The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-15

back orders to Ftz-John Porter to march with
his corps at one o'clock that night, so as to be
with Hooker at daylight in the morning. The
distance was only nine miles, and he received
the dispatch at 8 so o'clock, but did not reach
the ground until after 10 o'clock next morning.
lie can probably explain better than can the
reason of this delay.
Fortunately Hooker had handled the army
so severely the evening before, aud the move
ment of Mcdowell had begun to be so appa-
rent, that the enemy fearful of being surround
ed, had retreated precpitately from Manassas
junction, directing his retreat through Centre
vile, as Mcdowell, Reno and Kearney had
made the road through Gainesville impractica-
bic. Immediately pushed forward to Manas-
sas, and thence to Centreville, which was oc-
cupied by Kearney that night only few hours
alter the enemy had left it. Reno had reached
Manassas Junction, and Fitz-John Porter was
| Immediately ordered up from Broad Run,
| where he had stopped. McDowell's move
ment, conducted with yigor and speed, had
been completely successful, the enemy being
intercepted at Gainesville, and part of his for
ces driven back through Thoroughfare Gap.
Late In the evening of the-McDowell's adj
vance Gibbons brigade) met the force of
jackson retiring from Centrevile, and about
SIX miles from that place. A very sharp skir-
mish took place, ended by the darkness, in
which the brigade of Gibbon behaved very
handsomely 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 Gaines
vile, closely followed by Hooker and Reno and
engage the enemy thus placed between Nc
Dowell and Sigel on the west, and Fitz John
Porter on the south. l also instructed Fitz
John Porter with his own corps, which had for
some reason fallen back from the Warrenton
turnpike toward Manassas Junction. to move
at daylight in the morning upon Gainesville.
along the Manassas Gap Railroad, until they
communicated closely with the forces under
Heintzelman and Sigel, cautioning them not
to 90 further than was necessary to effect this
junction, as we might be obliged to retire be-
hind Bull Run that night for subsistence ifnoth-
ing else.
Heintzelman marched early from Centreville
toward Gainesville, closely followed by Reno.
Meantime, shortly after daylight, Sigel's and
Reynolds division of McDowell's corps had be-
come engaged with the enemy who was brought
to stand. and he was soon joined by Hentzel-
man and Reno,when the whole line became ac-
lively engaged.
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 for
ces OF the enemy advancing to support Jack
son.
As soon as found that the enemy had been
brought TO halt, and was being vigorously at
tackled along the Warrenton turnpike, l sent
orders to Mcdowell to advance rapidly on the
left, and attack the enemy in his flank extend
ing his right to meet Reynolds left and to Fitz
John Porter to keep his right well closed on
McDowelfs lett, and to attack the enemy i'm
flank and rear, while he was pushed in front.
This would have made the line of Mcdowell
and Porter at right angels to that of the other
forces engaged.
The action ragged furiousy all day Mcdowell,
although previously in rear ofPorter, bringing
his whole corps on the field in the afternoon
and taking conspicuous part in that days
operations. To my surprise and disappoint-
ment l 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 retiring upon Manassas Junction with
out engaging 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 his force
fell back towards Manassas, and he remained
as he afterward informed me. where he 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 1t or assist us. One at least of his
brigades under Gen. Griffin, got round to Cen
treville and remained there during the whole
of the next days battle, without coming on
the field, though in full view of the battle which
was raging, while Gen. Griffen himself spent
the day in making ill-natured structures upon
the general commanding the action, in the
presence OF promiscuous assemblage.
Darkness closed the action on Friday. the
enemy being driven back from his positions by
Heintzelman's corps and Reno, concluded by
furious attack along the turnpike by Kings d-
vision of McDowell's corps, leaving his dead
and wounded on the field.
i do not hesitate to say that If the corps of
Porter had attacked the enemy in flank ON the
afternoon of Friday, as he had my written or
der to do, we should utterly have crushed
jackson before the forces under Lee could
have reached him. Why he did not do SO /
cannot understand.
Our men, much worn down by hard service
and continuous fighting for many previous
days, and very short of provisions, rested on
their guns. Our horses had had no forage for
two days. / had telegraphed and written ur-
gently for rations and forage to be sent u.s. but
on Saturday morning, before the action was re-
sumed, received a letter from Gen. Franklin,
written the day before at Alexandria, stating
to me that he had been directed by Gen Nc
Clellan to inform me that rations and forage
for my command would be loaded into the cars
and available wagons as soon as would send
a cavalry escort TO Alexandria to bring them
up. All hope of being able to maintain my
position, whether victorious or not, vanished
with this letter My cavalry was utterly brok-
en- down bv long and constant service in the
face of the enemy, and bad as they were could
not be spared from the front, even if there i
been time to go Tx thirty miles to Alexan-
dria. At the time this letter was written Al
exandria was swarming with troops, and my
whole army interposed between that place and
the enemy. | at once understood that we
must, if possible, finish what we had to do that
day, as night must see us behind Bull Run il
we wished 10 save men and animals from star
walton.
On Friday night sent peremptory order
TO Gen. Porter TO bring his command on the
field and report to me in person within three
hours after he received the order. A portion
he brought up, but, as before stated, one of
his brigades remained the whole day at Centre
vile, and was not in the engagement. The
enemy's heavy reinforcements having reached
him on Friday afternoon and night, he began
to mass on his right for the purpose of crush
ing our left and occupying the road to Centre
vile III our rear His heaviest assault was made
about five o'clock in the afternoon, when, after
overwhelming Fitz John Porter and driving
his forces back on the centre and left mass al-
ter mass Of his forces were pushed against our
LETT. A terrific contest with great slaughter,
was carried on for several hours, our men be-
having with flrmness and gallantry under the
immediate command of Gen. Mcdowell When
night closed our left had been forced back
about half mile, but still remained firm and
mistaken, while our right held its ground
Gen. Franklin, with his corps, arrived after
dark at Centreville, six miles in our rear whilst
summer W1 mil hah ind Is, 4