Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-04

feet on the spirit of the troops. Order was soon restor
ed, and the battle Te-establiShed. to which the hrmnes
Of Jac~sou's brigade gradually contributed There, ii
a brief and rapid conference, Gen. Beauregard was a.
signed 70 the cOmmaad Of the left which, as The younger
officer, he claimed, while I returned 10 that Of the whole
field The aspect of affairs wasartifciaI, but I had fui
confidence IN the skill and Hdomitable courage of Gen
beauTegard- the high snldieTiy qualities Of Gem. Bee
and Jackson, and Col. Evans, and the devoted patriot
ism of their troops. Orders were first dispatched 10
hasten the march OF Gen. Holmes Col EaTlys, and
Gen Bouham's regiments Gen. Ewel was also direct
ed to follow with all speed.
Many OF the broken troops. fragments Of companies
aud individual s~tragglers, were refo med and brought
INTO acton with the aid Of my staff and a portion Of Gen.
Beauregards Col Governor Smith, with his battalion
and Col Hampton with his r-giment were ordered up "a
reinforce the right. Ihave since learned that Gen. Beau,
regard had previously ordered them into the battle
They belonged 10 his corps. Col. Smiths cheerful cour.
age had q nne influence. ui only on the spirit OF hii
own men, but the ~stragglers from the troops engaged
me largest body OF these, equal to about four companies,
having no competent field officer, / placed under com
mand Of one Of my stat, Col 7. J. Thomas, who fell
WINE gaAsnily leading 1t against the enemy. These
reintorcemeuts were all sent to the night to reestabhsh,
more perfectly, that part Of our lime. Having attended
to these pressing duties, AT the immediate scene Of con
fiet- my eye was next directed TO Col Cookies brigade.
the nearest at hand Fastening 70 his p0stionrI desired
him to lead his troops into action. He informed me, how
ever, that a large body Of the enemys troops beyond the
stream and below the bridge threatened Us from that
quarter. He was, therefore, left in bis position.
My headquarters were now established near the Lewis
House. From this commanding elevation my view en-
braced the position Of the enemy beyond the stream, and
the approaches to the Stone Bridge, q point of especial
importance. / could also see the advances Of our troops
far DOWN the valley ia the direction Of Manassas, and
observe the progress Of the action and the maneuyers Of
the enemy.
We had now sixteen guns and two hundred and sixty
cavalry, and a little above nine regiments Of the army Of
the Shenandoah. and six guns, aud less than
the strength of three regiments Of that of
the Potomac, engaged with about ~thirty-ive
thousand United States troops, among whom
were f1ll three thousand men Of the regular army. Yet
this admirable artillery aid brave infantry and cavalry
lost No foot Of urHUuG Enr UnarlV fbraa hon-9 fhaT-
maintained their petition, repeiling five successive assaults
by the heavy masses Of the enemy, whose numbers ena-
bled him continually to bring up fresh troops as their
preceding columns were driven back. Col Stuart can-
tributed to one of these repulses by a we1l timed and
vigorous charge on tie enemys right flank with two
companies Of his cavalry. The efficiency Of our infantry
and cavalry might have been expected from a patriotic
people accustomed, like ours, 10 the management of arms
and horses, but that of the artillery was little less than
wonderful They were opposed 20 batteries far superior
in the number, range and equipment Of their guns, with
educated officers and thoroughly instructed soldiers We
had but one educBted artlIerist, Col Pendleton. that
model OF a Christian soldier, vet they exhibited as much
superiority 20 the enemy IN skill Us in courage. Their
fire was superior both in rapidly and precision.
About two O'Clock, an officer Of Gen Beauregard's
sdjutant general office. galoped from Manassas to re-
port to me that a United States army had reached the
line Of the Manassas Gap railroad, was marching to-
wards US, and then but three or four miles from our left
flank.
The expected achievements appeared soon after. Col
Cooke was then desired 70 lead his brigade into action 70
support the right OF the troops engaged, which he did
with alaeriiy and effect. Within a half hour the two
regiments of Gen. B0nham's brigade, (Cash's and Ker-
she FE) came M. aud were directed against the enemy's
right, which lie seemed to be Strengthening. Fishers
North arOlina regiment was soon after sent in the same
direction. About three O'Clock, while the enemy seemed
70 be striving 10 outfank and drive back our left and
Sinus separate Us from Manassas, Gen. +. x Smith ar
rived with three regiments Of Elzey's brigade. He was
instructed to attack the right Hauk of the enemy, now ex-
posed 70 Us. Before the movement was completed, he
fell severely wounded Col. Eizey at ouce taxing com
mand, executed il with great rrJmpttude and vigOr.
General Beauregard rapidly seized the opportunity thus
Afforded him and fBraw fa~vuarF b- whaTa If-g Tina
enemy was driven back from the long contested hill, and
victory was no longer doubtful He made yet another
attempt to retrieve the day. lie again extended his right
with & stlI wide weep, to turn eur left Just as he re
formed to renew the battle, Col. Eariy's three regiments
came upon the field The enemy's new formation ex
posed bis right flank more even than the previous enc.
