The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-03
THE BATTLES OF 10aI

M, 0ONOAx 0OktNuS9,
THE BATTLES OF lsm
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
THE FATTLE OF MANASSAS
Juiy u, 1861
REPORT OF GEN BEAUREGARD
HDe'ss ls1 CosPs AHnY OF rn PorouAc. >
AAsAssAs. !. August 20. 1851.
partmsnt having been inSormsd by me, by
ment Of Gen McDoWell-Gen. Johnston wss
imnisdiateIy ordered to form . junction Of
his Army Vorps with mine, should the move.
ment, In his judgment, b deemed advisable.
ward with two regiments, q battery, and one
company Of cavalry.
In view Of these propositions, approaching
reinforcsmsnts modifying my plan Of opera.
enemy at Osntreville as soon as shou MID hear
Of the near approach Of the two reinforcing
columns, I sent one Of my Aids, Col CHS.
holm, Of South Carolina, to meet and com.
my wish that one portion Of his force should
march BY the way OF Aldie, and take the en-
emy on his right fiank and in reverse at Cen
treville. Difficulties, however. Of an insu.
PeI6Ol0 CuaTdCLcI III CO00OCLAOn WIN means
Of transportation. and the marching condi-
ton of his troops, made this impracticable.
and 1t was determined our forces should be
united within the lines Of Bull Hum, and
thence advance to the attack Of the enemy
Gen. Johnston arrived. here about nooa on
the Goth July, and being my senior in rank, he
necessarily assumed command OF all the force
OF the Confederate States, then concentrating
plan of operations and dispositions to meet
,he enemy, he gave them his entire appro-
val, and generously directed their execution
upder my com mand.
however, Of some i've thousand 10000 of
General Johnston's Army Corps. resulting
from the inadequate and imperfect means Of
transportaticn for rs 50 many troops, At the dis
became necessary, ON tie morning Of the 2Ist,
before daylight. 70 modify the plan accepted
to suit the contingency of an Immediate at.
enemy, then plainly At hand. '' - '-'
The enemys forces, reported by their best
informed j0urSals TO be 81, 600 strong, had
learned from reliable sources, on the night
of the goth, were being concentrated in and
around Centreville, and along the Warren
ton tur rnpike road, TO Bull Ran, near which
our respective pickets were in immedia ate
proximity. This fact, with the conviction
that, after his signal discontinue on the 18th
of July, before Blackburn's Ford-the cen.
tre OF my lines-he would not renew the at.
tack in that quarter, induced me at once 70
look for an attx xmpt on my LETT flank, restiDg
on the Stone Bridge, which was but weakly
guarded by men, as we'll as but slightly pro-
vided with artificial defensive appliances aud
artillery.
tons, by half-past four A. NJ, ON the 2lst
July, mad prepared and dispatched orders,
directing the whole Of the Confederate forces
within the lines of Buil Run, including the
brigades and regiments Of Gen. Johnston,
which had arrived ut that time, to be held
in readiness to march at moments notice.
Al that hoor the following was the dispo.
sition OF our forces:
Ewelrs brigade. cons 'ituted as on the 18th
Of July, remained in position at Union MiIIs
Ford, its left extending along Bull Run, in
the direction of McLexn's Ford, aud sup
ported by Holmes 8 brig ade, I'd Tennessee and
the rear-thAt Is. at and near Camp Wigfall
DIR. JOnes's orig ade-frOm Eweirs left,
in front of McLean's Ford, and along the
stream to Longstreet's position. II was un.
changed IN organization, and was supported
by Early's brigade, also unchanged, placed
behind thicket of young pines, short dis.
tance in the rear OF McLean's Ford.
L0ngstreet's brigade held its former ground
ham's right, at Mitchell Ford, and was
supported by Jackson's brigade, consisting OF
Colonels James L. Pres ,on's 4th, Harper q
5th, Aliens 2i, the 9th. Lieut.. Col. Echolls
and the SD, Cummings Virginia regimen IS,
2,6ll strong, which were posted behind the
skirting OF pines, to the rear of Blackburn's q
and Mitchail,s Ford, and in rear of this sup
port, was also Barksdale's 18th regiment
Mississippi volunteers. which had lately ar.
rived from Lynchhurg.
