanced to the attack. He
made an assault with n column Of three or four
thousand Of his infantry, which, with a com
paratively small force Of fresh troops, was with
some difficulty repllsed. \ second and more
determined attack was made, after a few
minutes, which was driven back by thu
skirmishers and the companies Of the reserve
thrown in al the most threatened and weak
est points. ! then sent 4 staff officer tc
Colonel Early for one Of the reserve resi
ments oil his Brigade. Before the arrival o
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