The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-25
VOL. XIII.-NO. Is
DIR c. w. LeBOUTILLIER'S ACCOUNT
OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN
Immediately after our arrival at Bull
Run, (near Sudley's church, or short
time before the fight commenced, between
Heintzelman's command ard the enemy,
consultation was had between Surgeon
Z Stewart and myself. He informed me that
it was desired that should 60 with the
regiment, and that he would soon follow
with the ambulances. followed, accom-.
panied by Oscar Sears and twenty of our
musicians, who had been detailed by Col.
German to assist in taking care Of the
wounded. su5o saa H y.,sse
A few minutes before we became engaged
in the action, l requested Chaplain Neil,
(who was CALAMITY marching with the regi-
ment,) to go back and hurry up the ambu-
lances, and also to have some filters sent up
to US. He went, and soon returned with
two litters, bringing one himself upon his
own back, and informed me that be had
delivered my message. sa
We soon became engaged with the ene>
my, and at the first fire had about twenty
killed and about thirty wounded.
The second fire produced about the same
effect, and was nearly as fatal to us.
All the men detailed to assist US, left af-
ter the first fire, leaving Mr.. Neill and Os-
car Sears and myself alone to attend to the
wounded. For halt an hour or more we
had our hands full.
We examined almost all the wounded
with the exception of those who walked
away from the feld) and carried them to a
place of comparative safety, and dressed
their wounds when necessary. 1t must be
remembered that we also had to attend to
very many of the wounded Zouaves who
bad been left on the field, deserted by their
commanders. -Four or five of our wounded
were killed by the bursting of shell in
their midst after we had left them.
After attending to those who were
wounded at the first two fires from the enc.
my, we bad little to do except occasionally
to visit the sufferers and furnish them with
water AID stimulants, supply Of which
Oscar Sears 1.-THE acting Steward) bad
had brought for that purpose.
During the fight, the brave little Sears
never deserted me. He was always on
hand, and discharged his duties CALAMITY
and like true soldier. Soon after the
second fire of the enemy, they were repuls.
ed and fell back from their position in
front OF our regiment. From that time
until the retreat was ordered the regiment
was divided into small squads, skirmishing
about in the woods.
The first fighting was at about liz A.
NJ. The retreat began about 41hP.M.
After the regiment was ordered to retreat,
Oscar and / stayed with our wounded upon
the battle ground, for half an hour. still
hoping the ambulances would arrive.
have been informed by DIR. Stewart since
my return to Minnesota, that the Medical
Director ordered him not to take them upon
the battle field. The enemy then came up
and drove us away. Had the ambulances
arrived even as late as four O'Clock, our
wounded, or the greater portion of them,
might have been removed to Centerville,
and thence to Washington. 5sa
On leaving the field, Oscar and myself
were separated. walked towards house
which thought looked like hospital, and
on reaching it found was not mistaken. /
there met Drs. Powell and Ferguson of the
I'd New York and entered into conversation
with them. / scarcely had been talking with
them i've minutes when squadron OF cav.
airy, numbering about fifty men, charged
upon US, surrounded the yard and house, and
although we exhibited our green sashes and
informed them that we were surgeons and
that the building was hospital, they fred
upon us-emptied every gun they had in
thsir hands, screaming all the while "shoot
the id sons of b." ~ sse
They killed three of the wounded--two
Northerners and Georgian, who were lying
on the ground in front Of the house under
locust tree. They ALEC shot the brave
Ferguson in the lett leg, fracturiDg both
bones. They Immediately began to load
again, and we believing that it was their
intention to murder rs, rushed into the
house and determined to defend Ourselves
There were about ten or twelve privates
who had assisted the wounded to this place,
IA hoA ofoi no1 tlo:. .~.-- I'll