Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-04
THE BATTLES FOUGHT IN 1851.
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
TIE BATTLE OF MANASSAS,
Jelly 81, 1851.
REPORT OF JOS. Z. JOHNSTON,
GksKRAL CoxHAsDIsG.
HxADQ'Rs. Army OF TIE Porox.o,

HKApo'Rs Army OF TIE PoToxAc,
FairfsI U October IA, 1861
To the Adjutant and h,psetOr Genera, Confederate
States Army: -
Sir have the honor 10 submit to the honorable
Secretary of War report Of the operations Of the
troops under my command which terminated IN the Dat
| tie Of Manassas oo,
assumed command at Harper's Ferry on the 2Sd OF
Nav The force at thas point then consisted OF nine
regiments and two battaons Of infantry, four compa
MES of artillery with sixteen pieces without caissons
hsrne or hoIs ard about three hundred cavalry. They
were of course undscipned several regiments without
accoutrements and with entirely INADEQUATE supply
of ammunition.
lost notime in making complete reconnaissance OF
the place aud its envrons in which the Chief Engineer,
Major (now Bfigadier GsneraD ing ably assisted
| The results confirmed my preconceived ideas.
TIE position ia untenable by any force not strong
enough to take the field against invading army aud
to hold both sides OF the Potomac. Il is triangle, two
sides being formed by the Potomac and Shenandoah,
and the third by Furnace Ridge The plateau thus en-
closed aud the end OF Furnace Ridge ITSELF the only de-
feasible position which, however, required for s ace
q ,a.e occupation double numbers,.was exposed TO
enfade and fires OF artillery from heights on the
MARYLAND se Of the river. Within that line the ground
was more favorable TO an attacking than to defending
| force The Potomac can be easily crossed AZ many
points above and below that IL il easily turned
s twenty miles from the great route into the Valley oil
| Virginia from Pennsylvania and Maryland, by which
General Pattersons approach was expected LIS garr
son was thus Of position 70 defend that alley orto
prevent General McClelans Junction with General Pat
terson These we're the obvious ard important objects
to be kept in view. Besides being in position for them
it s,ary to be able, on emergency to Jon Cen
eral Beauregsrd.
The occupation Of Harper's Ferry by our army per.
fec.ly suited the enemys views. We were bound 10
| fixed point His movements unrestricted. These
views we're submitted to the military authorities The
continued occupation Of the place was, however, deem.
ed by them indispensable. determined TO hold until
the great OF the Government required Its aban-
| document.
TIE practicable roads from the West and Northwest
as well from Manassas meet the route from Pennsyl
yauia aud Maryland at Winchester. That point was,
therefore, In my opinion, our best position.
Tho distinguished commander Of the army OF the Po-
toma, was convinced like myself, Of our dependence
upon each other and promised to cooperate with me
in case Of need To guard against surprise and 10 n-
pose upon the enemy, Major whiting was directed 10
mount a lew heavy guas upon Furnace RIDGE and 9th.
| erwise strengthen the position.
was employed ultil the Is h Of June In continuing
what had been begun by M predecessor, Col (noW Ma
or Genera Jackson the organization, instruction, and
equipment OF the troops and providog means OF trans
portaton and artillery horses The river observed
from the Point Of Rocks the part OF the coun
" Of Berkeey-the distant portions by the indeat
gabls Stuart with his cavalry. Gen. PAtersons troops
we're wi hin few hours of Willismspor and Gen. Nc
Oleans in Western Virginia, supposed TO b, ap.
| preaching 10 effect junction with Patterson, whose
orce reported By veinformed persons, 10 be u.s.
900 men.
On the morning of the 18Th of June information was
received from Winchester that Romney occupied BY
900 Federal troops supposed TO be the vanguard OF
McClelan's army.
Col A. P Hill with his own (lStb) and Col. Gibbons
QOtb Virginia regiments dispatched by railway
Winchester. He was directed to move thence towards
Romney 10 take the best position and best TO
check the advance OF the enemy. He TO add to bis
command the Third Tennessee regiment which had just
arrived st Winchester.
