Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-05
THE RICHMOND WHIG'
Special Correspondent Of the New York Tribune
THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN, AS DESCRIBED BY
THE ENEMY.
w.su,xorox JuIy % 1881

THE ENEMY.
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1851.
Nv narrative Of this extraordinary battle accurate
" enb Of what occurred with the division under
Gen. yler which opened the attack, which was, with
the exc option of brigade desperately engaged from
the beg inning to the end, and which, 30 far az can
Judge the course in which events ran, was the last
yield before the panic which spread through the army
Il il we'll understood that the conflict extended over
space OF many miles, and that the experience OF single
observer could grasp only those details which immed
atey ounded him. The general progress and effects
of the entire engagement apparent from the ad.
vsnced positions Of Gen. Tysrs action aud Of these It will
be possible for 10 speak safely but the particular
moyem ent of the divisions under Col Hunter aud Col
Hentzeman, should be told Of by Others who aceompa
MED them.
For the clear understanding Of this record the plan Of
battle although often given, must be once more brit
Get down. The enemys strength had been tested and
affirmed by the hot skrmish Of Thursday the result OF
which die not justify second attempt upon the same
ground There was moreover, abundant evidence that
the entire line Of detences along Bull Kun was equally
formidable and that any attack upon single point
would DO extremely hazardous. 1t was therefore de-
ternined open the assault in two directions smua-
nsousy, and to offer fspt Of third onset, to divert
attention. and II possible, confuse TN snenys defense
Accordingly Col Richardson left with considers
bic battery Of artillery and one brgade-the fourth OF
Gen Tyer's divisional the Of the skirmish OF
Thursday with directions 10 open heavily with cannon
at about the moment OF the real attack elsewhere The
remainder Of Gen. Tyer's DIVISION his ls I'd and I'd
brigades with powerful artillery but without cavalry,
was sent 10 Bull Run at point mile and half
more TO the Right upon road known the Stone
Bridge road. stronger wing, comprising the divisions
Of Col Hunter and Colonel HeiniEelman, carried
around good distance to the right with the purpose Of
breaking upon the enemy in fink and rear and driving
them toward Gen. Tyler by whom their regular retreat
should be cut Off Col. kies's division remained at
Centreve in reserve, and had no part in the action.
/ ~ At..at ,t .tnn1
the battle moved from Centrevie to the attack The
march SLOW and, to certain degree, Irregular
Even that hour there seemed lack OF unity and d.
rect purpose among the officers, which sometimes was
made evident to the troops not to affect their spirit
and demeanor believe il just 10 say that &C the very
opening of the day. it plain to all that real and sound
discipline was abandoned do no: mean that this was
the case with separate regiments many Of which were
always prompt sure, and perfectly at tho disposal OF
their but with the brigades the divisions
even the army as a whole The march was continued
until ct 81 O'clock Gen. Tyer's Division had reached
the place of its attack. His Second aud Third Brgades
under Gen. Schenck and Col Sherman, were arrayed in
line OF battle the former taking the left and the latter,
alter changes the right OF the road Sklrmishers
we're pushed forward who, when close upon Bull Kun,
the pickes OF the enemy aud presently eI-
changed irregular shots with them, by which slight ju-
RIGS were caused on both sides. Nothing further was at-
tempted by the infantry for hours heavy 32-pound
raed cannon brought well forward on the road, and
threw a couple OF shell among the rebel lines, which
were ndisticly formed aud forming mile before
us These were not answered, and for while The can
nonade discontinued from our sde
Our position less commanding and less clear than
that we had occu.ied on Thursdiy We were still be-
fore the valley OF Boil Run but the descent from our
side gradual and we were surrounded by thiek
woods down almost to the rayine through which the
stream flows. The enemy the contrary, had cleared
away all obsrucng foliage and barred the earth in every
direction over which they could bring their artillery upon
us Clumps of trees aud bushes remained wherever the
oarthworks aud other concealed deenses could be ad'
ntageously planted among them The ground on Their
side was vastly superior TO IL rose IN regular
slopes great heights but broken into Lnols and
terraces in nuRberless places upon which strong eath
works we're successfully planted, some openly, Drt
the greater part concealed. The long interval between
our first discharge OF artillery and the positive atuek
afforded abundant opportunity to overlook the ground
In no spot did the enemy seem weak Nature had sup
Piled positions OF defense which needed but little labor
to render them desperately formidable How thoroughly
these advantages had been improved No kno" by tie
enormous efforts which required to dislodge the
r..aps ana hy tho ohatnats opposition which they dis
PLAYED before retiring from point to point.
