Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-14
THE BULL RUN BATTLB.
GENERAL NcDOWELL5 OFFICIAL REPORT o.
TIE ENGAGEMENT

Lieut. Colonel z. d Townsend Assistant Adjutant Gem
ersl, Headquarters Of the Army, Washington, d. O.
CoLosHL: have the honor to submit the following
repor. Of ths battle Of the 2lst July, near Manassas
Virginia Il hs, been delayed till this time from the in.
AFFINITY Of the Subordinate commanders TO get earlier
true account Of their respective commands.
In my Communication to you OF the 10th ult stated
II as my intention that afternoon and drive the
enemy from the east side Of Bull Ran as 10 ensbs
the eu gines TO make sufficiently accurate reconnos
ssnce TO justify orr future movements Later in the
day they had obtained enough information Of the pas
sage the stream to dispense with this reconnos.
sance, aud it was decided to move without delay. Il
had been my intention TO move the several columns out
on the road few miles the evening Of the 20Ih so
that they would have shorter march in the morning
but deferred to those who had the greater distance To
CO. and who preferred starting early in the morning,
and making but one move.
On tho evening Of the 9O.h ultimo my command was
mostly 1t or near Csntrevils The enemy was at
Manassas distant from Centreve about seven miles to
the southwest Centrevis Is Z village Of few houses
mostly on the west side Of ridge running nearly north
and south The road from Centrevle to Manassas juno
ton was along this ridge, and crosses Bull Run about
three miles from the former place. The Warrsnton
turnpike which nearly east and wes goes over this
ridge through the village and crosses Bull Run about
four miles from it, Bull Ran having course between
the crossing from northwest to southeast.
The ist division (Tyers) stationed on the north
side of the Warrenton turnpike, and on the eastern
slope of the Cenrevie ridges two brgades on the same
road and mile ans half in advance, to the west OF
the ,dRs and oos brigade on the road from Centrevs
TO Manassas where it crosses Bull Run at Biackburns
Ford where Gen Tyler had the engagement OF the 18Th
ult The second division Hunters) the Warren.
ton turnpike, one mile east Of Centrevis. The third
division (HeiutE aman's) on road known as the
old Braddock road which comes into Cenreylle from
the southeast about mile and half from the village
The fifth division Niles the same road with the
third DIVISION and between 1t and Centreyils. map
vhob h herewith marked A. will show thosegposidons
better than | can describs them.
On Friday night train Of subsistence srrved and on
Saturday It's contents ordered to be issued TO the
command and the men required to have three days ra
ton, in their hsversacks On Saturday orders we're is
sued for the available force to march. As reported to
Won In nv letter OF the 10Th ult my personal reconnos
.,nce of the roads TO the South had shown that II was
not practicable to carry out the original plan oil turning
the enemys position on their right The affair at Black
burns Ford showed he too strong at that point Tor
us TO force passage there without great oss and If we
did that II would bring in front Of his strong position
at Manassas which was not desired Our information
wa. that the Stone Bridge, over which the Warrenton
Rad crossed Bull Run the West Of Cenrevie, was
defended by battery n position, and the road on bis
aide of the stream impeded by heavy abattis.
The alternative was, therefore, to turn the extreme
left of his position. Reliable information was obtained
of An undeended ford about three miles above the bridge
there being another ford between II and the bridge which
was defended Is was therefore, determined TO take the
road TO the upper ford and after crossing to get behind
the forces guarding the lower ford and the bridge and
after occupying the Wsrenton road east Of the bridge
10 send out force TO destroy the railroad at or near
Gainesville and thus break up the communication between
the enemys forces Manassas and hoso In the valley OF
Virginia before Winchester which had been held IN
check by Major General Patterson.
Brigsdier General Tyler was directed to move with
81 hia kri1 dsa nm
nence cannonsding the enemys batteries while Hunters
div SION moving after him, should, after passing little
stream called Cub Run, turn 70 the right and north, and
around the upper ford and there turn south ana
get behind the enemy Col Heintzelman's division was
TO follow Hunters far the turning OF place TO the
lover ford where he was TO aer the enemy should
have been driven out by Hunters division the fifth d
vision Niles be 10 reserve on the Cenrevile rdge
had felt anxious about The road from Manassas BY
Backburns ford TO Centrere, along this ridge fearing
that whilst we should be in force TO the from; and en-
daayorins % turn the enenys position, We ourselves
should be turned by him By this road for II he should
once obtain possession Of this ridge which oveooss all
The country to the west TO the foot OF the spurs OF the
Blue Ridge we should have been irretrevsbly cut on
and DESTROYED bad therefore, directed this position
TO be held In force and engineer 10 eItempoIIe
some 6sld-works to strengthen the pcs ion
The fourth division (Runyons) had not been brought
n the front further than guard our communications
by way of Vienna and the Orange and Alexandria Rsi
road HIS advance regiment was about seven miles in
the rear of Centrevils.