Col. Early was, therefore. ordered 70 throw himself d-
recly upon il, supported by Col. Stuarts cavalry and
Beckham's battery, he executed this attack bravely and
well, while a simultaneOus charge was made by General
Beauregard in front The enemy was broken by this
combined attack. Helost all the artillery which he had
advanced to the scene of the conflict. lie had no more
fresh troops 70 rally on aud q general rout ensued-
Instructions were Instantly sent to Gea. Bonham 20
march by the quickest. route TO the turnpike, 10 iltes
cspt the fugiuVes and to Gen. L~0ugstrect 70 follow as
closely as possible upon Che right. Their progress was
terviIle-
ward Lewis Ford which was QUICKLY checked by
Holmes brigade. which had Just arrived from the right
HIS artillery, uBdcr Capt walker, was used with great
Col. Stuart pressed the pursuit Of the enemy's princi
pal line of retreat, the Sudlev road -Four Compsui. s IS
cavalry, under Col. Bradford aud Lieut-CoI. Munf5rl
stream At Bulls Ford to reach the turnpike, the line OF
retreat Of the enemy left. Our cavalry found the roads
-encumbered with dead and wounded, (nany Of whom
seemed to have been THROWN from wagOns) arms, ac-
GOVERNMENTS and clothing.
a report came to me from the right That strong body
Of United States troops was advancing upon Manassas
Gen Holmes FSho had just reached The field, and Gen
Ewell on his way to It, were ordered 20 meet this uuex
pecied attack. They found no foe. baweyer
our victory WAS as eDnTNern rs one gained bE infantry
and artillery can be. An adequate force Of cavalry
would have made IT decisive.
It is due. under Almighty God 70 the skill and resolu-
ton OF Gen. Bcaureg8rd, the admirable conduct Of Gems.
Bee, Z. X Smith aad jackson, Coils teommandinp bieades)
Evans, Cooke, Early and Elzey, and the courage and
unyl.lolng nrlhness OF our patriotic volunteers The
admirable character Of our troops is incontestibly proved
BY the result OF this battle especially when it Is remen-
bCrsd that little more than six thousand men Of the army
of the Shenandoah, with sixteen guns. and less than two !
thOugaud Of that Of the Potomac, with six guns for full
i've hours successfully resisted thirtv-fv We thonssDd United
states troops, with a powerful artillery and a superior
iolee OF regular eavlry OG forces engaged, gradually
increasing during the Contest, amounted To but--smrn
al the close Of the battle. The bruut Of this hardfought
engagement tel upon the troops who held their ground
so long with such heroic resolution. The u~nfading honor
which they won was dearly bought with the blood Of our
best and brsvest. Their loss was far heavier, in proper
ton, than that Of the troops coming later into action.
Every regiment and battery engaged performed is
part well. The commanders Of brigades have been al /
ready mentioned ] refer you 10 General Besuregard
report, for the names of the officers Of the army Of the
Potomac who Distinguished themselves most. / cannot
enEmerate all Of the army Of the Shenandoah who de-.
serve distinction, and win couhEe myself TO those of high
rank. Coils Barlow and Fisher, killed, Jones, (mor-
tally wounded, J. Z. Preston, Cummings, Falsner. Gar
lrel and Vaughan ! +. b Stuart, IF the cavairy, and
Pendleton Of the artillery Lieut-CoL Eehols, Lighdoot,
LacAland, G.. IL. Stuart, and Gardner. The last named
gallant officer was severely wounded.
The loss Of the army OF the Potomac was lC5 killed,
oU wounded y missing. That Of the army of the
Shenandoah was 270 killed, go wounded, Is missing.
Total 3s
WouHdeL." l4e9
missing 80
That Of the enemy could not be aseertainsd. Il must
have been between four and five Thousand. Twenty-
eight pieces Of artillery, about five Thousand muskeSs
and nearly five hundred thousand cartridges. a garrison
bag and ten colors We're captured on the field Of ia the
pursuit Besides them, we captured sixty four artillery
horses, with their harness, t~yentysix wagons aud mueh
camp eqmPage, clothing, andotler property abandoned
The officers Of my staff deserve high commentator
for their edleient and gallant services during the day and
the campaign, and 1 beg leave 10 call the attention Of the
government to their merits siai. W. II. g. Whiting
chief engineer, was invaluable TO me for his signal a51ity
IN his profession, and for the iudefatigable activity before
and in the battle. bsj. MCLEAN, chief uuarternaster.
and Mai. kearsley.- chief e0mmissary, conducted their
respective departments with skill and energy. Mai
Rhett, a. A. e., who joined me only the day before, was
OF great service. l left him al Manassas, and 10 his ex
perence and the energy l entrusted the care of ordering
my troops to the field OF battle 8s Jhey should -vive,
and forwarding ammunition for the artillery during the
action. Captains c. NJ Faunleroy, c.. S. n, T.. /. Pres
ton, A. A. a. G., and Lieut.. J. {. Washington, A. D. c.,
conveyed my orders bravey and well on this their first
field, as did several ga. ant gentlemen who volunteered
their services-CoL Cole, Of Florida, Mai. Deas, OF Ala
bama, Col Duncan, Of Kentucky. Lieut. Beverly Kan
dolph, c. S. n, aided Col t.. J. Thomas in the coInmabd
Of the body of troops lie led in into action, and fought
with gsDantry. With these was my gallant friend, Capt
Barlow Mason, who was m0rtaly wounded. / have
already mentioned the brave death Of ordnance officer,
Col f. J. Thomas. / was much indebted, also. to Co.'s
J. J. Preston, Manning, Miles and Chisoln, and CHpt.
Stevens, Of the engineer corps. member of Gen. Beaure-
CARDS staff, who kindly profered their services and
rendered efficient and valuable a A. at different times dur.
ing the day. Col G. W. Lay, Of Gen Bonham's staf,
delivered my Instructions to the trBOps sent in pureuit
and to intercept the enemy with much intelligence and
courage.
l. viii be remarked that the three brigadierJgenerals
Of the army of the Shenandoah were all wounded l have
already mentioned the wound Of Gen. Smith. General
jackson, though painfully wounded early in the day,
commanded his brigade to the close Of the action. Gen.
Bee, after great exposure az the commencement Of the
engagement, was MORALLY wounded Just as our rein
forcements were coming up.
The anDareut 6rfnnass af fha United Ckafas troons AZ