During that day and the next the hsavy baggage and
remaining public property Eent to Winchester BY
the railway and the bridges on the Potomac destroyed.
On the morning of the l5h the army left Harpers Fer
~ for Winchesfr, The force had been increased by
these reg meats since the -s. of June and bivouicked
four miles beyond Charsstoun. Ga the morning OF the
l6ih indulgence received that General Patterson's
Amy had crossed the Potomac at Wi!lamsport, al o
tina, the United force at omney had fallen back.
courier from Richmond brought Dispatch authcriy.
ing me to evacuAts Harpers Ferry at my discretion.
The army ordered TO gain the hsrtinsburg Turn.
pike BY funk movement TO Bunkers Hill in order to
ace itself between Winchester and the expected ad-
vance Of Patterson On hearing Of this the enemy
crossed the river pre,pitately Rssuming my first di.
recion aud pau proceeded to Winchester There the
army was in position to oppose either Mcclellan from the
vest or Patterson from the northeast, aud TO form
Junction with General Eesuregard WHEN necessary
Lieutenant Colonel George S-aVart, with his Mary
land battalion was sent 10 HArpers Ferry TO bring ca
some pubic properly said to have been le!t. As Nc
GILLIAN was moving souihwes.ward from Grafton, Co!
Hills command wos Withdrawn from Romney. The de-
fence Of that region Of country was entrusted to Cocne
NcDonald's regiment Of cavalry. Intelligence from
MARYLAND indicating another movement By Patterson
Colonel Jackson with his brigade, sent 10 the neigh
borhood Of MartiHsburg to support Colonel Stuart The
latter officer had been placed in observation the line
| OF the Potomac with HE cavalry. His uuceasing Wig
auce snd activity relied 10 repress small incur
sions of the enemy 70 give intelligence Of Invasion BY
them and watch hArls snd cscumscrbe their every
movement Colonel Jackson was instructed to des;.o,
such of the rolling stock Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road as could not be brought or aud to have much
iii as could be made available TO service brought
to Winchester.
Nsior Whiting was ordered TO plan defensive work.
and to have heavy guns on navy carriages mount
ed About twenty 1--we hundred militia under Bdgidie
General Carson called out from Frederick and thu
| neighboring countiss TO man them.
On the 2nd Of July General Patterson again crossed
the Potomac. Col Jackson pursuant TO instructions fel
back before him In retiring he gave him severe les
.on In the affair of Falhng Waters With bittaion
the 6.h Virginia regiment (HArpert) and Pendletonl
Battery Of Field Artillery, he engaged the enemys gd
vance skilfulg taking position where the smsllness Q
his force WA concealed he engaged them icS consider
able time inhc ed svy loss and retired when abou
10 be outh nike scarcely losing man, but bringing OF
f1rty-hve prisoners
upon thls inteulEehOe 'ue aiipC' " wy
arrival of General Bee and Colonel E.z,y aud the !
Gaorgil regiment ordered forward to toe suppor
of Jackson IL met hin at DArksvle ak miles from Mar
tinsburg where took up position or action as Gen
erL Patterson il was supposed, closely following
Colonel Jackson We waited for him in THE position
four dave hoping be attacked by adversary at eas
double orr nlmbsr but willing TO attack him in .owE
60 defsnsble az harnsburg with Its solid buildings
and enclosures Of masonry. Convinced at length tia
he would not approach us / returned TO Winchester
much to the disappointment. Of our troops, who we?s
eager for battle with the invaders Colonel Stuart viii
his cavalry, as usual remained near the enemy.
Before IN l5.h OF July the enemy force accor lile
To the best INTEL sence be obtained, amounted tC
about 81 600 Ours had been increased by egh. South
era regiments o. the 18Th OF july, Gel Stuart report
ed the advance o! Gen. Paterson from Nar!nsburg.-
lie halted, however, at Bunkeis Ill., nine miles IRON
WINCHESTER where he remained on the l6:h On thu
l7th he moved to his LEFT, 10 Suitbheld This create
do. hn in.andai 70 ai.ack .L!