Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-14
SSailg ssppeal.
Battle OF MANASSAS.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE FED
ETEAL COMMANDER.

battle Of Manassas, made by tbe federal CON-
mander 70 tie authorities at Washington. Not
withstanding its many nisstatements, we give
it to our readers as part Of the history of the
campaign. He admits the defeat Of bis forces
to have been as disastrous as heretofore stated
BY southera authorities, and the document will
be read with interest:
GEN. WcDOWELL'S OFFICIAL REPORT
OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
HrsnQUAErERs DEPT EoRrHE AsTERN VA,
AuLuNeTOE VA, August A. 1851.
Lisutsns7 Colonel ?. D. Townsend. Assistant Adjutzn
General, Headquarters Of the Army, washing
tcI, D. C.
CoLovrr 7 have the honor to submit the
following report OF the battle Of the 21st OF
JaIY, near Manassas, Virginia. It has been
deisFed till this time from the Inability Of the
su5oniinats commanders to get earlier a true
account OF the state OF their commands.
In u.y communication to you of the Goth ult.
stated it as my intention to move that after
noon, and drive the enemy from the east side Of
Bull Run, 60 as 70 sble the engineers to max
q sufficiently accurate Reconnaissance to justify
eur future movements. Later in the day they
bad obtained enough information OF the passsge
across toe stream to dispense with this recon
Hoissanee, and it was decided to move without
AftuFs j. LcA DtEH lily iittullNl " ilioHg AK
several columns out on the road few miles on
the evening Of the 2Oth, - that they would
hive a shorter march n the morning; but de-
ferred 20 tbase who bad the greatest distance
10 &c, and who preferred starting early in The
morning, and making but one move.
On tie evcRihg Of the 10th ult. nv command
was mostly at or near Csnterville. The enemy
yVss at or near Manassas, distant from Cen
tHrvile about seven miles 10 the southwest.
CeLtervi'ie is a village OF few houses, most
" on The west side of ridge running nearly
north ard south. The road from Ceuterville
to Manassas function was along this ridge,
and crosses Ball run about three miles from
the former place. Tie WsrTentOR turnpike,
which TuHs nearly east and west, goes over
this ridge. through the village, and crosses
Bull run about four miles from it, Bull run
having course between the crossing from
NORTHWEST 20 southeast. The first division
(Tyler's) vas stationed on the north side Of
the RsrrentoR turnpike, and On the eastern
slope Of the Centerville ridge, two brigades,
ca the same road, and q mile aud half in
advance, 10 tae west ef the ridge, and one
brigade CT the road from Centeryille to Ma
nass8s, where it crosses Bull run, at Black
buIn's ford, where Gen. Tyler had the engage
sneBt Of the 18Th uIt. TIE second division
(Eunter's) was on the Warrenton turnpike,
one mile east OF CsnterTil.e. The third divis-
ion (Hsiatzslman's) was on a road known az
the old Braddock road, which comes into Cen
te-v,ils from the southeast, about mile aud g
haf from the village. The ffth division
(Nlles) was on the same road with the third
division, and between it and CenterVille. A
map, which is herewith, marked A, viii show
these positions better than l can describe
then.
On Friday night a train Of subsistencs ar
rived, and on Saturday its contents were or
dered to be issued TO the command, and the
men required to have three DAYS rations 10
their haversscks. On Saturday orders were
issued for TIE available force to march. AS
reported 20 you In ny letter OF the 18Th ult f,
my personal reconnaissance Of the roads TO the
South had shown THAI It was not practicable
tc carry out the original plan Of turning the
enemyiS position on their right. The affair Of
the 18th st Blackburn's Ford showed he was
too strong al that point for rs to force pas
cage tfere without great loss, and if we did
that it would bring Us in front OF bis strong
position at Manassas, which was not desired.
Our Information was that the stone bridge,
over which the Warrenton road crossed Bulls
run, TO the west of Centerville, was defended
by battery IN position, and the road on bis
side of the stream impede3 0y a heavy abst-
It's. The alternative, therefore, was to turn
the extreme left Of his position. Reliable in
formation was obtained Of an nndefended ford
about three miles above the bridge, there being
another ford between it and tie bridge, which
was defended. Il vas therefore determined to
l55.5-tils Teaa % 81 epPer ford, and after
crossing, 10 get behind the forces guarding the
lower ford aad the bridge, and after occupying
fEe Warenton road east OF the bridge, to send
oui force to destroy the railroad at or near
Gainesville, and thus break up the communica-
tioa between the eneny's forces at Manassas
and these in the valley Of Virginia, before
Winchester, which had been held in check by
Msjor-Gene-si Patterson.
