The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-31

BATTLE FIELD, BULL Run, Va,
July Is 10 A. NJ. 1881

binary circumstances thatl write. The shirnish
ers Of the 4th Brigade are now engaging the
rebel scouts. The Brigade, with the Mich. Sd
in advance are lying in the woods, awaiting the
arrival of Sherman's fying artillery.
We left Camp Blair Tuesday, july Is, $3.50 p.
", passing over the chain bridge in Alexandria
county, Va We halted for the night at Vienna,
the village at which the Federal troops were de-
feated some time since by running into masked
battery The rebels had lett the neighborhood
the day previous. Here We met large body OF
troops that had come in on another line. The
advance guard left camp about day light. The
ith Brigade composed of the Mich. ID and Sd
and the Mass. lst and n. Y 18th bringing up the
rear, moved about A. VI. We halted in sight
OF Fairfax Court House, when We expected TO
meet the enemy, but found instead thereof the
stars and stripes floating over the iutrenchments
After An hours rest We moved at a rapid rate in
the direction OF Manassas Junction, leaving Fair
fax to the left: We expected 20 cut off The re-
treat of the flying rebels. A. Germantown a
Euddie of buildings about miles from Fairfax
Court House. We found the village on fire aud
learned from some negroes who were almost
whit with fright. thai the rebels were several
hours in advance of our troops and retreatng III
good order. There were two rebel soldiers at
this place, affected with small pox-they offered
to serve in our ranks after they got well if We
would take care of them. The people all along
the line protessed to be Union in sentiment. No
IL 1
ing all been impressed into the rebel service
We encamped at night about 3 miles from Ger
mantown. While We were forming the Bivouac,
the rebel citizens of Virginia reaped some of the
bitter fruits OF Rebellion The soldiers were
hungry, many of them neslecting to carry the
amount of rations delivered, consequently they
took what was to be had and often with little GER
..mOnv.
During the night there were frequent collisions
between the pickets vi the opposing forces
Once the whole column was ordered under arms.
Nothing came of it however, except a slight dis
turbing Of the nervous system of many that had
never been near All enemy before and robbing
US Of the rest We much needed after our hard
Is. The 4th Brigade, Gen Richardson, leading.
The regiments were in the following order Mass
lst, Mich. Sd, Mich. I'd, n. Y. 18th. At dis
lance OF two miles from the Biyouac, were
Informed that there were two South Carolina reg.
imcnts just in advance of US. The Information
was received with cheer after cheer by our brig
aGe. At Centreville, a small village iE Fairfax
county, and about miles west of Fairfax Court
House. a large body Of rebels had just left their
c;trencbInents. We made a halt for dinner
il a beautiful grove. In the meantime scouts
were securing the whole country, some for rebels
and Others for dinner. One of the latter expedi-
tons under command of Sergeant Thayer, took
in charge very intelligent young man, who rep
resented himself strong Union man. He has a
good knowledge of the country and of the posi-
ton of the enemy. He was considered of some
Importance to the army by the General, and
placed under charge of Thayer for future use
from the young man We learned the position Of a
large body of troops strongly entrenched at a
point called Bulls Rur. A scout acting ON this
information reconno itered the position and soon
returned at great speed. We were at dinner,
but Were under rms in ten minutes after tho
messenger arrived, and on our way IN the direc.
ton of the enemy. Sherman's battery of flying
artillery soon pas sed us at I2:aOP NJ The first
gun informed the rebels that We were about to
invite them to an entertainment, which to believe
their Boosting, they have long desired. Guns were
fired at intervals for an hour, each party seem
inely feeling the position of the other. At this
minutes there was general action between our
skirmisho;s and their riflemen. Rifle and mus.
ket balls and shot and shell whistled around us
on all sides, and | must confess that il was music
that was not very melodious 10 our ears. The
enemy are strongly entreuched in a series of ra-
vines and are supposed to be $4,000, with the
best OF riied cannon, and fire with much precis.
ion. While we were in an open field and could
see no enemy, they had fair sight of Us and made
good use of their position. We stood the fire
for four hours and then made retreat in good
order-the Michigan Sd covering the retreat
There was no water to be had in the vicinity, and
IN my OF the men dropped down from sheer ex-
hausticn. We were at least three hours without
water. We returned to Centrevl!e and Bivou-
acked for the night. There were probably not
more than than twenty FIVE killed, though it is
impossible to tell definitely. The wounded will
amount to as many more. The Sd Michigan lost
no men. The I'd Michigan lost two during the
retreat. The heaviest loss was in the Massachu.
sets LIST, who wore red caps. OF the Lansing
company the following were disabled by heat and
exhaustion, and are not in the ranks to-day: Ma
son, Stevenson, Broad, Croy, Dowell, J. E. Davis,
Goodale, Hath, lngerso, c. B. Lewis, Lacy,
Maury, Rose, Switzerland, Sickles. Stevens,
Church, Price, and Lieut.. Jefferds. Capt. Price
was taken sick the first night and returned to
Camp Blair.
Friday morning, July 18th We took up the line
of march AT an early hour, and in half hour af-
forwards fire commenced between the skrmish-
ers OF both parties; this soon ceased by the
retiring of the enemy, and at this hour, lP. NJ.
We are lying in the woods while orr officers re-.
connoiter.
Incidents of the Battle, or rather, Skirmish ::
A rifle cannon shot came within a few feet of
Col. McConnelrs head-he laughingly remarked
" this is pretty warm work boys" member
of the Mass. 1st was taken sick, and while sitting
between couple of trees receiving some medi.
cine from the Surgeon, had his head removed bv
a cannon ball. A member of the n Y. 18th had