Along tho edge of q pine thicket, in rear OF
and eQui distant from McLean's and Black
burns Fords, ready to support either posi-.
ton, I had also placed ali Of Bees and Bar
tow's brigades that had arrived-namely, two
companies Of the llth Mississippi, Lieut.. Col
Liddell; the I'd Mississippi, Col. Falkner, and
the Alabama, with the 7th and Sth Georgia
regiments, (Uolonels Gartrell and Lieut.. Col
Gardner, } in all 2, 732 bayonets.
BonhaM's brigade, as before. held Mitch.
ellis Ford Its right near Longstreet's left
its left extending in the direction of Cookies
right. 1t was organizeass at the end Of the
18th Of July. with Jackson's brigade, as be.
fore said, as u support
Cookies brigade, increased by seven com
panies Of tho 8th, HuntOn's, three companies
Of tho 49th, Smiths Virginia regiments. two
companies Of cavalry, and a battery under
Rogers Of four 6-pounders, occupied the line
in front and Tear of Bull Run, extending G
l I.om the direction of Eouhams lett, and
guarding Island, Balls and Lewis's Fords,
TO the right Of Evans's demi-brigade, neal
the Stone Bridge. also under dea. Cookies
The latter held tine stou. Bridge, and it.
left covered q farm ford about one mile above
the bridge.
Stuart's cavalry, some 800 men OF the army
of the Shenandoah, guarded tho level ground
extending In rear from Bonham's left te
Two companies of Radford's Cavalry wer,
held in reserve q short distance In rear o.
| Mitche.l's Ford, his left extending In the di
rection OF Stuart's right.
| Col. Pendlet0ns reserve battery of eigh
pieces was temporarily placed in rear Of Bon
hams extreme left.
Major Walton's reserve battery of flve gun,
| was in position on Mel san's farm, in piece
l of woods in rear Of Eee's right.
| Hampton's Legion Of six com panies of in
fantYy, six hundred strong, having arrived
that morning by the cars from Richmond, wa
subsequently, as soon as it arrived. orderet
| forward to position in immediate vicinity
| Of the Lewis House, as a support for AM
/ troops engaged In that quartz.
/ The effective force of all arms Of the army
Of the Potomac On that eventful morning
including the garrison Of Damp Pickens, dix
not exceed Il 1888, ahd % guns.
The army Of tire Shenandoah, ready fol
action on the field, may be set at 6.o0O meI
and 20 guns.*
The brigade Of Gen. Holmes mustered abou
,266 bayonets, guns, and q company o
cavalry about 80 strong.
Informed at $50 A. NJ, by Col. Evans
that the enemy had deplo Jed some ], 200 men
die 20 front at once ordered him. as nlsI
Gen. Oocke, ifattacked, main tain their po
sition TO the last extremity.
In my oril ion, the most effective metho.
of relieving that 11aok was by q rapid, de
termined attack, with my right wing an,
centre ON the enemy's flank and rear at Cen
| treville, with due precautions against the ad
| vance Of his reserves from the direction O
| Washington. By such movement, conf
IDENTIFY expec ed to achieve . complete vic
| tory for my country By II ~ = ~ 81 > g.
i These new dispositions were submitted t
Gen. Johnston, who fully approved them
and the orders for their immsdiass sxscutio,
| were ut once issued. s8 s-- ss
| Brtgadior- 0eneral Ewell was directed +
begiA the movement, TO be followed an
| supported succeesiN ely by Generals d. X
Jones, Longttreet, and Bonham respectively
supported BY their sveral appointed reserves
Tbs cavslry, under Stuart and RadSord
! were 70 - held IN hand. subject 70 future or
ders and ready for employment As might 5
| required by the exigenciss Of the battle. :
Il n NJ