Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-02-20
-. 81 Gen. Beauregnrd Ofthe Battle of Manassas
~ iTEA DoUARTERs lsT CORPS ARMY OF The P0TohAo'
hEADS' MANASSAS, August 26th, 1861. !

telo D1,,, pTERs 1sT CoRPs ARMY THE POTOMAC,
MANASSAS, August 10th, 1861.
GFNER1E Var Department having been informed by me- by
Inc on the nth of July, Of the movement of General
eGgaP Cen Johnston was Immediately ordered to form
;ction Of his Army Corps with mine, should the move
~, MS indictment be deemed advisable Gen Holmes
10 5yecad to push forward with two regiments,
battery and one company OF cavalry. ,.. e..
In view of these propositions approaching
i INV pIan Of operations far as to determine IN
l.Oir the enemy Contreve as soon as should near
e. The near approach Of the two reinforcing columns
% &c Uf nv Aids Col. Chisholm, o. South Carolina to
communicate my plans to Gen. Johnston, and my
"1 t and take the enemy on his right flank anG in
~ CenfraviIe Difficulties, however, Of an insupera-
Ne rater in conneXion with means OF transportation
+a rarcIg condition of his troops made this I'M
rractcaba and it was determined oll forces o
led within the lines Of Bull Run ard thence, advance U
G johnston arrived here about on the 10Th July
and heinz nv senior in rank he necessarily assumed COM
If ali the force Of the Confederate States, then con
rrrrtu6 this point. Made acquainted WIN h3 pau Vi
opsrsti.ns AID dispositions to meet the enemy ne gave
frm his entire approval aud generously directed their ex-
ecgtl0n under my Command ... - 2
In r,ns ouence Of the untoward detention, however, Of
o1a l5 CO3 FIVE thousand Of General John-tons Army
CorDs reultinrrom the mad quate and imperfect means
a Manassas Gan Railroad, it became necessary, on the
morning OF the 2st, before daylight TO modify the plan &C
ceDted suit the cont ugelcy OF an immediate attaek on
our lines by the main force OF the enemy then PLAINLY al
Tn, enemys rel orted by their best informed jour
nails 70 be 900 strong had learned from reliable sources
on tho night of the 2Jl being concentrates IN and
around CCareve and along the NarTenon turnpike road
Run, which our respective pckets were IN I'M
mediate proximity. This TACT with the conviction that,
after bis signal discontinue on ire Ioh OF July DeI0re
Backbu-n's Ford-tse centre Of my lneshe would not
renew tn tack in that quarter induced me at once to
look for an attempt on my lett ank resDg on the stone
Bridge which was but weakly uarded by men, az well as
t. -iahty provided with artificial defensive appliances
Ia view Of these papable military conditions, by half
mast tur A. NJ the list July had prepared and dis
atcheI orders, directing the whole Of the Confederate
iysc within the ines Of Bull Run, including the brigades
and regiments Gen. Johnston, which had arrived that
time to.be held il readiness TO march moments notce
following or
FWe's Brigade constituted the 18th July remain
cd in position Union Ellis Ford, its left extending along
fII Run in the direction Of hcLeans Ford, and support
ed hy Holmes BRIGADE, End Tennessee and lst Arkansas
Regiments short distance TO the rear-that is, at and
D., r. Jones Rrgaie-rom Ewelrs left in front of Ne
Leans ord, and along the stream to LongBtreets position
it was unchanged in organization, and supported by
FarIg' Brgade-alsO uchaugld-paCed behind thicke
young pines, short distance IL the rear OF MeLeans
Ionpstreets Bigade held its former ground at Blackburn
Ford from Joness left TO BOnhams right, ST MITCHELL
Ford and WAS supported by Jacks Brigade. consisting
Of ColoueIs James l.. Prcsons 4h, Harper's 9Th, Aliens
md tine 9TH Lieut.. Col Echofs aud the 53rd Cumming
Virginia Reg meuts 26ll strong which posted be
hind the sktug Of pines, to the Of Baakburns
Mrccps Ford and in Of this support, Also Banks
daIe'a 1911 Regment Mississippi Volunteers, which hat
g the edge Of pine tlcset nrear Of, and equidsan
from Mclcau's and Backbutn's Tords ready TO supper
either position lad also placed all Of Bees and Batow'
Brgads had arrived, namely, two companies Of the
ltl Mississippi, Lieut. Col Lidde; the 2nd Mississippi
Col. FHsucr, aad the Alabama with the 9TH ard ST.
