The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-19


to intercept any reinforcements coming tt
jackson through IhOroughlaro Gap; anG
lnstructlng Reno, with bis command, and
Kearny, with one dirision of Heintzelman's
to march on Greenwich, SO as to suppori
Mcdowell 10 case of necessity. | moved
back along the railroad upon Manassa;
junction. Near Kettle Run Hooker cams
upon the advance of Ewell's Division on the
afternoon OF the 9th. A severe action took
place, which termins I'D at dark, Ewei be
ing driven from the ieId with the loss O.
his camp and three hundred killed and
wounded. The unfortunate oversight o.
not bringing more than forty rounds OF am
munitiOn Became at once alarming. Al
nightfalI Hooke. bad but about five round:
to the man left as soon as learned this
sent back orders to Fitz-John Porter te
march with his corps at O'Clock that night
so as to be with Hooker at daylight in tbs
morning. The distance was only nine miles
and be received the dispatch at $50 O'Clock
next morning. He can probably explain
better than | can the reason of this delay
fortunately Hooker had handled the
army SO severely the evening before, and
the movement of Mcdowell had begun to
be so apparent, that the enemy, fearful Of
being surrounded, had retreated precipitate.
~ to Manassas Junction, directing bis re-
treat through Centreville, as Mcdowell,
Reno and Kearney had made the road
through Gainesville imprscticable. l inn
mediately pushed forward to Manassas, and
thence to Centrevie, which was occupied
by Kearney that night only few hours
after the enemy had left it. Reno had
reached Manassas Junction, and Fitz John
Porter was Immediately ordered up from
Broad Run, where he bad stopped. Nc
Dowell's movement, conducted with vigor
and speed, bad been completely successful,
the enemy being intercepted at Gainesville,
and part of his forces driven back through
Thoroughfare Gap Late 10 the evening of
the -, McDowell's advance (Gibbons
Brigade) met the force of jackson retiring
from Centreville, and about six miles from
that place. A very sharp skirmish took
place, ended by the darkness, in which the
brigades of Gibbon behaved very hand
somely, and suffered heavy loss.
Sigel was close at hand with his corps,
but did not join the action. l instructed
Kearney to move forward at early dawn
toward Gainesville, closely followed by
Hooker and Reno, and engage the enemy
thus placed between Mcdowell and Sigel
on the west, and Fitz John Porter on the
south. / also instructed Fitz John Porter
with his own corps, and Kings division of
McDowell's corps, which had for some rea-
son fallen back from the Warrenton Turn.
pike toward Manassas Junction, to move
at daylight in the morning upon Gaines
vile, along the Manassas Gap Railroad,
until they communicated closely with the
forces under Heintzalman and Sigel, eau
tioning them not to 60 further than was
necessary to effect this junction, as we
might be obliged to retire behind Bull Run
that night for subsistence, if nothing else,
Heintzelmau marched early from Centre
vile toward Gainesville, closely followed by
Reno Meantime, shortly after daylight,
Sigel's and Reynolds Division of Mellow
ellis corps had become engaged with the
enemy, who was brought to stand, and be
was soon joined by Heiptzelman and Reno,
when the whole line became actively en-
gagged.
Porter marched as directed, followed by
Kings Division, which was by this time
joined by Ricketts, Division, which had been
forced back from Thoroughfare Gap by the
heavy forces of the enemy advancing to sup-
port jackson.
AS soon as found that the enemy had
been brought to bait, and was being vig-
orously attacked along the Warrenton Turn
pike, sent orders to Mcdowell to advance
rapidly on the left, and attack the enemy in
his flank, extending bis right to meet Rey.
nOlds' left, and to Fitz-John Porter to keep
his right well closed on McDowells left and
to attack the enemy in flank and rear, while
he was pushed in front. This would have
made the line of Porter and Mcdowell at
right angles to that of the other forces
engaged.
The action ragged furiously all day, Nc
Dowell, although previously in rear of Por-
ter bringing his whole corps on the field in
the afternoon, and taking a conspicuous
part 10 that days operations. To my sur.
prise and disappointment, I received late in
the afternoon from Porter a note saying
that his advance had met the enemy on the
flank in some force, and that he was retir.
ing upon Manassas Junction without en-.
gaging or coming to the assistance of our
other forces, although they were engaged in
furious action only two miles distant, and
in full hearing of him. A portion of bis
force fell back towards Manassas, and he
remained, as he afterward informed me,
where be was looking at the enemy during
the whole of the afternoon of Friday and
part of Friday night, passing over in plain
view TO reinforce the troops under Jackson
without an effort to prevent it or assist us.
One at least of his brigades under General
Griffin, got round to CentrevilIe, and re-
manned there during the whole Of the next
days battle, without coming on the field,
though 10 full view of the battle which was
raging, whilst Gen. Griffen himself spent the
rs A