Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-07

were all that could be desired. The officers
and men attached to the seven pieces already
specified won for tteir battalion distinction
which, | feel assured, will lever be tarnished,
and which will ever serve to urge them and their
corps to high endeavOr. Lieutenant SquiTes
Worthily commanded the Iieces in &C ion. The
commander Of the battalion was necessarily
absent from the immediate field, under orders
in the sphere of his duties, but the fruits of his
discipline, zeal, instruction and capacity as an
artillery commander, were present, and must
rebound to bis reputation.
On the left, at Mieheli's ford, while no Sc
rious engagement occurred, the conduct of all
was eminently satisfactory to the general Off
GERS in command.
l. is due, however, TO Colonel J. L. KempeT,
Virginia forces, to express my sense of the
value of bis services in the preparation for and
execution OF the retreat from Fairfax Court
House, on Bull Run. Called fromithe head Of
his regiment bY what appeared to me an i'm
Perstve need Of the service, to take charge of
the superior duties of the guarteTmaster's de-
partment, with the advance at that critical
iunctuTc, he accepted the responsibilities in
volved, and was eminently efficient.
For further information touching officers
and individuals Of the 1sr brigade, and the
details Of the retrogTade movement, have to
refer particularly to the report Of Brigadier
General Bonham herewith
It is proper here to state that while from
the outset it had been determined, on the ap-
prosch Of the enemy in force, to fall back and
fight hin on the line Of Bull Run, yet he posi-
ton occupied BY Gen. Ewel's brigade, if
necessary, could have been maintained against
4 largely superior force. This was especial
IL the case with the position of the 9TH Ala
bama volunteers, Cot. Rhodes, which that
excellent officer bad made capable Of a rssO-
lutte, protTacted defense against heavy odds.
Accordingly, on the morning Of the 18th ultimo,
when the enemy a9peaTet before that position,
they were checked and held at bay, with some
confessed loss, in a skirmish in advance of
the works, in which Mai. Morgan and Capt.
Shelley, 5th regiment Alabama volunteers,
acted with intelligent gallantry; and the post
was only abandoned under general but specific
imperative orders, in conformity with long
conceived, established plan Of action and
battle.
Capt. Alexander, Of the Confederate States
engineers, fortunately Joined my headquarters
in time to introduce the system of new field
signals, which under his skilful management,
rendered me the most important service pre-
ceding and during the engagement.
The medical officers serving with The regi-
ments engaged, were at their proper posts, and
discharged their duties with satisfactory skill
and Zeal; and on one occasion at least, under
an annoying fire, when Surgeon Cullen, 1st
regiment Virginia volunteers, was obliged to
remove our wounded from the hospital, which
had become the special target Of the enemy's
rifle guns, Notwithstanding it was surmounted
by the usual yellow hospital flag, but which,
however, hope, for the sake Of past associs-
tions, was ignorantly mistaken for a Confed-
crate flag. The name of each individual
medical officer | cannot mention.
On the day Of the engagement | was attend
ed by ny personal staff, Liet. Ferguson, Aid
de-camp, and my volunteer Aids-de camp,
Co.'s. Preston, Msnning, Chesnut, Miles,
Chisholm, and Hayward, Of South Carolina,
to all OF whom am greatly indebted for mani
fold essential services in the transmission Of
orders on the field, and in the preliminary
srrangsnen S for the occupation and mainten
anee of the line Of Bull Run.
Col. Thomas Jordan, A. Adiutant General;
Capt. c. II. Smith, Asst AdIu. ant General ;
Col S. Jones, Chief of Artillery and Ord !
nance; Major Cabeli, Chief Qaartermaster;
Capt. ". II. Fowle, Chief Of Subsistence De-
partment: Surgeon Thomas II. Williams,
Medical Director, and ASST Surgeon Brodie,
Medical Purveyor, Of the general staff attached
to the army of the Potomac, were necessarily
engaged, severaily, with their responsible du-
ties az my headquarters at camp Pickens,
which they discharged with an energy and in
telligence for which l haze to tender my sin
cere thanks.
Messrs. Mclean, WiIcoxsD, Kincheloe, and
Brawner, citizens of the immediate vicinity, |
it is their due to say, have placed me and the |
country under great obligation for the infor-
nation TeiaiVe to this region, which bas en- |
sbed me to avail myself of its defensive |
features and resources. They were found ever |
ready to give me their time without stint OF |
sward.
Our casualties, in all sixty-eigh' killed and |
wounded, were fifteen (including two reported /
missing) killed and fifty-three wounded, sever
al OF whom have since died. The loss Of the /
enemy can only be conjectured. It was IN
questionably heavy. IR the cursory exsmina-
tOn which was made by de als from Long /
streets and EsrIy's brigadss on the 1S.h Of |
July, Of that part of the field Immediately con-
tested, and near Blsckburn's ford, seine sixty
four coTses were found and buried, some few |
VI unded, and at least some twenty prisoners /
were picked up, besides one hundred and /
seventy five stand Of arms, large quantity of |
accouterments and blankets and quite one |
hundred and fifty hats.
The effect of this days conflict was to satis- |
~ the enemy he could not force a passage |
across Bull Run in the face of our troops, |
and led him into the flank movement of the |
21st July, and the battle of Manassas, the |
details OF which will be related in another |
paper.
Herewith have the honor to transmit the |
reports of the several brigade commanders en-
gagged, and Of the artillery. Also a nap of the |
field Of battle.
The rendition of this report, it is proper to
say, in conclusion, has been unavoidably de-
layed by the constantly engrussng administra-
tive duties of the commander of an army
corps composed wholly Of volunteers-duties
totally essential to its well being and future
efficiency, and which | could not set aside OF
postpone on any account.
have the honor to be, General,
Your obj serv't,
G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General Commanding.