The divisions we're ordered to march al bslfpast two
o'clock A. NJ 80 "a TO arrive the ground early Ia the
dav aud thus avoid the heat which Is expected ct this
season There was delay in the fst division getting out
OF ts camp on tie road, and the two other divisions
were, in consequence, between two and three hours
behind the time appointeds great MISFORTUNE a. events
turned out The wood road leAdiag from the Warren
ton turnpike to the upper ford much longer than We
couoted upon the general direction Of the stream being
obque 70 the rosd, and having the obtuse sags on
our side
Gen. TYLER commenced with his artillery at 8. A. H.,
but the enemy did not reply and after time it be-
came question Shether DO was in any force IN our
front and if 10 did not intend himself TO make ct
tack and make /: ny Blckourls Ford. After firing sew.
ers times, and obtAising no response, held one OF
brigade in reserve, 10 should have
10 ssud any troops back to TesuioIce Miles DIVISION
The other bfgsdes moved forward ss directed in the
general orders On reaching the lord ct sualeys sprpg
found part Of the leading brigade Of Hunters division
(Burnsde bad crossed, but tue men were slow in get
ting over stopping to drink. A. at this time the clouds
Of dust fo the direction Of Manassas indicated tho i'm.
sdate approach Of large force and fearing might
come down en- tho head OF the column bsore the div
ion could all get over AID iretan 1t, orders were sent
back 20 toe heads Of regiments to break from the COZ
umn aud come forward separately as fast - possible.
Orders we're sent by officer to the relerve brigade
of IIeniziem division " come by noRrer road
across the fields and aid 10 camp was sent to Bga-
cer General Tyler direct HIM TO press forward bis at
tack as large bodies Of the enemy psssOg in front
Of bin to attack thu division vnch had crossed over
The ground between the stream aud the road leading
from Sudeys Spring south, and over which Burnsdes
brigade marched Uss foT about mile from the ford
Scky wooded willis. the right OF the road for about
he ss.6 distance the country was divided between
fields and woods kbo-ts mile from the road the coun-
ry on bots sides o:the FoaG otcn lni for nearly
& :. I.{ny,, 90. Ma,
renton pike which crosses what became the field Of
battle through tho valley OF small water course,
tributary Of Bull Run.
Shortly after the leading regiment Of the first brigade
reached this op space and whilst Others and the second
brigade were crossing to the front and right the enemy
,pened his fire. beginning with artillery aud following t
mo- with .Disntrv The leading brigade (Burnside had
ID 81 stain this shock 70: short lime without support
and did i. well. The bsttiiion sf reSscr infantry was
sent to sustain it. and shortly afterwards the other corps
Of Porers brigade, and regiment detached from Hsin
uan's division TO the left forced the enemy back far
enough TO let Shermans aud Reyes brigades of Tyler
division TO cross from their cosdon TO the Warrenton
road These drove the right Of the eneay understood
20 have been commanded by BAauregard from the front
Of the field and out Of the detached woods and do Hn to
he road and it uP the aopst on the other s!de
While this was going on, Hentselmaa'e division was
moving down the field TO the stream and up the road be-
vond Beyond the Warrenton road and TO the left of
Inc road down which our troops had marched from Sud-
ey's Spting IL bill With . farm house on IT, Behind
his bill the enemy had carly in the day, some Of his
most annoying batteries planted Across the road from
his hill was another hill or rather elevated ridge or
able land The hottest part of the contest was for the
possession Of this hi with house on It. The force en-
yaged here vas Heintsemsn's division. WilooIs and
fowNds briEadss the right supported By part OF
Porters brigade and the cavalry under Palmer, and
Tankln's brigade of Hen'zelmans division sherrlans
brigade of Tes division in the centre and up the road
Whilst Reyes brigade q Tysrs division was on the LETT
attacking the batteIi e nes4 the Stone Bridge.
The Rhode Island Battery Of Buruside's brigade also
in this attack by s fire from the north OF