Georgia Regiments &c oncs GrtelI and Lieut.. Gel Gard
N'I r =. 1' srgsGs, as before held Mftchos Ford it,
right near Long treets .it its left extending IN the drec
lion Il Cookies night organized at the end of thu
18TH of Jy with JacHsgns Brigade, as before said, as
G1cEl,s Bisade, increas by seven companies of TIT
qta Hutton IhIce companies Of the 10th, Snlhs Virginia
Regiments pauias OF cavalry and battery unde
Rogers Of iour Gpvuuagrs, occupied She line in front
Of Bull Auu, extending from the direction OF Bonham
left and guarding Island, Balls ana Lewiss Fords to tin
right Of Eyauss Dm-BIia AIDE near the Stone Bridge, ais
uudor Gener"! Cgc5e's command.
Tire at,er held the stone Bridge, and its left covered
farm ford about one mile above the bridge.
Stuuts cavalry some three hundred men Of the army
the SHENANDOAH guarded the level ground extending in
from E0uham'- Iuty to Cookies right.
Two compaac- Of RadoId's cavalry were held in reserv
short distance in Of Muchcs Ford his left extend
Iu .u the direction # stuart ) right.
Colonel Icudlctou reserve battery Of eight pieces
lily placed ia Of Boghams extreme left
Maior Wut0n'5 reserve battery OF five guns in nos
ton McLUaus farm, in piece OF woods III rear OF Bee
Hamptons crton Of iz companies Of iaantry six hur
onr having arrived that morning Iy the cars frol
Richmond subs cquony, soon as arrived, ordere
forward 40 potion in inme- late vicinity Of the Lew
Home as support for any troops engaged in that quartz
The effective force ofaI arms Of the Army Of the Pot
mac Oh that eYenul morning, do the garrison
The army Of the SHENANDOAH, ready fJr actioren Il
field, ma be set ats 90 men and 70 gnn5.*
die Brigade Of General Holmes mustered about l,2
bayonets, SIX guns and a company OF cavalry about
informed at s 3d. A. M.by Colonel Evans that the enen
had deuoyed twelve hundred meL+ with several pec
Of eriIcry ID his immediate 'front.' ordered hiI
as also General Cooke, attacked, 10 maintain their pos(
In nv opinion The most effective method of relieving tn
ark Was h., n rand determined attack with my right viii
and centre On the euemys flank and at CenlreviI
with cue precautions against the advance OF his
from the direction OF ash ngton.
BY such mcut, confidently expected to achieve
complete victory for my country by u, M.
These new dispositions submitted to General job
ston who fully approved them, AID the orders for their
mediate execution were at once Issued
Bigadier General EweI was directed to begin The NOV
eut to he followed aud supported suCCGsiVey by Genera
r. Jones, Longstreet and uham respectively, supper
ed by their several appointed reserves. -,
The cavalry under stuart and HadtOId were to bQ held
hand sub ect future orders an4ready for employee
asmght be eqaired by the eEigences OF the batue.
About 3d. il. 81, General Johnston ana myself tran
lerred oar heacq1aters TO cenaI pQslHoh ABOUT nal
mile in rear Of Mchells Ford, whence we might wat
Previously as early as 3. 30, the Federazs in front
Eyaus's posilior--t0ue B-dge-had opened with lar
5OpouLder Parrot ne gun, ana eltty lIn' es ltte[
Gmoderate apparently tentative hre from battery OF II
pieces, directed first in front at Eyanss and then IN
direction OF Ccchcs POSITION hut without drawing retT
lire and discovery OF our PosuGLs, ChtHy because III u
quarter had nothing but eight 6pOunder pieces, VIII
could not reach The distant enemy.
AS the tedeIaists had ao' ahceu WIN an eAt1LueG l.
of sEmsueIs III front Of Evans, that chcer promptly TIN
forward the flank compan es OF the 4th South Carol
Regiment and one company oil "he&l SLouiSlaha baItal
depoyed skirmishers, to cover ms small 'front.' An
scattering fire resulted and thus the two arm
in that quarter for more IMAM an hou We Inc mann D'
of the enemy was marching its dubious way through
Big Forest to take our forces in fl mix and rear.
BY S. 3d. A. HI, Colonel Evans, having become satlsi
fthe counterfeit character OF the movement on his fro
and persuaded mpt to turn his left flank, decl(
TO change lis position to meet the enemy, and for this
nose immediately put molten his left and
uauies of SlOan's 4th South Carolina Regiment NheS
Louisiana Battalion five companies, ana 6-pouud
fLatham's battery, leaving four companies OF Sloa
Regiment undel the SOLE immediate defence OF
stone Ridge but giving information to General Cooke
his change of position and the that mpelled it
Following ROAD leading by the Old Pitt ylyania (Cart
N0arsion Coonc Evans formed in line of battle some
hundred yards in he adyauced-of that house.
guns to the front and IN position properly supported TO
immediate right. Finding, however, that the enemy
ing by Sudey S Springs Ford to Brentsvlle and Dumr
lie turned abruptly to the left and, marching across