While our division waited, quiet and alert, General
Mcdowell led the columns Of Hunter and Heinizeman
far around by the right to the enemys flank and roar
The march WAS long and doubtless slow, for II was mol
until about O'Clock that were able TO discover in
dicstions OF their having met the rebels From kchard
sons position 10 the lett however We heard at clock
uen sound from his distant batteries was all that broke
the silence for nearly hour Then the hurryng oil our
officers up and down the hill and through the woods,
told US that assault was about 10 open. The skr-
mishels had detected thick and tangled abas at the
bark9 Of the Run into which, before advancing, few
shell were thrown As these burst the rebels sWarmed
out from their hiding places and took up their next fort
| flied post beyond Gen. Schencks brigade was moved
forward at the Left but before reaching the Run Ieeev-
ed the full fee Of battery masked With bushes, before
/ h..fE lima luai In all
tons were suspended by division, and until o'clock
the contest was carried by the artillery which, indeed
at that hour resounded from every paint OF the neld
Tho Gaion by artillery must have EXTENDED over 1--we or
six miles, from csrGson's position at the extreme left,
around to Hunters at the right The aud rattle were
pcessan aud the air above the vast field Soon became
| thick with smoke.
Suddenly line Of troops was secn moving over the
open hill slope precisely In advance Of us aud within
msthe least distance which the Rebel infantry had
been seen. The Sd Brigade, under Col Sherman, was
now drawn from the shelter among the woods gud led
rapidly around by the right acros re i,un, and toward
one Of the eEemys beat positions. Brisk yolleys OF
musketry were soon after heard but the smoke hung
ike a veil before us and il impossible TO discover
bs whom, or against whom they were affected. puff
Of wind afterwards 9,sared the view, andwe saw Ihe
briga,s eth In m line ana advaaciag with great speed
few ehots and round two of artillery u came
from the right upon the "a Brigade, which had not ""
moved forward ami which, asa whn!cc, held IT, pos
squsrely although some fq;.ds bricks and san i~. "
open r9ada Orders wee Give" :. m. man to lie mo,
ea live ,n not 10 motion, and menaced by artillery
sweyer proper this precaucn may have been a. thl
tme IL aerward turned out to be one oil the most iata
e.uses Of the dmoral zaon Of the division. IL was 81
frequently repeated that regiments at last eou
not be made stand at airy point whatever the leas
report of cannon musketry sending them instantly up
| Oh their knee; and entire company OF IN
New York I'd grovel in the dust at the accidental snap
/ ~. n(e h.fH villa
III o'clock the cannonading was lighter from side
and the attention OF the enemy seemed to be dsrlcte
from u.s. We were then able to descry great volumes
smoke arising in 'front.' in the precise spot at Shch Hun
ters column should have arrived. This gloomy signs
of the battle waved slowly 10 the left assuring US thl
Hunter and Hentzslman pushing forward and drS
ing the enemy before them. At the same time Gu
right brigade disappeared the eminence for whc
they had been conendng, and the distant cheers whc
evidently came from them, proved that the present II
umph was their own. To sustain and reinforce then
the reserve brigade OF Col Reyes was then brough
down, and marched forward, in spe of tremendou
cannonade which opened upon them from the left 10 th
same line rs that which Col Sherman had followed. Th
left brigade under Gen. Schenck did not advance, bu
still remained the ground where it bad formed At th
the very outset The result OF this inacton was, that on
left was at the close Of the battle assaied and success
fully turned and although the enemy did not pursue th
final triumph il was the fault Of the commander
that brigade that great mischief not done Colon,
Keyes SOON vanished with his four regiments, and tn
Second Brigade left isolated at the edge Of the ba
eground. It's best protection then was furnished b
the l-pound Parrot riiied cannon which, some rods
the right among the brushwood rakng the road ia
ahead, aud pungng shell among the strongholds whc
the enemy still maintained
At halfpast IL O'Clock the battle appeared to hay
reached its climax Hunters and Hcinizelmans diVi
ions were deep in the enemy's position, and our o~
force excepting always the "a Brigade, vas well
work The discharges Of artillery and muskstry cause
continuous aud unbroken rear which sometimes ssel
ed ,umuuou.y to terrific crashes, but never lnled