The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-08-15
The Battle at Butts Run...COl. Richard.
sons Official Report to Gen. Tyler.
gl. CAMP OF THE FOURTH BRIGADE OF TYLER's
DIVISION AND GENERAL McDowELL's X
Man Aprr I,Ir

OENEhAL--1 nave the uOuOT 10 SuO-
nit the following report as to the ope-
rations of my brigade in front of the
enemy at Bulls Run, on Sunday, July
21. On the night of the goth of July
l was summoned to attend a meeting
OF the commanders of brigades, at the
headquarters of the commanding Off
Ger in the field, General Mcdowell !;
and, in common with the other COM
ders of brigades, | was instructed what
was expected of my particular COM
mand the following day-thatis, was
to defend the position which held
then occupied in front of the enemy,
called the Blackburn ford, and about
one mile in his front, where we. had
been for the last three days. / was,
also ordered to consider myself under
command of Colenel d. S. Miles,
United States Army, who was to com
ni:and his own brigade at Centerville as
we'll as my own and that of Colonel
Davies, midway between the two, these
three L,rigades constituting what was
then called ti,c reserve. Attached to
my brigade was the field Gattery OF
Major Hunt, United States Army, and
also the rified battery Of ten-pounders,
under Lieutenant Green, United States
Army. Twas to open fire on the ene-
my for the purpose of making diver
sion, not before, but soon after hearing
the report of General Tyler's command
on my right, to carry out which pur-
pose made the following disposition
of the brigade. The two batteries
upon the ridge of the hill, in view of
the enemy the Third Michigan In
fantry on the left of the road, in lire of
battle. Still farther, six hundred
yards to the left, on commanding hill,
l had placed the day before two COM
panies of the First Massachusetts Reg
iment, for the purpose of occupying a
log barn and frame barn, which CON-
nies pushed pickets still farther to the
left for the security of that point, which
| considered a good position for artille-
ry. In ravine, half way between the
two positions, [ placed also company
of the First Massachusetts Regiment,
which pushed pickets down the ravine
to its front; and on the extreme right
of all placed the balance of the Mas
sachusetts Regiment, in line of battle,
with two companies of that regiment
pushed four hundred yards to the right
and front, which two companies again
pushed pickets in advance. The New
York and Second Michigan Regiments
placed in the road, five hundred yards
in rear of the line, as a reserve.
Soon after making these ARRANGE
ments, which did on hearing the re-
port Of artillery on our right, Colonel
Davies brigade made its appearance,
with him at its head, and, inquiring of
me the date of my commission, found
that he ranked me by two days, and he
assumed in command. That officer
wished a good position for artillery to
open, and Immediately proposed the
position on the left, near the log house,
called by the people of the country the
enemy's headquarters, might be OBJ
tanned. Colonel Davies brought up
with him the rifed twenty -pounder bat
terry of Lieutenant BENJAMIN, and or
dered it to open fire. Immediately. He
directed also Hunts battery to his as.
sistance, and l ordered Green's battery
to open its fire at the same time. The
enemy appeared to have Withdrawn
his guns from that position, as he re.
turned no fire, or he might have been
reserving his fire for the last attack.
An hours cannonading, however
brought in view column of the enc.
my's infantry, which / observed with
my glass, of at least twenty-five hund
red men, and soon after two other
bodies of men, of at least a regimen,
each, who occupied the lines on the
other side of the run, which lines now
appeared full to oyerfowing. Suppos
ing now that they intended to make g
push across our front in column, -ol
would endeavor to turn our left, about
eleven A. NJ, began to fortify my po
sition by throwing up an earthen para
pet for three guns, with embrasures
across the road, and commenced IN
abattis of timber, by falling trees, point
ing outwards, between this battery and
the log house to the, left. About thi.
time the enemy on the opposite side ap
peared to be falling back in confusion
from our right attack, which continued
for some time, and then the tide
changed, and they seemed to be return
ing in large masses. AT the interva
between these two extremes / was or
dercd by Colonel D. S. Miles to throw
7 forward my skirmishers and feel thu
enemy, and accordingly two companie
r of the Third Michigan regiment wer'
sent forward and down the ravine, t.
!, cover our front and advance. Thes,
: were supported by Captain Bretschnei
l der's light infantry battalion, which
: also advanced down the ravine, accom-
, panied by Lieutenant Prime, corps o
. United States Engineers, who went 70
s the purpose of ascertaining the enemy
: position-he volunteering his service
q for that particular purpose. Colone
Davies also threw forward compan,
s of skirmishers on his right. The enc
my's skirmishers were in force in tn
. woods in front, covered tbemselye
: with trees and rifle pits, which ha'
been thrown ap before. Our two ad
J. vance companies were driven back. tn