Brig Gen. Tyler was directed to move with
three q his brigaGes on the TTarrentOn road,
and e0Usre@- e eaHBensding the enemy's bat
t,,ies, vEbhe Hunters division, moving after
biz, should, after passing little stream, cali
ed Cub run turn to the right and north, and
move around to the upper ford, and turn south
snd get behind the enemy; Col. Heitzelmsn's
division was 10 follow Hunters ss far as the
tuTni1g Of place 70 the lower ford, where be
yvas-to crcls after the enemy had been driven
out b. Hunters DIVISION, the Fifth division
Mlies'-to be in reserve on the Centerville
ridge.
had felt anxious about the road from Ma
nsssas by BIackburn's ford to Centerviile
along this ridge, fearing that while we should
be in force TO the front, and endeavoTiag to
turn the sEamy's position, we ourselves should
be turned by bin by this road: fcr If be should
once obtain possession OF ihis ridge, which
oveTl0-ks al tie country to the west to the
foot Of he sDurs Of The Blue Ridge, we should
have bsen irIenrieveably cut off and destroyed.
mad, therefore, directed this POINT TO be held
il force, and sent an engineer to extenDoTize
some field works to strengthen the position.
The Fouth division (RuBysn's) had not been
brought to the front further than to guard
our communications by Eay Of Vienna and
the Orange and AieXsndriR railroad. His sd-
yanced regiment was about seven miles in the
rear Of CcnterVille.
TIE divisions were ordered to march at half
past tv1 o'clock A. n, SO ss to arrive on the
grouno ssrly In the day, and thus avoid the
heat which is TO be expected at this season.
There was delay in the frte division getting
out Of IFS camp on the road, aDl the other d.
visions were in consequence between two and
three hours behind he appointed time--a great
misfortune, as events turned out. The wood
road leading from TIE Wsrrenton turnpike to
tie upper ford was much longer than we
counted upon, the general direction Of the
stream being obiique to the road, and We have
tla obtuse anEle on sur side.
General Tyler commenced with bis artillery
al Galf-p past six 4. H., but the enemy did not
rerlv, snd after some tiTse it became a ques-
ton whether he was in any force in our front,
and if be did not Intend himself to make an
attack. and make it BIZ Blaekburn's ford.
After firing several time, and obtaining no re-
eponss. held one OF Heintzelman's brigades
ia reserve in case we should have TO send any
troops back to reinforce Niles division. The
other brigsdos moved forward as directed in
the general orders. On reaching be ford, at
SEaleV's spring, I found part Of the leading
brigade of Hunters division (BuTnside's) had
crossed, but the men were slow in getting
over, stopping to drink. As at this time the
clouds Of dust from the direction of Manassas
.fdisEted the immediate approach OF a large
force, snA fearing it might come down on the
head Of the column before the division could
al get over and sustain it, orders were sent
back 10 the heads OF regiments to break from
The eolaun, and come forward separately as
fass ss possible. Orders were sent BY an off,
Ger to Tie re erye brigade Of Heintzelman's
division to come by q nearer road across the
feds, and an sid-de-csBp was sent to Briga-
der; General Tyler to direct him 20 press for
,ysrd hls attack, as large bodies Of the enemy
yrerz passing in front OF him 10 attack the
5;vis;cn which had crossed over. The ground
5atvVeeg the stream and the road leading from
epdIsv,l sprin0 south, and over which Burn
-i5s,s brieade IacTched, was for about mile
pom ias fcrd tbiezlV wooded, while on the
ri5bt Of the road for the same dis
tagcs, the country vas divided between Eeids
and woods About 4 mile from the road the
country on both sides ef the road IS open, and
for nearly mile further large rolling fields
extend down to the Wauenton turnpike, which
crosses what became the field of battle through
rbs valley OF q small water course, tributary
Of Ealps run.
Shortly after the leading regiment OF the
Trs- brigade reached the open space, and while
Others and the second brigade we're erosslAg
,be sent and right, the enemy opened IRE, be-
pinofng With artillery and following it Up with